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May 18, 2007
Silly Dilly Songs and School Visits: Poetry(ish) Friday
My brother played down in the sand
He had a lot of cool shovels in his hand
But now home he's jumpin' like a rubber band
he's got the whole beach in his pants!
-from "He's Got the Whole Beach in His Pants" (sung to the tune of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands") in I'm Still Here in the Bathtub: Brand New Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz
I've been looking at the Alan Katz song books again partly because Lucas has developed an interest in them (in spite of the fact that he knows virtually none of the songs being parodied -- what have we done wrong?) and they're really fun to use on school visits. A particular favorite of mine to use with groups is "The Yogurt Flies Straight from My Brother" from the first book, Take Me Out of the Bathtub, because it's fun to get all the kids singing, "Food fight! Food fight!" The kids usually wind up walking out of the room still singing the song, which I always take as a good sign (even when the teachers kind of glare at me, which I think they also do because we hand out these stickers that say, "When school ends the fun begins at the Webster Public Library." Tee hee hee. I love those stickers.). I really like "He's Got the Whole Beach in His Pants," but I've never quite had the nerve to use it with a school group. It's like my favorite (okay, only -- and I got it from Dav Pilkey's web site) knock-knock joke. I can only use it on days I'm feeling brave:
Knock-Knock.
Who's there?
I'm a pile up.
Go try it on one of your coworkers. You'll understand when you hear the response. Then please imagine a whole room full of children responding to this joke. Maybe I'm still ten years old in my heart, but *that's* funny.
I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: a lot of my philosophy of librarianship has to do with that which amuses me. Alan Katz's song parodies amuse me, as do the illustrations done by David Catrow. The books are light and funny and when you introduce them to kids, they check them out. And that's a good school visit plan.
[Big A little a has the roundup (and her first-ever flying lesson -- good luck, Kelly!) today.]
Posted by adrienne at May 18, 2007 07:28 AM
Comments
I'm crackin' up. I had to read the knock knock joke aloud -- twice. Duh. But now I'm crackin' up. Over the library stickers, too.
Posted by: Liz Garton Scanlon at May 18, 2007 11:45 AM
I'm afraid that all of us in the Children's Department are kind of naughty, in a good way, though -- fun-loving, a little subversive.
Posted by: adrienne at May 18, 2007 11:55 AM
Tee Hee.
My favorite knock knock::
Knock knock
who's there?
Lena
Lena who?
Lena little closer and I'll tickle you!
Posted by: cloudscome at May 20, 2007 02:27 PM
I still love why is 6 afraid of 7? I think I like that joke because the numbers are not really numbers. but my new favorite knock knock joke (the 1 good part of the last Wil Smith movie):
Knock knock
who's there?
None
No one who?
.....(no response) I love it when I can ignore people!)
Posted by: tonderdo at May 20, 2007 09:58 PM
Hi, it's Alan Katz. Thanks for your kind words about my books--I really appreciate your enthusiasm for my work. Keep singing! Keep laughing! And...I love your knock-knock joke! Best,
Alan
Posted by: Alan Katz at May 27, 2007 09:07 PM
Alan, Thanks to you for a LOT of really fun school visits, and thanks for commenting! It's always exciting to have an author drop by.
Posted by: adrienne at May 27, 2007 10:12 PM
Thank YOU! And if you like jokes like that, wait'll you see DON'T SAY THAT WORD!--a new book David Catrow and I have coming out in late June. It's really pretty outrageous, but lots of fun--kids I've shared it with in schools from CT to CA have really enjoyed it. I'd love to know what you think after you get a chance to see it. Until then...many thanks again for your extremely kind words. Best, Alan
Posted by: Alan Katz at May 28, 2007 09:17 PM
Ah, yes, and I see you're signing copies of the new book at BookExpo on Friday. Count on me being your line! :)
Posted by: adrienne at May 28, 2007 10:32 PM