Book Reviews: Poetry
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. (1998). Doodle dandies: poems
that take shape. Ill. by Lisa Desimini. New York, NY: Scholastic.
In this poetry book by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrations
combined with shape poems are presented. Some of the topics addressed are
animals, sports, nature, and people. Humor is used in most of the shape poems.
Lewis is also able to trick the eye by manipulating the images used.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through his shape poems, Lewis successfully uses
language to create images. Interesting and unique illustrations and objects are
embedded into the poetry presented. The combination of the written words and images
on the page does require the reader to be perceptive. Reflection and slightly
hidden images make for a fun reading experience. Lewis uses such poetic devices
as simile, metaphor, alliteration, imagery, rhyme, and personification. Internal
rhyme is also used in several of the poems included.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of Best Books in Children’s Catalog, 2001
Review by Children’s Literature: “Kids will
have a great time examining these dandies to see how words and artistic
materials can literally shape a poem.”
Review by Children’s Literature: “It is a
collection that has at least one poem that will appeal to even the most poetry
adverse child…”.
5. CONNECTIONS
This book begs to
be a read aloud for a lesson on poetic devices! So many devices are utilized
multiple times in this book. A guided practice or partner work assignment would
be helpful for identifying the devices and determining how they contribute to
the quality of the poetry. This ELA lesson could be paired with a writing
lesson that requires the students to create their own shape poems.
Other available
titles from Lewis:
When Thunder Comes:
Poems for Civil Rights Leaders – ISBN 9781452101194
Keep a Pocket in
Your Poem : Classic Poems and Playful Parodies – ISBN 9781590789216
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Frost, H. (2008). Diamond
willow. New York, NY: Square Fish.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This novel in
verse by Helen Frost is about a young girl from Old Fork, Alaska, named Diamond
Willow. Willow has a special connection with the sled dogs her family owns.
Especially the lead dog, Roxy. As Willow sets out alone for a visit with her
grandparents, tragedy strikes, and Roxy is critically injured. In an effort to
save Roxy’s life, Willow decides to make another journey to their house with
the assistance of her friend, Kaylie. Once again, danger presents itself and
Willow barely makes it to her grandparents’ home. She learns many lessons along
the way. Including more about her heritage, more about her family, and more
about herself as a long-kept family secret is finally shared.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through unique and
interesting diamond shaped poems, Frost is able to draw the reader in quite
easily. Each poem includes a deeper message that is communicated through bold
face print. Experiencing the story mainly through Willow’s eyes allows the reader
to tap into the emotions she’s expressing internally and externally. Watched
over by her ancestors, the point of view alters to include their thoughts and
feelings as well. Adversity seems to strengthen the relationships between the
characters. The introduction of the family secret turns the story in a
different direction and shocks the reader. The symbolism of the diamond walking
stick is not lost on those following along. Each detail in this book connects
to the next fluidly. The author’s note and acknowledgements provided by Frost
help the reader to understand her thought process and how the different parts
of this story came to be.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the Lee
Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2009
Winner of the
Mitten Award, 2008
Review by Children’s
Literature: “The book could serve as a positive introduction to belief
systems of Alaska Natives, or just an intriguing model to get students involved
in writing their own stories.”
Review by Bulletin:
“Frost has spun metaphoric gold out of an evocative natural landscape, and she
knows just how to craft it into an elegant and moving story of a young girl’s
deepening understanding of the relationships she shares with those around her.”
5. CONNECTIONS
This book would be
a strong resource for presenting a poetry unit. Specifically, the creation of
shape poems. It provides interesting examples of how to use dialogue, point of
view, imagery, and rising and falling action. This book lends itself to poem
explication and annotation as well.
Other titles by
Helen Frost include:
The Braid – ISBN 9780786294978
Salt: A Story of
Friendship in a Time of War - 9780374363871
Myers, W. (2006). Jazz.
Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York, NY: Holiday House, Inc.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Myers’ book of poetry is
devoted to jazz music and contains not only lines describing the music but also
the movements of the musicians as well. A variety of instruments are
represented, so children can see what sounds make up a jazz band. Vocalists are
also included along with some rhythm and blues. Rhyme is used to create
connections between the lines of poetry. Swing dancing is also represented in
this book.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The background
information over jazz music provided at the beginning of the book is
informative and appreciated. The strong use of poetic devices in this book allows
the reader to not only read the poetry but feel it as well. Myers uses
symbolism consistently throughout the book. Some students may not have the
background knowledge necessary to make the symbolic connections. Class
discussion of the poetry included is probably required. Especially in
lower-level grades. The colorful, fluid paintings used allow the reader to see
the jazz musicians performing which brings the poetry to life. A glossary of
jazz terms and a timeline of jazz music is provided at the end of the book.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the
Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2007
Winner of the
Odyssey Award, 2008
Winner of the Lee
Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2007
Review by Booklist:
“Christopher Myers' pictures make those rhythms visual, the curving lines of
his figures seeming to move off the page, swinging to the beat.”
Review by Children’s
Literature: “The illustrator brings the intensity of fluid lines and saturated
color to his portraits of the jazz world.”
5. CONNECTIONS
This book is a
useful resource for teaching a wide variety of poetic devices such as rhyme, personification,
symbolism, repetition, and consonance. Musical connections can also be made.
Connections with literature and art from the same time period could also be
discussed.
Other titles
available from Myers include:
Harlem: A Book – ISBN 9780590543408
Street Love – ISBN
9780786296293
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, D.
(2018). Friends and foes: poems about us. New York, NY: Simon and
Schuster.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book of
poetry includes many of the roller coaster-like situations that happen between
friends when they are children. The topics swing up in subject matter and then
right back down again. The titles range from I Like You at the beginning
of the book to You’re Not My Best Friend in the center of the
book to Friendship is a Flower at the end of the book.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Florian’s book of
poetry perfectly summarizes the constant ups and downs found in young
friendships. One day it’s best friends, and the next day it’s worst enemies.
Only to start the friendship over like nothing ever happened. The use of both
internal rhyme and end rhyme makes the lines easy to predict. The repetition
allows for younger readers to memorize the poems without physically reading the
text. The illustrations are meant to represent drawings completed by children.
By utilizing colored pencils and crayons on the manila paper used in primary
school, the colorful illustrations successfully draw the reader in. The detailed
facial expressions promote the feelings described in the adjacent poem.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Nominee for the
Cybils Award, 2018
Review by Booklist:
“The artwork (colored pencil and crayon on manila paper) has a childlike
feel, particularly in the backgrounds where crayon strokes are clearly visible.
Florian also makes clever use of exaggeration to illustrate his points: for
example, Old Friends who each know what the other thinks, are portrayed with
beehive hairdos that connect. This will be welcomed by Florian’s numerous fans
and should also be useful for classroom character education discussions.”
Reviewed by Kirkus:
“Children are growing and figuring out who they are in relation to those around
them; the direct, purposeful style of poetry lends itself nicely to navigating
the many emotions of friendship.”
5. CONNECTIONS
This book is a
wonderful resource for teaching the simple use of end rhyme and the complex use
of internal rhyme. Inferencing could also be addressed using the detailed
facial expressions on the children’s faces. Repetition, as well as alliteration
could also be taught using this book. Using this resource as a read aloud could
promote class discussion and student connections to the text.
Other Florian
titles available include:
Dinothesaurus:
Prehistoric Poems and Paintings – ISBN 9781416979784
Poem-Mobiles:
Crazy Car Poems
– ISBN 9781984894472
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