Subversive Poetry for KIDS (that adults will love too)

First, understand that I am a teacher advocate. I taught for a long time and I love the art and science of teaching – it is a passion. But, there have been many hundreds or thousands or perhaps millions of students through the decades turned off to POETRY because of teacher.

Typically this happens because, A) the teacher knows a lot about poetry and loves it but doesn’t know how to teach it, or B) the teacher knows nothing about poetry and so uses the English textbook or reading adoption and so the kids only get those selections. This, my friends, is a crying shame, because the truth is that kids LOVE poetry.

Kids of all ages will gobble poetry up and write some of the most insightful, lyrical work you have eve laid eyes on if given the opportunity, guidance, and passion. I recommend introducing kids to poetry early and often AND it just so happens that using poetry in reading lessons is a great way to get struggling readers to stick with it because poems are typically not long, daunting sections of text loaded like a minefield with words ready to tie the tongue of every unsuspecting reader who isn’t quite capable of mastering every phoneme thrown his or her way. Also, poems for kids are great for grownups too as read-aloud at bedtime or choral readings.

Which brings us to our recommendations for this week:

take me out of the bathtub and other silly dilly songs
written by Alan Katz
illustrated by David Catrow
Margaret K. McElberry Books
ISBN: 0-689-82903-5

Don’t Say That Word
written by Alan Katz
illustrated by David Catrow
Margaret K. McElberry Books
ISBN: 0-689-86971-1

Alan Katz and David Catrow might possibly be the most perfect match of writer and illustrator since Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman brought us Gonzo journalism with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. And the beauty of take me out of the bathtub and Don’t Say That Word is that any adult who knows the work of Thompson and Steadman will quickly see the comparison. Manic, subversive, gross, unpleasant, and rebellious, these poems and illustrations for elementary readers might be called Fear and Loathing in Rhyme. Don’t be scared off by the comparison though; these are great books that speak more to the snakes and snails and puppy-dog tails side of childhood as opposed to sweet rhymes about eggs falling to pieces (but even that poem wasn’t about an egg – more on that in a later post). Be prepared for booger and fart jokes – which kids LOVE by the way.

take me out of the bathtub and other silly dilly songs is a re-writing of songs that most kids already know. The title poem, for instance, is sung to the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but find our protagonist in the bathtub while wearing roller skates and a great visual of his backside as he flies through the air.  “Stinky Stinky Diaper Change” (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) relates the less satisfying parts of being a big brother. Catrow's illustration here does not spare the reader as the baby is flown out the window like a kite only to have his diaper impair the flight of a flock of birds. Other poems include an homage to baby-sitters, the joys of being dirty, and every kid’s bane – cleaning the bedroom.

Katz takes a different tact in Don’t Say That Word. Here, he tells one story in rhyme. Catrow’s cover art shows our hero, think Calvin crossed with Bill the Cat, sitting in the corner savoring a mouthful of soap. As you might guess, the theme here is all those words that kids love to say and hear but which adults are quick to point out – are not nice. We are not talking about cursing here. This is not the seven words you can’t say on television – this is the seven words Mom doesn’t want to hear come our of your mouth:

WARNING: Graphic Content Ahead (eh?)

Booger
Burp
Poop
Butt
Barf
Toilet and
Fart

This is a particularly clever outing for Katz and Catrow, as those seven words never actually appear in the book. Just as our pug-nosed young man is about to say the word his mother yells, “Don’t say that word!” This actually employs an excellent reading strategy for kids to fill in the missing words – similar to a cloze activity.

Catrow’s illustrations here are wonderful and deserve a close inspection because there are visual jokes all over every page. The family dog silently watches the boy’s adventures at and seems to relish the trouble the boy endures for his language. We can only imagine the torment the boy has put the dog through although we get an idea on the back cover as the boy blows his “Pork Radish N Cheese Chip” breath in the dog’s general direction.

Get your kids reading poetry and use poems they can relate to and will excite them.

Remember - read with your kids every day!

Mr. G