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.