Funky Snowman: Get In the Groove with a Book of Children's Poems & Stories by Calef Brown

Funky Snowman poem by Calef Brown, Polka-bats and Octopus Slacks

If you're the sort who's not fond of phrases like "happy holidays," prepare for your blood to boil.

Here's a winter greeting in our house these days: KICK IT, FUNKY SNOWMAN!

Around the house, Brooke's set out some winter decorations.  A nativity scene here, a moose there, a garland with colorful lights over the entertainment center.  And a stuffed snowman about 14" tall.

Chloe sees the snowman and says, "I WANNA HOLD FUNKY SNOWMAN!"  Or when we're putting her to bed: "NIGHT NIGHT FUNKY SNOWMAN!"

This thanks to a work of inspired hilarity, Polka-Bats and Octopus Slacks (affiliate link) by Calef Brown. Specifically a poem within entitled "Funky Snowman."

Some children's books are destined for a short life span, dare I say because many children's books aim only to be cute.  Samuel Clemens' works - under the nom de plume Mark Twain, such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - don't stand the test of time because they are cute. We can bat around the ideas as to why those books are still popular today, but I really don't know why.  Cute, though, is definitely not the characterstic.

Calef Brown's work is now over 10 years old and still produces fans today.  We new parents who still think reading real books to our kids isn't a half-bad idea go bonkers at wild, uncaged books like this one. The artwork, the creativity, the playfulness. The F-U-N all over the pages.

Here's an example, four short lines from within:

Funky Snowman loves to dance.
You'd think he wouldn't have much chance
without two legs
or even pants.

Oh what's that you say?  It's cute?

Well okay.

Let me combat that with this: It also contains several hints for learning the secrets of life (so there . . .) and this is why I think Polka-Bats and Octopus Slacks still maintains popularity today.  We're all wacky people inside. Pay attention very closely to a later line in this poem.  Are you sitting down?

Turn up the music with the disco beat,
when you're in the groove, you don't need feet.

Polka-Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown
AH HA!  A life lesson.  A moral to the story.

With a footless dancing funky snowman in the mix, we're raising confident little kids.  Right?  Get into the groove and go buy this book (affiliate link through locally owned Changing Hands bookstore in Tempe, Arizona).

Disclosure: I did not receive the book nor payment of any kind from the author, publisher, or publicist for this review.