What's not to like about this book that celebrates underwear? There are lots of silly illustrations with dancing undies, an undeniably fun rhyme and rhythm, and a tribute that will have grown-ups and kids giggling together.
Warning, however, for families who do not welcome talk of undergarments: there's mention of jock straps, thongs, and a "full moon show." So, as a teacher or parent, you might be thinking, is it appropriate for Pre-K through elementary? As a mom of three, I would suggest yes! Indeed, the rhyming story works and is worth the snickers and laughs it could bring to a school or library day, because it's a joyful excuse to mention the one wardrobe item every child has an opinion about.
"Every colour, every kind, is a friend to your behind. It's one thing you won't have to share, so celebrate your underwear!"
Helaine Becker, Ode to UnderwearFurthermore, as a developmental physiologist, I would also say underneath the silliness sits a quieter, genuinely useful lesson for young children: that underwear is personal. It is a clothes item that's entirely, unapologetically theirs, not shared with anyone, and not up for negotiation. For kids working through potty independence, body autonomy, and the everyday task of getting dressed by themselves, this message lands gently, never feeling heavy-handed.
"For kids working through potty independence, body autonomy, and the everyday task of getting dressed by themselves, this message lands gently, never feeling heavy-handed."
Dr. K. M. Schlatter, Book ReviewerHelaine Becker's clever rhyme, meter, and playful language are pure gold for early readers who are just beginning to notice how words can play together. Abigail Burch's illustrations match that energy beat for beat, and I loved every page. Her underwear characters have faces, personalities, and tiny stick-figure limbs that let each pair strut, wiggle, and pose across the page, turning an ordinary object into something with real comic timing.
This is not a book with a plot to untangle or a lesson to extract through discussion. It's a read-aloud built for volume and delight, the kind of book that works best when the adult reading it commits fully to the bit. Handed to a kindergarten class or a wiggly bedtime crowd, it earns its keep in laughs per page, which, for this age group, is its own kind of win for joint attention.
- What color or pattern do you think your underwear would be if it could talk?
- Why do you think the book says underwear is something you don't have to share?
- What did the underwear in the pictures look like it was feeling: happy, silly, proud?
- The author uses rhyming words on almost every page. Can you find two rhymes and say why they might have been chosen?
- Why do you think the illustrator gave the underwear faces and personalities instead of just drawing plain clothing?
- The book celebrates something ordinary. What's another everyday object that could get its own "ode"?
Design-Your-Own Undies
Hand out paper underwear cutouts and let children decorate them with patterns, colors, or stickers, then have each child tell the group one thing about their design.
Ode to Anything
Choose a silly everyday object (a sock, a spoon, a backpack) and write a four-line rhyming "ode" as a class, borrowing Becker's bouncy rhythm.
Rhyme as a phonics on-ramp: The tight couplet structure makes this an easy text for pointing out rhyming word families out loud. Pause mid-page and ask kids to predict the rhyme before you turn it.
A low-stakes way into body autonomy: Without ever naming it directly, the book reinforces that some things belong to a child alone. It's a gentle entry point for classroom conversations about personal space and self-care routines.
Read it big: This book rewards performance. Exaggerated voices, dramatic pauses, and audience call-and-response on the repeated "celebrate your underwear!" line will get far more mileage than a quiet read-through.