Who's Been Sleeping in My Porridge?

""Robot's dead./ Lack of grease./ Parson said,/ `Rust in peace.' "" Working in forms that range from pithy quatrains to two-page mock epics, McNaughton (Making Friends with Frankenstein) offers the elementary school set another survey of the comic verse form. No one can accuse McNaughton of not identifying with his audience or of failing to understand their taste for the rather gross. He cheerfully applies his art to baby and bird poop, marbles stuck up the nose, etc. A few poems are truly inspired, like the lament of a child whose mother has turned into a pirate: ""I can't go to school now,/ Because, to be frank,/ Mom will threaten teachers/ With walking the plank!"" Unfortunately, this collection is uneven, with many verses devoted to overextended one-liners or tired conceits. What's more, McNaughton's Briticisms may be lost on young audiences here: punch lines refer to Debrett's, Boxing Day and the like. Conversely, the attempted Americanisms fall flat (""They call me Harley./ Man, Ah'm cool!""). The accompanying illustrations provide good comic riffs, although there's not enough of the visual vaudeville that distinguishes McNaughton's best work. Ages 5-10. (Sept.)