Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schertle, Alice. 2009. BUTTON UP!: WRINKLED RHYMES. Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-15-205050-4

AWARD(S) and STARS

• Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010
• Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, 2010
• Booklist Book Review Stars, 2009
• Kirkus Book Review Stars, 2009
• School Library Journal Book Review Stars, 2009

PLOT SUMMARY

Childhood experiences are remembered throughout this unique book of poetry about clothes. While adorning various animal characters, the shoelaces “hang loose,” and the old t-shirt is offended it’s become a “dust rag.” Children will giggle reading about “Emily’s Undies” and “Clyde’s Costume” of gingham. An ostrich wearing a wool turtleneck sweater and pigs cavorting in mud or swimming the backstroke will surely delight children of all ages.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Each of the 15 poems that Alice Schertle has created tells a story about an article of clothing in its own voice and tone. The poems are spoken from the clothing’s point of view playfully sharing perspectives on how clothes might interpret their relationship with the person they’re on; for instance, “The Song of Harvey’s Galoshes” or “Hand-me-down Sweatshirt.” Schertle uses onomatopoeia, alliteration, lists and rhyme to expertly express the “feelings” of the clothing so children will be able to relate to their own experiences with dressing up.

Petra Mathers’ painted illustrations are perfectly suited for these witty verses. All of the animal characters from the pudgy pigs to the long-nosed alligators are set in familiar childhood surroundings further relating the text to children all over. For Bill’s Blue Jacket, Mathers puts an over-sized puffy blue jacket on a sweet cat. Don’t all children end up with a too-big jacket so it would last for another year? Even the animal toys for Joshua the alligator are indicative of typical stuffed animals.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

·         HORN BOOK – “From delicately comical to downright funny, the art perfectly reflects the contagiously rhythmic, playful verse. Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too.”

·         SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections.”

·         BOOKLIST – “With varied rhymes and rhythms occasionally disrupted for emphasis, Schertle’s poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud. . . The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat.”

CONNECTIONS

·         For older children, initiate a discussion about favorite clothes, even have children talk with family members about items they liked when they were younger. After introducing various forms of poetry (list, acrostic, cinquain, etc.) have students write about one of their favorite pieces of clothing and illustrate it. Compile the poems in a new thematic poetry book about clothing.

·         Have younger children copy their favorite poem or the one they relate to the most and illustrate the poem. Perhaps even having a clothing “show and tell.”