Poetry Paws

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2005. Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems. Ill. by Wolf Erlbruch. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN-13: 978-0-688-17860-4

SUMMARY
This anthology of poetry edited by Hopkins is a well organized compilation of quirky poetry about childhood fears, mishaps, and disasters in life. The poetry listed within this book ranges from first-day-of-school issues to biting the worm in an apple.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Right away I could see the appeal of this anthology. Many of the poems within relate to familiar childhood experiences. The language of the poetry is very easily understood and invokes images that pulls at the reader's imagination of hypothetical situations. The first poem in the anthology stands out that illustrates both aforementioned appeals--which is cleverly named First Day written by Susan Hart Lindquist. It is a great example of a familiar childhood experience. Short and sweet and to the point...with a little rhyming thrown in.

FIRST DAY

This isn't the way

it was supposed to be-

                                                                You

                                                                           in

                                                                                    Room Two.

                                                                  Me

                                                                            in
                                                                                     Room Three.


The quality of the poem is evident by the way few words are used but it speaks volumes of a classic childhood situation--being moved from your best friend...the following school year. Any child can relate to the horrid surprise and spoiled plan of being in the same classroom/homeroom of your most closet pal. The separation and the alignment of the words You and Me mirrors the situation at hand. The illustration of two little girls separated, yet in adjacent rooms, further supports the poem. I immediately smiled in agreement after reading this poem because it brought back memories of my childhood as well...it struck the Oh No! chord of emotion.
This poem can be introduced appropriately on the first day of school. A great way to start the year and offset the anxiety of losing a friend to another classroom. Teachers can further plan an extension that can involve the students by having them write poems dedicated to their lost friends either lost to a class or to another school altogether.



BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006. What A Day It Was At School! Ill. by Doug Cushman. New York: Green Willow Books. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-082335-1

SUMMARY
This book of poetry is filled with laugh-out-loud humorous poetry. The main character of the book is a young school-age cat who has written a journal of sorts of about his day at school.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author and illustrator cleverly begin the book of poems with a journal table of contents--listing all of the poems to follow by page number. The quality and appeal of this book are expressed in multiple ways. Every poem written reflects an event that has happened and will happen to a child in school. For example, the experience of not studying well for a test, to carrying an extremely heavy backpack, or the occasional trip to the library. The quality and craftiness was especially noted in the following poem. Prelutsky uses misspelled words within the poem to entertain the reader and promote the need to study for tests instead of doing everything but study. Any kid or adult (like myself) would get a kick out of seeing the horribly misspelled words...which many of us can attest to committing.

I WISH I'D STUDIED HARRDER 

(excerpt)

I wish I'd studied harrder

For our spellink test today.

I'm sorrie that I didn't,

Now I'm feeling some dismaye.

I'd like to get a passing graid,

But don't beleeve I will--

I think I got Whyoming wrong,

And Chyna, and Brazill.

This book can be used throughout the year to promote poetry reading. Students can experience an extension by picking out their favorite poem of the book and matching it with an actual event in their lives. Each student can read their favorite poem aloud or a choral reading can be an alternative depending on the confidence of the students.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 2005. Danitra Brown, Class Clown. Ill. by E.B. Lewis. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Amistad. ISBN-13: 978-0-688-17290-9

SUMMARY
This book of narrative poems tells about the friendship of two school-age girls of African heritage. The book is narrated by one of the main characters, Zuri--expressing her love for her best friend Danitra Brown.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The feel of the book overall tugs at the readers emotions by addressing the changes that occurs within the new school year, e.g.: new teachers and their attitudes, family illnesses and coping mechanisms/avoidance, etc. Many a child with a different name can also relate to the poem, "Z" IS FOR ZURI.

"Z" IS FOR ZURI

(excerpt)

The first day of school

is always the same.

The new teacher pauses

when she calls my name.

She asks what it means.

It's the moment I dread.

The poem structure engages the reader to pause appropriately to fill the character's anxiety about the teacher(s) mispronouncing or singling out Zuri's unique name and differences from others. That would be a nightmare for a child struggling with shyness.

This book can be a great tool to use with children with special needs, anxieties, illnesses, or multicultural concerns. A teacher can read this book aloud and encourage choral reading as well. 

This is a poetry evaluation for LS 5663 Poetry For Children and Young Adults--a class at Texas Woman's University (TWU).