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.

Poetry Break #3

Introduction: This is a fun shape poem written by Jack Prelutsky that can be shared anytime with a small group or large group of children. Here are some questions that can introduce the reading of the poem: “What do you think a shape poem could look like? What would be some shapes that you would write a poem in? I am going to show you a poem and read it to you as you follow along. It is called I Was Walking in a Circle by Jack Prelutsky.” Read the poem while turning the book to show the words as they wrap around a circle. It might be easy to have the words on a separate sheet for you to read so that the students can see the words and picture.

Extension: Have the children share what they were thinking when you kept reading the poem. Have the children write their own shape poem and share with a partner, in small groups or with the class. Introduce more shape poems to the students or have them search for some on their own.

Prelutsky, Jack. 1984. I was walking in a circle in Prelutsky, Jack. 1999. The 20^th century children’s poetry treasury, 42. Ill. by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Book Review #2

Bryan, Ashley. 1992. Sing to the sun. U.S.A: Harper Collins Publishers.

In the first book published containing his original poetry, Ashley Bryan successfully establishes an authentic voice through each piece in Sing to the Sun. This book received the first Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award (1992) which honors the year’s most outstanding new book of poetry. Bryan reveals a strong persona through his poems in Sing to the Sun, but does it in such a way that does not overwhelm the reader.

This imaginative book of poetry appeals to both children and adults. The poems are real; they allow the memories and experiences of the reader to surface and replay as the words are digested. Even if readers have no connection with the subject of the poem, the language and word choice allow for connections to be formed and senses to be stimulated. The book contains a wide range of poetry from free verse to rhyming that celebrates the African and African-American cultures. Some of the poems are about serious times like parting with someone you love, some are fun describing a party for birds and others cover everything in between like weather, nature and family. It’s about life, what happens in it and the feelings that come along with those experiences.

One of my favorite poems from this collection:

FULL MOON (no page number)

Night on the verandah:
Across the bay
Village lights
Sprinkled on hills
Stripe the dark water

The silver round
Of the full moon
Slips into the cloud
As a coin
Slips into a purse

Ashley Bryan accompanies his poems with his own beautiful illustrations done in bright and colorful rectangles resembling abstract stained glass windows. The poems are supported by Bryan’s paintings and allow readers’ to visualize the poetry through the author’s eyes.

One of many extensions that can be used for Ashley Bryan’s book would be to read a poem or two without showing the pictures and allow the children to illustrate what they saw as they heard the words. Afterwards, the poems can be read and the new and original illustrations shown with the words. The children can look at what others saw and appreciate the perspectives of others. Ashley Bryan’s Sing to the Sun would also be a great book to read during February, as a part of the Black History Month celebration. This Corretta Scott King Honor and Award winning author/illustrator enchants readers in his debut book of original poems, Sing to the Sun.

Poetry Break #2

Introduction:

This is a fun poem that can be read at any time during the school year. It would be appropriate to incorporate during Valentine’s Day festivities. It is titled “Sylvester” and is by NCTE Award-winning poet, John Ciardi. The poem can be introduced by stating that it is a conversation poem that requires you to think about what could happen as a result of the discussion between the two speakers.

Sylvester

Sylvester wrote to Mary Lou.
Said, “Will you marry me?”
Replied a Lady Kangaroo,
“My darling, I agree.”

“Agree to what?” Sylvester cried.
“I’ve never before seen you!”
“Well, no,” the Kangaroo replied,
“But though that’s perfectly true,

Here is your letter sent to me.”
“To you! Don’t be absurd!”
“Don’t tamper with the mails,” said she,
“A man must keep his word!”

“My letter was sent to Mary Lou!”
“It came to me!” “Agreed.
But you saw it wasn’t addressed to you!”
“How could I?-I can’t read.”

“Then how could you read the letter
But not how it was addressed?”
“I could say your writing got better,
Or I could say I just guessed.

The point is,” said the Kangaroo,
“-And the mailman will agree-
Whatever you wrote to Mary Lou,
The letter came to me.

You must either learn to write what you mean
Or to mean what you write!” she cried.
“And though I’d rather not make a scene,
I insist you must make me your bride!”

“We’ll just see about that,” said Sylvester. “No doubt
We will,” said the Kangaroo.
-And how do you think it all turned out?
-I only wish I knew.

Ciardi, John. 1981. Sylvester in The man who sang the sillies, 21. Ill. by Edward Gorey. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company.

Extension:

Questions that can be asked after the reading: How many of you have gotten a letter in the mail before? What are some ways that we communicate besides through letters in the mail? How do you think that this situation turned out?-The students can then have a chance to discuss what they think might happen to Sylvester and the Kangaroo. Afterward, the class can split up into pairs or small groups and work on performing this poem to each other and/or to other classes.

Poem from Poetry Book Review #1

I apologize for the formatting of the below poem in the Poetry Book Review #1. Hopefully this will make more sense:

READ SEE THAT ME

Read.....see......that.......me
up.........will......I............love
and.......you.....love.......you
down....and.....you........and

~ Anonymous

from page 16 in:
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1976. Good morning to you, Valentine. Ill. by Tomie de Paola. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Poetry Book Review #1

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1976. Good morning to you, Valentine. Ill. by Tomie de Paola. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Lee Bennett Hopkins combines poems dealing with love, cards and other relevant subjects having to do with the season of Valentine’s in his anthology, Good Morning to You, Valentine. This creative collection includes several anonymous poems and also works from Shel Silverstein, Aileen Fisher and even William Shakespeare, to name a few. The poems are short, catchy and presented in a various and entertaining ways. Some are integrated into the art work, others are placed in playful form and then there are those that are unusually structured. One that I particularly enjoyed after attempting to read it many different ways before finally understanding it is called “Read See That Me” by Anonymous (p. 16):

READ SEE THAT ME

Read see that me

up will I love

and you love you

down and you and

The distinctive illustrations from Tomie de Paola are all done in the meaningful and symbolic color, red. The images extend the language within the poems. Even the text is red, which adds to the overall experience, mood and style of the collection.

Hopkins chose a variety of rhyming poems that leave the reader deep in thought, laughing, reflective, sentimental and filled with many other feelings. Although different genres of poetry make up this anthology, the common and universal theme of love ties the poems together. The poetry appeals to everyone, especially children because it reconnects them with the excitement and sweetness of past Valentine’s Days and Celebrations filled with parties, cards and most importantly candy!

There are many different ways to incorporate this poetry book into a classroom, library or school. Good Morning to You, Valentine could be used to inform students of the popular holiday that is approaching or the individual poems could be used to show that feelings can be expressed through poetry. Lee Bennett Hopkins’ collection, Good Morning to You, Valentine, effectively portrays poetry in an engaging and entertaining way to audiences of all ages.