Module 6: Poetry by Kids - Angst! Teen Verses from the Edge

Bibliographic Information
Karen, Tom. and Kiki (ed.). Illus. by Matt Frost. ANGST! TEEN VERSES FROM THE EDGE. New York, NY: Workman Publishing. ISBN: 9780613492744.

Summary and Analysis
Oh, the drama felt as a teenager! Sometimes overly dramatic, other times openly honest. This collection includes all the typical issues faced during those tough years: friends, drinking, insecurities, smoking, parents, and hurt feelings. Not only will teenagers find parts that speak to them, but so will some adults, especially those who are parents to teens or work with teenagers. Topics are easy to relate to as they are the focus of most days for a typical teen. Topics such as crushes, joys, disappointments, and identity are mentioned poem after poem - all of which are written by teenagers which is probably why they are straight to the intended point, or straight to a harsh statement. Difficult topics are not lightly addressed or phrased in a politically correct way as they probably would be had this been a collection of poems written by adults FOR teenagers. Instead, these are true thoughts from teenagers for teenagers. It really is a remarkable collection and there are some very good - and sometimes troubling - poems included. (I am requesting my public library purchase this title.)

Poems range from humorous and self confident speakers to sad and self loathing ones. Most question life, friends, themselves, or experiences with so many open ended questions thrown into the poetry that these are sure to strike a chord with any teenager who reads them. Some focus on very important issues (harassment) and feelings while others show the joy and silliness that can be found among friends and school and be expressed in poetry.

Highlighted Poem
The Whinings of a Lower-Middle Class White Girl

you're bitter
because I have money
from my parents
with their credit cards
bitter because
if I'm hungry - I eat
and if I'm cold,
I put on more clothing,
or go inside

because I can afford
to buy the stupid crap
it took you decades and
seconds to learn and make
because in all this,
I disrespect my parents
and in all this,
I think I am without.

yes, you see,
I am bitter too.
I am bitter
like the rest of my sort -
because my hips are too wide
and because
I don't have enough friends
or that one special person

yes, because I won't
be valedictorian
and also because
my parents divorced ...
and remarried
because I look at myself
and see something ugly
and no one else
has told me different

bitter
to the core
because I am
a stupid, sheltered
American tourist,
and we all want more
than what we have
or maybe it's just me
but goddamn,
do I wish I could
forget this adolescent nonsense.

Connections

Readers could find a poem focused on any emotion in this collection. If focused on two opposite feelings, a reader could then review the similarities and differences between these feelings to show that no matter the topic or poetry form, there are elements that are similar between different poems (such as feeling connected to poetry after reading it). Obviously this collection could lead teenagers to write their own poetry to create a class or personal collection. Other connections can be linked to this collection as well, such as finding poetry in other subjects. For example, in Chem 101 (Laboratory Love) all the typical feelings one experiences during a crush are rhymed with chemical elements and science terms. It is very clever and would act as an example for older children of how all topics can be portrayed in poetry - even chemical combustion.

Module 6: Janeczko Collection - Blushing

Bibliographic Information
Collected by Janeczko, Paul B. BLUSHING: EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE IN POEMS & LETTERS. New York, NY: Orchard Books. ISBN: 9780439530569.

Summary and Analysis

The poems included in this collection will be enjoyed by a novice to poetry or a collector of poetry. With poets such as Pablo Neruda, William Shakespeare, Rumi, Nikki Giovanni, and Robert Frost. It is a diverse collection of classic and modern poetry and sonnets and rhyme. Love poems can be the simplest of lines or the most detailed prose, yet result in the same feelings after being read. For this reason, love poems are often easy to relate to and are a type of poetry people often refer. This collection could stand alone on a bookshelf or be shared in a poetry section of a library and still find its value. By providing poems beyond the joys of love, Janeczko offers a truthful look at this topic - the happiness, the doubt, and the sadness.

The collection is divided by sections: The Beginning of Love, In Love, Alone in Love, The End of Love, Remembering Love. Giving the full spectrum of emotions felt during love, readers are likely to focus on whichever section fits their lives at that time. They are also likely to return to this collection when they have moved onto another experience with love. These sections are arranged in an appropriate order that many people will relate to or find the progression natural.

Highlighted Poems
To show the diversity of topics, here are poems focused on two perspectives in the experience of love.

Deep in Love
Bhavabhuti

Deep in love
cheek leaning on cheek we talked
of whatever came to our minds
just as it came
slowly oh
slowly
with our arms twined
tightly around us
and the hours passed and we
did not know it
still talking when
the night had gone

Coat
Vicki Feaver

Sometimes I have wanted
to throw you off
like a heavy coat.

Sometimes I have said
you would not let me
breathe or move.

But now that I am free
to choose light clothes
or none at all

I feel the cold
and all the time I think
how warm it used to be.

Connections
The diversity of poems in this collection offer many different possibilities for an educator or librarian. Readers will probably have an urge to write some type of love poem simply after reading this selection. Others could make it less about love by changing the focus from a person to a pet or object (say favorite food). Writing poetry needn't be taken too seriously, but could focus on emotions felt every day. That would make the topic one in which students could relate and enjoy the act of writing.

Module 6: Poetry and Fiction- A Sick Day for Amos McGee

A Sick Day for Amos McGee




Bibliographic Information
Stead, Philip C. Ills. by Erin E. Stead. A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press. ISBN: 9781596434028.

Summary and Analysis
This 2011 Caldecott winner, focuses on the friendship between a zookeeper and the zoo animals. Each day Amos McGee catches a bus to go to his job at the zoo where he always makes time to visit his friends. With the elephant he plays chess, with the tortoise he has a race, he sits quietly with a shy penguin, wipes the rhinoceros' nose, and knowing the owl is afraid of the dark Amos sits and reads stories. On the day Amos stays home, the animals leave the zoo, catch the same city bus that usually brings Amos to them, and go visit Amos where they play chess, play hide and seek, keep him company, and read. At the end of the day, they all go to sleep in Amos' house. It is a surprisingly sweet story about friends being there for one another. The illustrations are muted in tone, but still offer color and are visually appealing. Amos McGee has some very detailed facial expressions while the animals have specific details without being too personified. They are done with woodblock printing techniques and also pencil.

Connections with Poetry

A Crossing Of Zebras



Bibliographic Information
Maddox, Marjorie. Ills. by Philip Huber. A CROSSING OF ZEBRAS: ANIMAL PACKS IN POETRY. Honesdale, PN: Wordsong. ISBN: 9781590785102.

Summary and Analysis

In this book of poetry the focus is on animals in their groups, packs, schools, and flocks. It offers creative assumptions of each animal group from hyper monkeys to orderly ants. Poems rhyme and use white space to better portray silly animals or to exhibit action between words. Poems differ between couplets and stanzas and humor and danger exhibiting animals differences and characteristics.

The illustrations are a scratchboard technique which gives them a unique textured feel. Both the poetry and the illustrations come alive in an original voice (or illustration) of a typical topic.

Highlighted Poem
A Charm of Butterflies

A charm of butterflies arrives each spring
and circles my backyard with rainbow wings.
I want to catch the beauty each one brings
and spread their joy to other living things.

Let's write a poem together. Yes, let's try
to re-create the charm of butterflies.
Let's celebrate in song. Let's dance their flight
and paint the way their wings reflect the light.

And later, when the trees are dark and bare,
we'll still have lots of butterflies to share.

Connections Between These Books

The connection between A Sick Day for Amos McGee and A Crossing of Zebras is this focus on animals, the always popular topic for children of all ages. In each book, the diverse personalities of different animals are described and shown through text and illustrations. Readers could discuss the different ways to focus on these characteristics by illustrations, as in A Sick Day for Amos McGee or by language as shown in A Crossing of Zebras.

Module 5: Sidman Poetry - Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Bibliographic Information

Sidman, Joyce. Ills. by Rick Allen. DARK EMPEROR & OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780547152288.

Summary and Analysis

Sidman begins this collection with Welcome to the Night which puts the reader in the mood of both the secrecy of night, but the adventure that comes with the creatures of night. In between the rhyming poems are short paragraphs about the animal, which is a great mix to keep the reader's interest from page to page. All narrate a portion of night or animal that lives in the night. When focusing on these nocturnal animals, Sidman gives both a information education into these animals' characteristics as well as creative assumptions from the insect or animal's perspective by writing in first person. Poems share the same focus of night life in the woods and flow from page to page. The topics will appeal to young children even if they do not love insects, but the personification of these insects will help any reader feel a connection. Some are simple insights into the nightly life, while others seem to offer deeper meaning, such as the highlighted poem, Night-Spider's Advice.

Allen's illustrations are both dark and whimsical with the focus of night being portrayed in shadows or an evening glow. The focus sometimes is on the topic the animal is mentioning and other times the brightest image in the illustration, the night moon for example. Some illustrations are more camouflaged than others which really helps the reader imagine different parts of the night and the different animals that come out at certain times. The perspective changes from an above view for some insects and a below view for others which is interesting and whimsical, sort of an Alice in Wonderland view of the garden after she shrinks.

Highlighted Poem


Night-Spider's Advice

Build a frame
and stick to it,
I always say.
Life's a circle.
Just keep going around.
Do your work, then
sit back and see
what falls in your lap.
Eat your triumphs,
eat your mistakes:
that you your belly
will always be full.
Use what you have.
Rest when you need to.
Dawn will come soon enough.
Someone has to remake
the world each night.
It might as well be you.


Connections
Poetry is often a difficult subject to get kids excited about. Whether due to inexperience with poetry or the challenges of interpretation, many children and adults seem to shy away from this genre. This book shows how poetry can be found in any subject matter and acts as a great example of how to introduce poetry from another subject. In this case, the link is between nonfiction and poetry. Many children prefer nonfiction, stereotypically boys prefer nonfiction over fiction and it would be a great link for a teacher or librarian to focus on subjects being expressed through poetry. Other subjects are also shown in poetry, such as biographies, science, and math. This brings together not only two forms of expression, but also the two sides of the brain, and perhaps will introduce a child to a writing style he or she has not experienced before. A great exercise would be to allow children to find a subject matter they love, such as dinosaurs, trains, or history and then encourage them to write about their favorite aspect in a poem.

Module 5: Hopkins Award Poetry - Jazz

Bibliographic Information
Myers, Walter Dean. Ills. by Christopher Myers. JAZZ. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823415458.

Summary and Analysis
With the focus on jazz music and the feelings in stirs in people, this collection addresses main elements of poetry as well. Poems are descriptive, colorful (even with text alternating colors), and rhythmic. Fonts change to indicate different speakers which would assist in shared reading between children. Poems address influential jazz musicians, influential times in society, and the general influence of jazz music. Poems take on different tones and images through subject and writing style. In Miss Kitty repetition is smooth, much like a lyric, while Stride focuses more on the beat of jazz, much like a dance. These poems range in feeling and emotion. The emphasis is on sounds and color, whether changing color in text, illustrations, or unspoken color and flare that comes out in the poem.

Myers' illustrations are beautiful, colorful, and flow much like one would imagine jazz notes flowing through a room. They take on the style of elongated features that is often used in African American art and it makes these illustrations more adult than those typically found in children's books. This is not necessarily a bad thing as the illustrations flow with dancing people on a page or exaggerate the instruments and will help readers notice a different kind of style to this collection. This style can then be linked to the different style of music known as jazz. The poems are informative and are a great introduction to the genre.

The topic of jazz is expanded upon by the amazing, and award honor, illustrations, which at times grab the reader’s focus more than the text. Each illustration is fitting and appropriate to the corresponding poem whether in peaceful relaxation as in Blue Creeps In or the intense focus of Piano.

Highlighted Poem

Twenty-Finger Jack

Well, the walls are shaking,
And the ceilings coming down
‘Cause twenty-finger Jack
Has just come back to town
The keyboard’s jumping,
and the music’s going round
and round
If he had any sense,
he left it in the lost-and-found
Here he go

Be ba boodie, be ba boodie, boo
Be ba boodie, be ba ba ba, boodie, boo

There’s a steady beat walking,
and the melody’s talking, too
If you ain’t moving.
there must be something wrong with you
My knees don’t like it,
but my feet just got to dance
My heels can’t follow,
but my toes will take a chance

Be ba boodie, be ba boodie, boo
Be ba boodie, be ba ba ba, boodie, boo

Drop your blues,
and throw away that frown
‘Cause twenty-finger Jack
has just come back to town

Connections

The imagery of this collection could be brought to attention for poetry lessons or art lessons. The poems offer the sounds of jazz as well as the emotions often experienced when listening to live music. Connections could be made to recordings of jazz with children writing what they feel when they listen to the music or draw what they hear in music or other poems. Children could also take their favorite poems and put them to songs like simple nursery rhymes tunes to see how words take on a different focus when used with song. Also, students could listen to popular music for poetry elements to bring the literary focus to modern music.

Module 5: Performance Poetry - Messing Around the Monkey Bars

Bibliographic Information
Franco, Betsy. Ills. by Jessie Hartland. MESSING AROUND THE MONKEY BARS. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN:9780763631741.

Summary and Analysis
This collection of read aloud poems begins with a note and illustration on how to alternate the lines between two speakers or say lines together. It introduces this book of poetry with more excitement due to this participation element. The text alternates between regular font, bold, or large bold so that the readers know if the line is to be spoken by reader a, reader b, or both (respectively). Poems have a lot of repetition, which would help a class aloud reading or a pair reading especially if one child is shy or a struggling reader. Therefore, these poems can be enjoyed in a variety of styles - reading alone, reading together, or reading as a class. Many of the poems only have one or a few words per line and this use of line breaks make each poem sound different as it is read. This is a great example of the different ways to write a poem and the use of line breaks and white space to signify messages and focus on rhyming and intent.

This collection takes on the silly tone of Shel Silverstein with making everyday tasks or events humorous. This will make Franco's poems very appealing to young audiences due to the familiar tasks and familiar feelings. It would also help exhibit how poetry can be found anywhere and may lead to some writing assignments for the readers. Hartland's illustrations are colorful, childlike, and they add to Fanco's words using the same humor and tone. This entire collection is visually appealing as well as linguistically appealing with the sounds of words being a continual source of entertainment. The poems are full of action and children will enjoy saying these words as well as the message of the poems as well.


Highlighted Poem
Jump Rope Jingle

Come on in.
I'll jump with you.
It's double fun
to jump with two.

Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump
slap the ground.


Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.

Jump, jump,
A, B,
C

Jump, jump
1, 2,
3

Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet.

Reader 1: regular font
Reader 2: bold
Read together: bold italics

Connections
I chose Jump Rope Jingle as the poem to highlight because it shows how Franco writes for shared reading alternating between voices and then bringing them together again. I also chose it because it was the poem that could easily transfer into a performance poem for a group of children. The actions of the poem (jump, slap, turn) could add motions to the poetry which would offer another level of enjoyment for students just learning to appreciate poetry. These poems are great for partner reading or class reading and as mentioned in our text, would be great for readers of different reading levels as the words are simple and most poems have lots of repetition. As the poems are all about school, friends, siblings, teachers, and other every day experiences to children, it would not be difficult for students to select a poem that spoke to them that they could deliver or rewrite and keep for their enjoyment.

Module 4: Biographical Poetry - Coretta Scott

Bibliographic Information
Shange, Ntozake. CORETTA SCOTT. Paintings by Kadir Nelson. Washington, D.C. Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN: 9780061253645.

Summary and Analysis
The text begins with a calm summer morning from Coretta Scott's childhood and covers her growing up and introduction into her adult life. Throughout the text her belief in equality and her focus on improving people's lives is present through the lines of text and the gorgeous paintings. It touches upon the civil rights movement with the Montgomery bus boycott and sit ins, which are subtle introductions to an important part of our history.

The style is free verse and flows like a long thought. This brief introduction into her life is told more as a story telling and less of a biographical passage, which fits not only with the words but with the message of hope and determination. Struggles are addressed and hardships shown, yet it is Coretta Scott's hope and faith that is the emotion the reader is left with. A few of the pages seem to jump to a different thought without an easy progression, but that is not enough to take away from this beautiful look into a special woman's life.

The paintings are more like images seen outside a window. Most are close up as if the reader is sitting with the subjects or is nearby. This makes the story of Coretta Scott's life more personable. The paintings are haunting, colorful, and the faces are large. In some the faces of Coretta and her siblings as children will be as large as the children reading the book. For those that want to know more about Coretta than is provided in the poem, there is a a biography and photo of her offered in the back of the book.

Highlighted Poem

Martin Luther King Jr. a young preacher
prayed for freedom
Coretta prayed
two minds attracted in prayer
yes they could do something
among the many
who thought moral power
would overturn Jim Crow
they prayed together
found joy
and were married

Connections
Biographical poetry offers an educational opportunity to showcase a significant person as well as important times of history. This text is no different. If educators are doing a lesson on biographies, poetry could be brought into it with similar texts. Or for annual events such as Black History Month, biographical poetry could be inserted to the theme as well. In addition, the cultural history of the eras portrayed in biographies offer a chance for teachers to expand on social studies or geography as well as a biographical focus.