I like to rhyme.

There I said it.

I've read all those fancy pants writerly books that said don't rhyme, rhyming picture books don't sell, rhyming is the quickest path to the devil (I don't remember which book said that, but I do recall having to have the house blessed after reading it)...

Well, here's what I know:
Even Rhymezone can't handle orange.
(slice by Michal Zacharzewski, SXC)

1. Rhyming makes me happy
2. I enjoy reading rhyming picture books to my children.
3. Some rhyming picture books sell, because I've read a few hundred.
4. Rhyming is not illegal.  I can rhyme anywhere I want.  Any time I want. With anyone I please. 

(Unreasonably long sidebar:  When I lived in Detroit I lived on high alert of running into Eminem at the Meijer store and having to bust rhymes with him.  It was almost as bad as my current fear of walking into a taping of the Real Housewives of New Jersey dressed in yoga pants and yelling at my children.)

That said, I understand rhyming rules have been created to protect us novice rhymers.  Those in power don't want to be responsible because some new writer gets horribly stuck in inverted speech (they all still feel guilty about what happened to Yoda).  I empathize with the rule makers who don't want to be called "enablers" for letting lazy writers get away with "near rhymes." 

I submit to those rules, because rhyming stimulates a part of my brain prose can't access.   So even if I can't publish in rhyme, I sure as heck (or there I am going to the devil again) am going to keep practicing rhyme. 

So go ahead and tell me your fancy pants rules about not rhyming in picture books, and I will say to them:  I think, therefore I rhyme.

Or maybe:
I'd love to bust some dope rhymes
With Eminem by the limes.

Or even:
You think I'm mentally stable?
Watch me flip this frickin' table!
("Today's rhyme brought to you by the letters N and J")

Do you secretly rhyme, but not want to admit it publicly?  It's okay to tell me in the comments; all rhymers are welcome here.