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If I Had a Million Onions

by Sheree Fitch; Yayo, illus.

“More of same” could be the short review of former Nova Scotia resident Sheree Fitch’s latest collection of nonsense verse, illustrated by Montrealer Yayo. In 25 rhyming verses, Fitch demonstrates the bouncy rhythms of internal and end rhymes (“Argentinosaurus/Shakes the cities and the forests/Every time he takes a step and sings a score/He is bowing to the tourists who bring flowers from the florists./And his dinosaurus chorus is so glorious! Encore!”). She explores the funny results of mixing up initial consonants (“Would you like some beggs and acon?/Would you like a twice of sloast?”) and of malapropisms (“Many happygradulations!/You have my symphony, you do”). She introduces kids to a word that sounds like nonsense, but isn’t (borborygmus). She expresses some nice sentiments about world peace and food for everyone.

Fitch’s rhymes are clever and her rhythms are buoyant; one can imagine using this text to show kids how to rejoice a little in the malleability and inventiveness of language. This is more than respectable nonsense verse.

Still, nonsense verse makes up the majority of poetry for children published these days. Do we need more? Fitch is a poet, and her foray into children’s fiction (The Gravesavers) shows that she has penetrating perceptions to share and the ability to arrest us with language. Why does Fitch restrict herself to nonsense verse that’s unremittingly cheerful and upbeat? I missed the weight, consolation, and deeper delight that poetry can bring.

Like witty cartoons, Yayo’s pencil crayon illustrations play off Fitch’s language with visual puns and allusions. Indeed, the sophistication of the drawings and the book’s fine paper and clear colours make it an attractive object in its own right, a happy achievement of text and production.

 

Reviewer: Deirdre Baker

Publisher: Tradewind Books

DETAILS

Price: $19.95

Page Count: 64 pp

Format: Cloth

ISBN: 1-896580-78-5

Released: Nov.

Issue Date: 2005-12

Categories:

Age Range: 5-10