I DON’T WANT TO CLEAN MY ROOM

The 16 rhyming poems in this collection are aimed at preschoolers who are just learning about household chores such as folding laundry, vacuuming and making beds. Some of the poems are humorous and amiable, with action provided by a toddler leaping through the laundry or a child bouncing on a bed with starry sheets. Other poems try too earnestly to make a particular chore interesting or fun, not always successfully, and several poems in the collection either don’t scan well or have a sing-songy rhythm. Koeller’s cheerful illustrations add to the volume’s appeal, with a multiethnic cast of children and parents working together both inside the home and outdoors. She shows an equal division of tasks between males and females, with boys setting the table and cleaning up and a dad folding laundry and taking care of a toddler. Preschool teachers may find this collection useful for reinforcing basic housekeeping skills in the classroom, and parents might like to try the poems with their preschoolers as a way of focusing on the message of families working cooperatively. (Poetry. 3-5)