Poetry Break #5

Introduction: Read or review the classic Mother Goose rhyme, Jack, Be Nimble. Then introduce the book, You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together. Before you read through the poem “Jack, Be Nimble,” tell the children that after the first reading they will be able to take turns acting out the parts.

Jack, Be Nimble

I will not jump, Jane!

Jack, why not?

That candlestick
Might be quite hot.

But Jack, the candle
Is not lit.

I still will not
Jump over it.

It isn’t even
Very high
But you won’t jump it.
Tell me why?

I’ll jump a wall,
I’ll jump a box,
Across a stream
Or over rocks.
But since it is
A silly trick,
I will not jump
A candlestick.

Just take one jump.
I wish you would.
A single jump,
I think you should.

If you’re so sure
What I should do,
Go jump yourself!
I dare you to!

The candlestick
Might be quite hot.

It isn’t lit.
Have you forgot?

I think it looks
A little high.

It’s very short.
Now will you try?

All right, I will.
I’ll jump it now.
But only if
You show me how.

It isn’t hard
As you can see.
Just start to run
And follow me.

Oh, Jack, you jumped it!
You were good!
You jumped so high!
I knew you could!

You tricked me, Jane!
I should have known.
But now go do it
On your own.

Well, here I go.
I’ll start way back.
I’ll run! I’ll jump!
I made it, Jack!

Jack, be nimble!
Jane be quick!
They both jumped over
The candlestick!

Extension: After reading the poem, allow the students to break into groups to recite and act out the poem. This can lead to whole group performances and even to ‘traveling’ classroom performances (other classrooms and grade levels). Students can be encouraged to rewrite their favorite Mother Goose rhymes for multiple voices and perform them. The possibilities are endless!

Hobermann, Mary Ann. 2005. Jack, be nimble in Hobermann, Mary Ann. 2005. You read to me, I’ll read to you: Very short Mother Goose tales to read together, 8-9. Ill. by Michael Emberley. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Poetry Book Review #4

Florian, Douglas. 1994. Beast feast. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Douglas Florian’s poetry book, Beast Feast, was the winner of the 1995 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. His poems incorporate information about and characteristics of animals in fun and catchy ways. Through shape poems, rhyming lyrics and funny language, Florian captures readers’ imaginations. The poetry in this collection is humorous and through the use of inventive and creative language the words stay with the reader long after they have been read or heard.

Douglas Florian accompanies each poem with original paintings done in watercolor. Along with imaginative wording and unique structure, the illustrations reinforce and establish his authentic and strong voice.

The poems that comprise Beast Feast are universal and timeless- they can be read to go along with a science lesson or unit. It can be read aloud to younger children who are studying mammals or high school-aged students studying biology or zoology. The variety of animals portrayed in this anthology allow for the poems to be read individually, to be read as they fit into a category, such as sea creatures or insects, or to be read collectively. One of my favorites is titled, 'The Chameleon.'

The Chameleon

Although it may seem very strange,

The colors on a chameleon change

From mousy browns to leafy greens

And several colors in between.

Its very long and sticky tongue

On unsuspecting bugs is sprung.

It lashes out at rapid rates

On unaware invertebrates,

Then just as quickly will retract

With flabbergasted fly intact.

So bugs beware this risky reptilian-

The clever everchanging chameleon.

(p. 17)

This particular poem depicts the wonderfully clever vocabulary that Douglas Florian uses in his poetry. There are endless ways to share this with all ages of children. It would be a great way to model and practice using different strategies to figure out the meaning of new words. Also, educators can read this poem at the beginning and end of a unit on insects and/or reptiles and have students reflect on how their perception of the poem has changed since learning about and studying that particular topic.

I am fairly new to the poetry of Douglas Florian; however, the poems and books of his that I have read have left a lasting impression on my view of poetry and how it can be integrated into content area subjects in fun and creative ways.

Poetry Break #4

Introduction: It’s spring!! New life is all around us in the form of plants, tree blossoms, birds and insects. The butterfly is a symbol of new life and is a popular figure of spring. The Caterpillar by Douglas Florian can be read to celebrate that exciting feeling of spring fever:

THE CATERPILLAR

She eats eight leaves at least

To fill her,

Which leaves her like a

Fatterpillar,

Then rents a room inside

A pupa,

And checks out: Madame Butterfly-

How super!

Extension: Florian’s poem could be used to extend a science study on the life cycle of a butterfly. It is a great way to incorporate poetry into the content areas. Following this insect as she transforms from a larva into a pupa and finally into her adult form, the butterfly, students will enjoy listening to and reading this poem and the others in Douglas Florian’s Insectlopedia. The students, after hearing and reading it, could write their own poetry describing the transformation. Younger students could illustrate a picture that coincides with the poem. Insectlopedia would a great poetry book to read with a science unit on bugs.

Florian, Douglas. 1998. The caterpillar in Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia, 6. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Poetry Book Review #3

Sones, Sonya. 2004. one of those hideous books where the mother dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Ruby sits on the airplane that's taking her clear across the United States, away from her aunt, best friend and boyfriend. She dreads every second that brings her closer to her “scumbag” father who she’s never met. Oh and did she mention that he’s a famous movie star?! To top it off, the reason she’s on her way to California is because her mother just died.

Through the witty voice of this fifteen year old, Sonya Sones creatively expresses the deep feelings and issues that unfold as the story progresses in short free verse poems. The reader can actually picture this teenager and her attitude as she rolls her eyes and makes smart remarks in her head at the ‘ridiculous’ things that her father tries to do to get to know her and make her feel loved. It is a quick, easy and enjoyable read because of the playful and clever language that describes feelings, emotions and events in such an imaginative, yet understandable way. An example of this:

So we say quick good-byes and hang up.

I feel a pang in my stomach,

like someone just handed me some Sour Skittles

and then grabbed them away again

before I even had a chance

to pop a single one of them into my mouth.

p.109

Sonya Sones references classic literature such as Catcher in the Rye, A Wrinkle in Time, and To Kill a Mockingbird within Ruby’s commentary. Newer, more contemporary young adult novels were mentioned as well (Speak, Hard Love, and Hope Was Here). There are also allusions to other things like movies, world events and current issues that face our country. One that I particularly enjoyed was when Ruby recounts her first morning of walking to school in her movie star-infested neighborhood:

If I had a dog named Toto,

I think you can guess

what I’d be saying to him right about now.

p.129

Readers experience the ups and downs, surprises and anticipated events in Sonya Sones’ inviting and entertaining poetry novel, one of those hideous books where the mother dies. Her style and voice are authentic, unique and captivating leaving the reader wanting to read more.

**One of those hideous books… is definitely intended for an older audience; it is a young adult free verse novel. I would even recommend it for older, more mature young adults because of some of the issues discussed within the book.