"The Skin We're In"---A Little Something Extra

In most of my anatomical picture books, I have included a Bonus Rhyme on the general topic covered by the book.  The latest (Book 6) in the series follows suit with a rhyme about melanin, which is the pigment in our skin.  Even more to the point, the rhyme is about those little dots of melanin some of us have on our skin that make us unique.  Isn't it rather curious and amazing just how inconsequential the visual differences are between our individual physical selves?  Vive la difference!

To learn more about what is the largest organ in our bodies, check out "The Skin We're In", Book 6 in THE SUM OF OUR PARTS series, available for purchase through the Guardian Angel Publishing website at http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/skin-tsoop.htm .

Giggles Of Melanin

By Bill Kirk

I woke up this morning

And what did I see?

This weird, stretchy stuff,

Was all over me.

It was skin, skin, skin, skin,

From elbows to knees

Like the bark in a forest

Of small and tall trees.

My fingers were wrapped in it.

So were my toes.

And where did I get

All those dots on my nose?

Mom said, “They’re just freckles.

Don’t worry my son—

They’re giggles of melanin

That popped out for fun.”

There were spots on my arms,

My legs and my chin.

I pinched ‘em. I poked ‘em.

I started to grin—

Then, I started to giggle

And laugh right out loud.

I’m glad I’ve got freckles.

Why, I’m downright proud.

I guess mom was right.

‘Cause lots of my pals

Have lots of those spots,

Whether guys, whether gals.

Not everyone likes ‘em.

Some will and some won’t.

But it’s fine if you have ‘em,

And it’s fine if you don’t.

So, don’t go start teasin’,

Or causing kids pain,

Whether dotted or spotted

Or speckled or plain.

For they’ve just got freckles.

All a-glow in the sun—

Small giggles of melanin,

That popped out for fun.