I Want to Lasso Time

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

From its zany, psychedelic cover (illustrated by Mark Thurman) through
the affectionate introduction (by Emily Hearn), this book soars with
joyous enthusiasm for life.

Swede continues his eclectic poetic writing with humor and style,
providing an insightful commentary on the human situation. His offerings
here range from short, one-line thoughts (“heat wave tulips
pouting”) to haiku, shape, column, punctuation, and capital poems.
Swede evokes precise images—“I am unwinding / like a ball / of red
wool / between the paws / of a black cat”—as he demonstrates his
ability to help us look at everyday events in a fresh way.

Swede, the author of some 36 books, is widely known for visiting
schools to encourage young people to write creatively. This book would
appeal to junior-grade children and would also be a useful source of
ideas on style and kinds of poetry for intermediate- and senior-grade
students. Many age groups will relate well to his innovative style and
creative approach. If young readers could make a single wish for this
book, it would be for more extensive illustrations.