School Fever

Publisher: Dail Books for Young Readers

Have you ever...
Caught a computer virus that kept you home from school? Watched your librarian take on a savage beast - and win? Eaten a banana in the cafeteria and turned into a monkey? Hired a superhero to be your school bodyguard? Done all of the above, and done it all in rhyme?

No? Then you've been missing out on School Fever!

Hormone Jungle: Coming of Age in Middle School

Publisher: Maupin House

College-bound Christina Curtis scrapbooks her years in middle school as a member of the Digital Poets, a group of students who find their voices through verse. Weaving her own narrative into the poems of her peers, Christina tells the story of her friendship with Steven Gilley, the obnoxious, girl-teasing, and "unbearably immature" boy who incites her to write her first poem. But Steven holds a secret that makes him wise beyond his years, leaving Christina to wonder if there isn't more to this "unbearable" boy than meets the eye.

Available in hardcover

Shout! Little Poems that Roar

Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers

Ever have a class room zoo with a cat and a cow and a kangaroo? Ever come down with a case of the quacks or eaten deliciously messy snacks? You're not alone. It's in this book! Just flip it open and have a look: Do an Alphabet Boogie and a Library Cheer, face up to a T-Rex without any fear. It's Po-e-try to shout about, So turn the page and check it out!

Available in hardcover

Giant Children

Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers

There's a turtle named Jaws and a dinosaur canary, an alien playing Spaceball and a no-show tooth fairy.   A buffalo's in the library chomping on the books, and a princess has karate skills that rival her good looks.

These characters and many more are found in this rambunctious and irresistible collection of poems that look at our world through a child's wide eyes .   Giant children is full to bursting with inspiration, playfulness, and above all, giggles.

"Bagert's inspired silliness keeps it simple and that's just the way young readers like it.   This book is filled with poems that are fun to read aloud, pitched perfect for a child's ear and heart.   Tedd Arnold's cartoonish illustrations, done in colored pencil and watercolor washes, provide a lively visual accompaniment for Bagert's broad comedy."

Available in hardcover & paperback

The Gooch Machine

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Here is a collection of whimsical poems, where kids take on life with sincerity and humor.   These poems are fun to read, but they are even more fun to perform.   Brod Bagert's infectious energy and Tim Ellis's spirited illustrations will inspire you to act out these poems and bring them to life.  

"With funny, cartoon-like illustrations, the book tackles some of childhood's greatest worries and joys -such as addition, homework, mean teachers, sisters, role models, and rock and roll."  

-- Children's Literature

Available in hardcover & paperback

Elephant Games and Other Playful Poems to Perform

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Welcome to the imaginative world of Brod Bagert where astronauts pack yo-yos in their space suits and elephants play games inside your ear.   Some of the poems in this book are like little mirrors.   When you read them, you may see yourself.   Maybe you're the superstitious baseball player or the kid who is always in trouble.   Maybe you're having a rough time in school or tired of people telling you "no."   Whoever you are, you'll find poems that will make you laugh and think.

"Bagert is right in there with the other great poets who will keep poetry alive in the minds and hearts of children."

Available in hardcover and paperback

Chicken Socks and Other Contagious Poems

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Here's a book with a sure-fire guarantee for laughter.   It takes a whimsical look at the world around us--from little caterpillars to the big night sky.   Brod Bagert's poems will set you laughing--and thinking about things like you never have before.  

"Simple and infectious...Bright watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations accuntuate the lighthearted, sassy tone of most of the poems."

-- School Library Journal

Available in hardcover and paperback

Let Me Be THE BOSS

Poems for Kids to Perform

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Each poem in this delightful collection is intended for children to share, perform, and read aloud.   With a range of topics from dinosaurs to the Famous Purple Poka Bear, from fancy restaurants to weird relatives, these poems, accompanied by Gerald Smith's zany illustrations, take a humorous look at the world from a child's perspective.

"Young Readers will find an advocate in poet Brod Bagert, who understands the dreams and questions children have including fantasies like the one from the title poem".

Available in hardcover and paperback

Rainbows, Head Lice and Pea-Green Tile

Poems in the Voice of the Classroom Teacher

Publisher: Maupin House

When a teacher speaks from the heart, the voice is powerful, touching, and at times irreverent and very funny.   Brod Bagert, America's performing poet, captures the voice of the classroom teacher in this amazing book that will tug at your heartstrings, brighten your day, replenish your spirit, and remind you of the reasons you chose teaching as your profession.

Kim Doner's illustrations catch the spirit of Bagert's poetry and make this wonderful romp even more fun.   Enjoy!

Available in hardcover

Steel Cables

The Poetry of Permanent Love

Maupin House Publishing

The love poems of our language tend to sing the fire of romance or the pain of lost-love.   These love poems are about something else.   They begin with a little romance, but quickly move to the stuff of permanent love - vows, rearing children, doubt, desire, the struggle to adjust to changing circumstances, reconciliation, and commitment as strong as "the steel cables they build bridges with".   These poems are for you.   They are intended to be read out loud.   If you read them in the order they appear, they will tell you a story.

A Bullfrog At Café DuMonde

Poems From The Heart, Soul & Funnybone of New Orleans

If you bring your own coffee when you leave town, if you believe the word "axe" is a verb, if you consider Halloween a major holiday, then these poems are for you.   If you are not familiar with New Orleans some of these poems may require a little work, but give it a try.   If you find you need a little help, ask a local, but be sure you have at least an hour to spare - you may find yourself sipping refreshment in the shaded courtyard of the Napoleon House as a friendly native explains the origin of the phrase "neutral ground."

Throw Me Somethin', Mistuh!

The Mardi Gras Book

Juliahouse Publishing

"Have you ever been to the Mardi Gras?"   It's a question we get asked a lot, and its hard to answer.   Mardi Gras isn't something you just "go to".   It's something that happens, and if you're in New Orleans at the right, it's something that will happen to you.   In these poems, we've tried to let you touch and taste it all, from the first slice of king cake to the cool Ash Wednesday quiet of St. Louis Cathedral.   If you're from New Orleans, you'll find yourself in more than a few of these poems.   If you're not from New Orleans, we've included a glossary of sorts to help you understand the sometimes-foreign language of New Orleans culture.   Read the poems and laugh.   Remember the time it happened to you and share them with friends.

This paperback book is currently out of print and unavailable .