By: J.H. Diehl
Illustrated by: Kathryn Freeman
Publisher: Leaning Rock Press
Publication Date: July 9, 2026
ISBN: 978-1-960596-41-3
Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson
Review Date: September 30, 2026
The Daydreaming Sink: A Book of Household Limericks is a delightful read, written by journalist and author J.H. Diehl with drawings by poetic realist artist Kathryn Freeman. This collection of poetry amuses a reader with rhyme, humor, and quirky illustrations that make everyday household objects come alive, feeding the imagination of any age reader. The images and nonsense ideas can lighten us all up. This book invites absurdity and easy silliness into the hardest and darkest days.
Not only is this a book of rhymes, rhythm, puns, and wordplay that gives youth and those young-at-heart something to share with each other out loud, but it also celebrates the amusing kinds of mischief we like to indulge in within domestic settings. What happens when the refrigerator gets moody or the dinner plate gets bossy? And what kinds of mischief erupts when the toothbrush decides to wield a sword? Wasting time, dallying, singing as we please in the shower, preferring ice cream to doing the laundry: these are all behaviors that get the spotlight in The Daydreaming Sink.
Recently, researchers have reported that people are speaking to each other fewer and fewer words each day; this book, however, has the power to revive our human longing for spoken word connection. Not only will you want to read-aloud these rhymes to your loved ones, but you will also want to make up silly rhymes about the tired phone charger, the swooning tea spoon, or the shy toilet seat. Imagine young readers getting a kick out of these rhymes and feeling inspired to make up their own rhyming and rhythmic puns and word play about objects all over the house! This book gives the impression that everyday objects can be endowed with personality, emotions, and secret lives of their own. This teaches young readers the art of personification and emotional intelligence. Also, these nonsense lyrics are a tribute to Edward Lear who was a famous artist and writer who lived a fascinating life and embraced nonsense. This book encourages readers to learn more about the history of the limerick form and others who have tried their hand and imagination at writing limericks and nonsense. The rhymes and rhythm are so catchy and clever, you’ll be repeating them in your mind. This book can be read over and over. It’s perfect for an elementary school library book shelf or for a bed time routine.
In a recent interview, the author said, “Something I learned from my dad reading to me aloud is that nonsense writing can be a kind of literary balm,” (from an online interview with Deborah Kalb). This book is a balm and when life doesn’t make sense, there is never too much nonsense.
Quill says: The Daydreaming Sink gifts readers with a delightfully fun, lyrical, lively, and humorous experience. The amusement this book gives has the power to inspire a strong foundation for a lifetime of love for poetry and song. It’s sure to bring smiles when we are in the darkest of moods and pulling the longest of faces.
For more information about The Daydreaming Sink, please visit the author's website at: jhdiehl.com
