Poetry Paws--Module Six

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Janeczko, Paul B. 2007. Hey, You!: Poems to Skyscrapers, Mosquitoes, and Other Fun Things. Ill. by Robert Rayevsky. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-052347-3.

SUMMARY
An anthology suited for children ages 4-8. Janeczko cleverly selected poems that are written about things...living and not.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a record of poetry that creatively displays conversations between the authors and their object of choice. For example, some poems are written to farms, mosquitoes, skyscrapers, etc. This book would appeal to the elementary age group for it's silliness, it's frankness, and variety. The poems are easy to understand but are not overly simplistic. Listed below is one of the poems that would most certainly appeal to children that marvel silliness and things that are gross in nature.

To A Maggot in an Apple
Richard Edwards

You lie there like a baby,
Frail and soft and curled,
I'm sorry that I broke in
To your safe white world.
I really didn't mean to,
Just blame my appetite
For laying bare your cradle
And letting in the light.
One question then I'll leave you
To slumber in the bin--
I'm feeling rather queasy,
Er...did you have a twin?


Introduction/Extension: A fun way to introduce this book is to have someone read aloud one of their favorite poems from the book, then allow the children to separate into small groups, read, select their favorite poems, and create a mini-mural of those poems. In addition, the children can write a poem about an object of their choice.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hill, Laban Carrick. 2010. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. Ill. by Bryan Collier. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN-13: 978-0316107310.

SUMMARY
A book of poetry and historical facts for children ages 4-8. This is a historical depiction of the life of Dave the Potter, an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter from the 1800s.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is filled with outstanding pictures that beautifully illustrates the livelihood of Dave the potter, poet, and artist. It takes the reader on the journey of making a pot with Dave from dirt to the carving of the final touches of poetry onto the pottery--which was a signature trademark of the artist. This book will enlighten the reader of the accomplishments of someone under the oppressive circumstance of slavery. It will motivate the reader that they can do anything under any circumstance if they are determined to do so. Hill's poetry is simple and informative of Dave's work in the beginning of the book. Towards the end, the actual work is shown and the poetry carvings (mistakes and all) are further explored and explained to the reader. This book also received the distinctive Caldecott Honor book recognition of 2011.

On wet days,
heavy with rainwater,
it is cool and squishy,
mud pie heaven.
But to Dave
it was clay,
the plain and basic stuff
upon which he learned to
form a life
as a slave nearly
two hundred years ago.

(an actual poem carved by Dave)
Dave belongs to Mr. Miles/
wher the oven bakes & the pot biles ///--July 31, 1840


Introduction/Extension: A great way to introduce this book is to read it aloud to the group and explore the websites that the author listed within the book--this will help the reader know more about Dave, e.g.:
An educator's guide to Dave--www.digitaltraditions.net/html/D_Resources.cfm. Also, schedule a visit to see or invite a local potter to demonstrate the making of pottery will further involve the students in the art of pottery.

Poetry Paws--Module Five

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2006. Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry. Ill. by Michelle Berg. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN-13: 978-0618448944.

SUMMARY
A concrete poetry book that is suited for children ages 4-8. Thirty-two pages of colorful illustrations and creative poem structure--this book can appeal to the younger age group as well as provide entertainment to the adult reader whilst the child is being read to.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I enjoyed this book because of the creative way the poet used the elements of concrete (or shape) poetry to further express herself. On one hand, the story of the dog and cat adventure can entertain and engage the younger child and it can seem as if it is the only story of the book...until you begin to read the poetry within the sidewalk of the book. That is when one realizes that the story has more to it than meets the eye. The poetry comes from the background illustrations (e.g., the sidewalk, the clouds, the grass, etc.) This little surprise of hidden concrete poetry, when pointed out to the child, will make the book even more enjoyable. I found myself fully engaged and searching for the next concrete poem and delighting in how the poet creatively shaped the poems within the scenes.

Excerpt

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Introduction/Extension: A fun way to introduce this book is to use similar looking dog and cat puppets to engage the young audience. The teacher or leader of the story time can also share his or her feelings about the book initially and encourage the children to share their likes and dislikes of the book.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 2008. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN-13: 978-0823421732

SUMMARY
A great book that is intended for the young adult. This book introduces the audience to Jazz and the New Orleans culture. Native New Orleans will enjoy the presentation of their local  traditions and ceremony displayed within.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Myers did a fine job writing this book with a mix of long and short phrasing throughout. Some of the poetry, when read aloud, sounds like a blues/jazz song--which probably was the writer's intent. The use of short and choppy phrases bode well with mimicking syncopation and other musical elements. On the same note, long phrasing was also used to mimic long-winded singing or a legato feel. This book will appeal to natives of Louisiana or lovers of the New Orleans alike. The illustrations are colorful fluid paintings--completed by the son, Christopher Myers--that help the reader with the imagery of seeing the culture that the poet is trying to share.

Excerpt of Good-Bye To Old Bob Johnson

click to enlarge

Introduction/Extension: A good way to introduce this book is to use either an actual musician (e.g., a trumpeter) or a Jazz enthusiast to help present this book and the Jazz genre. Inviting someone from New Orleans as a guest speaker would be great also to further explore the New Orleans lifestyle.



BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fleischman, Paul. 2008. Big Talk: Poems for Four Voices. Ill. by Beppe Giacobbe. Massachusetts: Candlewick. ISBN-13: 978-0763638054.

SUMMARY
A clever, color-coded book of juvenile poetry for two or more readers to participate in choral reading.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is crazy and fun to perform. I actually did it with another person--so a total of two people. I giggled the whole way through. If I found it humorous, I'm sure this book will also amuse children--especially if done with friends or classmates. The way the author wrote the poetry resembles four-part sheet music. The poetry used is easy then becomes progressively harder. There are three different poems in all. At the beginning of the book, the author explains how to read the book and suggests tips to follow to successfully read the book.

Excerpt

click to enlarge

          

Introduction/Extension:
One way to introduce this book is to provide an enthusiastic group of individuals to perform the activities in front of the class (preferably people that are not shy). An excellent extension is to expose the readers to four-part choral sheet music and encourage structuring previously written poetry into poems for two to four voices. Later, a presentation of the project can be presented to the class. 


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