In 32 lickety-split verses, Dotlich not only reproduces the typical pace and sound of traditional jump-rope rhymes, but most of their common tropes, too, from “Teapot, teapot, / kettle and can. / Mixer, masher, / pudding and pan,” to “Jillian, Jillian, / where will you go? / To Denmark, / To Sweden, / to pick out a beau.” With but few exceptions—“Pepperoni. / Cheese on top. / Spin the rope / around and stop”—her nonsense also ably captures that timeless, folkloric quality that draws generations of rope-jumpers to the old chestnuts. Though the small flip-figure Hall places in alternate right bottom corners doesn’t quite work (there aren’t enough pages in this format to create the appearance of movement), her larger illustrations mix paint, cut paper, and other media to depict each poem’s central image with appropriate vim. This winning combination of infectious rhythms and easy-to-learn rhymes will have young audiences jumping at the chance to skip, or clap, along. (Picture book/poetry. 6-9)
