Bibliographic Citation
Spinelli, Eileen. 2007. Where I live. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803731226
Awards
Children’s Crown Gallery Award Nominee 2009-2010
Illinois Bluestem Book Award Nominees 2010-2011
Utah Beehive Book Award Nominees Children's Poetry 2008-2009
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2009-2010
Review
Spinelli’s verse novel, written in first person, depicts the life of Diana, a grade school student, who loves astronomy, Scrabble, writing poetry, and spending time with her best friend, Rose. She loves the yellow house where she and her family live, spending time with her little sister, Twink, protecting the bird nest in the wreath on the family’s front door. Diana finds herself winning a poetry contest at school and Twink is confused because “Twink Responds to My Sun Poem” It\doesn’t\rhyme.\ Spinelli uses her main character to explain “My Reply to Twink” A poem\doesn’t\have to rhyme.\ (Every\time.)\. Spinelli uses a free verse format, to tell the story of Diana and her family’s move to live with her grandfather as a result of her father’s job loss and her grandfather’s ailing health. Spinelli cleverly uses Diana’s attendance at a poetry workshop to subtly convey poetry writing tips to readers. Phelan’s perfectly placed pencil drawings extend the emotions of Spinelli’s poems of joy, sadness and excitement. Children experiencing similar situations as Diana will find this verse novel comforting and enjoyable to read.
Poem Title
“The Poetry Workshop”
Mary Elmore DeMott—
short blond hair,
green eyes,
swooshy red dress,
ballerina slippers—
begins.
She tell us:
be brave,
be messy,
write what we feel,
tell the truth,
love who we are,
share,
keep a notebook,
take it everywhere,
open our eyes
and our hearts.
Introduction or Follow-up Activity
This story is one that many students are able to relate to through their own experiences of moving away, or having a close friend move. Often there are students in our school who move during the school year and their classmates become upset. Sharing selections from the book with younger students could help them through the process of losing their friend, and even spark them to write a poem about their friend, or the things they enjoyed doing with their friend, much like Diana and Rosie. I have found this particular book one that is well liked by readers at our school who are reluctant to read chapter books. The verse novel format is less intimidating for these readers and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when completing the book.
Spinelli, Eileen. 2007. Where I live. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803731226
Awards
Children’s Crown Gallery Award Nominee 2009-2010
Illinois Bluestem Book Award Nominees 2010-2011
Utah Beehive Book Award Nominees Children's Poetry 2008-2009
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2009-2010
Review
Spinelli’s verse novel, written in first person, depicts the life of Diana, a grade school student, who loves astronomy, Scrabble, writing poetry, and spending time with her best friend, Rose. She loves the yellow house where she and her family live, spending time with her little sister, Twink, protecting the bird nest in the wreath on the family’s front door. Diana finds herself winning a poetry contest at school and Twink is confused because “Twink Responds to My Sun Poem” It\doesn’t\rhyme.\ Spinelli uses her main character to explain “My Reply to Twink” A poem\doesn’t\have to rhyme.\ (Every\time.)\. Spinelli uses a free verse format, to tell the story of Diana and her family’s move to live with her grandfather as a result of her father’s job loss and her grandfather’s ailing health. Spinelli cleverly uses Diana’s attendance at a poetry workshop to subtly convey poetry writing tips to readers. Phelan’s perfectly placed pencil drawings extend the emotions of Spinelli’s poems of joy, sadness and excitement. Children experiencing similar situations as Diana will find this verse novel comforting and enjoyable to read.
Poem Title
“The Poetry Workshop”
Mary Elmore DeMott—
short blond hair,
green eyes,
swooshy red dress,
ballerina slippers—
begins.
She tell us:
be brave,
be messy,
write what we feel,
tell the truth,
love who we are,
share,
keep a notebook,
take it everywhere,
open our eyes
and our hearts.
Introduction or Follow-up Activity
This story is one that many students are able to relate to through their own experiences of moving away, or having a close friend move. Often there are students in our school who move during the school year and their classmates become upset. Sharing selections from the book with younger students could help them through the process of losing their friend, and even spark them to write a poem about their friend, or the things they enjoyed doing with their friend, much like Diana and Rosie. I have found this particular book one that is well liked by readers at our school who are reluctant to read chapter books. The verse novel format is less intimidating for these readers and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when completing the book.
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