Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes [Hardcover]

Alice Schertle (Author), Petra Mathers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Did you actually think shoes, jackets, and hats didn't have personalitites? Think again! The outfits in this book are brought to vivid life by Alice Schertle's wry poetry and Petra Mathers's exuberant cast of young animal characters. From Joshua's cozy jammies to Emily's frilly undies, the duds on display in this perfectly stitched poetry collection are as unique as the critters who wear them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 2—Told from the points of view of various anthropomorphic articles of clothing, these poems will give readers a new perspective on getting dressed. Tanya's old T-shirt doesn't understand the shabby treatment it receives—it didn't shrink, Tanya grew. "I live in a bucket shoved under a stair./They call me a dust rag! I don't think it's fair." Bertie's shoelaces explain why they like to hang loose. Emily's frilly undies seem to enjoy getting a little extra exposure. And Bob's bicycle helmet lives to protect Bob. "I've got him covered./I'm on the job." Mathers's signature-style mice, bears, and alligators model these self-possessed garments. Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA
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Review

". . . these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun."--Kirkus, starred review

"From delicately comical to downright funny, the art perfectly reflects the contagiously rhythmic, playful verse. Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too."--Horn Book, starred review

". . . these poems will give readers a new perspective on getting dressed . . . Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections."--School Library Journal, starred review

"The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat."--Booklist, starred review

“. . . enjoyable sound effects . . . Tone varies from sturdy support of ‘Bob’s Bicycle Helmet’ . . . to the playfulness of ‘Wanda’s Swimsuit . . . the extraordinary precision of Mather’s [sic] delicate brush strokes result in collagelike textures and crisp solidity . . . sure to tickle youngsters.”--The Bulletin

"Here's a match made in children's-book Heaven: esteemed poet Schertle (All You Need for a Snowman) and Mathers, the artist behind the Lottie's World (the charming chicken) books . . . Full of surprises, perhaps a sniffle, and plenty of cheer ("Everybody clap your hands,/ everybody shout,/ Bill's got his jacket on,/ LET'S GO OUT!"), this one will be in constant demand."--PW Shelf Awareness

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152050507
• ISBN-13: 978-0152050504
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Humorous

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have an expressive reading voice, these poems will take on a life of their own and your little audience will love them!, June 21, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes (Hardcover)

There are all kinds of pieces of clothing that people or critters wear that seem to have a life of their own. They even have stinky sneaker contests for those really unique pieces of footwear. Pee yew! Everyone has something they own that is very distinctive and all their own. In this book fifteen critters give us a glance at what might be their favorite article of clothing and Alice Schertle just happens to describe each of them in a fun and very unique rhyme! From Bertie's shoelaces to Emily's undies and Bill's blue jacket you'll probably recognize at least one thing you or someone you know treasures (but on one else does!).

Tanya's OLD T-SHIRT

I live in a bucket shoved under a stair.

They call me dustrag!

I don't think it's fair.

I'm still the same size as when I was new.

I didn't shrink-

It was Tanya who GREW.

She started out small and we fit to a T.

Now she's big as a sofa!

She's tall as a tree!

She's out of control, and they're dusting with me!

You'll never, now ever,

hear anyone say,

"She's gotten too big, she's just in the way,

let's dust the piano with Tanya today."

These poems are lots of fun and have just the right panache and rhythm little ones love. The art work, needless to say, catches and matches the mood of each poem. These poems would be perfect bedtime fare or would be a lot of fun to recite during circle time. If you have an expressive reading voice, these poems will take on a life of their own and your little audience will love them!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever and catchy poems that families will enjoy, April 29, 2009

By 

fun loving doctor and mom (suburban Maryland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes (Hardcover)

The poems are catchy and clever rhymes, each one about a different animal wearing a different article of clothing. My 4 1/2 year old daughter enjoys hearing "Tonya's Old Tee Shirt" about a bear's tee shirt that is now used as a dust rag. I like "Wanda's bathing suit" about a rabbit who likes to get herself and her suit wet, along with everyone around them. The illustrations are cute and vivid. You can read the book cover to cover or select a rhyme or two per sitting and either way it's great.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun poetry compilation!, October 15, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes (Hardcover)

I reviewed this for a graduate class on children's literature, and found it to be a fun read! My kindergartener loved it too! Award-winning poet Alice Schertle has come up with a generally delightful compilation of poems centered on the topic of clothing. The clothes are the central focus in this collection, and each poem is written from the particular clothes' point of view. The articles of clothing are worn by adorable little animals such as a galoshes-wearing pig, an underwear-wearing mouse, a pajama-clad alligator, a dog wearing a soccer jersey, and many more. Children will relate easily to these characters and the articles of clothing they are wearing as many of them wear these clothes in daily life and in a variety of activities. The illustrations by Petra Mathers are colorful and fun which further enhance the listening and reading experience.

The language used is also easily accessible to young children and what makes this collection of poems particularly appealing is the variety used in the verse. There are rhyming verses, e.g. "Jack does the running, I do the showing - number 6 coming, number 6 going" in Jack's Soccer Jersey. There are also many instances of free verse, e.g. "Ready, set, jump! Scrunch up small - Look out down below - in Wanda's Swimsuit. Mostly, this blend of free and rhyming verses work, but there are instances where it feels forced such as in Jamelia's Dress-Up Clothes which ends with a rather abrupt "Jamelia wears us all at one. We're her dress-up clothes."

Some of the verses have an infectious beat that encourages audience participation which is always a great feature to have in poetry especially in reading aloud sessions with young children. One of the best examples in this book would be the poem, The Song of Harvey's Galoshes which has features of assonance, e.g.

"Squash-galosh, squash-galosh, through the slime,

Squash-galosh, squash-galosh, bet a nickel, bet a dime."

`Emily shows us wherever she goes" in Emily's Undies will elicit giggles from many children who will recognize themselves in the precocious Emily the mouse, but the poems are not all laugh out loud funny. There is one poignant poem titled Tanya's Old T-Shirt which is the lament of an old, discarded t-shirt, bemoaning its fate as a rag. This is so reminiscent of childhood where children outgrow their clothes and will strike a chord with listeners. Children will love listening to and reading these poems about their favorite articles of clothing as represented by the diverse variety in this collection of poems.