Dirt on My Shirt is a new book for children from 4 to 7 years old. Written by comedy-recording artist, Jeff Foxworthy, the book is a collection of poems that builds an interesting neighborhood with characters like Cousin Lizzy, Aunt Foo Foo, and Uncle Ed. It also displays Foxworthy’s mild-mannered humor that center on issues about family and friendship.

A bestselling author, Foxworthy previously wrote a book on “redneck humor” (You Might Be a Redneck If…) and a cookbook called The Redneck Grill. Dirt on My Shirt is his first attempt at writing for children.

Barnes & Noble describes Foxworthy’s poems as hilarious while his publisher, Harper Collins, believes that the book succeeds not only in introducing interesting characters based on his childhood experiences but also in trying to capture the “essence of being a child.” Foxworthy’s homespun stories are affectionate and while the poetry is nothing like Tennyson’s or whatnot, they make children smile. These poems are easy to familiarize (or memorize) and talk about topics that appeal to children, like the ones about friends and sitting on grandfather’s lap.

Steve Bjorkman’s cartoon-like illustrations appeal to the book’s young readers. One of the book’s most elaborately illustrated poems, What Do You See, actually have 30 creatures hidden in the illustration. Children will have a fun time trying to look for all these creatures!

The book succeeds at illustrating even the simplest of things and turning these into affectionate and humorous poems that will surely delight any child.

Foxworthy’s collection of rhyming poems, which is number 8 on the New York Times’ Bestsellers list for Children’s Books, is a delightful and entertaining way to teach children how to deal with life. Dirt on My Shirt is also a fun way to introduce children to the art of poetry.