Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes

...these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun.

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

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 watercolorsalternating spot art with full-spread paintingsdepict 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 37. "(Apr.)"

Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

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 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"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

" . . 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