• Age: 8 to 18
• Grade: 3 to 12

Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast is guaranteed to make readers laugh, imagine, write, and dream.

“A quick-witted delight.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Perfectly in pitch.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A well-written, must-have collection of poems.”—School Library Journal (starred review)

A collection from the celebrated inaugural Young People’s Poet Laureate and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky, featuring more than one hundred original poems!

From a lizard playing a mandolin (although not very well) to the surprised guest of honor (at a birthday party he threw for himself), there’s something for everyone in Jack Prelutsky’s Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast. Illustrator Ruth Chan’s lively and hilarious black-and-white art jumps off the page and illuminates a wide array of poetic forms, from haiku to concrete poems and everything in between.

This collection is full of the wit, humor, and imagination that has made Jack Prelutsky a household name and one of the most beloved poets for children. His poetry books for kids include such favorites as A Pizza the Size of the Sun and The New Kid on the Block.

Includes black-and-white line art on every page, plus an index.

Jack Prelutsky is the best-selling author of more than fifty books of poetry, including The New Kid on the Block, illustrated by James Stevenson, and Stardines Swim High Across the Sky, illustrated by Carin Berger. Jack Prelutsky lives in Washington State.

Jack Prelutsky's profile page

Ruth Chan spent her childhood tobogganing in Canada, her teens living in and exploring China, a number of years studying art and education, and a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. She now writes and illustrates in Brooklyn, New York, where she can often be found chatting with her neighbors. Visit www.ohtruth.com for more info.

Ruth Chan's profile page

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“What do pandas who make stir-fry, a bike with no pedals, New Year’s resolutions, and perturbed vegetables have in common? Not much, but they sure are a hoot! . . . With steady rhymes and consistent meter, Prelutsky employs his characteristic wordplay, humor, and absurdism. . . . Chan’s grayscale cartoons . . . add wry amusement and often enhance the poems’ textual meanings. . . . A quick-witted delight.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“U.S. children’s poet laureate emeritus Prelutsky delivers his signature silliness and wordplay in this collection of 100 poems . . . Prelutsky is reliably playful . . . With their rhythmic meter, easy rhymes, and offbeat punch lines, these are poems that beg to be memorized. Lively black-and-white drawings by Chan are perfectly in pitch.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Prelutsky’s new poetry collection is a gift to the ears and eyes. Written in a variety of rhyme schemes . . . Black-and-white cartoon drawings accompany each poem and bring the words—both comical and descriptive—to life. Prelutsky is a master of humor and poetic device. . . . A well-written, must-have collection of poems.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“The first U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate once again exhibits his knack for rhyme and giggles in this collection of over 100 new poems. With his signature silliness, Prelutsky imagines outlandish situations . . . Topping off the playfulness is delightful black-and-white spot art. A read-aloud-ready anthology.” — Booklist

“The legendary first children’s poet laureate returns with a bumper crop of over 100 new poems in this compendious volume. . . . , there’s plenty of Prelutsky pleasure here with kid-appealing final twists and tight, tongue-twirling rhymes and witty investigations.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Fans of humorous poetry . . . should find just what they’re looking for here: nonsense confidently delivered in lines that scan satisfyingly, surrounded by Chan’s exuberantly cartooned black-and-white line drawings. . . . The collection includes a few different forms: a section of haiku from various animals’ points of view breaks up the silliness . . . Bon appétit!” — Horn Book Magazine