A Funeral in the Bathroom Review

Bibliographic citation:

Dakos, K. 2011. A FUNERAL IN THE BATHROOM: AND OTHER SCHOOL BATHROOM POEMS. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN 9780807526750.

Dakos, K. 2011. A FUNERAL IN THE BATHROOM: AND OTHER SCHOOL BATHROOM 

POEMS. Ill. by Mark Beech. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN 9780807526750. 

Kalli Dakos’s A Funeral in the Bathroom: and Other School Bathroom Poems is a collection of poems which present an often humorous spin on the experiences of children in the school bathroom. The variety of the poems will guide the adult reader on an emotional journey down memory lane, from tears in the bathroom to a funeral for the class pet goldfish, which all take place in the school bathroom. The book contains over forty poems of varying lengths, from a few lines to several stanzas. 

While the adult reader will be able to reflect on their school experiences, the young readers of this book may be perplexed at some of the outlandish and imaginative events that take place in the school bathroom! 

The layout of the book includes a table of contents and beautiful color illustrations by Mark Beech. The illustrations highlight the text of the poems and usually show the events portrayed within each poem. Some of the more hilarious poems like “Germs” features an illustration of different germs, grinning from ear to ear. Another light-hearted poem is “Broken Toilet”, which features a conversation between the “broken toilet” and a student named Joey. This poem is sure to get the younger kids giggling!

Aside from funny poems, the mood of the poems ranges from somber to adventurous. The theme of the poems is all that goes on behind the bathroom door, and interspersed throughout the book are “puzzle poems”, which are more like riddles. The answers to these “puzzle poems” are included on the page, in upside letters. By including the “puzzle poems” throughout the book, it gives the reader an appreciation for a different poem format. Another aspect of the book that young children may find to be either disturbing or funny is that some of the poems are written from the point of few of objects in the bathroom, such as toilet paper, the toilet and the sink.

One of the more somber poems which may surprise younger students is “Crying in the Bathroom”. It is only three stanzas long, but the words paint a picture of a young girl experiencing the sadness, uncertainty and confusion of the separation of her parents. The last stanza reads as follows:

I’m crying in the bathroom

where I can be alone,

away from kids and teachers

and the sadness of my home.

(Dakos, 22)

The first line of each of the three stanzas is the same, and the repetition of this line has a great emotional impact on the reader. Each of the four-line stanzas form a complete sentence, with the end rhyme occurring on the second and fourth lines. The imagery of a “life that’s lost its glue” is exaggerated by Beech’s illustration of a house separated in two pieces. If I was using this poem with a group of students, whether in the public or school library, I would incorporate it into a lesson or discussion on family relationships, and pair it with the poem "There Should be a Place Kids Can Go".

Be sure to include this poetry book in your collection of school poetry, especially if you work with children ages 8 to 12 years old. 

A funeral in the bathroom. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.albertwhitman.com/content.cfm/bookdetails/A-Funeral-in-the-Bathroom