THE ASPHALT OCTOPUS Lola Sneyd. Illustrated by Doug Sneyd. Toronto, Simon & Pierre, c1982. 63pp, paper, $6.95. ISBN 0-88924-130-9. Grades K-6. Reviewed by Fran Newman. Volume 11 Number 4. 1983 July. Canadian poetry for children aged four to ten is as rare as diamonds in Woolworths, so Lola Sneyd's book is welcome. Teachers of primary grades will discover poems to include in thematic units on frogs, snakes, snow, spring, and many more. They have been printed previously in many magazines and readers, but we are not told how old some of them are. Some seem quite dated in topic as well as wording: "Homeward she did fly" or "painting o'er my bookcase." Others, however, are for today's child: "Blast Off" or "Space Age Hallowe'en." Because of the intended grade level, these poems are meant to be read aloud, and this is generally easily done. Rhyme is only occasionally awkward. The best poem, in my estimation, is the only free verse: "My Pet Slithers." The illustrations, airy pen-and-ink sketches by Doug Sneyd, add to the overall attraction of the large print, bold titles, and sturdy binding. Fran Newman, Spring Valley P. S., Brighton, ON.