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