Verse Novel

Book Review: Where I Live



Spinelli, Eileen. 2007. Where I live. Ill by Matt Phelan. New York. Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780803731226

1. Review of Book:
In Where I Live, Eileen Spinelli writes a heartfelt novel using verse poetry that is geared towards younger readers. The book both begins and ends with a poem called, "Where I live" but the two poems and the two places are different. Throughout, the young narrator, Diana, tells about the difficult road between the two. Using verse poetry we learn about Diana's life, her home, her family, her best friend, and things she enjoys. As readers, we get to know Diana's character and learn that she loves astronomy and writing poetry so much that she even wins a poetry contest. We also learn about more difficult issues that she has to face when she thinks her parents are getting a divorce. They don't, but it is still not good news. Her father has lost his job. As a result, Diana and her family must move away from the home and life she loves, to a new home and life to live with her grandpa.

This story and its main character, Diana, will draw young readers in and keep them turning pages. Diana gracefully shares her feelings about how she copes with the upheavals in her life. Young readers and young adults will easily be able to relate to her feelings and possibly have had a similar experience of their own. The poetry itself is written using short stanzas and each poem builds on the previous one, so the story flows nicely and young children will easily understand the plot, while empathizing with Diana. Even though some poems are more sentimental than others, Spinelli flips back and forth to the positive aspects in Diana's life and shows how Diana learns to turn a negative situation into a positive one. In addition, the illustrations by Matt Phelan are simple pencil sketches, but they greatly add to the story, while still leaving much up to the reader's imagination. Overall, this verse novel would be a great introduction to this type of poetry because it will entice young readers to want to read more like it.

2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Follow-up Activity:
After reading the book in its entirety, possibly over several days, reread both the beginning and last poems of the book:

This is Where I live

This is where I live-
in the yellow house
with the white shutters.
I'm the one who helped plant
the maple tree in the front yard,
the one who waters
the daffodils in the spring,
who rakes the leaves in autumn.
My room is on the second floor.
See my window?
This morning I looked out
and say my best friend, Rose,
waving to me......

After sharing these poems again, discuss how they are the same and how they are different. Ask students to think about where they live now, or a place that is special to them that they go to often. Then ask them if they could move anywhere or go anywhere to visit where would it be and why. Have students research a fun and exciting new place that they would like to visit or even live one day. Have them then create a travel brochure of that place to share with their classmates. Be sure to remind them to make it creative, colorful, and convincing!

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:
-Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
-Choices, 2008; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
-Beehive Award, 2009 Nominee; Children's Poetry Books; Utah
-Children's Gallery Award, 2009; Nominee; Grades 1-3; United States
-Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2009; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Kentucky
-Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2009-2010; Master List; Texas
-Voice of Youth Award, 2010-2011; Nominee; 3rd and 4th Grades; Illinois, United States

New Poetry Book

Book Review: Around the World on Eighty Legs



Gibson, Amy. 2011. Around the World on Eighty Legs. Ill by Daniel Salmieri. New York. Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439587556

1. Review of Book:
In Around the World on Eighty Legs, Amy Gibson presents a collection of some sixty poems about animals located in different regions of the world. Throughout she describes animals found on most continents and regions such as the Sahara and Savannah in Africa to the Andes and the Amazon in South America. She organizes her book by separating each of these regions into sections and writes numerous informative poems about animals that live in these parts of the world. At the end of the book she also provides and index and a glossary of each of the animals that she wrote about and gives even more facts about them. All of Gibson's poems rhyme and add a touch of humor to each one. Young people ages 6 and up will enjoy and easily understand each of the poems, but they will also learn many new vocabulary words and add to their animal and geographical knowledge. Daniel Salmieri's illustrations will also draw children in because they look childlike and cartoonish, which children will enjoy. Overall, this book of poems is sure to be a hit with all children.

2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Before Reading:
Amy Gibson's poems are great for sharing aloud. So begin by choosing a poem or two to share from each region of the world such as, Chinchilla, from the Andes to the Amazon section.

Chinchilla

Way up high atop the Andes
(land that's mountainous and hilly)

lives a silky silver rodent
hurrying, scurrying
willy-nilly.

When the mercury starts dropping,
does he worry?
Don't be silly!

Though it's winter,
he's so furry,
the chinchilla's not
chinchilly.

Follow-up Activity: (Incorporate Science and Social Studies)
Then after reading and discussing each of the animals, assign students to choose one the animals mentioned to do further research on. Have the students focus on researching more about their animal's habitat and where they live and why. Then have children create a diorama using cardboard or an old shoe box to display what their animal's habitat looks like and what they need to survive in their habitat. Have the students also write a short report about their chosen animal and share with the class.

3. Review Excerpts:

Midwest Book Review (Children's Bookwatch, April 2011)
Amy Gibson's Around the World on Eighty Legs surveys animals of the world, features fun drawings by Daniel Salmieri, and provides fun little rhymes to accompany zany drawings of unusual world animals, from the quetzal to the walrus, zebra and lion, and arctic tern. An excellent blend of animal facts and whimsy creates a fun read. The Picturebook Shelf ...., Scholastic

Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Feb. 1, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 11)
Biology and nonsense verse make a winning combination in this lively picture-book poetry collection about animals around the world. The rhymes are filled with wordplay, and kids will enjoy the sly jokes: “Although anaconda / is fond of / a hug, / to my liking, / his hug / is a little too snug.” The rhythm in many lines captures the animals’ movements: “Hush deer / Hush deer / Tiptoe through / the brush deer.” The cartoon illustrations, in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, extend the playfulness, as in the image of the anaconda with a sign that reads “free hugs” tucked into its coils. Along with all the humor and fun, kids will pick up plenty of information, starting with the animals’ natural habitats, which are featured in the book’s organization by continent and on an opening, double-page world map. Appended pages offer more fascinating animal facts that kids will want to memorize and discuss. A great choice for cross-curricular sharing.

Poetic Form

Book Review: Today and Today



Kobayashi, Issa. 2007. Today and Today. Ill by G. Brian Karas. New York. Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439590785.

1.Review of Book:
Today and Today is a collection of eighteen haiku poems written by Kobayashi Issa, a beloved Japanese poet of haiku. The book is arranged to tell a story of a year in the life of an imaginary family through the seasons beginning with spring. Each of the poems briefly describes different events or activities that can occur during that season. Because each poem is a haiku, they are short and most will be easily understood by children starting as early as age 6. Many of the poems can and will enhance children's learning as some of the poems use more advanced vocabulary words. Children will still be able to relate to several of the poems as Issa describes experiences that children may have during these seasons. For example, this poem from the book that describes a summer day:

It begins
from the cicada's song
the gentle breeze

Many children will be able to relate or recall similar sensory images of summer such as this. What truly adds both meaning and provokes thoughts and emotions is G. Brian Karas' colorful illustrations. One can see the changes in nature that occur from season to season, but if carefully studied one will also notice a drawn older character that appears on most pages. In the spring and summer he is shown holding a cane or is sitting in a wooden chair, and near the end of fall he seems to appear to look much older. Before winter an illustration of just the wooden chair, now empty, is shown and we see the other characters visiting a grave site. Even though it is not discussed in the poems children will observe the illustrations and can discuss the variety of changes that can occur over the course of a year.

2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Follow-up Activity:
After sharing this book of poems with students, discuss with children what their favorite season or time of the year is and why. Then remind children of what our five senses are. After this discussion model how to write a sensory poem by choosing one of the four seasons as the inspiration. Then encourage children to choose their favorite season and create their own poem based on what they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste during this particular season.

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:
-Best Books for Young People, 2007; Washington Post; United States
-Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
-Booklist Book Review Stars, April 1, 2007; United States
-Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2007; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
-Notable Children's Books, 2008; ALSC American Library Association; United States
-Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 5, 2007; Cahners; United States

Florian Poetry

Book Review: Mammalabilia




Florian, Douglas. 2000. Mammalabilia. Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152021672

1. Review of Book:
In Mammalabilia, Douglas Florian writes and illustrates a collection of twenty-one poems about both common and not-so-common mammals living on earth today. Each of the poems are short (about 5-10 lines), rhyme, and use humor to describe the animal's characteristics or to simply rhyme with the animal's name. Florian also uses alliteration along typography and shape to describe animals' features with sound and shape, such as the porcupine and the camel. The author molds the words into the shapes of spikes to describe the porcupine, and as he describes the camel, the words look like the camel's two humps. Florian also paints an illustration of each animal, which helps form connections because they look as though a child painted them. The paintings add color and wit to the poem, such as in, The Rhebok, where the Rhebok is wearing tennis shoes on each of its four feet. Children ranging from grades K to 5 will enjoy reading these poems, but they will also learn from them. Some vocabulary words used throughout are higher level, such as emphatic, charismatic, and slumber, and words such as these will help enrich children's vocabulary. Children will also benefit from this book because they will be exposed to new animals that they may not have heard of before such as the tapir, lynx, and ibex. This book of poems is one that children will gravitate to and not be easily forgotten.

2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Follow Up Activity:
After sharing several of the animal poems, focus in on a few in particular such as The Coyote and read it aloud to children once or twice.

The Coyote

"I prowl.
I growl.
My howl
Is throaty.
I love
A vowel,
For I am coyooooote. "

After sharing, have children volunteer to read it again. Encourage them to really emphasize and howl as they say the last word aloud, coyoooote! Then have children choose another poem from the book that they liked. Have them create a paper bag puppet of the animal. Then for fun have them present and read their chosen poem aloud having their puppet or animal do the talking.

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:
Claudia Lewis Award, 2001, Winner United States
Cuffies: 2000 Honorable Mention Best Book of Poetry United States
Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2000 Honor Book United States
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 2000, Winner United States
Parents' Choice Award, 2000, Recommended Picture Books United States

Multicultural Poetry

Book Review: Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings




Mora, Pat. 2007. Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings. Ill by Rafael Lopez. New York. Lee and Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781584302711

1. Review of Book:

In Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico!, Pat Mora writes her first book of Haiku poems about the fourteen different types of native foods that were discovered and eaten before the Americas were divided into countries. Each of the poems describes how to prepare the food, as well as the simple pleasures one gets when eating each of the foods. In addition to the poems, on each page Mora includes an informational excerpt that gives facts and background information about the food and where and how it originated. Children of all ages will enjoy the simplicity of the poems. Additionally, learning interesting facts about the foods will engage children and add to the enjoyment of the poems. Each poem uses vivid verbs and sensory language to help children visualize and "taste" the foods described. Rafael Lopez's large, colorful, kid-friendly illustrations add to the imagery of the poems and make the topic of learning about traditional foods fun for all.

2. Classroom/Library Connection.
Before Reading:
Before sharing some of the poems in the book have a class discussion about favorite foods they enjoy. Then share the poem titled, Chocolate.

"Fudge, cake, pie, cookies.
Brown magic melts on your tongue.
Happy, your eyes dance."

After Reading:
Discuss what the children envision when they hear this poem and then share the illustrations. Pass out a yummy chocolate treat to them or share one of your favorite chocolate dessert recipes. Encourage children to then pick their favorite food, dish, or recipe that they enjoy eating or is a tradition in their family. Then have children try their hand at writing their own Haiku about a food or dish, or write about how a particular food became a favorite or a family tradition to eat. If able, have the students bring in the recipe or the writing and create a class collection of stories and recipes to publish and share with all.

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:
Delaware Diamonds, 2008-2009 ; Nominee; Grades K-2
Texas Bluebonnet Award 2009-2010 ; Master List; Texas

NCTE Award Poetry

Book Review: Night on Neighborhood Street



Greenfield, Eloise. 1991. Night on Neighborhood Street. Ill by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York. Puffin Books. ISBN 9780329134518

1. Review of Book
Eloise Greenfield's, Night on Neighborhood Street is a collection of poems that describe the lives and experiences of the inhabitants of a predominately African American neighborhood over the course of one night. Using free verse rhythmic poems, Greenfield takes the reader on a journey around the neighborhood where the reader gets a glimpse of the inside of different households and buildings on the block. Most of the poems are uplifting and easily understood by children. The poems touch on topics such as little boys and babies not wanting to go to sleep, to children being scared of the dark or having funny dreams. Other poems take on a more serious tone, such as in "The Seller," where Greenfield describes darker events that can occur in a large urban neighborhood. She begins "The Seller" by writing,

"when the seller comes around
carrying in his many pockets
packages of death.
all the children go inside
they see behind his easy smile.."

Other poems depict the struggles families may face, as well as showing how members of a community come together to solve problems. These more serious poems will most likely lead to a discussion about real issues, and give children of all backgrounds an understanding of real life situations and some of the strong emotions felt by the people portrayed in the poems. Children with similar situations or living in a similar neighborhood may be able to relate more to the poems, but all children will be able to find a poem that they enjoy and appreciate. Jan Spivey Gilchrist's illustrations enhance the poems by adding a unique touch to each one. In some, the illustrations look as though they are photographs that have been painted, with some features being clearly defined. However, in others they specifically don't portray any specific features, leaving those up to the imagination of persons reading or listening.

2. Classroom/Library Connection
Follow up Activity:
For this collection, several poems from the book should be shared with children featuring lighthearted and serious tones, so that children can get a sense of the neighborhood as a whole. After having a discussion about each, lead into a discussion about the students' community and what the children feel are important features and attributes of their school, neighborhood, or surrounding community. What landmarks do they see each day? What are activities that they may do on a daily basis? Where do they go? From this discussion create a large class-made map of the community. Incorporate social studies and math by teaching them how to include an authentic key and directions. Have each student then write about what a typical day for them in their community looks like. Then using the class made map they can each demonstrate to their classmates where they live and go most of the time, and places they have not been but would like to visit.

3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won
-Coretta Scott King Book Award, 1992
-Mockingbird Award 1992-1993
-NCTE Award-1991

"The magical and the everyday reside comfortably together on Neighborhood Street and make it well worth the visit." -Booklist