Poetry Book Review - Newer Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Foxworthy, Jeff. Dirt On My Shirt. 2008. Ill. by Steve Bjorkman. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061208461

REVIEW
The subject matter of this random collection of poetry is very relatable to kids - what child hasn’t “lost” something only to find that they are wearing it? The poems describe events such as traveling, eating, playing, and other common activities. Many of the poems are about crazy family members, too. Each limerick is silly, written in various rhyming patterns, making them easy to follow and fun to read aloud.

Foxworthy’s comedic background is reflected in his writing. The majority of his poetry has a more concrete meaning with very little figurative language. However, the context is funny, very imaginative, and shows readers that poetry does not have to difficult to understand or find meaning in - it can be fun and even relaxing to read. Bjorkman’s cartoon-style illustrations complement each poem well, are very colorful, playful, and exude the joy found in the poetry. Each one adds to the appeal of each poem, making them even more enjoyable to children. Bjorkman adds even more to the fun by challenging readers to find certain objects in one of the illustrations. This appealing collection will certainly be the favorite of many young readers who enjoy short, silly poetry that will keep them entertained over and over. Dirt On My Shirt would be a great addition to a library collection serving younger readers.

SELECTION #1
Escape
By Jeff Foxworthy

How happy are balloons that finally get away?
Escaped from little hands
That tried to make the stay
Where do they go, I wonder?
With no map to guide them
To Heaven I would guess
Where little angels ride them

SELECTION #2
Bobo Bye-Bye
By Jeff Foxworthy

On a tire swing Bobo sat
Swinging very high
He thought he’d let go of the rope
Tell Bobo bye-bye

REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK: “Energetic cartoon illustrations do a good job of depicting simple vignettes that enliven the poems.”
BOOKLIST: “Bjorkman (Aliens for Breakfast) punches up the text with plentiful illustrations in a cheery cartoon style.”
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “collection of light verse courts both fans of the comedian and their children.”

CONNECTIONS
* Use this book to find quick poetry breaks. The poems are versatile and can be used as a quick poetry retreat for teachers running short on time, but still wanting to incorporate a frequent poetry break.
* After reading several of Foxworthy’s poems about family members, have students write silly poems about one of their family members.