Poetry Books
Once I Ate A Pie
Author: MacLachlan, Patricia & Charest, Emily MacLachlan
Illustrator: Schneider, Katy
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2010
Genre: Poetry Age Level: Ages 4-9
Illustrator: Schneider, Katy
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2010
Genre: Poetry Age Level: Ages 4-9
Plot summary: This is a book of poetry about dogs. Each two page spread in this book is dedicated to a different type of dog. The dog's name is listed at the top of each spread and the poem about that dog tells the characteristics and personality of that dog. Some of the characteristics are about the breed of dog (the sheepdog says, "I want my people in a group. Like sheep.") while others are specific to the personality of that particular dog (Mr. Beefy, the pug, steals butter from the table and claims to have eaten an entire pie one time). The poems are written from the point of view of the individual dogs. They are free verse, non-rhyming poems.
Personal reaction/evaluation:
I thought this book of poems was very accessible and sweet. This is a great book to introduce poetry to younger children. Through the illustrations and the text, the dogs become very likable and real to the reader. Readers can find things in the dogs that remind them of themselves or of people they know.
Memorable literary element:
This book uses different fonts and different positioning of the text to portray emotion and the characteristics of the dogs. This makes both the words and the dogs, themselves, come alive for the reader. An example is a dog named Lucy, who is shown sleeping between the heads of her owners. In her text she talks about being adopted from a shelter and she talks about how the different things in the house are "mine". The word "mine" in shown in large, bold letters to emphasize Lucy's feelings of ownership. At the end of the poem, however, the word "mine" is shown very small, to indicate that she is still emphasizing, but that she is falling asleep, secure in her owner's love.
Illustrations:
The illustrations are bold in their color and form. They are beautifully done in oil paint. They are very bright, with earth tones and flesh colors. There is plenty of white space to contrast with the colors and to allow for the playfulness of the text and fonts. The illustrations feel alive, with a lot of emotion. The dogs have expressive eyes that draw the reader in.
Review from a selection aid:
(Kirkus) "An appealing cover image of a charming pug invites the reader into this ode to canine companions by the mother-and-daughter team. Fourteen short, non-rhyming poems introduce a variety of highly individualistic dogs, with the personality of each one captured in just a few revealing lines. The poems are written in first person with an innocent viewpoint appropriate to a dog’s egocentric perspective on the world. Abby “borrows” bones, balls and slippers (and doesn’t give them back); Mr. Beefy the pug steals butter (or even a cherry pie) from the table; and Lucy, adopted from a shelter, sleeps between her owners with her own pillow and teddy bear. Schneider’s expressive paintings add to each dog’s character, skillfully capturing distinctive breed characteristics, with expressive eyes and playful postures that indicate thorough knowledge of canine behavior. Thoughtful design elements include a trail of paw prints leading from the cover through the front matter into the text, varying type treatments and a mixture of illustration perspectives. "
Promotion idea:
This book could be used as an introduction to a unit on poetry and descriptive writing for younger children. Children could write (or tell an adult so that the adult can write) about an animal or pet that they love, thinking about the specific characteristics about that animal and what makes it unique. The student could then draw their own illustrations to go along with their story. The book could also assist in talking about differences and similarities in animals and in people. We can enjoy and applaud both the ways that we are the same and the ways that we are different. Being able to see these characteristics so easily in the dogs will make the concepts accessible to young children.
Personal reaction/evaluation:
I thought this book of poems was very accessible and sweet. This is a great book to introduce poetry to younger children. Through the illustrations and the text, the dogs become very likable and real to the reader. Readers can find things in the dogs that remind them of themselves or of people they know.
Memorable literary element:
This book uses different fonts and different positioning of the text to portray emotion and the characteristics of the dogs. This makes both the words and the dogs, themselves, come alive for the reader. An example is a dog named Lucy, who is shown sleeping between the heads of her owners. In her text she talks about being adopted from a shelter and she talks about how the different things in the house are "mine". The word "mine" in shown in large, bold letters to emphasize Lucy's feelings of ownership. At the end of the poem, however, the word "mine" is shown very small, to indicate that she is still emphasizing, but that she is falling asleep, secure in her owner's love.
Illustrations:
The illustrations are bold in their color and form. They are beautifully done in oil paint. They are very bright, with earth tones and flesh colors. There is plenty of white space to contrast with the colors and to allow for the playfulness of the text and fonts. The illustrations feel alive, with a lot of emotion. The dogs have expressive eyes that draw the reader in.
Review from a selection aid:
(Kirkus) "An appealing cover image of a charming pug invites the reader into this ode to canine companions by the mother-and-daughter team. Fourteen short, non-rhyming poems introduce a variety of highly individualistic dogs, with the personality of each one captured in just a few revealing lines. The poems are written in first person with an innocent viewpoint appropriate to a dog’s egocentric perspective on the world. Abby “borrows” bones, balls and slippers (and doesn’t give them back); Mr. Beefy the pug steals butter (or even a cherry pie) from the table; and Lucy, adopted from a shelter, sleeps between her owners with her own pillow and teddy bear. Schneider’s expressive paintings add to each dog’s character, skillfully capturing distinctive breed characteristics, with expressive eyes and playful postures that indicate thorough knowledge of canine behavior. Thoughtful design elements include a trail of paw prints leading from the cover through the front matter into the text, varying type treatments and a mixture of illustration perspectives. "
Promotion idea:
This book could be used as an introduction to a unit on poetry and descriptive writing for younger children. Children could write (or tell an adult so that the adult can write) about an animal or pet that they love, thinking about the specific characteristics about that animal and what makes it unique. The student could then draw their own illustrations to go along with their story. The book could also assist in talking about differences and similarities in animals and in people. We can enjoy and applaud both the ways that we are the same and the ways that we are different. Being able to see these characteristics so easily in the dogs will make the concepts accessible to young children.
Poetry For Young People: African American Poetry
Author: Rampersad, Arnold & Blount, Marcellus, eds.
Illustrator: Barbour, Karen
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books, 2012
Genre: Poetry Age Level: Grades 5 and up
Illustrator: Barbour, Karen
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books, 2012
Genre: Poetry Age Level: Grades 5 and up
Plot summary:
This is a book of poetry written by African Americans. It spans the centuries, with its first poem written by Phyllis Wheatley in the 1700's. It ends with more contemporary poets, such as Maya Angelou and Alice Walker. The poems are short and each one contains a short write up about the author. There are also helpful definitions of words that follow each poem to give the young reader context or understanding. The introduction, written by Arnold Rampersad, discusses the poets and their individual and historical styles of writing.
Personal reaction/evaluation:
I thought that this was a beautiful anthology of poems for a reader of any age. I like the way the books in this series make poetry very accessible for readers. The introduction, short biographies of the authors, and definitions of words help readers get a true feel for poetry and for the sometimes subtle meanings that can easily get lost by an impatient or unfamiliar reader.
Memorable literary element:
The most obvious and helpful literary element to this book is that each individual poem is paired with the author's name and dates of birth and death, a biography of the author, and a section at the bottom for definitions of unfamiliar words or meanings that are historical in nature. This sets the book up to be enjoyed for both the poems, themselves, and for the information that can be learned about each author and his or her time period in relation to the poetry.
Illustrations:
The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. The page backgrounds are different colors to highlight the artwork. The illustrator uses watercolor, ink, and collage to create vivid images to accompany the poems. At times the images are separate on the page and at other times, they meld into the poems. The people have very exaggerated features.
Review from a selection aid:
(School Library Journal) "Slim and handsome, this beautifully constructed collection introduces 27 poets from the days of Phillis Wheatley to well-established poets writing in the 21st century. A four-page introduction outlines historical periods and influences. Presented chronologically, the entries begin with a paragraph describing the poet's life and work. Paul Laurence Dunbar, Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, Maya Angelou, and others are joined by George Moses Horton, Mae V. Cowdery, Carolyn M. Rodgers, and others. A small glossary appears at the end of each poem. Barbour mixes a bit of collage with watercolor in spare drawings that meld folk and contemporary graphic elements. Stylized human figures are elongated and flat, most with large eyes but distinctive in character. They appear in side panels, vignettes, or full pages that are sometimes washed in soft color and other times set on white with no background. This elegant book nicely melds an overview of African American history, an introduction to these notable writers, and a bit of explanation of some poetry forms. It offers many uses in classrooms and libraries and is likely to be treasured by teens and adults perhaps even more than older children. Though only one or two selections represent the work of each poet, readers will find this a rich compendium in the inviting guise of a picture book."
Promotion idea:
This book could be used as a tie in to Black History Month. Poetry is often left out of discussions on Black Americans who influenced history. The introduction at the beginning of this book can help provide insight into styles of writing and philosophies of thinking that influenced writers in different time periods.
This is a book of poetry written by African Americans. It spans the centuries, with its first poem written by Phyllis Wheatley in the 1700's. It ends with more contemporary poets, such as Maya Angelou and Alice Walker. The poems are short and each one contains a short write up about the author. There are also helpful definitions of words that follow each poem to give the young reader context or understanding. The introduction, written by Arnold Rampersad, discusses the poets and their individual and historical styles of writing.
Personal reaction/evaluation:
I thought that this was a beautiful anthology of poems for a reader of any age. I like the way the books in this series make poetry very accessible for readers. The introduction, short biographies of the authors, and definitions of words help readers get a true feel for poetry and for the sometimes subtle meanings that can easily get lost by an impatient or unfamiliar reader.
Memorable literary element:
The most obvious and helpful literary element to this book is that each individual poem is paired with the author's name and dates of birth and death, a biography of the author, and a section at the bottom for definitions of unfamiliar words or meanings that are historical in nature. This sets the book up to be enjoyed for both the poems, themselves, and for the information that can be learned about each author and his or her time period in relation to the poetry.
Illustrations:
The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. The page backgrounds are different colors to highlight the artwork. The illustrator uses watercolor, ink, and collage to create vivid images to accompany the poems. At times the images are separate on the page and at other times, they meld into the poems. The people have very exaggerated features.
Review from a selection aid:
(School Library Journal) "Slim and handsome, this beautifully constructed collection introduces 27 poets from the days of Phillis Wheatley to well-established poets writing in the 21st century. A four-page introduction outlines historical periods and influences. Presented chronologically, the entries begin with a paragraph describing the poet's life and work. Paul Laurence Dunbar, Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, Maya Angelou, and others are joined by George Moses Horton, Mae V. Cowdery, Carolyn M. Rodgers, and others. A small glossary appears at the end of each poem. Barbour mixes a bit of collage with watercolor in spare drawings that meld folk and contemporary graphic elements. Stylized human figures are elongated and flat, most with large eyes but distinctive in character. They appear in side panels, vignettes, or full pages that are sometimes washed in soft color and other times set on white with no background. This elegant book nicely melds an overview of African American history, an introduction to these notable writers, and a bit of explanation of some poetry forms. It offers many uses in classrooms and libraries and is likely to be treasured by teens and adults perhaps even more than older children. Though only one or two selections represent the work of each poet, readers will find this a rich compendium in the inviting guise of a picture book."
Promotion idea:
This book could be used as a tie in to Black History Month. Poetry is often left out of discussions on Black Americans who influenced history. The introduction at the beginning of this book can help provide insight into styles of writing and philosophies of thinking that influenced writers in different time periods.