'Twimericks': The Most Tongue-Twisting Limericks For Kids

Hard to explain my need to combine a limerick with a tongue twister to come up with a twimerick... or why I enjoy putting myself through it. The writing of one is a difficult, time-consuming, sometimes painful, sometimes impossible puzzle to solve. But the successful completion of a good one can be a great gift. If you're a mainlining crossword-addict-for-life like I am, you know the feeling. That's where I think my odd idea of a twimerick must have evolved from: my crossword jones, along with a bent fascination for silly poetry, and the unlimited possibilities of language in general.

A few years ago when I first came down with my terminal case of the twimericks, I hadn't thought of what to call them, or that they'd be a book, or who I should write them for. But I love being read by kids, because they haven't really been put through the factory yet. So, I hope the book inspires them a little never to become a grown-up. A grown-up is someone who's gotten larger, that's all. Who can't do that? What you want to do is become a grown-smart. Do that, and the world is yours!

Be sure to visit Lou's website! Slide captions and images excerpted from "Twimericks" Copyright 2009 by Lou Brooks. Used by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. New York. All Rights Reserved.