LS 5663 Module 6: Janeszko Collection

That Sweet Diamond

Janeczko, Paul B. 1998. THAT SWEET DIAMOND. Ill. Carole Katchen. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-689-80735-X

Review:

In an ode to the sport, That Sweet Diamond is a collection of twenty baseball poems by poet Paul B. Janeczko.

Covering topics from the typical pitcher/batter relationship to the humorous "How to Spit", Janeczko accurately captures the sights and sounds of baseball. Janeczko's sense of humor is clearly shown in several of his poems. One such poem, "Things To Do During a Rain Delay", gives readers tips on passing the time during a rain delay. "Hold your umbrella    just    so/ to let raindrops drip   off    the edge/ onto the neck of the man in front of you./ Look away quickly when he turns."

The book is arranged in a double-page spread with each poem facing its accompanying illustration. Carole Katchen's illustrations complement the poems perfectly. With their minimal definitions and impressionistic style, Katchen's soft pastels give reader's a sense of nostalgia.

Highlighted Poem:

Center Fielder


The ball hawk patrols his green range --
eyes lost in the shadows
of the bill of his cap,
alert to small movements --
takes flight,
it seems,
as the ball leaves the pitcher,
before the quick music
of the crack of the bat
darts the ball toward the emptiness behind him.

Betrayed by the wind this night,
the ball falls.
There is no escape.
The ball hawk seizes
it in his talon grip
and circles toward the dugout
as easily as thunder
rolling through a summer sky.

Possible Uses:

Teachers could use this poem to teach extended metaphors or personification.
Teachers could use Janeczko's book in a unit on baseball. 
Baseball can be used to teach many topics, including statistics, marketing, shapes, geography (maps), compare/contrast, and architecture or building structure.

LS 5663 Module 6: Poetry By Kids

Salting The Ocean

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2000. SALTING THE OCEAN: 100 POEMS BY YOUNG POETS. Ill. Ashley Bryan. New York: Greenwillow Books. 

ISBN 0-688-16193-6

Review:

 

While working with students in several different states as a writer-in-the-schools, Naomi Shihab Nye collected many, many poems from students. She used those poems to build this collection of 100 poems written by children.

Nye begins her book with an introduction where she addresses people of Nova Scotia, teachers, librarians, parents, poets, and anyone else who may pick up the book. She describes her life as a writer-in-the-schools.

The book is separated into four sections: "My Shadow Is an Ant's Night" - poems about the self and the inner world; "Think How Many Stories Are in Your Shirt" - poems about where we live; "My Grandma Squashes Roaches with Her Hand" - poems about anybody's family; and "Silence Is Like a Tractor Moving the Whole World" - poems about the wide imagination.


 

Highlighted Poem:

Pictures
by Lori Herrell

There are three windows in my room.
Nobody understands
my windows unless they
see them.

One holds
the entire upper floor
of my mother's
scarlet Japanese maple
tree.
And some of the backyard
and the snow-white
garden gate
wedged between the overly
abundant green hedge.

Another window frames
the tightrope
where my bushy-tailed
acrobat friends
scurry along,
giving no thought to the fact
taht down below awaits
not a circus net,
but a sidewalk.

My third window
can be my favorite
when I look down to see my father
and mother
in the early morning sun
sitting on the patio
with their cups
of coffee.

Possible Uses:

When they are learning to write poetry, students often feel they have nothing to say, or they can't think of a topic. Pictures would be a great poem to use to give students an easy topic.
Have students write about what can be seen from their bedroom or classroom windows.

LS 5663 Module 6: Poetry and Fiction

Heartsongs

Stepanek, Mattie J.T. 2001. HEARTSONGS. New York: Hyperion. 

ISBN 0-7868-8809-1

Review:

Heartsongs is a simple, yet beautifully moving collection poems written by Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek. Mattie began writing poetry and stories at the very young age of three years old. He was living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Dysautonomic Mitcochondrial Myopathy, the same disease that had already claimed the lives of his three younger siblings. Mattie's mother Jeni is now living with the adult-onset form of this rare type of MD. The fact that Mattie lost his battle with his disease on June 22,2004, makes his poetry that much more profound.

Mattie's book is arranged in three parts. It is separated by the themes Senses, Seasons, and Celebrations. His strong religious faith is apparent in his poetry, as is a strong sense of self. Though his poetry is simple and obviously written by a child, his vivid details and imagery, sense of theme, and voice show us that Mattie understood the elements of poetry.

Each section begins with a finger paint illustration by Mattie. He also illustrated each page number with a heart. These illustrations are beautifully moving in their simplicity. It's touching to see his little finger prints in the blue sky and green leaves.


Fiction Pair:

I would pair Heartsongs with Jordan Sonnenblick's novel, After Ever After. Jeffrey, the main character, is a cancer survivor. After Ever After follows Jeffrey through middle school as he deals with the after effects of his treatment for leukemia.

Throughout the novel, Jeffrey learns to live his life to it's fullest eventhough he suffers mentally and physically from the effects of the chemotherapy drug, methotrexate.

I chose to pair Heartsongs with Sonnenblick's novel due to the subject matter and the highlighted poem below.

Highlighted Poem:

Summer 'Rememberies'

After everyone has
A smoky cookout at Chip's house,
And the grown-ups make
Music on their guitars for singing and dancing,
And the children take
Off their shoes and run
Around the backyard catching
Lightning bugs in the dark --
Then, it is a very good time to be
Happy.
And that 'then' is
A very good time and
A very good feeling to remember
Ever-After.

Possible Uses:

Though Heartsongs could be used to help kids learn the importance of overcoming obstacles, it could also be used to teach literary elements such as theme and voice.
Teachers can also use Mattie's poems to show students that anything in their life could be a topic for poetry - from summer cookouts to itchy feet.
I would definitely bring Heartsongs into a class discussion on the novel, After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick.

LS 5663 Module 5: Performance Poetry

Joyful Noise

Fleischman, Paul. 1988. JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES. Ill. Eric Beddows. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-021853-3


Review:


JOYFUL NOISE is a collection of 14 poems meant to be read aloud by two people - sometimes reading simultaneously, sometimes speaking alone, and still at other times echoing each other. In an opening note, Fleischman gives readers instructions on the proper way to read his book.

The topic of Fleischman's Newbery Award-winning poems is, of all things, bugs. From the silly antics of the whirligig beetles to the poignant tale of the digger wasp lamenting the fact that she will never see her children. Using repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, Fleischman created enjoyable characters for his poems. With its advanced vocabulary, JOYFUL NOISE can easily be used in higher grade levels.

Beautiful, and sometimes humorous, black and white drawings by illustrator Eric Beddows enhance each poem.



Highlighted Poem:


Water Striders


Whenever we're asked                            Whenever we're asked
if we walk upon water                             if we walk upon water
we answer                                             we answer
                                                           Of course.
To be sure.
                                                           It's quite true.


Whenever we're asked                            Whenever we're asked
if we walk on it often                              if we walk on it often
we answer                                             we answer
Quite often.
                                                           Each day.

All day through.
Should we be questioned                        Should we be questioned
on whether it's easy                              on whether it's easy
we answer                                            we answer
                                                          Quite easy.
A snap.
                                                          It's a cinch.
Should we be told                                 Should we be told
that it's surely a miracle                        that it's surely a miracle
we reply                                              we reply
Balderdash!                                 
                                                         Rubbish!
Nonsense!
Whenever we're asked                          Whenever we're asked
for instructions                                    for instructions
we always say                                     we always say
                                                         Come to the pond's edge
and do as we do.
                                                         Put down one foot
and then put down another,
                                                         resting upon the thin film
                                                         on the surface.
Believe me, there's no call
at all to be nervous
                                                        as long as you're reasonably
                                                        mindful that you - -
But by that time our student                 But by that time our student
no matter how prudent
has usually                                         has usually
                                                        don't ask me why
sunk from view.                                  sunk from view.



Possible Uses:

I love using this book, and this poem in particular, with struggling readers.

Teachers can use the poem "Water Striders" with struggling readers by having the student read the poem aloud with the teacher or another fluent reader. 

Teachers can used the advanced vocabulary to reinforce vocabulary skills.

In a writing exercise, teachers could have students write their own poem for two voices.

LS 5663 Module 5: Joyce Sidman Poetry

The World According to Dog

Sidman, Joyce, and Doug Mindell. 2003. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG: POEMS AND TEEN VOICES. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-17497-4.

Review:

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG is a collection of poems about man's best friend. From free verse to haiku to a poem for two voices, Joyce Sidman shows readers the world from the eyes of dogs.

Interspersed with Sidman's poems are essays from teens telling stories of the dogs in their lives. Each essay corresponds with a poem, is titled, and features the teen author's name and age. Sidman's poetry and the essays come together to pay homage to the powerful impact dogs have on our lives and the unbreakable bond between people and their beloved dogs.

Accompanying the poems and essays are striking photographs by Doug Mindell. Often in soft focus with blurred edges, these photos are the perfect match for Sidman's book. 

In an unexpected bonus, Joyce Sidman ended her book with a fun dictionary of sorts for dog-related idioms. 




Highlighted Poem:


(To be used in conjunction with the essay "Rusty the Squirrel Exterminator" by Karen Ann Stahlheber, age 15; page 20-21.)


Dog and Squirrel: Steps in a Flirtation


The bushy flick of your tail
catches my attention.
             I am aware of your presence,
             but I am ignoring you.


You are now my bull's-eye.
This will be a fine game.
            It may be a game,
            but I set the rules.

Whenever you lower your guard,
I step forward.
            I never lower my guard.
            All escape routes are intact.

My body is an arrow
pointing at your heart.
            O large clumsy one,
            have you any idea how fast I can run?


I draw closer.
The space between us is nothing.
            Odd how the sunlight
            kindles your dark fur.


I can taste the silk of your tail.
You can't possibly get away now.
            I know the precise point at which
            I must flee. Still, those eyes...


Gaze locked, I pounce!
And you are...
            Gone, of course.
            My heart pounds! See you tomorrow?



Possible Uses:

Teachers could have students write their own poems from two different perspectives, such as a cat and a mouse, a lion and a gazelle, or a shark and a seal. This would be a great way to introduce predator/ prey relationships in science classes or perspective in an English class.

LS 5663 Module 5: Hopkins Award Poetry

Jazz

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. JAZZ. Ill. Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-1545-8.

Review:

JAZZ is a collection of poems that illustrates the rhythm and roots of jazz music. 

Beginning with an introduction that gives readers a fairly in-depth look into the creation and evolution of jazz music, Walter Dean Myers celebrates what he calls "America's gift to the world".

Using rhythm, rhyme, and emotions, Myers poems give insight into the African-American culture that helped create this soulful music. As an added benefit to readers, Myers included a glossary of jazz terms and a jazz time line from the 1800's to today.

Illustrator Christopher Myers created intense, visually appealing art work that perfectly complements his father's poetry. He used vibrant colors, curved lines, and visible brushstrokes to bring the illustrations to life. You almost expect to hear music coming from the pages. The illustration of the trumpet player dressed in all white on a deep magenta page for the poem Session I was especially eye-catching to me.

Highlighted Poem:

It's Jazz

I hear the call of the cornet
I hear a swinging clarinet
They're playing HOT jazz in the heat
Of old New Orleans
The rattling banjo pays its dues
To the Preservation blues
They're playing HOT jazz in the heat
Of old New Orleans
There's a crazy syncopation
And it's tearing through the nation
And it's bringing sweet elation
To every single tune
It's jazz
There's a drummer rat-a-tatting
There's a patent shoe that's patting
While a laid-back cat is scatting
About flying to the moon
It's jazz
In the HEAT of New Orleans

Possible Uses:


Music teachers could use this book to introduce jazz. Teachers could also use this book in a study of contributions of African-Americans.

LS 5663 Module 4: Social Studies Poetry

The Brothers' War: Civil War Voices in Verse

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2007. THE BROTHERS' WAR: CIVIL WAR VOICES IN VERSE. Washington, D.C: National Geographic. Photographs by Civil War Photographers. ISBN 978-1-4263-0036-3

Review: 

J. Patrick Lewis has created a visually and intellectually stimulating book with THE BROTHERS' WAR. Written in black and gold with actual Civil War photographs, Lewis' poetry is perfectly complemented. The poems are written in varying styles, from free verse to sonnets inspired by letters written to and from the soldiers.

Each of the eleven poems is presented on a two-page spread with it's accompanying period photograph. While the photographs are perfect examples of primary sources, many are shocking in their brutal honesty.

Lewis also included a Civil War map, time line of selected events, photography notes, author's note, and a bibliography. At the bottom of each poem, Lewis gives readers historical background to enhance understanding of the events of the war.

Highlighted Poem:

I Can Make Georgia Howl

(William Tecumseh Sherman on his March to the Sea, November 15 - December 21, 1864)

From Atlanta to Savannah

In a winter month or more

Was a march called devastation 

Like they'd never seen before.

They called it a destruction

Razed by sixty-thousand blues

To the city of Savannah--

Righteousness's wrecking crews.

Though my tactics were in question,

And I mapped a rugged route, 

No one second-guessed the outcome

'Cause it never was in doubt.

Oh, we robbed and burned and pillaged

As we gathered what we must

For the journey to the water

And we left behind disgust.

So Savannah was a Christmas gift

To Lincoln, thanks to me,

And a nail in the coffin of 

Surrender, General Lee.

Possible Uses: 

Teachers can use THE BROTHERS' WAR as an introduction to the Civil War. 
Teachers could use the above poem, "I Can Make Georgia Howl", as an introduction to a study of William Tecumseh Sherman and his march. 

Using this poem would also instigate a study of quotes by Sherman, such as "I intend to make Georgia howl." and "It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell."
These and other quotes can be found at www.thinkexist.com.

LS 5663 Module 4: Science Poetry

Earthshake

Westberg Peters, Lisa. 2003. EARTHSHAKE: POEMS FROM THE GROUND UP. Ill. Cathie Felstead. Greenwillow Books. ISBN 978-0-06-029266-9

Review:

Lisa Westberg Peters helps us explore our world using twenty-two poems about geology. Covered topics include erosion, wind, lava, fossils, quartz, meteorites, and sandstone, among others. Peters poems range from concrete to haiku to free verse.

 The genius behind this short book is the way Peters takes subjects one might think of as dull and makes them come alive. She uses short, sometimes silly, yet interesting poems to discuss geology in an imaginative and unique manner. Peters also gives her readers three pages of endnotes. These endnotes give an explanation of each geological topic discussed within her poems.

Illustrator Cathie Felstead's use of mixed-media collage artwork creates the perfect complement to Peter's poetry. Her illustrations are vibrant and energetic. Predominantly in blues and green, they bring to mind earthly elements.

Highlighted Poem:

Continental Promises

Dear 

Africa,

Stay close!

We'll be 

friends 

forever.

Love,

South America

Dear

South America,

My coastlines 

are your

coastlines.

My deserts 

are your 

deserts.

We're rock-solid.

Love, 

Africa

Possible Uses:

Teachers can use the poem "Continental Promises" to begin a study on Pangaea. Students should also read "Obituary of a Clam" to further understand the changes our planet has undergone.

LS 5663 Module 4: Biographical Poetry

Your Own, Sylvia

Hemphill, Stephanie, 2007. YOUR OWN, SYLVIA, New York: Alfred A Knopf, ISBN 978-0-375-83799-9.

Review: 

In YOUR OWN, SYLVIA, Poet Stephanie Hemphill takes readers on a journey through the life and death Sylvia Plath. Using Plath's poetry as a guide, Hemphill writes imagined conversations, descriptions, and feelings of Plath and those important to her life. Arranged in chronological order, these poems are written from the perspective of Plath, her mother, husband, friends, family, and even her doctors, among others. Sylvia Plath's voice is heard in many poems written "in the style of" specific works. Each poem is titled and the speaker is clearly identified, along with his/her relationship to Plath.
YOUR OWN, SYLVIA has many dimensions. On one level, Hemphill's poems tell the story of Plath's life. On another level, though, factual information adds the heartbreaking knowledge that these poems are based on the reality of Plath's life and tragic death. The poems in this verse novel help readers create an attachment to Sylvia Plath. Hemphill has achieved her goal with this book as readers previously unfamiliar with Plath will find themselves wanting to read her poetry and learn more about her life.  


Highlighted Poem:
Disappear
Aurelia Plath
Autumn 1962

I feared this -
his black demeanor,
towering silence,
sporting the superior
threadbare jacket of the artist.
He doesn't even
phone to inquire
about the children.

Sylvia opens the wounds
she has hidden from me -
the deep lacerations in her back -
Ted neglects Nicholas,
Ted tell her he never wanted children.
Ted has left her,
and her alone darkens
like a cellar door
drawing closed.

This poem is written in the voice of Aurelia Plath, Sylvia's mother. It shows the dissolution of Sylvia and Ted's marriage and Sylvia's despondency over the situation.


Possible Uses:


This book would be an excellent resource in a study of free verse poetry. It would also be a great complement and introduction to a study of Sylvia Plath's Pulitzer Prize winning work. This book would be the perfect complement for an author study on Plath.

LS 5663 Module 3: 2011 Poetry Book

Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

Janeczko, Paul B. 2011. REQUIEM: POEMS OF THE TEREZIN GHETTO. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-4727-8.

Review:

In this small, but powerful book, poet Paul B. Janeczko gives readers a haunting look into the lives of Jews imprisoned in the Terezin Concentration Camp. Terezin was proudly hailed by Hitler as a sanctuary for artistic Jews. As proof of this refuge, The Red Cross was allowed to tour the camp. Janeczko chronicles this visit in the poem titled SS Lieutenant Theodor Lang found below.

Though most of the characters in Janeczko’s poems are fictional, the poems were informed by research and based on historical events and facts. Janeczko uses the Author’s Note to inform readers on factual aspects of his book. Though not completed yet, there is a section reserved at the back of the book for “English Translations of Foreign Words”. Janeczko also provides readers with additional resources such as books, websites, and DVD’s. Artwork found at Terezin after the war is distributed throughout. These dramatic black and white drawings are a testament to the atrocities experienced by the Jews. In this advance copy, all artwork is not yet finalized.

Paul B. Janeczko provides readers with a moving, lyrical view into the hearts of the imprisoned men, women, and children of Terezin Ghetto as well as German soldiers. It’s this look into the perspective of German soldiers that makes Janeczko’s Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto one of the more unique books on Holocaust poetry. 

Highlighted Poem (excerpt):

SS Lieutenant Theodor Lang

“Because of the meddlesome king of Denmark

 we were forced

 to allow

 Red Cross inspectors to visit our town.

 We had months to prepare

 our show, a charade

 to show them that there was no truth

 to the pesky rumors about how

 we treated our Jews.”

 The poem details the preparations for the Red Cross visit, and yet, ends with the chilling truth: 

“The inspectors

 were in our town for a short time,

 only long enough to see

 what we wanted them to see.

 No more.

 They saw enough

 to know that we were treating the Jews

 in a civilized and humane manner.

 We waited a few months

 to resume the transports.

 The town was getting crowded

 and the ovens of Auschwitz waited.”

Possible Uses:

Teachers could use this poem in a study of the propaganda used during WWII and Hitler’s use of it for the express purpose of covering up the systematic slaughter of millions of Jewish citizens.

LS 5663 Module 3: Poetic Form

A Poke in the I

Janeczko, Paul B. 2001. A POKE IN THE I. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763606628.



Review:

A POKE IN THE I is a collection of thirty concrete poems by various poets, including Douglas Florian and Robert Froman. Even the books illustrator, Chris Raschka, gets his hand in the act with his poem "Cat Chair". 

Concrete poems are different from other forms of poetry. In many cases, the font and placement of the page determines the poem. Due to the uniqueness of concrete poems, they each have a rhythm all their own. Readers new to concrete poems may encounter difficulties at first, but with practice, these poems become easier to read. Due to the unusual shapes of concrete poems, one must pay attention to the flow and direction of the words.

Chris Raschka used watercolor, ink, and torn paper to create illustrations that not only enhances each poem, in some cases, the illustration becomes the poem. 

One of the most interesting poems is Monica Kulling's "Tennis Anyone?". Using a full two-page spread, this poem forces the reader's eyes to shift from page to page much like an actual tennis match. 


Highlighted Poem:


Crickets by Aram Saroyan


crickets
crickess
cricksss
cricssss
crisssss
crssssss
csssssss
ssssssss
ssssssts
sssssets
sssskets
sssckets
ssickets
srickets
crickets


Possible Uses:


The format used for the poem "Crickets" could be used in any subject area. Teachers could have students choose an animal or insect to create their own concrete poem. Students would then illustrate their poem using torn paper as Chris Raschka did in this book.

LS 5663 Module 3: Verse Novel

All The Broken Pieces

Burg, Ann E. 2009. ALL THE BROKEN PIECES. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978054508927 


Review:

Two years after being airlifted out of Vietnam, ten year old Matt Pin is desperately trying to recover from the ravages of war. Even with his new life with his "now" mother and father and "now" brother, Matt is haunted by the horrors he experienced during the Vietnam War.

With the encouragement of a Vietnam veteran support group his dad took him to, a love for the game of baseball, and his piano music, Matt, now in seventh grade, is adjusting to his new life. 

Upon arriving in America, he attended adoption classes and meetings to learn to speak English. His new family has worked hard to keep his Vietnamese culture and traditions alive in him. But the Vietnam he hears about in class is not the Vietnam he remembers. 

“I close my eyes./I listen./I try to remember the colors,/but I cannot./I try to form the dragons from dust, /but I cannot./I try again./But I cannot./ My Vietnam/is drenched/in smoke and fog./It has no parks/or playgrounds,/no classrooms/or teachers./It is not on any map/or in any book./ My Vietnam is/only/a pocketful/of broken pieces/I carry/inside me.” (pg.22-23) .

Baseball plays the catalyst for Matt's guilt and the stereotypes that haunt him. Matt misunderstands the reasons his mother had for giving him away and carries with him the guilt of his younger brother's horrific injuries. He is also tormented by teammates who seemingly blame him for the tragedies that occurred during the war. 


In her verse novel, told in the first-person perspective, Ann Burg developed her characters with sparse language and raw emotions. Readers will experience the horrible effects of war not only on soldiers, but also on children, parents, and countrymen. 


Highlighted Excerpt:

Pages 155 - 158


Matt was one of the older kids
airlifted out of Saigon, 
Jeff says.

He's reading a sentence at a time
and then looking up.

He was almost ten, but he looked six.

He was born during the war.


His whole life was the war.


He's got an American father
who left and never came back.


He's got a mother who
entrusted him to us
even though his father, 
an American soldier,
ran out on her.


She gave her child to a bunch
of American soldiers...


Jeff emphasizes the first syllable
in soldiers
as if it were souldiers,


... so we must have done 
something good.


Americans who've never
been to Vietnam
don't understand. 
They spit at us.
They call us baby killers. 
But we can't have been all bad,
or what mother
would have given us her child,
knowing she might never 
see him again?


What kind of faith is that?
What kind of love?


Love?


I thought she wanted 
me to leave because of 
who I was and what 
I'd done.


But did she mean it
when she said she loved me?
Did he mean it 
when he said he loved her?
Was it hard for her to
push me away?
Does she ever wonder 
about me
like I wonder 
about her
and about him?


Does she remember me?


Jeff's words rush through me,
my heart pounds, and
a red hotness spreads 
across my face.


I hadn't ever thought 
she gave me away 
because she loved me.


We lost a big piece 
of ourselves in Vietnam,
and none of us will 
ever be the same,
but we did some good too.
We made a difference.
Don't let anybody tell you 
different.

Jeff looks at everyone in the circle
one by one,
holding their eyes with his eyes
before turning away.


Next time someone stares at you
like you're a freak
because you went to Vietnam,
think about Matt,
and there are hundreds like him,
hundreds of kids we saved.

Possible Uses:


Teachers could use this book in conjunction with a lesson on the Vietnam War. This particular excerpt could be used to introduce students to the Vietnam War and the prejudices faced by the returning soldiers and Vietnamese people. 
While this book covers the Vietnam War, the lessons of this book would hold true with any discussion of prejudice or the effects of war.

LS 5663 Module 2: NTCE Award Winning Poet

The Inner City Mother Goose

Merriam, Eve. 1996. THE INNER CITY MOTHER GOOSE. Ill. by David Diaz. NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-689-80677-9

Review: 

With her book THE INNER CITY MOTHER GOOSE, Eve Merriam provides readers with an opportunity to observe the reality of the plight of the inner city.  This version of her book, which was originally published in 1969, is the first version published specifically for young adults. Published in 1996, it includes an introduction by poet Nikki Giovanni and illustrations by Caldecott Award-winning artist David Diaz.

While the language in some of Merriam's poems may seem shocking, it, unfortunately, accurately depicts the lives of many of our inner city children. Books such as this may be the best way to bridge the gap between our inner city and suburban youth. 

In an introduction to the book written in 1982, Merriam equates her poems to the political uses of the original Mother Goose rhymes. She is writing about the social and political issues of our times using Mother Goose characters. She gave us over 70 poems relating to issues such as inadequate housing, unemployment, crime and violence, and police corruption, among others.  

Her poems describe rather than endorse a lifestyle. However, Eve Merriam calls her book "just about the most banned book in the country". When the book came under fire in Massachusetts, though, a Baltimore television official defended it by saying, "it deals with the truth. Perhaps this is why it offends some of us."

Caldecott Award-winning artist David Diaz beautifully illustrates the book with ten full-color illustrations of boldly outlined characters. The vivid colors and heavy shading perfectly complement the juxtaposition of Merriam's poetry.

Highlighted Poem:

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep


Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

I pray the double lock will keep;

May no brick through the window break,

And no one rob me till I wake.

Possible Uses: 

While it uses Mother Goose rhymes as a foundation, this book is definitely for older children. Middle and High School teachers should use this book as an introduction to political and social injustices or self expression. 

LS 5663 Module 2: Florian Poetry

Insectlopedia

Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. Ill. by Douglas Florian. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0-15-201306-7


 Review:
 
INSECTLOPEDIA is a collection of twenty-one poems that uses rhymes to describe different types of arthropods such as the inchworm, praying mantis, weevils, and even ticks. Some of Douglas Florian's poems describe the insect’s physical features, while others discuss insect habitats, diet, or natural inclination.
The verse form in Florian's book is as varied as the bugs of which he writes. Florian's use of shaped or pattern poems enhances his writings of the inchworm, whirligig beetles, and termites. He creates a dramatic effect with his use of alliteration, rhythms, and rhyme. Florian incorporates rhymes at the ends of lines. Additionally, he plays with sound and meter, word choice, and even the placement of words on the page to create poems that entertain readers while evoking an emotional response. His use of action words in his description of the whirligig beetles paints a vivid visual image for readers.

The humor in each illustration adds to the overall appeal. As each selection is given its own page, Florian was able to use a large type and provide his readers with full-page watercolors. His portraits incorporate the anthropomorphic qualities he gives his insects, including the daddy longlegs lifting weights, the inchworm inching his way down the highway, and a waterbug reading his Father's Day card. The insects appear engaged in the action of the story and shape the mood with first person dialogue. Florian created his illustrations using collage and watercolor on primed brown paper bags to create effective and engaging visions.

Highlighted Poem:

The Termites

Our

high and

mighty

termite

mound

arises

far above

the ground,

and just as 

deep, grows

underground.

Our nest is 

blessed to be 

immense. It gives

us all a firm

defense, superior

to any fence. It

shields us from our

enemies. It keeps us

cooler, by degrees.

From floods and droughts 

it guarantees. A prize

nobody will assign in

architectural design, but

still our hill suits us just fines.

Possible Uses: 

Teachers  could use this poem to begin a unit on habitats. As students study the habitats of different animals, they could turn their research into a poem. Students could illustrate their poem as well just as Douglas Florian does.

LS 5663 Module 2: Multicultural Poetry

Yum! Mmmm! Que rico! : America's Sproutings


 Mora, Pat. 2007. YUM! MMMM! QUE RICO!. Ill. by Rafael Lopez. NY: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 978-1-58430-271-1



Review:


In this book, Pat Mora gives us a vivid look at fourteen different foods all native to the Americas. From blueberries to vanilla, readers can enjoy a feast of foods and colors that seem to leap from the page. Describing the foods in uncommon ways such as "brown magic" chocolate and chewing the perfume of a papaya. 
In addition to the creative haiku's, Mora also provides readers with a detailed sidebar for each two-page spread. These sidebar's include an informative paragraph that explains the probable origin of the food, it's history, and some trivia related to the poem. One such tidbit of information is that the largest pumpkin grown as of 2006 weighed in at 1,502 pounds. Another is that the potato was the first vegetable grown in outer space. Kids and adults alike are sure to find this information just as intriguing as Mora's poems.


The work of artist Rafael Lopez is just as intriguing. He uses vibrant acrylics on wood panels to give each page a distinctive multicultural feel, as well as a sense of whimsy with his trumpet playing peanut butter and jelly sandwich and dancing pineapple.


Highlighted Poem:
Pecan


We crack hard, brown shells,
family munching, story time, 
crunchy taste of fall.



Possible Uses:

The possible uses for this book are innumerable. Besides the obvious use in a  lesson on writing a haiku, teachers could use this book in a study of native plants, natural resources, or producers versus consumers. 

Also, the sidebar for the poem Pecan tells readers that the pecan is the state tree of Texas. Teachers could use this poem to begin a discussion about our state.