On the Edge With Coolhead Luke

Do you enjoy poetry? Then you should like this book. Mother and son team, in which author Jennifer White produced the poems and artist Colin White provided the illustrations, came out with Coolhead Luke and Other Stories in 2007. Cynthia Clarke said this about it on Home School Buzz. "In the introduction the author, Jennifer White, explains that her son's pictures `had a story to tell' so she found the words and the book was born. That is an interesting inside-out way to write a book of poetry. Usually the artist must work to give visual life to the author's words but in this case the author lived with the drawings and waited for them to give verbal life to the pages. The result is a book of light-hearted imaginative stories that sound very much like they could have come from the drawings they belong to." I was asked to review the sequel, On the Edge with Coolhead Luke. While poetry is not my particular area of interest, I do find that good, classic poetry is fascinating, and this book was fun to read. Some of the poems encourage the development of good character. Coolhead Luke's bravery when confronted by a cobra teaches us to face our fears and overcome them. Many of the poems can be used to teach language. I especially liked the one about the four daughters of Bob and Jane Metta and what was learned by the "Metta Four." And a lot of the poems are just plain humor that go along with Colin's drawings, of which Jennifer said, "Now a student in middle school, Colin has grown a couple of years older and his illustrations have become reflective of the social and moral challenges of pre-teens and young teenagers. What has remained unchanged is the surreal silliness that younger and older children both enjoy." To help in presenting the mechanics of poetry, there are both a glossary of terms and a guide for teachers and homeschooling parents in the back of the book, which I think most people should find both interesting and useful.

What do you get when you team up a son who likes to draw faces with a mom who's a whiz at poetry? On the Edge With Coolhead Luke, which combines the best of both.When Jennifer White saw her son's drawings, they sparked the idea to work on a book together. She then matched her own poetry to the faces with surprising results. In this sequel to Coolhead Luke, patrons visit a restaurant with an operatic chef, the Metta Four sisters share a lesson, and Uncle Marvin presents a Thanksgiving feast fit for a king.Most of these poems are written in some form of rhythmic meter, with some more unusual styles thrown in for fun. There is a glossary of terms included, as well as discussion questions about the overall messages and styles of verse.These are fun and well-written poems, with quirky and unique drawings accompanying them. I admire what Jennifer White and her son, Colin, have achieved in On the Edge With Coolhead Luke. Not only have they created interesting works of literature, but they've also nurtured the creative bond between them. Now that's about as cool as it gets!Reviewer: Alice Berger

As a middle school English Teacher, it is both refreshing and relieving to find a poetry book that is fun, humorous and highly appropriate for adoloscents, especially boys. I have used the first book created by the White team, Coolhead Luke, and the second poetry book, On the Edge with Coolhead Luke, with my sixth and seventh graders, and both have been very well received. Students respond to the intriguing illustrations and witty poems. Although many of the poems are funny, there are several that are thought provoking and thematic in nature. Without knowing it, my students have been exposed to many literary devices (alliteration, personification, similes, metaphors and more) while reading the poems written by Jennifer While. The illustrations produced by her son, Colin White, compliment the words perfectly and make the various stories, told through poems, come alive. I strongly recommend these two beautifully crafted poetry books by Jennifer and Colin White....what a great Mom-Son team! Reina R. O'Connor, ELA and WL Middle School Teacher, Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School, Marlborough, MA

I highly recommend this book. Not only are the poems and illustrations funny and quirky, some are educational. Take The Metta Four and The Changeling, which features young Sima Lee.Some of the themes address issues important to children. For example, I'm Waiting details the frustration a child feels when his peers grow and mature before he does. Endangered takes a mythical creature and puts it into a too-real situation. And Spike Speaks illustrates the lengths we must sometimes go to in order to make and keep a friend.In the back of the book, there is a glossary and a guide for teachers. If you have a child who likes poetry and/or a child who enjoys writing or drawing, this book would be an excellent holiday gift.

I reviewed this book for my parenting publication and was absolutely delighted as soon as I opened to the first page. The poems are funny and witty and the illustrations by a young boy totally floored me. My book reviews are never complete until I try the books out on my own children. Thumbs up by them too.

"On the Edge with Coolhead Luke" contains some great messages - both on the surface and their deeper meanings. My children, wife and I all enjoy the poems and supporting illustrations.It's not just another children's book. The poems/pictures are unique and I really appreciate the positive messages in the book - my favorite is "Wong and Pong"!