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.
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.
