Button Up! Wrinkled Ryhmes by Alice Schertle

1. Bibliographic Data
Schertle, Alice. Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes. New York: Harcourt Children's Books, 2009.

2. Plot Summary
Button up! is a collection of poems by Alice Shertle. The poems all include items that a child would wear, such as their galoshes, coats, sweaters, and swimsuits. Alice tells a cute story for each clothing item that shares what each character does while wearing them. "Bob skins his elbow. Bob scrapes his knee. Bob doesn't hurt his head- Bob's got me" tells the story of Bob and his biking helmet. Alice's short poems describe a piece of clothing for all weather and many occassions that children will relate to.

3. Critical Analysis
Button up! has a catchy rhythm to it with its rhyming words at the end of the sentences. Children can remember these short poems and read along. The book has illustrations for each poem that compliments the imagery created by Alice Shertle. The words and illustrations take the reader through the everday experience of each item. These poems are happy and light-hearted, like "Joshua's Jammies". The illustration shows all of Joshua's animal toys, and the poem describes how Joshua's jammies are the perfect fit just for him. This book of poems would be a great addition to any child's bedtime story collection.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010
*Best Childrens Book of the Year, 2010
*Childrens Literature..."Rollicking poems told in the “voices” of articles of clothing make up this fun collection. Rhymes are in couplets or quatrains, with some internal rhyming, and there is a well-defined rhythm that will appeal to children. The silliness of talking clothes adds to the overall appeal."

5. Connection
*Ask children to come up with there favorite piece of clothing, and to make up a funny story about that item.
*Bring in props that compliment the story, so that the children can see and touch them. This could be a bike helmet, an itchy sweater, an old t-shirt, a soccer jersey, etc.

"Button Up!." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2130/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed October 14, 2010).