Module 6 - ALA Winner & Poetry Selection

Bibliographic Citation

Stead, Philip C. 2010. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Ill. by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596434028.

Awards

2011 Caldecott Award

Review

This charming picture book highlights the life of zoo keeper, Amos McGee who is an elderly gentleman who has a deep affection for his job and the animals at the zoo. Each day he makes time to visit his friends and give them his full attention. He reads to the owl, plays chess with the elephant, sits with his penguin friend, and takes on the role of nurse for his runny-nosed rhinoceros friend. All of his genuine care and concern is returned when he finds himself under the weather and unable to go to work. His zoo friends hop on a bus and come to his rescue. In their efforts to cheer him up, they each play their favorite games with him, and provide him with things he needs: a handkerchief, his very own custom foot warmer in the form of a penguin, and a bedtime story. All of these things make Amos feel much better.

Poetry Pairing

Sweeney, Jacqueline. Ed. 2003. Poems About Friends. New York: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9780761415060. (No Image Available)

This delightful book of poetry about friends, written by America’s Children and edited by Jacqueline Sweeney pairs wonderfully with A Sick Day for Amos McGee in keeping with the theme of friendship. The poems in this book are filled with the feelings associated with friendship: the lack of having a friend, what it means to have a best friend, and how friends can help you on your saddest of days. “When I’m Really Sad/I feel like no one likes me./But one person likes me/and that person is Jennifer./I like her. She’s a girl./” Even when we are not at our very best, friendship is vital for our well-being. This book relays the message of the importance of friendships and how friendships can make each of us feel appreciated, important, and loved.

Poem Title

“When I’m Happy”
By: Tzamira Cotton, grade 2

I feel like a flower
that people take good
care of and they water me
and I just start to bloom
in the air like a blue
tulip.

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

Prior to reading A Sick Day for Amos McGee, I would talk to students about friendship and ask them what they think it means to be a friend. I would ask them to think about it in terms of writing a classified ad for a friend. What would they ask for, what are the most important things they look for in their friends? After having a brief discussion, I would read the 2011 Caldecott winner and ask what they noticed about the characters in the story. Hopefully they would recognize that friendship is a giving relationship from both parties involved. After our discussion, I would share some of the Poems About Friends written by children and ask if any of them have ever had similar situations or feelings. I would then invite students to write their own poems about a friend.

Module 6 - Paul Janeczko

Bibliographic Citation

Janeczko, Paul B. 2001. Dirty laundry pile: Poems in different voices. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. NewYork: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780688162511.

Review

Janeczko’s collection of 27 poems written in a variety of formats highlights animals, trees, crayons, and even clothing. These persona poems bring life to inanimate objects in a manner in which the reader may learn a new characteristic or develop a new perspective. “Crayon Dance…The cardboard ceiling lifts/Pickmepickmepickme, I pray/ The fingers do! They choose me, Sky Blue!/Hurrah! Hooray!/ As I am picked from the pocket/All colors whisper, “Good-bye, Pastel!/Be strong! Don’t break!/Enjoy! Farewell!”/… This selection will surely spark new feelings in students when they reach for their box of crayons. Sweet’s watercolor illustrations in full-page and double-page spreads add another layer of life to each poem. A wonderful book to use with older elementary students who are developing the skill of personification.

Poem Title

“The Vacuum Cleaner’s Revenge”
By Patricia Hubbell

I munch. I crunch.
I zoom. I roar.

I clatter-clack
Across the floor.

I swallow twigs.
I slurp dead bugs.

I suck the cat hair
From the rugs.

My stomach full
Of dirt and dust

I gulp another
Pizza crust.

A tiresome life-
All work, no play-

I think I’ll swallow you today!

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This book of poetry would be an excellent tool to use for a collaborative teaching unit with classroom teachers who are focusing on the skill of personification. As an introduction to the lesson, I would gather some of the items that are featured in the book and have them on display for the students. After asking the students what each of the items have in common, I would then read the corresponding poems. After hearing a few selections the students will realize each item has its own voice. The teacher and I would explain that personification is giving voice to objects and we would then ask students to put on “the mask” that Janeczko refers to in his book, and select a new item in the room and write a poem. We would invite students to share their work with the class.

Module 6 - Naomi Shihab Nye

Bibliographic Citation

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2005. A maze me: Poems for girls. Ill. by Terre Maher. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060581893.

Review

Nye pens her collection of 72 free verse poems to capture the attention of girls, especially girls who are transitioning into adolescence. The collection is neatly arranged in five sections representing the author’s own transition into adolescence. Many topics relating to the lives of girls are contained in this compact book. Worries that creep into the minds of young girls, and thrills such as a first crush are also included. “In the School Cafeteria…Your face makes me feel like a lighthouse/beaming across waves./We don’t even know one another./yet each day I am looking for your face./Walking slowly among tables, I balance my tray,/glancing to the side./You’re not here today./Are you sick?/… "

Poem Title

“Changed”

They said something mean about me
and didn’t notice it was mean.

So my heart wandered
into the rainy night without them
and found a canopy
to hide under.

My eyes started
seeing through things.
Like gauze.
Old self through new self.
My flexible body
went backwards
and forwards
in time.

It’s hard to describe but true:
I grew another head
with better ideas
inside my old head.

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This book of poetry would be a perfect fit for a “Chat & Chew” lunch group book discussion time with a group of middle school-aged girls. The “Chat & Chew” format is one that is informal where students feel they have a safe environment where they are able to discuss their true feelings about books they are currently reading as a book club. Poetry has the ability to evoke many emotions for readers. Students who are encountering the transition into adolescence will surely find themselves in many of these poems. By understanding that others have had some of the same experiences, they will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of their feelings.

Module 5 - Poems for Two Voices

Bibliographic Citation

Hoberman, Mary Ann. 2005. You read to me, I’ll read to you: very short stories to read together. Ill. by Michael Emberley. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316013161.

Review

Mary Hoberman creates twelve playful short-story rhymes for two voices to share. The color-coded texts of the couplets and quatrains show the specific lines each reader should read in pink or purple along with the blue text which calls for reading in unison. The poems cover topics from mice and cats to snowmen and snakes to talking on the telephone. These poems are sure to spare some friendly reading duels between friends as they share these delightful short stories. Emberley’s ballpoint pen and watercolor illustrations are nice companions to each page that will be sure to capture young reader’s attention.

Poem Title

“I Like”

"I like soda.
I like milk.
I like satin.
I like silk.
I like puppies.
I like kittens.
I like gloves.
And I like mittens.
I like apples.
I like pears.
I like tigers.
I like bears.
I like to slide.
I like to swing.
We don’t agree
On anything!......."

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

Mary Hoberman’s collection of “You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You” books are great for young readers. I would recommend using these books with first grade students and modeling how to read the poems with two voices by actually having the class split into two section and having each section read a color. After using this method to model the process for the whole class, I would divide the students into partners and pass out the books so they could enjoy reading the short stories together. Later, I would show the class that many poems can be read in parts even though they are not printed with two different colors of ink. I would pull some books from the poetry shelf and use a document camera to model reading a poem with two voices that is not color-coded. I would encourage the students to find a book of poetry they could share with their reading partner.

Module 5 - Lee Bennett Hopkins Award

Bibliographic Citation
Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823415458.

Awards
Lee Bennett Hopkins Award, 2007
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2007

Review

Walter Dean Myers turns his written words into musical poems that chronicle the history of jazz in its early days in New Orleans. Christopher Myers uses black ink and bold acrylic colors to bring sound to each poem by creating movement within each illustration by means of curved lines, and also creating faces that express emotions captured by music. Fifteen poems take on the voice, rhythm, and beat as they rat-a-tat, slide, thump, and scat along each page. “Thum, thum, thum, and/thumming/I feel the ocean rhythm/coming/Thum, thum, thum, and/thumming/I feel the midnight passion/humming” After reading this “Bass” selection, click on the link from Audio File to listen, http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/dbsearch/showreview.cfm?Num=29749

Poem Title

Louie, Louie, How You Play So Sweet?

Louie, Louie, how you play so sweet?
What have you heard, down on Bourbon Street?
“I heard London
Turned it black and blue
Heard Copenhagen
Played it my way, too
Heard a sad song
Swung it into joy
Heard a bad tune
Spanked it like a naughty boy.”
Louie, Louie, how you play so sweet?
What have you heard, down on Bourbon Street?

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This picture book of jazz would be a wonderful introduction for a unit of study on biographies and famous African Americans. As noted in the book’s jazz time line, several famous African American musicians were instrumental in introducing jazz to the public. The poem shared above speaks of the great Louis Armstrong and his time spent in New Orleans. It would be interesting to read these poems and have the students locate music they feel would best fit each of the poems. Most students enjoy music and would like to listen to the various styles of jazz, or selections from the artists mentioned. This would also make a nice collaborative teaching unit between the librarian and music teacher.

Module 5 - Joyce Sidman Poetry

Bibliographic Citation

Sidman, Joyce. 2006. Butterfly Eyes and other secrets of the meadow. Ill. by Beth Krommes. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618563135.

Review

Sidman uses the living setting of the meadow for the home of her eight pairs of poetry-riddles featuring plants and animals and other natural things found in the meadow. Written in a variety of styles, these poems provoke the reader to think about the descriptions more deeply. Their thoughts may be confirmed by reading the two-page spread that follows each pair of poetry-riddles as details are given about each poem along with the answer to each riddle. The scratchboard illustrations by Krommes capture the essence and of the meadow as if one is standing next to each flower, insect, or drop of dew. This is a nice mix or poetry, art and science.

Poem Title

Ultraviolet

The eyes of these flies
See more than we see
They love scarlet
Adore pink
Thrive on orange
Lap up yellow with
Long curled tongues
But their favorite
Extra-special secret
Color sprinkled on
Tiny wingscales
Like valentines
And painted on the
Most delectable blossoms
Like bull’s-eyes
That we can’t see
Because our eyes
Are not theirs
Is ultraviolet

What are they?

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This delightful book of poetry riddles begs to be shared with students outdoors. Why not share these riddles while sitting together on a nice spring day. Read the riddles and have the students predict the animals described. Next, read the following two-page spread that provides the answers to the riddles along with more details on each animal. While referencing the setting of the meadow, plan a culminating project by having students sow wildflower seeds in an area surrounding the school. This area could later serve as a designated space for sharing poetry aloud.

Module 4 - Social Studies Poetry

Bibliographic Citation

Rappaport, Doreen. 2008. Lady Liberty: a biography. Ill. by Matt Tavares. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763625306

Awards

Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee 2011-2012
Texas Bluebonnet Book Award Nominee 2010-2011

Review

Rappaport’s Lady Liberty is a beautifully illustrated picture book spanning the 20 project that connected two continents and the lives of many. Each first-person account gives voice to those who were instrumental in creating the Statue of Liberty and providing her a home in the New York harbor. The free-verse poems involved in this endeavor are arranged in chronological order and range from the statue’s sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi to Joseph Pulitzer who helped raise necessary funds for her pedestal, to the young girl, Florence De Foreest, who sent her two pet roosters to be sold for the cause, and many in-between. Rappaport reveals her own family’s connection to the statue as she speaks of her immigrant grandfather and his journey to America. Tavares’ artwork, in watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations provide many spectacular views as each facet of the story of this iconic statue is unveiled. The back matter provides a recommended reading list and bibliography.



Poem Title


Joseph Pulitzer
Publisher, New York World
New York city, March 1885

(an excerpt from the poem)...

'..We have more than a hundred millionaires in this city
Who could write a check for the full amount.
But no one has.
I shall ask my readers to help.
They are not millionaires,
But I know they will care,
For they will understand her importance."


Introduction or Follow-up Activity


This beautifully researched picture book would be a great companion for many lessons. The story of Lady Liberty would connect well with lessons on immigration and also lessons on writing from various points of view. I would also like to use this book when teaching lessons on media and the impact media have on our lives. It is a great example of how stories in the New York World influenced Americans to donate money to raise funds for Lady Liberty's pedestal. Even in 1885, print media was influential. this is a good example, as noted in the personal narrative poem of Florene DeForeest, the young girl who sent her roosters to Joseph Pulitzer to be sold for the cause.