Zilot and Other Important Rhymes

By Bob, Erin, and Nate Odenkirk

Review by Jaime Balboa

I was thrilled to hear that the Odenkirk’s had written a book of rhymes for children. I’m so glad I got my hands on a copy and I think you’ll be glad when you do, too! In full disclosure, the Odenkirk’s are long-time friends and supporters of 826LA. Perhaps that’s why, when I learned that they wrote this together, over years, when Bob and Naomi’s now adult children, Erin and Nate, were just kiddos themselves, I grew to appreciate their support of our literacy-based organization all the more.The writing of Zilot, to my mind, explains so much of the why behind their support of our work unlocking the creative power of writing for students throughout Los Angeles. Writing is such a valuable and enjoyable experience, especially when there are kids involved–even more so when those kids are your own.  

In Zilot, creativity and imagination are on full display on every page, with Erin’s colorful and inviting illustrations paired perfectly to each rhyme. It is at times hilarious and whimsical, at times poignant and profound, covering a range of topics any parent will find familiar. Let’s start with the whimsical and humorous. “The Zilot Return Policy” is a tongue-in-cheek poem that any age will chuckle out loud at, poking fun, I think, at each of us who has ever attempted a return and at any onerous return policy in one fell swoop. “One Nice Thing A Day” is reminiscent of a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon–try not to laugh, I dare you–showing the best of intentions can have uproarious consequences.

The book has a good dose of profound and poignant topics, as well. “A Cat Named Larry'' delves into emotions and sad experiences, exploring themes like death through Larry the cat whose good friend the mouse has died. The poem shows how the mouse lives on in Larry’s memory in relatable language for people of any age. In “There, There, Little Monster,” the monster under the bed is transformed into a lovable being in need of love. “I Flubbed It,” conveys a message of perseverance in a whimsical “try, try again” rhyme. 

But there’s another reason I think you’ll want to pick up a copy of Zilot, especially if you’re a parent, god-parent, friend, neighbor, aunt or uncle to little ones. In addition to having an excellent book to read to and with the kiddos in your life, you can use the book as a template of sorts. In writing instruction, we give students sample texts of what they’ll be asked to write: we call them mentor texts. If the assignment is a haiku poem, we show them haiku poetry. If the task is an expository essay, we share expository essays.  And for all of us engaged in raising healthy, creative children, the collection of rhymes in Zilot offers an invaluable resource as mentor text that could ignite creativity with you and yours. 

Writing poetry involves playing with language—choosing words, creating rhymes, and exploring different expressions. For young children, this can contribute to language development by exposing them to new words, sentence structures, and ways of expressing ideas, involving their  emotions, thoughts, and experiences. By engaging in poetry writing as a family, everyone can improve their communication skills as they learn to articulate their feelings, their individual voice, and ideas effectively. I would wager that writing together should be on any list of bonding activities.  

You could “publish” your book at home and share it with family. It will surely become a keepsake. Creating something together, whether it's a complete poem or just a few lines, will be a confidence booster, too. Encouraging children to share their creations and appreciate each other's creativity fosters a positive environment that supports self-esteem.

Zilot is a wonderful book in and of itself.  Read it for the humor and lessons and engaging illustrations.  And, if you’re feeling creative, use it to spark the creativity for you and the kiddos in your life. 

Zilot & Other Important Rhymes is available for purchase at 826LA’s Time Travel Marts. Time Travel Mart proceeds support our writing-based literacy work in Los Angeles.