“Poetry is food for the soul, food is poetry for the tongue. So read a delicious poem that makes your soul feel young.” (ESL)
amuse-bouche: a small complimentary appetizer offered by the chef just before dinner.
a moose boosh: an appetizing little poem about food to be read aloud just before dinner or any time at all.
If you invite Brooklyn-based author/illustrator and creative director Eric-Shabazz Larkin to a party, chances are good he’ll bring a tasty, fresh-baked poem as a gift.
Keep your eye on him as he enters your kitchen, cause he’ll break out in some very cool dance moves. If dinner is part of your plan, Shabazz will gladly read his poem aloud — a literary amuse-bouche sure to whet the appetite and elicit instant happiness. What better way to set the table for a juicy meal to please and tease both tummy and tongue?
In A Moose Boosh: A Few Choice Words About Food (Readers to Eaters, 2014), Shabazz celebrates growing, eating, cooking, and sharing food with 40 fun, zippy, zesty, sassy, spirited mostly rhyming verses served up with playful “vandalized” photos. Some, like “Slippery Noodles,” will have you beboppin’ to its joyous rhythm as it promotes some serious slurping:
Twirl them, whirl them,
slop them, slip them,
twist them, curl them,
whip them, flip them,
sip them, slurp them,
chew them, beat them.
But you must use a fork
when you eat them.Slurp it up, mash it up
cut it up, clap it up,
look it up, pass it up,
turn it up, flap it up,
shake it up, make it up,
smell it up, love it up.
But do not use your hands
when you eat it up.
As with all of Shabazz’s poems, a good read aloud maximizes flavor. Can’t sit still. Don’t be surprised if your totally amused mouth thanks you for the invigorating workout.
What else? Well, who can resist a poem about runaway beans on the subway, Gramma’s magic Jamaican recipes, a mango thief, a $100 apple, or a girl named Ruby Loo who drooped when she pooped? Uh-huh.
Lest you think Shabazz is only about stuff and nonsense, consider some of his daily specials like “The Saddest Happiest Meal,” “Ashley Won’t Eat It If She Can’t Spell It,” and “Lab-Coat Corn,” where he takes on fast food, additives, and GMOs.
In “Do It For Dr. King,” he’s all about eating your greens, and there are poems about city kids dreaming of having a farm or wanting to grow clay pot veggies on a tiny apartment windowsill. I’m sure I would enjoy meeting “Doctor Food,” who “never prescribes medicine,” but “always prescribes a recipe.” I’ll have another serving of that Vitamin D-rich salmon fillet, if you please. 🙂
You’re probably wondering about graffiti-loving Shabazz, who obviously had too much fun doodling on his photographs. These scribblings and drawings very much represent the child’s perspective — an extra layer of imagination, irreverence, and humor superimposed upon an urban landscape.
Do you remember being taught not to draw on the walls of your bedroom or in the pages of a library book? Well, here the reader gets to engage in a little vicarious mischief-making by seeing someone who broke the rules and turned doodling into a good thing — a simple art form that can convey opinion and commentary in just a few strokes and squiggles. Use what you have in front of you — a Sharpie and some Wite-out. Mark it up, make something new. Above all, have fun. There’s power and ownership in that, and who doesn’t love a chewy, inventive visual feast?
Shabazz’s accessible, talk-on-the-street style effectively shows kids some of the delightful and surprising possibilities of poetry. It’s a good way to start a conversation about paying attention to what you eat, learning about where your food comes from, and appreciating the stories food likes to tell about history, culture and society.
Moreover, these poetic tidbits are a great way to inspire families to sit down to dinner together (“a family that eats together speaks together”). It’s a sad fact that these days many families do not have that critical end-of-the-day breaking of bread with loved ones. Bring dinnertime back! Bring back the clatter of plates and clinking of glasses, that happy taste, talk, tell — that sipping, slurping, sharing.
Though Shabazz recommends reading these poems just before dinner for best taste, they’re great for noshing anytime. Just make sure to keep your pet cabbage on a leash, and it wouldn’t hurt to practice balancing baguettes, crumpets and chapati on your head every day. To make sure you’ll come back for seconds, this spoken word of a meal literally ends with a bang (never underestimate the power of that last pea on the plate). 🙂
And now, a little Moose Boosh Sampler just for you. Special thanks to Shabazz for sharing a favorite recipe. Is it soup yet? You bet.
*
HOT SOUP
She wanted to try the soup,
but the soup was just too hot.
She blew and blew and whistled and huffed,
but she could not cool the pot.She decided to sip it anyway.
She could not, would not wait!
But when she burned her tongue
it (sort of) set her straight.
*
MY FATHER IS A PAINTER
My father is a painter,
but he doesn’t use a brush.
My plate is his canvas,
the colors are so lush.Purple cabbage and red kimchi,
yellow curry and green kale.
The tastes are the brushstrokes
that tell their own tale.There’s tart and nutty.
There’s bitter and spicy.
There’s savory and minty.
There’s sour and dicey.My father is a painter,
but he doesn’t use a brush.
This meal is a masterpiece
I wouldn’t dare rush.
*
PET CABBAGE
I lost my pet cabbage, but how is that?
I dressed it with a feather upon its hat.
It used to be round and purple and plump,
but then it got squishy and smelled like a dump.I left it alone with my mom one day.
She said it ran off when she looked away.
But I don’t think that could be true
’cause that’s just not something my cabbage would do.
*
NO MORE BEETS
I’d sooner lick the cat
than eat more beets.
I’d sooner kiss the dog
than eat more beets.
I’d rake the lawn
and clean the gutters
for our whole street.
I’d sooner do anything
than eat more beets.
*
*
*
🍴 A RECIPE JUST FOR YOU FROM SHABAZZ 🍴
I think my favorite recipe at the moment is Kenyan Fried Collards Greens and Ugali.
This is a fun dish to make for a few reasons:
1. The name is deceiving – They are way less fried than most foods you’d ever eat.
2. They have a story and a wonderful person I can’t help but think of when I make them. In this case, my friend from Kenya taught me how to make this in his basement apartment in College. We ate it, the traditional style, with our hands.
I think food with a story is my favorite.
Here is how you make it:
KENYAN FRIED COLLARD GREENS (SUKUMA WIKI) with UGALI
Ingredients:
- chopped tomatoes
- chopped onion
- chopped garlic
- chopped cilantro
- one bushel of finely chopped collards
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
Remove the thick stems from collards before chopping.
Add just enough olive oil to cover most of pan and place on medium fire.
Add all the chopped stuff.
Stir in salt and pepper (and anything else fun).
Flip greens around till they are shrunken down, soft and delicious (around 10 minutes).
UGALI is cornmeal cake.
You boil water in a pot and slowly add cormeal until it becomes like a cake. Then you flip the pot over so that it slides out. On its own – it’s horrible but with some stewed beef and fried collards – it’s amazing.
*
A MOOSE BOOSH: A Few Choice Words About Food
written and illustrated by Eric-Shabazz Larkin
published by Readers to Eaters, October 2014
Poetry for ages 10+, 96 pp.
*2015 ALA Notable Book*
*
Buffy Silverman is hosting the Roundup at Buffy’s Blog. Stroll over with your pet cabbage and check out the full menu of poetic goodies being shared in the blogosphere this week. Happy Weekend!
*
This post is also being linked to Beth Fish Read’s Weekend Cooking, where all are invited to share their food-related posts. Put on your best bibs and aprons and come join the fun!
———————————————–
Copyright © 2016 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Looks like a fun book…and you’re right, I’ll bet it opens up poetry to a lot of young kids!
LikeLike
I love a poet who widens the definition of what poetry is, or should be or could be.
LikeLike
I first saw Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s illustrations in FARMER WILL ALLEN AND THE GROWING TABLE, one of my favorite recent picture books, so I was eager to read A MOOSE BOOSH. We have so few books on issues of food justice/social justice (drawing attention to the “food deserts” of poor urban communities, etc.)–and we need more. I also LOVE the whimsical poems and the videos he’s created. Wonderful post, Jama!!!
LikeLike
Farmer Will is amazing too. Yes, we do need more books about food justice and politics. There is much we take for granted about food production and the responsible ways to make these resources available to everyone.
LikeLike
Had to LOL at the guy playing trumpet in the beans video.
Enjoyed all these poems. I think “My Father is a Painter” is my favorite. (And the name of the book is great.)
LikeLike
I love the beans video too! Talk about tooting your own horn. 😀
LikeLike
This is such fun, and I too know Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s work from Farmer Will Allen, clever and interesting to see & read. Now thees poems and more delightful art, wonderful! This is a must have for classrooms and now for my granddaughters who like to cook with their mom, Jama. Thank you!
LikeLike
This book is an excellent springboard for all kinds of discussions across the curriculum, not to mention a wonderful mentor text for writing poems.
LikeLike
This looks like such a great read aloud! And I can’t resist a moose ;). Thanks, Jama & congrats to Eric!
LikeLike
Tons of fun to read aloud. Some of it reminds me of stuff I’ve heard at poetry slams. 🙂 Hatley the Moose sends his regards.
LikeLike
I’m in love with this book, now Jama – what a feast for the eyes, ears, and soul!
LikeLike
Hope you see a copy soon, Tara. You’re in for a treat!
LikeLike
Such energy, fun and irreverence. Love the title, the art, the videos, the bopping words, the collard green recipe and oh, just everything.
LikeLike
I love the energy too — when you come across a poem like “Slippery Noodles,” you HAVE to read it aloud. If you can sit still through that one, you’re probably dead. And that beans video is a tooty toot hoot, i.e., a real gas. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine kids not liking his verses with verve. 🙂
LikeLike
I think what I like the most is imagining him explaining the poem to his friend, the trumpet player, and then asking him to play like a bean. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great dinner guest Eric Shabazz Larkin must be! I’m going to have to return to read and watch more closely–these are so much fun. And I’ll be sharing the beet poem with my husband (who is a beet lover who is married to a beet hater…too much borscht in my childhood!)
LikeLike
That beets photo is one of my favorites! While I’ll eat beets, I won’t go out of my way for them. I’ve never had borscht!
LikeLike
I’m in love!!! Thank you for introducing Eric-Shabazz Larkin to me!!!
LikeLike
Yay!! It’s hard not to love Shabazz’s work :)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Managed to pick up A Moose Boosh later that day and share the fun with my son!
LikeLike
Wonderful!
LikeLike
It’s wonderful! I love the food/poetry combo and the illustrations, too. My favorite here was “Slippery Noodles” with all the repetition. Thank you for sharing about this book.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed the post, Karin. Hope you get to see this book soon. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many delicious poems to savor in this post, Jama! I don’t think I can choose a favorite. Thank you for introducing me to Larkin’s poetry!
LikeLike
There’s nothing like a savory moose boosh to lift your spirits. Thanks for visiting, Catherine!
LikeLike
So much fun and finger-lickin’ imagination oozing out here… and that runaway beans video!!! The only thing I missed was the cool dance moves. Next time?
LikeLike
Hopefully Shabazz will make more videos — maybe we’ll get to see some of his dance moves then. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for introducing me to a new poet!
LikeLike
You’re welcome :). Eat some slippery noodles this weekend.
LikeLike
Great review–I think I need this book! What fun! I love the whole vibe of it and the poems are just perfect nibbles of fun for any age–especially love Hot Soup and No More Beets. 😉 And, I totally want to go to that Food Book Fair too. (I wish.)
LikeLike
I hear you on the Food Book Fair. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it?
LikeLike
Totally delightful poems, art, video and review. Why should kids have all the fun, I need that book. And your little moose is so cute.
LikeLike
I agree — this book is for all ages. Glad you enjoyed the post, Claudia. Hatley the Moose sends hugs!
LikeLike
What a wonderful, wonderful book! I’m off to order copies for the grandchildren. Thank you so much for this posting. I hope the author sees it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Glad to hear you’re getting copies for the grandkids, Nan. You’ll have fun reading these poems aloud to them. 🙂
LikeLike
Loved My Father is a Painter! Cheers from Carole’s Chatter!
LikeLike
Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
You always have such interesting posts!
LikeLike
Thanks, Vicki! Thanks for reading. 🙂
LikeLike
What a beautiful post! I love the pictures and the poetry you shared and the title of this one just makes me smile! I’ll have to get a copy for my youngest. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Enjoy the book, Katherine. Lots of fun and a good way to celebrate and appreciate food. 🙂
LikeLike
LOVE this. And particularly love “My Father Is a Painter” — what a great poem. Plus the drawing on photos is too much fun. And love collards so, yeah, trying the recipe. Oh and the bean video? LOLOLOLOL
LikeLike
Drawing on the photos is wonderfully irreverent, isn’t it? It’s like we’ve been given permission to play and express ourselves however we want. Can’t help loving the musical fruit either. 😀
LikeLike
I know just the foodie who would enjoy this book! His nickname is even A Moose!
LikeLike
Sounds perfect!
LikeLike
Oh my goodness; what a clever feast! Crazy about the doodly graphic additions. Thanks for sharing, Jama – so original, and, as Janet says, needed!
LikeLike
Those doodles are such fun, aren’t they?
LikeLike
So.much.fun! I can totally relate to No More Beets!
I checked out the preview on Amazon and this book is oozing with creativity!
LikeLike
Love No More Beets! Shabazz has many talents and his creativity is inspiring. 🙂
LikeLike
The Dear Michelle Obama poem is pretty touching. I think I’ll look for the book! 🙂
LikeLike