African American Poetry

Book Review: My Man Blue


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Grimes, Nikki. 1999. My Man Blue. Ill by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York. Puffin Books. ISBN 0329292110


1. Review of Book:
My Man Blue is a collection of poems that tells a story of a young African American boy named Damon who is growing up in an urban neighborhood. In the beginning Damon meets a man named Blue who he begins to look up to and respect as a friend and a father figure because we learn that his own father is missing. Over time Blue teaches him important life lessons ranging from overcoming fear, to respecting oneself, and becoming a man. In the end Damon longs to be just like Blue. Nikki Grimes' poems tell a story that are meant to be shared aloud from beginning to end. However, the poems can also stand alone and still be understood by young children beginning as early as 6 years old. In some poems the verses rhyme while others versus do not, yet they will all still provoke a plethora of emotions ranging from sadness to the trials and experiences Damon must endure at a young age, to a feeling of gratefulness that this young boy has a strong man like Blue in his life. The poems will enrich children's view of the world and many children will be able to relate to the hurdles the boy has to overcome, or to the fact that they might also have a strong role model in their life. Jerome Lagarrigue's beautiful painted illustrations will add to children's sense of imagery as they will be able to "see" Damon, Blue, and their experiences come to life.

2. Classroom/Library Connection
After Reading:
After reading the book put the focus back on the beginning poem and re-read, My Man Blue.

My Man Blue
His leathery skin's
Like indigo ink
This rugged dude
Who some folk think
Looks fierce in clothes
Of midnight black.
Then there's his teeth:
One gold, three cracked.
And I suppose
The shades could go.
He wears them night
And day, I know.
Still, underneath
This shell, Blue hides
A harmless
Gentle-giant side.

Have children brainstorm different traits about someone who is special to them in their own lives. Discuss the use of adjectives and sensory language and refer back to the poem to discuss how the author described the character of Blue. Using these skills encourage children to either write a letter to someone that is special in their own lives describing why they mean so much to them, or children can try their hand at writing their own poem about someone special in their lives using as much descriptive and sensory language possible. Have children share their letter or poems aloud if they would like.

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:

100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Book Links Lasting Connection Book
Bank Street College Children's Book of the Year
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
ABA-CBC Children's Books Mean Business
Newsweek Best Children's Picture Books of the Year
New Yorker Christmas Round-up
Riverbank Review Children's Books of Distinction Finalist
Capitol Choice Children's Book

"Knowing,heartfelt poems...The deep-hued acrylic paintings create an ideal setting for the text. The look is lyrical." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Hopkins Collection

Book Review: I Am the Book


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Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2011. I Am the Book. Ill by Yayo. New York. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421190

1. Review of Book:
I Am the Book is an anthology consisting of 13 poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. The poems were written by various well-known and award-winning poets, as well as himself. All of the works featured celebrate reading and the small pleasures a good book or poem may bring. The poems highlight various aspects that make books magical and they describe some of the adventures where books can take one's imagination. All of the poems are of consistent quality and they reinforce the idea that people love books and reading for various reasons. The poems urge children of all ages to think about what their favorite book is, what they like best about reading, and where they like to go to read. Some of the poems rhyme, and most are concrete enough for most children to understand their meaning. However, many of the poems may contain words and phrases that may be new to children, but when shared aloud and discussed children will gain new knowledge and insight about the poems meaning. By sharing the colorful, acrylic painted illustrations children will also begin to understand some of the poems more completely, such as:

When I Read
Beverly McLoughland

When I read, I like to dive
In the sea of words and swim.
Feet kicking fast across the page
Splashing words against my skin.

When I read, I like to float
Like the gull that trusts the sea,
The ebb and flow of tidal words
Easy under me.

Yayo, the illustrator, painted a picture of a person diving into an ocean, but the ocean is located on top of a huge book. This will help children visualize Beverly McLoughland's hidden meaning.

At the end of the anthology Lee Bennett Hopkins included a small excerpt about each of the featured authors, and where one might find other works written by them. Overall, I Am the Book, is a timeless book of poems that will inspire one to find that perfect book and never put it down.

2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Before Reading:
Before reading a class discussion can be held to make a list of favorite books and to share about favorite things the children like to do or favorite places the children like to be when they read. Then a poem like, Book, can be read aloud to get children's imaginations going.

Book
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Buried in blankets
Book in my bed
Snuggled in story
By heart
In my head
I wallow in words
Chapter One
Till The End.

Closing the cover
I sigh-

Good-bye, friend.

After Reading:
Children can celebrate reading with a read-a-thon day. They can bring blankets, pillows, and favorite books and share their favorite parts of books with the class as well as have quiet time to read in the classroom along with their friends.

3. Review Excerpts:
In this picture-book collection from veteran anthologist Hopkins, 13 well-known children’s poets celebrate how books can take readers on wild adventures (“I storm / toward shackled screams / of a kidnapped damsel”), as well as how plain words can reveal the surprising drama in ordinary things, even the rhyming sounds of a clock: “tick-tock / ding-dong / bing-bong.” Karla Kuskin speaks about the “wonders of wandering / wonderful pages” and “the nonsense and knowledge” the come “tumbling out.” And in another selection, Kristine O’Connell George writes, “riding home from the library, / don’t need a window seat. / Got a great new book to read, / eleven more beneath my feet.” The whimsical, light-toned acrylic artwork extends the metaphors with witty, fantastical transformations of books: in one scene, a dark-blue book cover becomes an ocean, where you can “dive in the sea of words and swim.” Fun for sharing with preschoolers, this will also spark discussion in grade-school writing and art classes. Notes about each poet are appended. (Booklist-Hazel Rochman )

School Poetry

Book Review: Mrs. Cole on an Onion Roll and Other School Poems


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Dakos, Kalli. 1995. Mrs. Cole on an Onion Roll and Other School Poems. Ill by JoAnn Adinolfi. New York. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0027255832


1. Review of Book:
Kalli Dakos' collection of poems features 32 humorous poems about school that children ranging in ages 5-10 will relate to. The poems discuss topics such as teachers, class pets, recess, lunchtime, and situations that will appeal to young children in school. Most of the poems are concrete so children will easily understand their meaning. All of the poems touch on emotions, feelings, or experiences that many young children face in school. While some may provoke silly and funny thoughts, others may bring about a sentimental feeling that all young children can connect with. Most of the poems rhyme, and when read aloud they have an obvious chanting rhythm that can be heard. All of the poems are also meant to be viewed by children because of the author's whimsical use of typography within each poem. For instance, in one poem titled, "Second-Grade Worms," Kalli Dakos positions the words carefully on the page to look like worms wiggling and slithering all around. This touches on children's sense of sight and makes the words jump out from the page. JoAnn Adinolfi's colorful yet simple illustrations add to the poems by adding a fun visual for children. The poems in the book will for sure get kids thinking about what makes school cool.

2. Classroom/ Library Connection
Follow Up Activity:
After giving children time to view the poems as well as share them aloud, the last poem of the book titled, "You're an Author Now," will leave young readers with a sense that they too can be writers and authors of poems, and it is a great lead into having students try their hand at writing some of their own poems about their own experiences at school.

You're an Author Now
I'm writing,
I'm writing,
I'm writing in my book.
I'm writing,
I'm writing,
Oh, Teacher, come and look.

You're writing,
You're writing,
Your story sure looks great.
You're writing,
You're writing,
To read it, I can't wait.

I'm writing,
I'm writing,
It's magic somehow.
I'm writing,
I'm writing,
I'm an author now.

You're writing,
You're writing,
I'm glad you've learned how.
You're writing,
You're writing,
You're an author now!

After reading and discussing the poem, children can brainstorm ideas with a partner for a poem that relates to their own adventures at school. The students come together as a whole class to share their ideas and make a list of topics that they may choose to write their own poem.

3.Review excerpts:
Publishers Weekly
The eccentric artwork matches the energy of these 32 goofy verses covering an array of subjects, from teachers to daydreaming to basketball games. Ages 5-8. (Aug.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.