Review: Performance Poetry

Title: You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman

Illustrator: Michael Emberley

ISBN: 978-0-316-01733-6

Citation: Hoberman, Mary Ann. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007.

Review: Mary Ann Hoberman takes on scary tales in her fourth installment of the You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series. Very Short Scary Tales consists of poems set up as brief reader's theaters; each voice has its own color, which makes this book ideal for paired or choral readings. Targeted towards new readers, the poems in Very Short Scary Tales use poetic elements such as alliteration, rhyme, and repetition to reinforce reading techniques. The poems, which are more humorous than scary, cover topics from mummies to skeletons to zombies and will pique the interest and funny bones of young readers, especially those in the first through fourth grades. Michael Emberley's clever watercolor illustrations accompany each poem and will captivate readers' attention. Even though the poems lack depth and the rhyme and rhythm often seems forced Hoberman successfully creates choral readings for her target audience.

Potential Use: It can be difficult for educators to locate poems that are pre-designated for paired or choral readings; the You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series does the hard work ahead of time by clearly color-coding the two voices in each poem. Very Short Scary Tales would be ideal to use for group readings, especially around the Halloween holiday. Each poem is spooky enough to fit the Scary Tale theme, but not scary enough to frighten even young children. A fun activity for this book would be to divide the poems amongst the students in a class and to have a Halloween performance for parents or peers. An example of the color-coded poetry compiling in this book can be found below.

The Mummy

Let's explore inside this tomb.

I'm afraid we'll meet our doom.

Nothing's here to be afraid of.

Here's a package! What's it made of?

Wow! I think it is a mummy!

Butterflies are in my tummy.

It can't hurt you. Don't be scared.

I would touch it if I dared.

Maybe we can both unwrap it.

First I think we'd better tap it.

What if someone's still inside?

Maybe it was someone's father.

Someone's dad? Don't be a dummy!

Maybe it was someone's mummy!

It's an awful lot of cloth.

Eek! Let's go! I saw a moth!

Come on, help me to unwind.

I'm afraid of what we'll find.

We'll be finished in a minute.

Leaping lizards! Nothing's in it!

All that trouble to unroll it.

Then to find out someone stole it.

Robbed its tomb. It makes me sick!

Someone played a dirty trick!

I would like to know who did it

And to find out where they hid it.

I think we should search some more.

Maybe there's a secret door.

We might find another space.

We might find its hiding place.

Wouldn't it be really yummy

If at last we found the mummy?

Maybe this book has a clue.

You read to me, I'll read to you.

Review: Biographical Poetry

Title: The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

Author: Margarita Engle

Illustrator: Sean Qualls

ISBN: 0-8050-7706-5

Citation: Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2006.

Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection

Review: In The Poet Slave of Cuba, Margarita Engle honors the life of Cuban poet Juan Francisco through a biography written in verse. Born into slavery, Manzano's tragic life is presented from a variety of perspectives including that of himself, his parents, his multiple owners, and even the overseer of the unspeakable punishment Manzano is forced to endure. Documenting the countless injustices suffered by Manzano throughout his life, Engle's haunting tone sets an appropriately grim mood that will leave readers disturbed, yet inspired. The rhythm and cadence in each poem allow the story to be told with fluidity. Complementing the overall solemnity of the biography is the art of Sean Qualls that adds a visual element that only enhances the already sensory-rich language. Additional information provided at the end of the biography gives readers a historical background to Juan Francisco Manzano's life as well as samples of his poetry. Though heavy and emotionally wrenching, Manzano's faith in the midst of his tragic circumstances will inspire and bring hope to readers.

Potential Use: The Poet Slave of Cuba gives readers the unique opportunity to experience the anguish of slavery from a slave's perspective. For older students, this biography can be paired with a study on Cuban history, or even the history of slavery in the United States in order to add a human element to this tragic period in our past. The poems throughout the biography, especially those from Juan's perspective such as the one that follows, will create an emotional connection for students that won't soon be forgotten.

Juan (p. 74)

Fireflies, music, angels,

birds, wings,

God,

why?

These are just a few

of the words I find

for songs to sing

and rhymes to rhyme

while my mother and I

try stay alive

waiting for mercy

or death

whichever comes first –

or are they

the same?

Review: Social Studies Poetry

Title: Lady Liberty: A Biography

Author: Doreen Rappaport

Illustrator: Matt Tavares

ISBN: 978-0-7636-2530-6

Citation: Rappaport, Doreen. Lady Liberty: A Biography. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2008.

Review: Lady Liberty documents the process by which the Statue of Liberty was conceived, built, and bestowed as a gift from France to the United States. Writing in verse, Doreen Rappaport presents this series of events from the perspectives of those who lived it; from Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor, to Joseph Pulitzer, who helped raise funds through his newspaper. The detailed artwork of Matt Tavares complements each step of the twenty-year process through which Lady Liberty was erected. Rappaport's innovative style makes Lady Liberty a fascinating, heart-warming tale of unity, friendship, and admiration between two countries. By unfolding the events that led to this symbol of freedom through the eyes of those who lived it, readers are able to experience the passion behind the statue. Rappaport's narrative flows nicely between two countries and a variety of people involved in Lady Liberty's creation. Readers will appreciate the accounts of the well-known contributors, such as Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel, and Joseph Pulitzer; but also the stories of so-called "everyday people" such as Florence de Foreest, a young girl who sends two roosters to raise money for the cause, and Charles P. Stone, a construction worker in New York City physically laboring to erect the statue. Evoking a plethora of sensory images, Rappaport's abundant use of figurative language adds color and complexity to the verse. Matt Tavares's beautiful watercolor and ink paintings bring the story to life leaving readers emotionally moved and with a new appreciation of the ideals for which Lady Liberty stands.

Potential Use: The poem, Marie Simon, offers the unique opportunity to pair poetry with mathematics. Discussing the scale of the Statue of Liberty and the need to multiply the scale of the model several times to plan for the actual size, provides students with an example of a real life application of a mathematical concept. Read the poem in conjunction with a unit on scale to make cross-curricular connections between language arts, history, and mathematics.

Marie Simon

After months of work,

we have finished the right arm and torch.

Now we start on the left hand.

We go back to Bartholdi's four-foot clay model.

The pointers measure her forearm, wrist,

fingers, nails, and tablet.

They multiply each part by two

to build a model twice as big.

Again, they measure and multiply,

this time by four.

Slowly. Carefully. Section by section,

the workers build a bigger model.

Bartholdi moves about like a prowling tiger,

reminding everyone to be precise.

Again, measure and multiply by four.

This third model pleases Bartholdi.

The workers divide it into twenty-one parts.

Each part will be enlarged another four times.

Now the carpenters begin.

Day in, day out, buzzing and sawing.

Wood chips and sawdust litter on the floor.

Narrow wooden strips are bent and

nailed together to form the giant molds.

Some wood is carved to make softer lines.

White dust clings to the workers

as they pour plaster over the wood

until the shapes are just right.

Bartholdi waits impatiently

for the plaster to harden.

Review: Science Poetry

Title: Insectlopedia

Written and Illustrated By: Douglas Florian

ISBN: 0-15-201306-7

Citation: Florian, Douglas. Insecolopedia. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, Inc, 1998.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book, Child Magazine Best Book of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

Review: In Insectlopedia Douglas Florian combines humor and wit to teach about the world of insects. Intricate paintings accompany poems on twenty-one different insects. Adults and children alike will enjoy the informative, yet charming verse that begs to be read aloud. Ranging in poetic styles from shape poems, as in The Inchworm presented in the shape of an inchworm crawling across the page, to couplets to free verse, Florian includes a variety that keeps readers engaged. Through alliteration, rhythm, and the unique placement of words on the page, Florian uses the perfect combination of poetic elements to create an entertaining yet informative look into the natural world.

Potential Use: Insectlopedia would act as the perfect supplement to any elementary or middle school study on insects. Providing factual information in an entertaining manner, Florian's poems stir up interest in insects of all shapes and sizes. Use the poems individually or as a collection to enhance any science curriculum. See the examples below for a taste of Insectlopedia.

The Monarch Butterfly

He is a monarch.

He is a king.

He flies great migrations.

Past nations he wings.

He is a monarch.

He is a prince.

When blackbirds attack him,

From poison they wince.

He is a monarch.

He is a duke.

Swallows that swallow him

Frequently puke.

The Praying Mantis

Upon a twig

I sit and pray

For something big

To wend my way:

A caterpillar,

Moth,

Or Bee –

I swallow them

Religiously.

Review: 2011 Poetry Book

Title: Roots and Blues: A Celebration

Author: Arnold Adoff

Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie

ISBN: 978-0-547-23554-7

Citation: Adoff, Arnold. Roots and Blues: A Celebration. New York: Clarion Books, 2011.

Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection

Review: In Roots and Blues: A Celebration, Arnold Adoff explores the evolution of blues music in African American culture as well as its impact on singers and listeners. Beginning with the songs of those being transported from Africa across the ocean during the slave trade and ending with blues music in modern times, Adoff uses lyrical poetry to engulf readers with the pure emotion of this genre of music. Adding visual beauty to Adoff's words are R. Gregory Christie's enchanting acrylic paintings. The rhythm and flow of the poems in Roots and Blues allows for a smooth reading while evoking sensory images through the use of rich vocabulary. Perhaps the most interesting element of this book is the unique layout in which special attention was paid to spacing, line breaks, and the placement of the poems on the page. Readers will enjoy this historically rich exploration of how blues music came to be.

Potential Use: Due to its complex vocabulary and, at times, abstract nature Roots and Blues: A Celebration would be best suited for use with high school aged students and beyond. Though one usually associates use of poetry with Language Arts curriculum, Roots and Blues would make for an excellent teaching tool in any music or music history class. This book represents the history of blues music in a historically accurate, yet emotionally riveting manner. Roots and Blues could provide an engaging alternative to reading a traditional textbook about the same topic. To explore the use of blues music in African American culture during various points in history, educators can select poems that represent each time frame being studied (see the following selections).

Pre-Slavery in Africa (taken from p. 7)

Each word a hammer hit. Each word the solid tip

of finger hitting squarely on to the center of the ivory

yellow piano key. Each hammer to each steel wire hit

makes tone makes sound and resonates: rings like rocks

hitting calm water. Circles of sounds reach out

like circles of words: flow stories out from the shore.

I look into the water and see my usual face bending out

and under the ripples: bending as blue notes extend

from finger tip to steel wire hit to air to ear to memory.

Slave Trade (taken from p. 10)

Chained

in rags in blood in dark death of daylight.

To survive the passage across the ocean from

life to living hell to life in hell means

silent

singing

of old

songs.

Behind the eyes
the fingers strum
homeland strings and memory of my history
remains as strong as steel.

Always: this melody of words is journey home.

Review: Verse Novel

Title: Witness

Author: Karen Hesse

ISBN: 0-439-45230-9

Citation: Hesse, Karen. Witness. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2001.

Awards: Winner of the 2002 ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award for Young Adult Readers, the 2002 Christopher Award for Young Adults, and the 2002 White Ravens Award

Review: Karen Hesse recounts historical events through the eyes of eleven characters living in a small town in Vermont in the 1924 in this novel written in verse. The story presents different perspectives on the major themes of prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan, racism, and other major issues of the time period. Using brilliantly developed characters to help the audience re-live the events of 1924 Karen Hesse brings this time period to life. The characters represent all angles of the issues presented in the novel, from a persecuted African American girl to a racist pastor involved in the Klan to a young Jewish girl seemingly oblivious to the hatred surrounding her to a female alcohol smuggler and many more. The voices of the characters come alive through the varying poetic rhythms found throughout the novel; each character has his or her own unique poetic style that conveys the differing personalities, ages, cultural backgrounds, and outlooks on life. The presentation of historical events through the eyes of the people who lived them allows readers to become emotionally involved in the story and leave with a sense of connection that is often difficult to achieve in learning about historical events. Readers will appreciate the factual information described through a fictional story, which provides an alternative to simply reading a textbook. Readers are taken through historical events in an innovative, eye-opening manner that is sure to stay with them long after they have finished the novel.

Potential Use: Witness can be effectively used as a snapshot of the culture of America in the 1920s. Historical issues including the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, prohibition, women's suffrage, the first woman governor, and the trial of Leopold and Loeb are presented from a variety of viewpoints, which provide a well-rounded look at the time period. To show the differing points of view on these important social and political issues, teachers can share excerpts from the novel in which multiple characters speak on the same issue. For example, the case of Leopold and Loeb is described from the following three perspectives:

Leanora Sutter

there was a rich boy in Chicago, a rich boy.

he was kidnapped.

the kidnappers wanted $10,000

from the boy's daddy

to bring the boy back alive.

only he was already dead.

even before the ransom note came,

the boy was already dead,

naked in a ditch, miles away from his house.

that boy was fourteen.

and now he's dead.

and he was rich.

and he was white.

Percelle Johnson

the chicago police did it.

they solved the case of that murder

of fourteen-year-old bobby franks.

it was the spectacles that

led detectives to the slayers.

nathan leopold, jr.,

son of a millionaire manufacturer,

and richard loeb,

his companion,

were taken into custody

for kidnapping and killing their neighbor.

the reports say both leopold and loeb are smart,

students at the university in Chicago.

they made full confessions to the charges,

said they'd been planning the job

since november.

if leopold had not dropped his spectacles,

if the spectacles had not been so uncommon,

they would have gotten away with it.

they would have gotten away

with murder.

Merlin Van Tornhout

it took two of them

my age

to kill one skinny jew boy.

two of them.

planning every detail.

they rented an automobile, killed the kid,

dumped the body, buried the boots and belt buckle

in different places.

they planned for weeks to kidnap,

to kill.

to see how it felt.

to prove they could.

it didn't matter about jail,

or being haunted by a ghost,

didn't even matter about going to hell.

if i wanted to, i could kill someone all by myself.

wouldn't need anyone's help,

and i'd make damn sure i got some money for my trouble.

but they were rich jew kids.

what do you expect?

After sharing these different perspectives of the same historical event, educators can lead a discussion on how the differing viewpoints were representative of the varying groups of people of that day and age.

Review: Poetic Form

Title: Dogku

Author: Andrew Clements

Illustrator: Tim Bowers

ISBN: 978-0-689-85823-9

Citation: Clements, Andrew. Dogku. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Awards: Named one of the Bank Street Best Books of the Year in 2007, listed as a KIND Children's Book Award Honor Book, and winner of the Kentucky Bluegrass Award

Review: Andrew Clements takes a departure from his well-known novels in writing Dogku. This tale of a stray dog trying to find a home with a loving family is written through a series of haiku poems. The reader follows the plot as the dog begins on a doorstep, "There on the back steps,/the eyes of a hungry dog./Will she shut the door?", the family decides what should be done, "Family meeting./There are words and words and words./Did someone say "pound"?", and finally decide to keep him, "A new doggy bed!/Food, a bowl, a squeaky toy!/Mooch has found his home." Cleverly written and accompanied by the vivid oil paintings of Tim Bowers, children will fall in love with Mooch and may not even realize they are reading poetry. Andrew Clements goes as far as writing the author's note, synopsis, and even including a haiku from the illustrator in this unique picture book. Readers of all ages will reevaluate their views of haiku after reading Dogku and may even find themselves experimenting with some haiku of their own.

Potential Use: Dogku provides educators and parents with the opportunity to introduce the often-feared haiku poetic form through an accessible, enjoyable story. This book could be used to introduce the 17 syllable haiku format to young students, perhaps as early as first or second grade. Educators could read the story aloud all the way through first, then go back and help students count the syllables on each page to reinforce the 5/7/5 haiku format. Students will likely be intrigued that even the synopsis, author note, and illustrator note are written in haiku; be sure to share these with the students as well.

Synopsis (in front cover)

A tale in haiku

of one adorable dog.

Let's find him a home.

Author Note (in back cover)

An idea knocks.

I open, think, write, and smile.

And then it's your turn.

Illustrator Note (in back cover)

I love to draw dogs.

I had fun reading Dogku—

And hope you do too!

Following these activities, encourage students to write some haikus of their own. After they practice, have the entire class write and illustrate a haiku based on a theme (e.g. Catku, Treeku, Familyku). Use these themed haikus to create a class book.