Button Up!

February 9, 2009
Despite its eye-catching cover and offbeat viewpoint, the “Wrinkled Rhymes” in this collection of poems about clothing have a few too many wrinkles. Each verse is written from the perspective of an article of clothing talking about its relationship to its owner, but too often the rhythms miss beats and the narratives are forced: “I am Violet's hiking hat./ I live on Violet's head./ 'I never
take off my hiking hat,'/ Violet said.” Still, Schertle does provide clever turns of phrase and perspectives (Tanya's old T-shirt complains, “Now she's big as a sofa!/ She's tall as a tree!/ She's
out of control, and they're dusting with me
!”), but a lack of strong imagery and the haphazard meter are distracting. Mathers's watercolors—alternating spot art with full-spread paintings—depict a plethora of animal characters that are not lively enough to consistently provide the needed energy. But toddlers will enjoy picking out animals from previous poems, swimming as Wanda and her swimsuit do a cannonball or dressing up as ghosts for Halloween. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from May 1, 2009
K-Gr 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 receivesit 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"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2009
Preschool-G *Starred Review* From untied shoelaces to a hand-me-down sweatshirt, 15 articles of clothing tell their side of the story in verse. Alongside each poem, Mathers charming watercolors show a variety of decked out animals in vignettes and double-page spreads thatadd to the humor. The familiar and child-friendly material ranges from a hat that doesnt come off even in the bath togaloshes that stomp in the mud toa padded jacket that takes forever to button up. With varied rhymes and rhythms occasionally disrupted for emphasis, Schertles poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud. Two beats to a line emphasize the doggedness of Bobs bicycle helmet: Ive got him covered. / Im on the job. Alliteration and repetition add appeal: We are the jammies that Joshua wears, / not jammies for penguins, / not jammies for bears. The wrinkled rhymes appear in couplets and quatrains, as well as internally: it tickles me / to be a little prickly says Ricks wool sweater. And who can resist the undies that Emily shows wherever she goes? The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)