Janeczko Poetry - Dirty Laundry Pile: Poems in Different Voices

1. Bibliographic Citation

Janeczko, Paul B. 2001. Dirty Laundry Pile: Poems in Different Voices. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780688162511

 

2. Summary and Review

Dirty Laundry Pile is a collection of 27 poems by different poets including Douglas Florian, Marilyn Singer, Jane Yolen, Kristine O’Connell George, and many more. As Janeczko explains in the beginning of the book, each poem is written from the point of view of an object or animal, including a dirty laundry pile. While some poems caught my interest more than others, the collection itself is a fun mix of persona, or mask poems, as Janeczko calls them. The majority of the poems rhyme, but concrete and free verse poems also make welcomed appearances in this collection. “Washing Machine” by Bobbi Katz makes strong use of onomatopoeia: “Glubita glubita glubita… GLUB/Swizzle-dee-swash – Swizzle-dee-swash.” The words wind around like the motion of the washing machine while describing the sound. Melissa Sweet’s whimsical watercolor illustrations create the perfect pairing for the various poems. The beautifully illustrated dark night sky is an appropriate backdrop for Kristine O’Connell George’s “Old Elm Speaks.” This poem speaks volumes with few words. My favorite, “The Mosquito’s Song” by Peggy B. Leavitt is a fun example of concrete poem in the shape of the mosquito’s proboscis.

The Mosquito’s Song by Peggy B. Leavitt

I sing.                       You Slap.

I mean                       no harm.

There is no cause

for your alarm.

A little drop

is all I ask.

It really is

a simple task.

So please

hold still

at this

juncture,

while I

make

a tiny

P

U

N

C

T

U

R

E

!

3. Awards/Reviews

*Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee, 2004-2005

*Bank Street College of Education Best Children Books of the Year, 2002

*Positive Reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews

4. Activities

“The Mosquito’s Song” lends itself to call and response reading. Divide the students into two groups. To make it easier, the poem could be retyped and color coded so the groups know when to say their parts and when they should read together. Beginning with the first line, the groups will alternate lines in a call and response manner until the last word “puncture!” which will be read together.     

5. Related books

*Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Shertle ISBN 9780152050504

*Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems by Kristine O’Connell George ISBN 9780395876114

*Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian ISBN 9780152163358