Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars : and Other School Poems for Two Voices. Ill by Jessie Hartland. Massachusetts. Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763631741
1. Review of Book:
In Messing Around on the Monkey Bars : and Other School Poems for Two Voices, Betsy Franco writes a collection of poems all about school that is meant to be shared aloud by two or more people. Before readers begin, they will find an author's note explaining the layout of each poem and how to interpret the different colors of fonts and some suggestions of how to share each poem as a pair or in a group. According to the author's information, Betsy Franco gets much of her inspiration from visiting her local elementary school to chat and observe the students. Much of her inspiration for the book came from these visits and the poems range in topics from homework blues to losing one's lunch money. As a result, the poems are short, easy to understand, and the topics will appeal to children in school starting as young as age 6. Jessie Hartland's colorful illustrations look like children's paintings and drawings which children will enjoy. The poems rhyme and the vocabulary is simplistic, but the opportunity to hear and read the poems aloud following the author's cues will enrich children's linguistic abilities. All of the poems have different font colors for a voice 1 (normal) and voice 2 (bold), but some also have an extra bold font for both voices chiming in at the same time. The same can be done with groups of kids and then groups altogether. At the end of the book Franco gives even more suggestions for adventurous ways to read some of the poems out of the selection giving children and educators some great ideas, so all around this book will for sure be a hit with everyone.
2. Classroom/ Library Connection
All of these poems are meant to be read and shared aloud by children. However, some even lend themselves to incorporating music, sound, or movement. The poem, Jump Rope Jingle would be perfect for this.
Jump Rope Jingle
Come on in.
I'll jump with you.
It's double fun
to jump with two.
Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump,
slap the ground.
Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.
Jump, Jump.
A, B,
C.
Jump, Jump,
1,2,
3.
Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet!
After reading this aloud pairs or groups of students could practice reading it out loud taking turns according to the font. After the reading of the poem is perfected groups can then add the sound effects or the actual motions. When the poem says to, "jump" children can jump, or beat on a drum. When it says to, "spin around" children can spin around, or sound a noise maker. This poem is a great way to get kids comfortable reading aloud, embracing the poem's rhythm, and getting them up and moving!
3. Review Excerpts/Awards Won:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010; Bank Street College of Eduation; United States
Diane Guiett (Library Media Connection, October 2009)
This collection, a great introduction to poetry for two or more voices, focuses on what occurs during a school year from riding the bus, to being in the library, to messing around on the monkey bars. The author provides additional ways of presenting the poems using sounds and more than two people. Many of the poems were written with a predictable back and forth response. It may have been easier to read the poems if they had been written in two columns to determine when each voice should be speaking, as in Paul Fleishman’s Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (HarperCollins, 1988). There is a note explaining how to distinguish between the two voices and when both should read the line, even though two of the poems do not follow the sequence. Jessie Hartland uses gouache to provide a visualization of each poem. Children will enjoy her humor as she uses a retro style to bring everyday objects in a classroom to life. This book would be an excellent way to familiarize a class on the art of reading poetry aloud.
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