THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
by Jeff Moss ; illustrated by Chris L. Demarest
A broad collection of verse on subjects from the lighthearted or nonsensical (``The McSloppys''; ``Why It's Hard to Be Romantic If You're an Octopus'') to the everyday (``If You Make Me Go to Bed Now''; ``Eleven Reasons My Big Sister Gives for Not Playing with Me When Our Parents Are Out''). The poems are filled with good-natured humor and funny images, but, in the end, none of them is especially memorable. Moss's poetic style is highly derivative (particularly of Shel Silverstein); and sometimes his meter simply doesn't work. Demarest's appealing line drawings complement the light tone. (Poetry. 7-11)