Slugs and mashed potatoes: Silly songs entertain kids

The funny songs and stories are based on facts and
personal experiences.

By ALISON KEMP

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — He got everyone’s attention by singing about a dinosaur.

It wasn’t a real dinosaur, of course, but one that was three-toed, triple-eyed and double-jointed. It also eats railroad tracks, libraries and small children.

Barry Louis Polisar’s first song for children was written in 1975, and he has been telling stories ever since.

The writer, singer and guitarist, from the Washington, D.C., area, was part of the opening event for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s summer reading program. The event, at the Boardman branch, attracted about 100 preschool and elementary-aged children.

Shortly after the dinosaur song, he progressed to a new song called “I’m a Slug.” He had the children sing along during the chorus, in a low voice. As Polisar sang, he moved his body in slug-like motions and used the voice a slug would have used — if one could talk.

Finding inspiration

He read from his book of poems called “Insect Soup,” selecting his favorite, which is about an ant. He moved in his seat, acting out the poem and using different voices.

From the beginning of his career, Polisar’s stories have been based on facts and personal experiences.

After his first performance of singing songs to children, he witnessed a teacher scold her students, telling them to quit acting like children. This led to a song about a mean teacher — requested very often at the beginning of his career.

He does not sing it anymore because, he said, “They don’t make mean teachers anymore.”

A young cousin of his who would not eat his mashed potatoes led to another song. When asked to eat them, he replied he would “do it tomorrow.”

Lessons and manners

The song is about his cousin’s response, which comes back to haunt him after refusing to take a bath and make his bed. His grandmother bakes a chocolate cake — but he’s told he’s not allowed to have it until tomorrow.

Polisar also shared an example from his book “Don’t Do That,” which is about the proper etiquette for funny mann5ers. The anecdote he shared was about killing a fly at the dinner table with a piece of bread and then giving it to someone else sitting at the table. This, Polisar said, should never be done.

He also sang a song about where fingers should not go. “Don’t Put Your Finger Up Your Nose” ended with the line, “At least not in front of me.”

A hit with the kids

“I liked him singing,” said Alana Petracci, 7, of Boardman. Her twin Angelo liked that Polisar’s stories were funny.

The songs — and there are 150 Polisar compositions — were Jacob Kohuth’s favorite part of the event, he said. Kohuth, 8, of Boardman, said they made him laugh.

His mom, Kris, enjoyed the event because it was interactive and entertaining.

“It’s one thing to be a writer,” Polisar said. But sharing his work with others is most important to him. He wants to see the reactions to his creations.

Every year Polisar said he thinks about working less, but that never happens. “I’m having too much fun,” he said.

He does have to spend more time coming up with new story ideas, though. He said after 150 songs and 12 books, he is running out of ideas. “I’ve already mined the field,” he said.

XFor a list of library summer programs, see B4