POETRY PICTURE BOOK - Dear Hot Dog - Mordicai Gerstein

Illustrated by the author

2011, Abrams Books for Young Readers

HC $16.95

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating: 3.49

My rating: 4

Endpapers: Bright, sunny yellow

Title Page:  Across the two pages the little girl is waking up as the sign rises behind her prone figure.

Illustrations: Acrylics on paper.

Toothbrush

All night

dozing in your holder

you wait for me.

I give you toothpaste

for breakfast,

mint,

your favorite flavor.

Then you go to work

in the foamy, pink

cave of my mouth,

scouring and scrubbing,

gargling your little song;

shreds of carrot,

pebbles of peanut,

cracker crumbs

hiding in cracks

---all washed away.

I rinse you off, and

back in your holder

you sigh and dry.

As my day begins,

you go back

to sleep.

Socks

I never stop
to think about socks,
and if I get them
for a birthday present
from Aunt Adi,
I'm disappointed.
You can't play
with socks.
But now,
with wind rattling
the icy windows,
putting on these
soft, thick, red ones
makes me happy
all day.

Ice-Cream Cone

I hold you high against the sky

like Liberty's torch,

a snow-topped,

milky mountain,

while rivers

of vanilla slide

over my fingers

and down my sleeve.

I turn you and lick you,

and with every lick

there's less of you.

Come back!

I see you hiding

deep in the cone.  

I bit off its 

bottom tip

and the very las of you

dribbles into my mouth.

I give the cone

to my little brother.

He likes them.

I don't.

My comments:  Great poems, from the point-of-view of three different boys during the day.Toothbrush, Pants, Toes (! !) Socks, Shoes, Cup, Bowl, Kite, Air, Water, Summer Sun, Hot Dog, Ice-Cream Cone, Leaves, Rain, Books, Crayons, Scissors, Spaghetti, Bear, Light, and Pillow!  Great poems!

Goodreads:  Whether it’s slurping up spaghetti or catching some sun at the beach, the everyday wonders celebrated in this collection of poems will appeal to young readers.
          Cleverly crafted by Mordicai Gerstein, Dear Hot Dog follows three friends from the time they wake up and brush their teeth to when they snuggle up for bed with their favorite stuffed animal. In between playing outside, making crafts, eating their favorite treats, and reading, together they delight in the adventure and magic that each day brings. Gerstein’s vibrant illustrations and lighthearted verse make Dear Hot Dog a great introduction to poetry for young readers

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Button Up! - Alice Schertle

Poetry
Wrinkled Rhymes
Illustrated by Petra Mathers
Harcourt Children's, 2009
$16.00
40 pgs.
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Mouse looking up at purple butterflies

Clever poet Alice Schertle tells us about Bertie's Shoelaces, Violet's Hiking Hat, the Song of Harvey's Galoshes, Emily's Undies, Jennifer's Shoes, Tanya's Old T-Shirt, Wanda's Swimsuit, Jack's Soccer Jersey, Jamelia's Dress-up Clothes, Rick's Wool Sweater, and Bill's Blue Jacket.

Bob’s Bicycle Helmet

Bob’s on his bicycle
and I’m on Bob.
I’m Bob’s helmet.
I’m on the job.

Bob burns rubber
Bob climbs hills.
Bob does wheelies.
Bob takes spills.

Bob skins his elbow.
Bob scrapes his knee.
Bob doesn’t hurt his head ---
Bob’s got me.

And if some day
the sky should fall
it will not hurt
Bob’s head at all.

Bob’s on his bike again.
I’m on Bob.
I’ve got him covered.
I’m on the job.

Hand-Me-Down Sweatshirt

I’m a hand-me-down sweatshirt
with zipper and hood.
I’m everyone’s favorite
and still looking good.

I’ve been lost and recovered
been torn and been sewn,
been dribbled on, tumbled in,
rained on and blown.

I started out Wendell’s,
was passed down to May,
she passed me to Karly,
I’m Andrew’s today.

So zip up my zipper
and pull up my hood.
I’m a friend of the family
and still looking good.