Here's a Little Poem Review

Here's a Little Poem
collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters; illustrated by Polly Dunbar

If you could pick 60 poems for toddlers that capture their unexpected joys, instant frustrations and non-stop escapades, you'd be a genius. You'd be Yolen, in fact, (and collaborator Fusek Peters) and the book would be this eclectic, surprising and always delightful collection that absolutely belongs on your shelf.

Unlike some other kiddie poets, ahem, Yolen's not resting on her laureates, so to speak, and she's out there collecting the best of the best for us to titter and giggle over. I'm going to completely trash a few copyrights in the hopes you'll be inspired to get your own copy.

Jill Townsend obviously has mothered at least one clothing-challenged small person. This gem of hers sounds familiar in our household:

Dressing too Quickly
Too many buttons.
What along zip.
Velcro to fasten.
Mind you don't slip.
Dress more slowly.
You'll fall in a minute!
You've one trouser leg
And two legs in it.

The poems round out a kid's day, by the way, taking us from wake-up to nighty-night, with a few themed events like a beach trip tossed in for fun. It's an easy convention for ordering the poems, but I skipped around and didn't miss a beat.

The wide mix of authors takes us from Robert Louis Stevenson to Nikki Grimes and over the territory trod smooth by such kidlit dearhearts as Margaret Wise Brown and, yes, even Jack Prelutsky.

Some of the poems are bits of whimsy, floating like petals on a sweet breeze, and others are more striking, as in this memorable snippet of free verse from Berlie Doherty:

Grandpa
Grandpa's hands are as rough as
Garden sacks
And as warm as pockets.
His skin is crushed paper round
His eyes
Wrapping up their secrets.

Dunbar's art occasionally channels Maurice Sendak too fawningly, but at her best the paper collage, watercolor and pencil drawings are spirited and bright.