BIBLIOGRAPHY OF POETRY BOOKS FROM JANUARY 2009-APRIL 2009

Asch, Frank. 1996. SAWGRASS POEMS: A VIEW OF THE EVERGLADES.
Illustrated by Ted Levin. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt
Calmenson, Stephanie. 2005. KINDERGARTEN KIDS: RIDDLES, REBUSES, WIGGLES, GIGGLES, AND MORE. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
New York: Harper Collins
Creech, Sharon. 2001. LOVE THAT DOG. New York: HarperCollins
Dakos, Kalli. 1990. IF YOU’RE NOT HERE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND—POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas.
New York: Simon & Schuster
---. 1990. PUT YOUR EYES UP HERE: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS.
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. New York: Simon & Schuster
---. 2002. THE BUG IN TEACHER’S COFFEE: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Illustrated by Mike Reed. New York: HarperCollins
Fletcher, Ralph. 2005. A WRITING KIND OF DAY: POEMS FOR YOUNG POETS.
Illustrated by April Ward. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mill Press
---. 1997. ORDINARY THINGS—POEMS FROM A WALK IN EARLY SPRING. Drawings by Walter Lyon Krudop. New York: Simon and Schuster
---. 2002. POETRY MATTERS: WRITING A POEM FROM THE INSIDE OUT. New York: Harper Collins
Florian, Douglas. 1994. BEAST FEAST. Orlando: Harcourt
---. 2003. BOW WOW MEOW MEOW. Orlando: Harcourt
---. 2007. COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS. Orlando: Harcourt
---. 2009. DINOTHESAURUS: PREHISTORIC POEMS AND PAINTINGS.
New York: Atheneum Books
---. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. Orlando: Harcourt
---. 1999. LAUGH-ETERIA. San Diego: Harcourt
---. 2000. MAMMALABILIA. Orlando: Harcourt
---. 1996. ON THE WING. Orlando: Harcourt
Franco, Betsy. 2008. BEES, SNAILS, AND PEACOCK TAILS.
Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books
---2006. MATH POETRY. Tucson, AZ: Good Year Books
---. 2006. MATHEMATICKLES. Illustrated by Steven Salerno. New York: Aladdin
Frost, Helen. 2003. KEESHA’S HOUSE. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Giovanni, Nikki, ed. 2008. HIP HOP SPEAKS TO CHILDREN: A CELEBRATION OF POETRY WITH A BEAT. Illustrated by Kristen Balouch, Michele Noiset, Jeremy Tugearu, Alicia Vergel de Dios, and Damian Ward. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks
Goldish, Meish. 1999. 101 SCIENCE POEMS & SONGS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. New York: Scholastic
Greenberg, Jan. 2001. HEART TO HEART: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN ART. New York: Abrams
---ed. 2008. SIDE BY SIDE: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD. New York: Abrams
Greenfield, Eloise. 2008. BROTHERS & SISTERS: FAMILY POEMS.
Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: Harper Collins
---1978. HONEY, I LOVE AND OTHER LOVE POEMS.
Pictures by Diane and Leo Dillon. New York: Harper Collins
---.2003. IN THE LAND OF WORDS: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS
Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: Harper Collins
---.1996. NIGHT ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: Harper Collins
---.1991. UNDER THE SUNDAY TREE. Illustrated by Amos Ferguson.
New York: Harper Collins
Grover, Lorie Ann. 2007. LOOSE THREADS. New York: Simon and Schuster
Hesse, Karen. 2008. BROOKLYN BRIDGE. Illustrated by Chris Sheban.
New York: Macmillan
---. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Press
---. 2003. WITNESS. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439272009
Hoberman, Mary Ann. 1998. THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA-100 FAVORITE POEMS. Illustrated by Betty Fraser. Orlando: Harcourt.
Holub, Joan and Heather Boyd. 2003. RIDDLE-ICULOUS MATH.
Illustrated by Regan Dunnick. Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2008. AMERICA AT WAR: POEMS SELECTED BY LEE BENNETT HOPKINS New York: Simon & Schuster
---. 1994. HAND IN HAND: AN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH POETRY.
Illustrated by Peter M. Fiore. New York: Simon & Schuster
---. 2002. HOME TO ME/POEMS ACROSS AMERICA. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Scholastic
---. 1999. LIVES—POEMS ABOUT FAMOUS AMERICANS.
Illustrated by Leslie Staub. New York: HarperCollins
---.2001. MARVELOUS MATH: A BOOK OF POEMS. Illustrated by Karen Barbour.
New York: Simon & Schuster
---. 2000. MY AMERICA: A POETRY ATLAS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689812477
---, complier. 2002. SPECTACULAR SCIENCE: A BOOK OF POEMS.
Illustrated by Virginia Halstead. New York: Simon & Schuster
---1986. SURPRISES. Illustrated by Megan Lloyd. New York: HarperCollins
---, complier. 2004. WONDERFUL WORDS: POEMS ABOUT READING, WRITING, SPEAKING, AND LISTENING. Illustrated by Karen Barbour.
New York: Simon & Schuster
Janeczko, Paul B. 1989. BRICKYARD SUMMER. New York: Orchard
---. 2001. DIRTY LAUNDRY PILE: POEMS IN DIFFERENT VOICES.
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. New York: HarperCollins
---. 1991. PREPOSTEROUS—POEMS OF YOUTH. New York: Orchard
---. 1998. THAT SWEET DIAMOND: BASEBALL POEMS.
Illustrated by Caroll Katchen. New York: Atheneum ISBN 068980735X
---. 2006. WING NUTS: SCREWY HAIKU. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa.
New York: Little Brown
Johnson, Tony. 2008. VOICE FROM AFAR: Poems of Peace. Illustrated by Susan Guevara. New York: Holiday House
Katz, Bobbi. 2000. WE THE PEOPLE: POEMS. Illustrated by Nina Crews.
New York: HarperCollins
Kennedy, Caroline. 2005. A FAMILY OF POEMS: MY FAVORITE POETRY FOR CHILDREN. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth. New York: Hyperion Books
Lewis, J. Patrick and Jim Cooke. 2005. HEROES AND SHE-ROES: POEMS OF AMAZING AND EVERYDAY HEROES. New York: Random House
Kherdian, David. 1996. BEAT VOICES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF BEAT POETRY.
New York: HarperCollins
Lewis, J. Patrick. 2005. PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY.
Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. Orlando: Harcourt
Martin, Bill Jr., ed. 2008. THE BILL MARTIN JR BIG BOOK OF POETRY.
New York: Simon and Schuster
Meltzer, Milton, Ed. 2003. HOUR OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN HISTORY IN POETRY. Illustrated by Marc Nadel. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press
Merrell, Billy. 2003. TALKING IN THE DARK. New York: Push
Myers, Walter Dean. 2003. BLUES JOURNEY. Illustrated by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House
---. 2008. HERE IN HARLEM: POEMS IN MANY VOICES.
New York: Holiday House
Prelutsky, Jack. AWFUL OGRE RUNNING WILD. 2008. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Harper Collins
---. 2008. BE GLAD YOUR NOSE IS ON YOUR FACE: AND OTHER POEMS. Illustrated by Brandon Dorman. New York: Harper Collins
---. 1997. RIDE A PURPLE PELICAN. New York: HarperCollins
---. 2008. MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS. Illustrated by James Stevenson.
New York: Harper Collins
---. 2008. PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY: HOW TO WRITE A POEM.
New York: Harper Collins
---. 2009. READ A RHYME, WRITE A RHYME. Illustrated by Meilo So.
New York: Dragonfly Books
---. 2009. THE SWAMPS OF SLEETHE: POEMS FROM BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM. Illustrated by Jimmy Pickering. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rex, Adam. 2008. FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE. Orlando: Harcourt
Rowden, Justine. 2005. PAINT ME A POEM—POEMS INSPIRED BY MASTERPIECES OF ART. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press
Scieszka, Jon. 2007. SCIENCE VERSE. New York: Viking Press
Shields, Carol. 1998. LUNCH MONEY AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Illustrated by Paul Meisei. New York: Penguin Group
Sidman, Joyce. 2006. BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. Illustrated by Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
---. 2002. EUREKA! POEMS ABOUT INVENTORS.
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing Group
---. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS.
Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
---. 2005. SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN AND OTHER POND POEMS.
Illustrated by Beckie Prange. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
---. 2008. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG. Doug Mindell, Photographer.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin
---. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Siebert, Diane. 1981. TRAIN SONG. Paintings by Mike Wimmer.
New York: HarperCollins
Singer, Marilyn. 2008. FIRST FOOD FIGHT THIS FALL AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. New York: Sterling
Sones, Sonya. 2003. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW.
New York: Simon Pulse
Soto, Gary. 1992. A FIRE IN MY HANDS: A BOOK OF POEMS.
New York: Scholastic
---. 1995. CANTO FAMILIAR. Illustrated by Annika Nelson
New York: Harcourt Brace
---. 1995. GARY SOTO; NEW AND SELECTED POEMS. New York: Chronicle
---. 2005. NEIGHBORHOOD ODES. New York: Harcourt
---. 2009. PARTLY CLOUDY: POEMS OF LOVE AND LONGING.
New York: Harcourt
Sword, Elizabeth Hauge. 2006. A CHILD’S ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY.
New York: Harper Collins
Tamblyn, Amber and Tamblyn, Russ. 2005. FREE STALLION: POEMS.
New York: Simon & Schuster
Tang, Greg. 2003. MATH-TERPIECES. Illustrated by Greg Paprocki.
New York: Scholastic
Wilson, Dr. Edwin Graves. 2007. POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: MAYA ANGELOU. Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Sterling
Wong, Janet S. 1996. A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS.
New York: Simon and Schuster.
---. 2004. ALEX AND THE WEDNESDAY CHESS CLUB.
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett. New York: Simon and Schuster.
---. 1994. GOOD LUCK GOLD AND OTHER POEMS.
New York: Simon and Schuster.
---. 2003. KNOCK ON WOOD: POEMS ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS.
New York: Simon and Schuster
---. 2007. TWIST: YOGA POEMS. New York: Simon and Schuster

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: A POETRY BOOK BY PAUL JANECZKO

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: A POETRY BOOK BY PAUL JANECZKO

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Janeczko, Paul B. 2001. DIRTY LAUNDRY PILE: POEMS IN DIFFERENT VOICES. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. New York: HarperCollins ISBN 0688162517

SUMMARY
In this delightful anthology of poems Janeczko has collected poems from a variety of poets that have written "persona" or "mask" poems-poems written in voices of nonhuman things. There are well known poets included in the collection such as Bobbi Katz and April Halprin Wayland and some lesser known poets such as Judith Pacht and Deborah Chandra.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
What fun it is to think how an inanimate object or animal might feel about the world if it could talk! Each poem captures the essence of the item’s voice through the use of vivid language and accompanying illustrations. Additionally, the collection provides a variety of patterns for the children to experience—ranging from rhymed to free verse.

Many of the poems in this collection can be paired with books and perhaps even movies. For example, Nina Nyhart’s Scarecrow’s Dream would be a great poem to use to compare with the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.



Scarecrow’s Dream

I think it’s June—
crows landing in black waves.

Farmer arrives with his .22.
Stop, I say. And put away

that gun, I’ll handle this.
Farmer shrugs, strides off.

For once I’m boss, and we’re
a circle of friends. We discuss,

make deals: a little corn—
a little reticence. Come at night—

save your life. Peaceable
kingdom I’m thinking when

I feel a step on my shoulder,
the first peck in my eye.


Another way to tie poetry into the classroom is to correlate with the curriculum. Cynthia Pederson’s poem Prayer of a Snowflake is a great tie-in for a unit on weather.


Prayer of a Snowflake

Let me land, oh Lord,
on a narrow needle of pine,
or a sheltered slope
where I can memorize
the trim track of a passing fox.
I want more
than a month before melting.

If I can’t have
that long, quiet life,
grant me a sledded slope.
Or better yet, I hope
for my swirling journey to end instantly
on the hot tongue
of some shivering child
out reveling in the return
of my tribe.

Amen.



REVIEW EXCERPT
School Library Journal—“Whether thoughtful or humorous in nature, many of them are on-target descriptions of a variety of unrelated objects-a kite, roots, a sky-blue crayon, a vacuum cleaner, a pair of red gloves, the winter wind. The cleverness of the best of these descriptions voiced by inanimate narrators might entice young people to try to create some similar verses of their own.”

CONNECTIONS

Janeczko has written and/or selected and/or edited many poetry books so this is just a few of many that he has been a part of:
1989. BRICKYARD SUMMER. New York: Orchard ISBN 0531058468
1991. PREPOSTEROUS—POEMS OF YOUTH.
New York: Orchard ISBN0531059014
1998. THAT SWEET DIAMOND: BASEBALL POEMS. Illustrated by Caroll Katchen.
New York: Atheneum ISBN 068980735X
2006. WING NUTS: SCREWY HAIKU. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa.
New York: Little Brown. ISBN 0316607312

MODULE 6—POETRY BREAK—A SERIOUS POEM ABOUT A DIFFICULT OR SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN CHILDREN’S OR TEENS’ LIVES

MODULE 6—POETRY BREAK—A SERIOUS POEM ABOUT A DIFFICULT OR SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN CHILDREN’S OR TEENS’ LIVES


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 2003. BLUES JOURNEY. Illustrated by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House ISBN 0823420795

INTRODUCTION
Discuss with the students other works by Walter Dean Myers and the type of topics that he chooses (ones that make us stop and think).



blues journey (written the way Myers titled it)
NOTE: The lines are written just as Myers as done
Blues, blues, blues,
blues, what you mean to me?
Blues, blues, blues,
blues, what you mean to me?
Are you my pain and misery,
or my sweet, sweet company?

Going on a journey,
looking for my supposed-to-be
Going on a journey,
looking for my supposed-to-be
I’m riding that blues highway
and Lord, it’s riding me

Hollered to my woman,
she was across the way
Said I hollered to my woman,
she was across the way
I said I loved her truly, she said,
“It got to be that way”

Heard the top deck groaning, yes, and the ocean roar
Heard the top deck groaning, yes, and the ocean roar
Heard my brother crying till I couldn’t hear no more
O Lord, O Lord,
Ain’t it hard when your brother’s crying
Any you don’t hear him anymore?

Blackbirds fly, hound dogs howl and bark
Yes, blackbirds fly, you know hound dogs howl and bark
I see my true love sitting, crying in the dark

Blues, won’t you free me,
let all this suffering cease?
Said blues, won’t you free me,
let all this suffering cease?
Give me a feather pillow,
and let me rest in peace

Pain will push and poke you,
despair will scrape the bone
Pain will push and poke you,
despair will scrape the bone
Misery loves company,
blues can live alone

The root woman told me
that my day was coming soon
The root woman told me
that my day was coming soon
Soon’s a mule reads the Bible,
and Christmas comes in June.

The preacher climbs the mountain,
but the devil gets his dues
You know the preacher climbs the mountain,
but the devil gets his dues
A poor man gets his kicks,
fast dancing to the blues

I know you don’t want me, you cast my love out to the sea
I said I know you don’t want me, there goes my love out to the sea
I’m fishing for affection, hope your heart comes in to me

I’m busting sod on Parchman’s,
if the sun don’t lay me low
You know I’m busting sod on Parchman’s,
if the sun don’t lay me low
There’s nine kinds of dying
a rich man will never know

Life can be so hard,
living in a two-room shack
You know how hard it is, child,
living in a two-room shack
Ain’t nothing in your parlor,
a little less in back

Strange fruit hanging, high in a big oak tree
Strange fruit hanging, high in a big oak tree
You can see what it did to Willie,
can you see what it does to me?

The thrill is gone, but love’s still got my heart
The thrill is gone, baby, but love’s still got my heart
I can feel you in this music, and it’s tearing me apart

I gave my woman money, I offered her my hand
Gave her all my money, said, “Baby, take my hand”
She smiled from here to Sunday, then spent it on another man!
(Now you know that’s wrong!)

I was standing at the crossroads, didn’t know which way to go
Standing at the crossroads, didn’t know which way to go
My heart was pulling one way, my head said take it slow

The road is long, the moon is hanging low
The road is long, blood moon is hanging low
Past time to rise, past time to cut and go

Skipped out of Memphis, ‘cause I was on the news
Skipped out of Memphis, ‘cause I was on the news
Rode to Chicago in a freight car with the blues

My landlord’s cold, cold as a death row shave
My landlord’s so cold, cold as a death row shave
Charged fifty cents for a washtub, three dollars for my grave

If you see a dollar, tell it my full name
If you see a dollar, honey, tell it my full name
Say I’m being sociable, and it can do the same

I’m half scared of dying, half scared of being strong
I’m half scared of dying, half scared of being strong
Guess that’s why I end up staying in that raging storm too long

Blues, blues, blues,
blues, what you mean to me?
Blues, blues, blues,
blues, what you mean to me?
Are you my pain and misery,
or my sweet, sweet company?


Blues, blues, blues
sliding through the night
Blues, blues, blues
sliding through the night
If you looking for a soft bed,
I’ll leave on the light


EXTENSIONS

Other poetry books about serious subjects:

Johnson, Tony. 2008. VOICE FROM AFAR: Poems of Peace. Illustrated by Susan Guevara. New York: Holiday House ISBN 9780823420124

Kherdian, David. 1996. BEAT VOICES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF BEAT POETRY.
New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688149162

Merrell, Billy. 2003. TALKING IN THE DARK. New York: Push ISBN 0439490367

Myers, Walter Dean. 2008. HERE IN HARLEM: POEMS IN MANY VOICES.
New York: Holiday House ISBN 0823422127

Tamblyn, Amber and Tamblyn, Russ. 2005. FREE STALLION: POEMS.
New York: Simon & Schuster ISBN 1416902597

MODULE 6—POETRY BREAK--POEM WRITTEN BY A CHILD INCLUDED IN A BOOK

MODULE 6—POETRY BREAK--POEM WRITTEN BY A CHILD INCLUDED IN A BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0618616802


INTRODUCTION
Discuss with the students any times in their lives when they have needed forgiveness or asked to be forgiven.



To Kyle

I Got Carried Away

Kyle, I’m sorry
for hitting you so hard in dodge ball.
I just really get carried away
in situations like that.
Kids screaming and ducking,
Coach bellowing,
all those red rubber balls
thumping like heartbeats
against the walls and ceiling,
blinking back and forth
like stop lights
(that really mean
go,
Go,
GO!
See,
I even got
carried away
in this poem.

by Reuben




EXTENSIONS

Have the students write their own poems of apology and/or forgiveness.

Read other books by Sidman which include among others these titles:
2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS.
Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0547014945

2008. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG. Doug Mindell, Photographer.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618283811

2006. BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW.
Illustrated by Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin ISBN 061856313X

2005. SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN AND OTHER POND POEMS.
Illustrated by Beckie Prange. Boston: Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0618135472

2002. EUREKA! POEMS ABOUT INVENTORS.
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing Group ISBN 0761316655

MODULE 5—POETRY BREAK--POEM FROM A BOOK PUBLISHED IN 2008/2009

MODULE 5—POETRY BREAK--POEM FROM A BOOK PUBLISHED IN 2008/2009

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 2009. DINOTHESAURUS: PREHISTORIC POEMS AND PAINTINGS. New York: Atheneum Books ISBN 9781416979784


INTRODUCTION
This book is a wonderful curriculum connection for a study done on dinosaurs or prehistoric times. Start by having the students theorize about possible reasons for the extinction of dinosaurs.



Seismosaurus
SIZE-mo-SAW-rus (earthshaking lizard)

Seismosaurus: tremendous in size.
Seismosaurus: stupendous lengthwise.
Seismosaurus: could make the earth shake.
Seismosaurus: as large as a lake.


EXTENSIONS

Have students figure out the dimensions of a lake in order to get a realistic picture of how humongous this creature really was. Florian has written many wonderful poetry books for children and among those are some of these selections that deal with animals:

BEAST FEAST: POEMS. 1998. New York: Voyager Books ISBN 0152017372
INSECTLOPEDIA. 2002. New York: Voyager Books ISBN 0152163352
IN THE SWIM. 2001. New York: Voyager Books ISBN 0152024379
LIZARDS, FROGS, AND POLLIWOGS. 2005.
New York: Sandpiper ISBN 0152052488
MAMMALABILIA. 2004. New York: Voyager Books ISBN 0152050248

There have been many excellent poetry books published in 2008/2009. Here once again
is just a sampling. You may also check out Dr. Sylvia Vardell’s, professor in the
Library Science Department, at Texas Woman’s University, website at http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/ for a more exhaustive list of resources to use to share the joy of poetry with children.

Franco, Betsy. 2008. BEES, SNAILS, AND PEACOCK TAILS. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 1416903860

Giovanni, Nikki, ed. HIP HOP SPEAKS TO CHILDREN: A CELEBRATION OF POETRY WITH A BEAT. Illustrated by Kristen Balouch, Michele Noiset, Jeremy Tugearu, Alicia Vergel de Dios, and Damian Ward.

Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks ISBN 1402210485
Martin, Bill Jr., ed. 2008. THE BILL MARTIN JR BIG BOOK OF POETRY.
New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1416939717

Rex, Adam. 2008. FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE.
Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 9780152062354

MODULE 5—POETRY BREAK--REFRAIN—A POEM WITH A REFRAIN WITH REFRAIN NOTED

MODULE 5—POETRY BREAK--REFRAIN—A POEM WITH A REFRAIN WITH REFRAIN NOTED


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 2008. BE GLAD YOUR NOSE IS ON YOUR FACE: AND OTHER POEMS. Illustrated by Brandon Dorman. New York: Harper Collins
ISBN 9780061576539

INTRODUCTION
Have a lively discussion with the students about the “disgusting” things that the adult(s) at their homes have made them for lunch.


NOTE: The refrain for the following poem is Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch! Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch! One by one or by the bunch—Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch!


RAT FOR LUNCH!
Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch!
Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch!
One by one or by the bunch—
Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch!


Scrambled slug in salty slime
is our choice at breakfast time,
but for lunch, we say to you,
nothing but a rat will do.


Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch!
Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch!
One by one or by the bunch—
Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch!


For our snack each afternoon,
we chew bits of baked baboon,
curried squirrel, buttered bat,
but for lunch it must be rat.


Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch!
Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch!
One by one or by the bunch—
Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch!


In the evening we may dine
on fillet of porcupine,
buzzard gizzard, lizard chops,
but for lunch a rat is tops.


Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch!
Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch!
One by one or by the bunch—
Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch!


Rat, we love you steamed or stewed,
blackened, broiled, or barbecued.
Pickled, poached, or fried in fat,
there is nothing like a rat.


Rat for lunch! Rat for lunch!
Yum! Delicious! Munch munch munch!
One by one or by the bunch—
Rat, oh rat, oh rat for lunch


EXTENSIONS

Have the students create their own poems about the “disgusting” things that they have eaten in the past.

Read other poem books by Jack Prelutsky (a partial list only because he has written so many wonderful poetry books) but I have tried to include some of his newest releases
AWFUL OGRE RUNNING WILD. 2008. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0066238668
MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS. 2008. Illustrated by James Stevenson.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0066238625
PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY: HOW TO WRITE A POEM. 2008.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0061434485
READ A RHYME, WRITE A RHYME. 2009. Illustrated by Meilo So.
New York: Dragonfly Books ISBN 0385737270
THE SWAMPS OF SLEETHE: POEMS FROM BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
2009. Illustrated by Jimmy Pickering.
New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers ISBN 0375846743

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: A POETRY BOOK PUBLISHED SINCE 2005

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: A POETRY BOOK PUBLISHED SINCE 2005

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rowden, Justine. 2005. PAINT ME A POEM—POEMS INSPIRED BY MASTERPIECES OF ART.
Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press ISBN 1590782895

SUMMARY
This book contains fourteen poems written by Rowden that were inspired by paintings that she encountered while touring the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Each reproduction of a painting along with the accompanying poem is beautifully laid on a two-page spread.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

What an interesting way and pairing of two concepts that can at times be challenging for students to get a grasp of! Many students struggle with the intent and the message that an artist is trying to communicate through their paintings, especially paintings that predate the birth of the child. In addition, some students have a hard time grasping the meaning of a poem and often how to begin writing their own piece of poetry. Ms. Rowden has expertly shown children how to combine two forms of artistry-painting and poetry writing and turn them into something that a reader of any age can understand and draw their own conclusions from.

In the poem inspired by Andre Derain’s Flowers in a Vase Rowden penned this poem which describes a stem and the petals on a rose having an argument about sharing space but then start to notice the uniqueness of each other and finally coming to the conclusion that they make a great team when they realize that each one of them has something to offer to the relationship. What a great lead-in for a teacher and/or teacher librarian to use when he/she notices that some children in their respective classrooms/library are not getting along.

SO CLOSE

You seem to be awfully close;
Your stem is stepping on my toes.
I don’t think so.
Could you please tuck your leaves in a little bit?
There’s really no place to move.
At least, could you please try not to lean on me?
I don’t think I really am.
Your petals are in my face; they’re blocking my view.
That’s just the way I happen to blossom.
Could we try to get along?
You know, you are an incredible shade of pink.
Oh, you noticed!
I’m really glad you’re so close.



In a poem entitled It’s All Hidden Rowden describes how objects are not always how they first appear. A transfer of knowledge occurs when people realize that it is also true of human beings—once we get to someone on a personal level that what they look like on the outside does not matter. This particular poem was inspired by the painting done by Francisco de Goya entitled BARTOLOME SUREDA Y MISEROL.

BARTOLOME SUREDA Y MISEROL is a painting depicting a young distinguished, well-dressed gentleman posing for a portrait. In his hand he is holding a top hat with a red silk lining. The silk lining would be totally hidden from view if it were not for the fact that he is holding the hat instead of wearing it. What wonderful treasures human beings can find each other once the outer shell has been “stripped” away.

IT’S ALL HIDDEN

Sometimes a surprise
Is meant to be hidden,
Where no one suspects
What secrets are there—

Like a delicate green bud
Quietly sleeping,
Waiting for morning
To burst into purple.

Or a marshmallow-white egg
Hiding a golden yolk
Deep, deep inside
Its serene white oval.

And that black silk hat
Sitting tall on a head,
Laughing, for it knows
It is really red inside.

I found this picture of an unusual object that could be used to discuss with students how the object may have had one purpose at some point in time and now is used for a different purpose.




REVIEW EXCERPT
Booklist-“Teachers and children will find new ways to look at and respond to art in these open, freewheeling poems.”

CONNECTIONS
A couple other books where art inspired poets to create a piece of poetry:
Greenberg, Jan. 2001. HEART TO HEART: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN ART. New York: Abrams ISBN 0810943867

---, ed. 2008. SIDE BY SIDE: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD. New York: Abrams ISBN 0810994712

Here are a few of many excellent poem books that have published since 2005:

Calmenson, Stephanie. 2005. KINDERGARTEN KIDS: RIDDLES, REBUSES, WIGGLES, GIGGLES, AND MORE. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0060007141
Lewis, J. Patrick. 2005. PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY.
Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 0152163875
Kennedy, Caroline. 2005. A FAMILY OF POEMS: MY FAVORITE POETRY FOR CHILDREN. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth.
New York: Hyperion Books ISBN 0786851112
Sword, Elizabeth Hauge. 2006. A CHILD’S ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0880013788
Wilson, Dr. Edwin Graves. 2007. POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: MAYA ANGELOU. Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue.
New York: Sterling ISBN 1402720238

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: CURRICULUM CONNECTION

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: CURRICULUM CONNECTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1997. MARVELOUS MATH: A BOOK OF POEMS.
Illustrated by Karen Barbour. New York: Simon and Schuster.
ISBN 0689806582

SUMMARY
In this delightful Lee Bennett Hopkins has selected 16 poems, two of which are penned by him that relate to the topic of mathematics. The poems range from how math makes us feel to how numbers help us make sense of the world around us.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Hopkins has a natural knack for selecting poems for an anthology that will appeal to children. Most of the poems have a two-page spread and the ones that do not get their own two-page spread go so well together that the illustrations seem to have been meant for that poem even though there was no previous collaboration between each individual poet and the illustrator. For example, J. Thomas Sparough’s poem HOURGLASS is paired along side Ilo Orleans poem TIME PASSES. Since both poems deal with time it is natural to place these two together. What is interesting about pairing these two together is the fact that while Sparough’s poem is about time it is more about time over centuries and how weather over time has reshaped the earth while Orleans’ poem has more to do with time that children can physically see on a clock and get a sense of a twenty-four period.



In Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s poem MARVELOUS MATH she uses an abcb pattern to describe some of the purposes of mathematics. While students may not be wondering about these exact questions she illustrates in language that children will understand and that will spark their curiosity to learn the answers to her questions if they do not already know the answers. Her poem reads as follows:


MARVELOUS MATH
How fast does a New York taxi go?
What size is grandpa’s attic?
How old is the oldest dinosaur?
The answer’s in Mathematics!

How many seconds in an hour?
How many in a day?
What size are the planets in the sky?
How far is the Milky Way?

How fast does lightning travel?
How slow do feathers fall?
How many miles to Istanbul?
Mathematics knows it all!


Lillian M. Fisher’s poem TO BUILD A HOUSE provides a wonderful lead in for a unit on using all four math operations to complete a project in addition to learning some new vocabulary—in this case the construction of a model house. Many children may not be familiar with the word cupboard so will have to use another important skill-research-in order to learn what this word means and what a cupboard actually looks like.
The students will also have to figure out how to build a house to scale as well as researching the various types of materials that are used to build homes. This could also tie-in with a social studies and science unit on the types of materials found in various parts of the world and then each student or group of students could be responsible for building a home suitable for that part of the world.

Barbour has created delightful illustrations with her depiction of a house and a ruler running around the perimeter of the two-page spread. She uses bright bold colors that appeal to children of all ages. This illustration like all the others for this book are done by using gouache paint which is described as an opaque watercolor.

TO BUILD A HOUSE
Here on this plot
Our house will rise
Against the hill
Beneath blue skies

Ruler and tape
Measure the size
Of windows and cupboards
The floors inside

We add, subtract,
Multiply, divide
To build closets and stairs
The porch outside

Without numbers and measure
Would our house ever rise
Against the hill
Beneath blue skies?

Note: This is probably not the picture the poet had in mind but I was trying to find an interesting unusual house to show the variety in the types of homes.



This gem of a book will make a great addition to a teacher or librarian’s collection.


REVIEW EXCERPT
School Library Journal-“Barbour's lively illustrations dance and play around the poems... Children will enjoy studying the oddly colored animals, numbers, and stylized, arched-browed people.”

CONNECTIONS

Some other math related poetry books:
Franco, Betsy. 2006. MATH POETRY.
Tucson, AZ: Good Year Books. ISBN 1596470720
----. 2006. MATHEMATICKLES. Illustrated by Steven Salerno.
New York: Aladdin. ISBN 1416918612
Holub, Joan and Heather Boyd. 2003. RIDDLE-ICULOUS MATH.
Illustrated by Regan Dunnick.
Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company. ISBN 0807549967
Tang, Greg. 2003. MATH-TERPIECES. Illustrated by Greg Paprocki.
New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0439443881

Some other curriculum connection poetry books:

Asch, Frank. 1996. SAWGRASS POEMS: A VIEW OF THE EVERGLADES.
Illustrated by Ted Levin. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt ISBN 0152001808
Fletcher, Ralph. 2005. A WRITING KIND OF DAY: POEMS FOR YOUNG POETS.
Illustrated by April Ward.
Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mill Press. ISBN 1590783530
Goldish, Meish. 1999. 101 SCIENCE POEMS & SONGS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590963694
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2002. SPECTACULAR SCIENCE: A BOOK OF POEMS. New York: Aladdin. ISBN 0689851200
Prelutsky, Jack. 1997. RIDE A PURPLE PELICAN.
New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688156258
Scieszka, Jon. 2007. SCIENCE VERSE. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0670062693

MODULE 4—POETRY BREAK—BIOGRAPHICAL POEM

MODULE 4—POETRY BREAK—BIOGRAPHICAL POEM

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1999. LIVES—POEMS ABOUT FAMOUS AMERICANS. Illustrated by Leslie Staub. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 006027767X



NOTE: All but one of these sixteen poems is written by poets other than Hopkins. These poems have been selected by Hopkins to be included in this anthology.

INTRODUCTION
Discuss with the students why Dr. Martin Luther King was so important in America’s history. This poem would be especially appropriate on January 15, his birth date.





MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
X. J. Kennedy

Solemn bells in steeples sing:

Doctor
Martin
Luther
King.


He lived his life
He dreamed his dream:
The worst-off people
To redeem,

He dreamed a world
Where people stood
Not separate, but
In brotherhood.

Now ten-ton bells together swing:

Remember
Martin
Luther
King.


EXTENSIONS

Discuss and perhaps even have the children locate information on other important African-American people in United States history.

Other books that would help expand the topic on America’s history and important people in history are:

Katz, Bobbi. 2000. WE THE PEOPLE: POEMS. Illustrated by Nina Crews.
New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688165311

Meltzer, Milton, Ed. 2003. HOUR OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN HISTORY IN POETRY. Illustrated by Marc Nadel.
Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN 1590780213

Lewis, J. Patrick and Jim Cooke. HEROES AND SHE-ROES: POEMS OF AMAZING AND EVERYDAY HEROES. 2005.
New York: Random House. ISBN 0803729251

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, Complier. HAND IN HAND: AN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH POETRY. Illustrated by Peter M. Fiore. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 067173315X

MODULE 4—POETRY BREAK—SPRING-A POEM ABOUT THE SEASON OF SPRING

MODULE 4—POETRY BREAK—SPRING-A POEM ABOUT THE SEASON OF SPRING


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fletcher, Ralph. 1997. ORDINARY THINGS—POEMS FROM A WALK IN EARLY SPRING. Drawings by Walter Lyon Krudop.
New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689810350


INTRODUCTION
If at all possible read this poem outside so that the students can observe Mother Nature while listening and enjoying this poem.





birds’ nest (Note: The title is written as Fletcher has done)


You see birds’ nests
like unpicked fruit
in branches bare
of any leaves.

When I was small
Grandma cut my hair
and tossed the clumps
onto our lawn.

“Birds will use it
to line their nests
and keep the eggs
safe and warm.”

An amazing thing:
my ordinary hair
woven into a bird’s
wild tapestry.



EXTENSIONS

While outside after reading the poem look for birds’ nests and observe what the birds have used for building material(s)


Read other books by Fletcher which include but are not limited to:

POETRY MATTERS: WRITING A POEM FROM THE INSIDE OUT. 2002.
New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0380797038

TWILIGHT COMES TWICE. 1997. New York: Clarion ISBN 0395848261

HELLO, HARVEST MOON. 2003. New York: Clarion ISBN 0618164510

MODULE 3—POETRY BREAK--A POEM THAT DOES NOT RHYME

MODULE 3—POETRY BREAK--A POEM THAT DOES NOT RHYME


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Soto, Gary. 1995. CANTO FAMILIAR. Illustrated by Annika Nelson.
New York: Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152000674


INTRODUCTION
Look at a map of the world and discuss the physical features of each continent and/or country.






TORTILLAS LIKE AFRICA
When Isaac and me squeezed dough over a
Mixing bowl,
When we dusted the cutting board with flour,
When we spanked and palmed our balls of dough,
When we said, “Here goes,”
And began rolling out tortillas,
We giggled because ours came out not round,
Like Mama’s,
But in the shape of faraway lands.

Here was Africa, here was Colombia, and Greenland.
Here was Italy, the boot country,
And here was Mexico, our homeland to the south.

Here was Chile, thin as tie.
Here was France, square as a hat.
Here was Australia, with patches of jumping kangaroos.

We rolled out our tortillas on the board
And laughed when we threw them on the comal,
These tortillas that were not round as a pocked moon,
But the twist and stretch of the earth taking shape.






EXTENSIONS

Have the students “perform” the actions in the poem by providing dough and letting them create the world. This is a great follow-up to a Social Studies unit on the continents/countries of the world.




Read other poetry books by Gary Soto including but not limited to:
GARY SOTO; NEW AND SELECTED POEMS. 1995. New York: Chronicle. ISBN 0811807584
PARTLY CLOUDY: POEMS OF LOVE AND LONGING. 2009.
New York: Harcourt. ISBN 0152063013
NEIGHBORHOOD ODES. 2005. New York: Harcourt. ISBN 015205364
A FIRE IN MY HANDS: A BOOK OF POEMS. 1992.
New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590445790


Try these poetry books:
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1998. THE TREE IS OLDER THAN YOU ARE: A BILINGUUAL GATHERING OF PEOMS & STORIES FROM MEXICO New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689820879
Myers, Walter Dean. 1996. BROWN ANGELS: AN ALBUM OF PICTURES AND VERSE. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064434559
Grimes, Nikki. IS IT FAR TO ZANZIBAR: POEMS ABOUT TANZANIA.
New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688131573

Module 3--A Verse Novel

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Press
ISBN 0590360809


SUMMARY
This poignant historical fiction novel written in free verse form tells the story of fourteen year old Billie Jo Kelby and her family’s struggles during the 1930’s dust storms. The story starts out from the view point of Billie Jo and her reflections on her birth and how she has always been a disappointment to her father because she was born a boy and hence how she was named.

As the story progresses the reader learns of the hardships, devastation, and struggles that the people of this time lived through during this time in America’s history. For example, Billie Jo’s father leaves a bucket of kerosene near the stove and the mother picks it up thinking it is water and catches the stove and the surroundings on fire. The mother runs outside and Billie Jo thinking that she is helping throws the bucket outside; however, at the same time her mother is returning to the kitchen and catches on fire. She and her unborn fetus suffer for several days before eventually dying. Billie Jo’s hands gets burned in the process of saving her mother but the people are not as concerned about that as what happened to the mother and fetus. What is so ironic is the fact that all the neighbors and mourners at the funeral and lunch afterwards at the Kelby’s home focus on what Billie Jo did not on the carelessness of her father.

Before the accident Billie Jo had with the reluctance of her parents developed the talent of playing the piano. She inherited this trait from her mother who used to play at home before marrying and raising a family. After her hands were severely burned she gives up pursuing this dream due to charred and scarred hands as well as the painful memories playing the piano brings of her mother.

Billie Jo’s disconnect from her father, her destitute surroundings, along with her own grief lead to her to run away from home and try to find a better life away from all the sadness and poverty that surround her constantly. She hops a train illegally, which was termed a hobo and meets up with a fellow hobo. Through her conversations with him she discovers that home is where she longs to be. The kindness of others allows her to return to her beloved home and reconciliation with her father.

Once home she discovers that her father and a local single woman named Louise, who turns out to be her father’s night school teacher, have become friendly and are developing a close relationship. At first, Billie Jo is angry about this but through the slow, gentle, kind, unobtrusive ways of Louise Billie Jo warms up to her and by the end of the novel the reader is aware that not only are the Daddy and Louise going to be married but that Billie Jo will be alright and has come to terms with the death of her mother. Billie Jo is once again playing the piano as she did before the tragedy.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Hesse is a master at using concrete and abstract meanings in OUT OF THE DUST. Most readers will have had experience at one time or another with having dust covering some part of their body and at the same time through Hesse’s creative use of abstract thinking we also get a sense of what it must have been like to live day to day, month after month, with multiple layers of dust covering everything and everyone day and night.

The unmetered and unpatterned rhythm lends itself well to the free verse type such as this one. Hesse also has a gift for creating a powerful voice for her characters. She knows how to speak the language that a child during this era would talk and yet the language still is understandable and appealing to students today. Billie Jo and the other characters comes alive and even though they are fictional characters the reader is pulled into their lives and roots for them during times of triumph, and feels their pain and sadness during the tragedies that confront each and every one of them that lived during this time period in America’s history.

Each “mini” poem within the novel lends itself well to allowing the reader to use their mind’s eye and recreate the sense imagery. Many children have had similar experiences of using their senses to explore and experience the world around them. For example, from an excerpt on page 18 when Billie Jo has been sent to the local grocery store to get supplies for a cake her mother was making for Billie Jo’s father she states

I could smell apples,
ground coffee, and peppermint.
I sorted through the patterns on the feed bags,
sneezed dust,
blew my nose.


Hesse also has a wonderful way of creating a tone and mood that draws the reader from the first page and grasps him/her until the turning of the very last page. A reader makes an instant emotional connection with the characters in the story through the eloquent moving language that Hesse uses.

Every reader at some point in their lives, no matter their age or circumstances, has experienced a situation that to them was a crisis. Therefore, it is easy to identify with Billie Jo when she exclaims


The way I see it, hard times aren’t only
about money,
or drought,
or dust.
hard times are about losing spirit,
and hope,
and what happens when dreams dry up.


REVIEW EXCERPT
Publishers Weekly-"This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions."


CONNECTIONS

There are many excellent verse novels available if you want to continue with your students in this genre. Here are four that I have selected:

Creech, Sharon. 2001. LOVE THAT DOG.
New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060292873
Frost, Helen. 2003. KEESHA’S HOUSE.
New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374400121
Grover, Lorie Ann. 2007. LOOSE THREADS.
New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1416955623
Sones, Sonya. 2003. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW.
New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 0689855532

A couple of other books by Hesse include:
BROOKLYN BRIDGE. Illustrated by Chris Sheban.
New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0312378866
WITNESS. 2003. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439272009

MODULE 3--POETRY BREAK: UNUSUAL FORM— A poem written in picture book form

MODULE 3--POETRY BREAK: UNUSUAL FORM—
A poem written in picture book form

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Siebert, Diane. 1981. TRAIN SONG. Paintings by Mike Wimmer.
New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0690047282


INTRODUCTION
This poem is written as a picture book. First, read SEYMOUR SIMON’S BOOK OF TRAINS then read TRAIN SONG.

Simon, Seymour. 2004. SEYMOUR SIMON’S BOOK OF TRAINS. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064462234




out in back
railroad track
clickety-clack
clickety-clack
locomotives
cars in tow
going places:
Buffalo
New York City
Boston, Mass.
slowing ‘neath the overpass
Dallas
Fort Worth
Abilene
with stops at all points
in between
steel wheels rolling
on steel trails
rumbling
grumbling
on steel rails
engineers with striped hats
head-of-the-line aristocrats
up in front
sitting high
see them wave as go by
great trains
freight trains
talk about your late trains
the 509
right on time
straight through to L.A.
whistle blows
there she goes
slicing through the day
boxcars
flatcars
going-to-North Platte cares:
Cotton Belt
Santa Fe
New York Central
on their way
long trains
strong trains
singing-clickety-song trains
cars with lumber
cars with cattle
clickety-clacking
to Seattle
cars piled high with automobiles
wheels
on
wheels
on
wheels
on
wheels
tank cars hauling gasoline
diesel oil and kerosene
thirty hoppers in a row
hauling spuds from Idaho
caboose of yellow at the ends
disappearing 'round the bend
trains with passengers on board
clickety-clacking
rolling toward
their destinations far away
clickety-clacking
night and day
coaches
club cars
diners, too
dome cars with a perfect view
signal lights
green
yellow
red
railroad station up ahead
rolling
rolling
into town
toward the platform
slowing down
creaking
clanking
air brakes squeal
moaning
groaning
steel on steel
Overnighter to the bay
arrive at noon on Saturday
get a sleeper
don't be late
she's waiting on Track number 8
head conductor
dressed in black
peering up and down the track
checks his watch
now hear him shout:
"ALL ABOARD"
she's pulling out!
through the tunnel
going fast
clickety-clack
she's roaring past
the cities, suburbs, little towns
past forest greens and desert browns
spikes and crossties
smooth, worn rails
through the twilight
whistle wails
feel the rhythm
hear the sound
clickety-clacking
homeward bound
say good night
and
wave good-bye
hear the railroad lullaby







EXTENSIONS

Have the students make their own trains. The pattern is available at http://familyfun.go.com/printables/craft-templates/printable/train-engine/train-engine.html.


Also this book could be paired with:
O’Brien, Patrick. 2000. STEAM, SMOKE AND STEEL: BACK IN TIME WITH TRAINS. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing. ISBN 0881069698
Sobel, June. 2006. THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN.
Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN 0152054367

Poetry Book Review--Multicultural

POETRY BOOK REVIEW

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Janet S. Wong. 1996. A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689807880


SUMMARY
She has a background of Korean, Chinese and American. She has divided her book into three sections—one section per culture. She has written poetry about each and helps the reader/listener gain a better understanding of what is like to have such a varied heritage.

In the first section the Korean poems help her connect to her mother’s background. The next section is about her father’s Chinese heritage. Finally, in the last section she writes about her American heritage.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
All of the poems written in this book are written in free verse form. Not only does she speak and write from the heart but she writes about topics that she is familiar with which packs a powerful punch. Wong has a powerful way with words and through her poems expresses a wide range of emotions.
For example, in LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, which is in the first section of her book, the love that her mother and father have for each other as young lovers is evident and instantly a reader can envision the two running into each other’s arms after a playful chase once they have reunited after her father’s return from war.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

I like to imagine Mother
when her face was full and smooth
and she wore her hair in a long braid,

and I like to imagine Father
with his crooked smile and his crooked crew cut,
wearing an American uniform,

running after her
in the narrow dirt streets
of her Korean village,

as she rushes away
laughing,
her long braid

wagging like the tail of a dog
that has found
a fresh bone.













One of my favorite poems in her second section is MONEY ORDER. It is like the saying goes “the pasture is always greener on the other side.” In the poem her family works hard, scrimps and saves to send money back to her family in China. How ironic that her family later learns that the money that was sent to the family members was used to purchase a television set so they could learn about all the possessions that Americans have and see how wealthy the American people live.

MONEY ORDER
We eat salt fish and rice,
night after night after night,
to save some money
to send
to cousins
I never have seen

who used our money last year
to buy a color TV,
so they could watch
rich Americans
eating
steak and potatoes.


REVIEW EXCERPT

School Library Journal-“Wong was born in America of Chinese and Korean heritage, but the basic subjects she addresses in neat stanzas of free verse aim at the heart of any family, any race.”


CONNECTIONS

Explore the various cultures that make up the fabric of the United States. Have the students write poems that express their heritage.

Bring in a variety of foods that are native to Korea and China and have the students see them precooked, taste raw if applicable, cook in a wok if applicable, and then have a feast with the prepared foods.

Read, enjoy, and explore other poetry books written by Janet S. Wong such as:
YOU HAVE TO WRITE. 2002. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689834098
ALEX AND THE WEDNESDAY CHESS CLUB. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689858906
TWIST: YOGA POEMS. 2007. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689873948
GOOD LUCK GOLD AND OTHER POEMS. 1994. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689506171
KNOCK ON WOOD: POEMS ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS. 2003.
New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689855125

A Book of Poetry by Douglas Florian

POETRY BOOK REVIEW

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Douglas Florian. 2000. MAMMALABILIA. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN 0152021671


SUMMARY
Florian writes twenty one different poems dedicated to twenty one different real mammals that inhabit our earth. The poems celebrate all kinds of mammals. Some of the poems explore the lives of mammals such as lemurs that live most of their lives off the ground while other poems describe the characteristics of mammals that live all their lives on the ground and seldom frequent the water except for drinking purposes like zebras do. Finally, some of the poems are focused on the types of mammals that love the land and water equally such as the otter do.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The master poet and illustrator Florian uses a variety of poetry in this mammal anthology. For example in his poem entitled THE HIPPO he uses a shape poem to describe a typical day in the life of a hippo. In the first line By day the hippo loves to float my child described it this way “those are his eyes as he is looking out of the water because you can only see his eyes as he is floating.” The second line says On swamps and lakes, much like a boat which my child commented that the shape of this line reminded him of the wide mouth of the hippo. The third line reads At night from water it retreats, and this reminded him of how the hippo’s body starts to narrow closer to its legs. The rest of the poem reads as follows: And eats
and eats
and eats
and eats.
These last parts recalled to him how the hippo’s body gets slimmer and slimmer until finally the slenderness of the hippo’s legs is reached which is odd compared to the rest of its body. This book was very relevant to our nighttime reading routine because we had viewed on this particular day an animal movie which contained a hippo along with a zebra, gorilla, elephant, and giraffe. Therefore, his recollection of exactly how the mammals in the movie looked like and how they were described, illustrated, and “written” about (meaning if Florian wrote the poem in shape form) in this anthology were fresh in his mind and made the poems come alive.




Another variation that Florian uses is the rhyming pattern of “aaa.” In the poem THE RHEBOK he writes:
The rhebok’s main
Claim to fame
Is its name.


He uses the same type of pattern in the unique poem THE GIRAFFE.
Rubber-necker
Double-decker
Cloud-checker
Star-trekker

Florian’s creative yet factual descriptions of mammals not only help children understand the uniqueness of each animals being depicted but the way he writes and illustrates his work begs for the book to be read again and again.


REVIEW EXCERPT

Publishers Weekly-“This collection of 21 short light verse brims with whimsy and fun. The artwork taps into childlike qualities without being simplistic; the animal portraits are clever yet appropriate. An irresistible homage to mammal memorabilia.”




CONNECTIONS

Some other poetry books that have not only been written by Florian but also illustrated by him are as follows (this list is not exhaustive but will get you get started if after reading or have read MAMMALABILIA you enjoyed it as much as my son and I did):

BEAST FEAST. 1994. Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 0152951784
BOW WOW MEOW MEOW. 2003. Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 0152163956
COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS. 2007.
Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 9780152053727
INSECTLOPEDIA. 1998. Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 0152013067
LAUGH-ETERIA. 1999. San Diego: Harcourt ISBN 0152020845
ON THE WING. 1996. Orlando: Harcourt ISBN 0152004971

A poem written by an NCTE Award winning poet

MODULE 2-MAJOR POETS AND AWARDS -POETRY BREAK: NCTE AWARD POET –A poem written by an NCTE Award winning poet


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mary Ann Hoberman. 1998. THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA-100 FAVORITE POEMS. Illustrated by Betty Fraser. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN 0329457195



INTRODUCTION
This poem would be great in the spring time when new life is starting after the long winter months. If at all possible get a frog at the tadpole stage and keep in the proper environment in the classroom as it matures from a tadpole into a frog. Each stage of the frog’s growth provides many opportunities for discussion and poetry writing. Once the frog is fully grown release it in its natural habitat.


FROG
Pollywiggle
Pollywog
Tadpole
Bullfrog
Leaps on
Long legs
Jug-o-rum
Jelly eggs
Sticky tongue
Tricks flies
Spied by
Flicker eyes
Wet skin
Cold blood
Squats in
Mucky mud
Leaps on
Long legs
Jug-o-rum
Jelly eggs
Laid in
Wet bog...
Pollywiggle
Pollywog.

EXTENSIONS
The students can write poems about what the frog is doing now that it is living in its natural habitat.
The students can write poems about our animals that start out life in one form and end up looking very different when fully grown.

POETRY BOOK REVIEW: HOPKINS ANTHOLOGY

POETRY BOOK REVIEW

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lee Bennett Hopkins. 2002. HOME TO ME/POEMS ACROSS AMERICA. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

ISBN 0439340969

SUMMARY

This book contains 15 poems selected by Hopkins—including one by him. Each poem is by a different poet and is written about a different place in America. Each poet eloquently describes the wonderful vast parts of the United States that make it the great nation that it is. For example, the first poem in the book is entitled A PLACE CALLED PRAIRIE and is penned by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. She describes vividly what life is like for a person living in the mid-western part of the United States. In contrast Joan Bransfield Graham paints a picture in her poem WILDWOOD BY-THE-SEA what life would be or is like for someone who loves living near an ocean. The book concludes with a short bio about each of the poets mentioned in the anthology.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The poets in this anthology use concrete examples in their poems to help the reader get a sense of what it is like to experience the place being described in the poem. The varied rhythmic patterns in the book provide vast opportunities for discussion about meter and pattern and the reason the poet may have had for choosing to use a predictable pattern over free verse and vice versa. When it comes to sound and the rhyme(s) used by the fifteen poets this are again as varied as the poets themselves. The poets are also skilled at using assonance, alliteration, consonance, and onomatopoeia.

The sense imagery in this anthology allows a reader with a means of connecting with the poets because they can understand the love and admiration that the poet has for a place being described if the reader has had a similar experience. And if the reader has not had the pleasure of visiting for him/her self the part of America being written about then they can get a feel and appreciation for another part of the country that makes up the United States of America.

The poets create this experience through the use of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. For example, in the poem by Patricia Hubbell entitled ON MY ISLAND she writes

in part: I watch sleek seals on wave-wet rocks,/rowboats bobbing at weathered docks./I hear the buoy’s lonely bell,/I touch a chalky oyster shell./All about me, pines grow tall./All about me, seagulls call. These images also provide an emotional connection for a reader who lives or has lived in America because each poem describes a particular environment that is unique and specific to that part of the United States.

REVIEW EXCERPT

School Library Journal-“ The styles and rhythms vary; some poets write in rhyming iambic pentameter while others choose free verse to describe their homes. Alcorn's thoughtful, folklike illustrations creatively depict the settings.”

CONNECTIONS

Some of the poetry collection books compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins are:

MARVELOUS MATH: A BOOK OF POEMS.

New York: Aladdin (imprint of Simon & Schuster). ISBN 0689844425

SPECTACULAR SCIENCE: A BOOK OF POEMS.

New York: Aladdin (imprint of Simon & Schuster). ISBN 0689851200

WONDERFUL WORDS: POEMS ABOUT READING, WRITING, SPEAKING, AND LISTENING. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689835884

SURPRISES. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064441059

AMERICA AT WAR: POEMS SELECTED BY LEE BENNETT HOPKINS.

New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416918329

HAND IN HAND: AN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH POETRY.

New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 067173315X

MY AMERICA: A POETRY ATLAS OF THE UNITED STATES.

New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689812477

POETRY BREAK: SCHOOL/LIBRARY/BOOKS

POETRY BREAK: SCHOOL/LIBRARY/BOOKS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marilyn Singer. 2008. FIRST FOOD FIGHT THIS FALL AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. New York: Sterling.

ISBN 9781402741456

INTRODUCTION: Before reading one of the poems from the book begin by having the students recall their first day experiences—whether happy, sad, funny or somewhere in between.

The poems contained in this book are told by the twelve children introduced in the first poem. While each and every poem is delightful and fun the one I have chosen to highlight here is as follows:

SANDWICH TRADES by Max

Jake doesn’t like peanut butter and jelly,

egg salad, meatballs, any cheese that’s smelly,

bologna on a roll, tuna fish on rye,

chicken nuggets, nachos, even pizza pie.

But bean curd with sprouts or dandelion greens,

marinated mushrooms, oily sardines,

ripe avocado sliced on whole wheat,

and artichoke pate are things he loves to eat—

and what my mother makes!

So each day we exchange.

I’m glad to have a friend

whose favorite foods are strange!

EXTENSIONS:

Have students write and illustrate if desired their own poems about their first day of school experiences.

Some other poem books that have to do with school are:

Kalli Dakos. 1990. IF YOU’RE NOT HERE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND—POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689801165

Kalli Dakos. 2002. THE BUG IN TEACHER’S COFFEE: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Illustrated by Mike Reed. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064443051

Kalli Dakos. 1990. PUT YOUR EYES UP HERE: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416918027

Carol Shields. 1998. LUNCH MONEY AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Illustrated by Paul Meisei. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 014055890X