Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash

Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash, in my opinion, is a great children’s fictional story that explores the big idea of possessing a free imagination. The language, main character, and the illustrations, help portray this big idea throughout the story.

The language in this story has a rhyming pattern. There are four line stanzas on each page and the last word in the second and fourth line rhyme. Also, the language is very clear, descriptive, and is very humorous. Here is an example to support my opinion: “She hangs up a lamp, and a large Christmas wreath, and Grandpa McNosh’s removable teeth.” I just loved this! The rhyming really allows the readers to become more engaged in the story.

Mrs. McNosh is a well-developed character. Because show more of her character, the story is hilarious. If she didn’t hang such funny things on the clothesline, the story would not engage the readers as much as it does. In Mrs. McNosh’s carefree state of mind she hangs the following up on the clothesline throughout the story: dresses, a shirt, underwear, a newspaper, a dog, the dogs bone, sleepy bats, a lamp, removable teeth, a Christmas wreath, a kite, the mail, a turkey, a rake, etc. And by the end of the story, silly ol’ Mrs. McNosh “…takes off her apron and lets down her hair, then hangs herself up…in a comfortable chair.”

Lastly, I feel as though the illustrations help portray the big idea throughout the story because of how silly Mrs. McNosh is made out to be. She seems to not have a worry in the world as she hands random items on the clothesline. On every page she has the sweetest, most sincere smile on her face. Furthermore, the illustrations help enhance the story line. For example, on a particular page the text reads, “She hangs up a hat, and an old wedding gown, and two sleepy bats, which she hangs upside down.” The illustration shows a red hat pinned on the clothesline, then a large wedding gown, and next Mrs. McNosh is about to hang two bats. The text and the pictures practically go hand and hand!

Cute, funny read! show less

Every Monday morning, Nellie McNosh takes her just-washed clothes and hangs them on the clothesline to dry. After hanging out the dresses, the skirts, the underwear, and the shirts, she hangs out the news, the dog, his dish and bone, and the phone. By the end of the day, everything in sight --- including the mail --- hangs on the clothesline. What will she hang up next?

Bright illustrations accompany the rhyming narrative in this laugh-out-loud tale of sublime silliness that is certain to be one of any young reader’s favorite books.

Mrs. McNosh hangs up a her wash is a fun rhyming book and fantasy book. This book starts off when Mrs. McNosh starts hanging up her wash and she gets in such a mood to hang up everything. She hangs up a lamp, bat, chicken, fake teeth, her mail and even a chair that she then sits in. This is a good fantasy because it is an everyday activity with a little twist with the crazy things she hangs on her clothes line.

Summary:
At the beginning of the story Mrs. McNosh hangs up all of her laundry on a clothes line. She makes sure that all of the laundry is done at the end of the day before she does anything else. Near the end she can finally relax from all of the laundry she has done.

Personal Reaction:
I think this was a cute poetry book. It was longer than poetry is however that just shows that not all poetry is the same. And it also does not ryhme all that well either.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
This is a good book to have children read so that they can maybe see how much laundry their mothers do for them and to see that it is not an easy job at all.

Preschoolers love the hilarious antics of Mrs. McNosh.

The rhyming and humor makes this book perfect for pre-k students.

After reading this book to my class a few times- we put a clothes line up on our playground and hang various objects on it. When we go out, I act surprise and say, "I wonder who is doing their laundry here at our school". My students always yell Mrs. McNosh!

A hilarious rhyming tale of a woman hanging up the laundry, and many other strange household items. Delightful illustrations by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Good for preschoolers and kindergarten.

Summary:
Each Monday at dawn Mrs. Nelly McNosh brings out a barrel and does a big wash. She ends up washing and hanging everything in sight. She washes dresses, skirts, paper, news, dog, dish and bone, etc. She gets a wrong number and hangs up the phone. She hangs a hat, wedding gown, and sleepy bats she hangs upside down. She hangs a lamp, christmas wreath, and Grandpa Mc Nosh's removable teeth. She hangs up a kite and the mail. She then hangs up the last of her wash and hangs herself up in a comfortable chair.

Personal Reaction:
I really enjoyed this book. It is a very silly and fun book to read. I think that younger children would love this book. The illustrations are silly and fit the story perfect.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. This show more book could be used as a silly story to read to the children in between lessons.
2. This book could be used to spark imagination. Read the book to the children but do not show them Mrs. McNosh. Have them draw their own idea of her. show less