This book is packed with many weird rhymes that will perfectly appeal to children and keep them entertained for a while. The collection is quite big, and each bit is very short, making it super easy to read. All these rhymes are accompanied by colorful illustrations that are just as wacky as the words, and remind me of Quentin Blake's illustration style.

This book is so great for a read aloud. Most of the silly rhymes were hilarious, and the illustrations are fun, and elaborate! It’s also great to teach rhyme or to use in class as short texts.

Thanks to the Gecko Press and Netgalley for this eARC.

Joy Cowley’s “A Lot of Silly: A Book of Rhymes and Nonsense” is a delightful romp through the whimsical world of absurdity and imagination. Known for her ability to enchant young readers, Cowley teams up with illustrator David Barrow to create a collection that is as visually captivating as it is entertaining.

The structure of the book allows for easy reading, making it perfect for bedtime stories or classroom read-alouds.

 “A Lot of Silly” celebrates the power of imagination and the importance of play in language.  The book’s underlying message is clear: creativity knows no bounds, and laughter is a universal language that brings people together.

Cowley’s writing is playful and engaging, with a rhythm that makes each poem and story a joy to read aloud. Her use of language is both clever and accessible, ensuring that young readers can easily follow along while still being challenged to think outside the box. The humor is gentle and inclusive, making it suitable for a wide age range.

David Barrow’s illustrations are a perfect complement to Cowley’s text.  Barrow’s ability to capture the essence of Cowley’s playful spirit makes this book a visual treat as well as a literary one.

“A Lot of Silly: A Book of Rhymes and Nonsense” is a must-have for any child’s bookshelf. Joy Cowley and David Barrow have created a timeless collection that will delight readers of all ages. Whether you’re a parent looking for a fun read-aloud or a teacher seeking to inspire creativity in your students, this book is sure to become a favorite.

Joy Cowley’s “A Lot of Silly” is a testament to the enduring appeal of nonsense and the joy of playful language. Highly recommended for anyone who loves to laugh and let their imagination run wild.

These poems are silly! Some of them just get sillier and sillier. This book is a lot of fun and the illustrations are also very funny. I loved the wordplay, which and the silly situations. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I have mixed feelings on this book of silly rhymes and short stories. We had a lot of fun reading through most of them, but a few were… odd. Perhaps I’ll-fitting is the best term. It’s not that they are inappropriate, but seem like they are not published in the right time - my grandparents generation probably would’ve appreciated those darker stories a bit more than we did. Most were light hearted and fun, with silly matching illustrations and rhymes that kept my preschoolers attention. Some clearly had a morality lesson (the elephant asking why they make the circus humans perform, for example) while others seem to be pure silly nonsense.

Overall, cute eclectic fun.

The cover and artwork drew me in, but sadly was a slight let down. Some of the rhyming was cute and funny but for the most part were not clever or funny.

I only enjoyed some of the poems, the ones that rhymed or didn't drag on too long! My favorite was the one about the elephants watching the humans at the circus because that one held deeper meaning!

This was not a good fit for my eight year old daughter or for myself. We liked four of the riddles but the rest either weren’t clever or funny, nonsensical, or they were too rude for my liking.

In love the short and sweet poems!! Each poem had some illustrations that came with them, which were both silly and cute - fitting for a younger audience. I liked that there are a lot of poems, providing variety to choose from depending on your mood!

I really love how this book flows so well due to the rhythms. I feel like this book is directed more towards older children since the pages have longer a decent number of words on them. For parents with children of different aged the pages will be fun to look at for younger kids. I enjoyed this book overall but some of the pages were more interesting than others in my opinion.

The title and cover art drew me in. This is a silly and whimsical children’s book filled with fun rhymes. I love it! This would be a great book to read together at bedtime. Reading a different rhyme or two each night. The art is lovely watercolor with lots of detail. Will definitely be recommending this book to add to our library collection. 5 stars!

A Lot of Silly offers a delightful experience that will engage young readers and invite them into a world of whimsical nonsense. It’s a celebration of imagination and humor that is sure to bring smiles and giggles to children and adults alike.

My kids and I really enjoyed this book! My 3y old is in an “elephants” phase, so the artwork was relevant and BEAUTIFUL! I found the poems whimsical, and they brought me back to my younger self when I would be immersed in Shel Silverstein poetry.

I will be on the lookout for this book, because I’d love a hard copy for my library.