Judith Viorst's If I Were in Charge of the World is a book of poems that children will love and adults will cherish. This book stands the test of time so well that I was actually shocked to discover that the date of publication is 1981. Viorst breaks up her poems into categories such as "Wishes and Worries", "Facts of Life", "Wicked Thoughts" and more. She is able to put into words feelings that the reader understands and experiences as well. She uses humor in a way that appeals to adults as well as to children.

Her poems are mostly short and rhythmic, with a pattern that children can follow and appreciate. She writes from the perspective of both boys and girls so that no reader gets left out. The topics of these poems are such that the reader can be transported back to when that happened to them or at the very least they know just how the author feels. In "Just Before Springtime" the rhythm flows beautifully, helped along by alliteration such as, "With wings making waves in warm skies". These poems will make you laugh, make you cringe, and ultimately make you remember what it is like to be a child.