About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is resisting the morning routine or needs a boost of confidence before getting dressed for the day. While most books about clothing focus on the mechanics of getting ready, Button Up! uses whimsical personification to turn everyday garments into lively companions. Through a series of rhythmic, first-person poems, your child will meet a variety of clothes, from a cozy sweater to muddy galoshes, all narrated by the items themselves. This imaginative shift helps children view their daily tasks with a sense of play rather than chore. It is particularly effective for preschoolers and early elementary students who are developing their sense of autonomy. By anthropomorphizing the wardrobe, Alice Schertle encourages a sense of gratitude for the things that keep us warm and dry, while the charming animal illustrations keep the tone light and humorous. It is a wonderful way to introduce the concept of poetry through familiar, low-stakes subjects.
What Parents Should Know
Read plot summary
This is a collection of fifteen poems told from the perspective of various articles of clothing worn by a cast of animal characters. Each poem highlights a specific garment, like Emily's jersey or Joshua's hat, exploring how the clothing feels about its job and the child who wears it. SENSITIVE TOPICS: None. The book is secular and focuses entirely on the lighthearted, imaginative exploration of inanimate objects. EMOTIONAL ARC: The book is gentle and celebratory throughout. It maintains a consistent level of whimsical energy, moving from the pride of a new shirt to the comfort of old pajamas. IDEAL READER: A 4 or 5-year-old who is beginning to take pride in choosing their own outfits or a child who experiences sensory or emotional resistance during morning transitions. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might reach for this after a 'clothing battle' or when a child insists on wearing a specific, dirty item of clothing because they are emotionally attached to it. PARENT PREP: This book can be read cold. The rhythm and rhyme are very accessible for a casual read-aloud. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (4-5) will delight in the personification and the colorful animal illustrations. Older children (6-7) will appreciate the clever wordplay, the varied poetic structures, and may be inspired to write their own 'object poems.' DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many 'getting dressed' books that are instructional or goal-oriented, this book is purely imaginative and poetic. It uses the 'clothes-eye view' to build empathy and creativity rather than just teaching how to tie a shoe.
