'Toes In My Nose: and Other Poems' by Sheree Fitch

Sheree Fitch is a well-known author of children's poetry, whose work is often described as "whimsical" and "nonsensical." In 1992, she won the Mr. Christie's Best Canadian Children's Book award for There Were Monkeys in my Kitchen! That book cemented Fitch's reputation as a children's author and performer, but back in 1987, she published a book called Toes in my nose and other poems, a charming collection of poems illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak.

Molly Lamb Bobak, who was appointed Canada's Official War Artist in 1945, shows a unique sensibility in her quirky watercolours. The art's uneven, childlike aspects-for example, pencil lines are clearly visible, and faces sometimes seem unfinished-match the naiveté of the poems. Details and continuity are not as important as the overall feel of the images. Indeed, the spur-of-the-moment quality of the pictures makes them seem more ephemeral.

Fitch's poems' sounds, meter, and rhymes take precedence over their meanings. Very young children can listen to them, though they can't relate to the stories, and appreciate the musicality of the verse.

"I slurrrp my soup
Upon my spoon
I crrrunchh my crackers up
When I eat my lunch at noon" (from "Crunching My Lunch")

"Splish! Splash!
Splish! Splash!
I am having
My night-time bath" (from "Submarine")

The thirty-six poems in Toes In My Nose are alliterative and witty. They are meant to be read aloud, with their staccato sentences, onomatopoeias, and plenty of opportunities for the reader to emphasize or shout certain words (i.e. "I wonder about THUNDER!").

Poems in Toes In My Nose speak of many a child's experiences, including trivialities that seem wondrous only through a child's perception. There are several verses about children having misadventures with food--surely a staple of nonsense poems. And let's not forget eccentric characters such as "Mabel Murple" (who stars in her own book, published in 1995) and "Zelba Zinnamon." Children will delight in Mabel and Zelba's oddball antics.

There are other sides to Fitch's poetry, however. "Grandmom" is a gentle poem about a little girl's relationship with her grandmother. In "William Worm," a boy takes home a worm, and is surprised by his father's consternation. Interactive poems such as "Doctor Sickles" and "The Sneeze" may invite readers and listeners to play along with the stories. "Lola June," "Ladder to the Sky," and "I Can Fly" are quieter poems placed at the end of the book, perfect for bedtime reading.

Go To Page: 1 2