LS 5663 Spring 2012



Module 2  NCTE Award Poetry


Bibliographic information:

Hoberman, Mary Ann, and Jane Dyer. Whose garden is it?. Orlando: Gulliver Books/Harcourt, 2004. ISBN: 0152026312

Review:

Whose Garden Is It? by Mary Ann Hoberman is a sweet conversational poem written in a storybook format about all the characters involved in the growth and success of a neighborhood garden. Hoberman won the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) award for poetry in 2003. She has published over thirty books and won the National Book Award in 1978 for A House Is a House for Me. Whose Garden Is It?  is an example of her talent for writing concrete poetry in prose form. It is highly descriptive and rhythmic in its use of rhyme and alliteration. The characters’ voices are most appealing as readers are introduced to the predictable inhabitants of the garden as well as some critters that may not be as well known. The mood of the poem seems to change as characters defend why the garden is theirs. Illustrator Jane Dyer uses bright watercolor images to help develop the tone and personality of each character.

Highlighted Quotes from Poem:

“Not so!” sighed the worm. “Why, I make the soil fine, and that’s why I’m put here. This garden is mine!”

“It’s mine,” buzzed the honeybee. “You’re just a pest here. I pollinate flowers. It’s easy to see this garden would not even be without me!”

“It is mine,” smiled the sun, shining down on the tree. “I bring heat. I bring light. Nothing lives without me.”



Introduction/Activity:

1st grade: point of view/perspective

Before reading the book, ask students what they would expect to find in a garden. After sharing the entire book, re-read the above quotes to students. Ask students: How does each character help the garden to grow? Why do the characters feel that the garden belongs to them? Who is right?

LS 5663 Spring 2012



 Module 2     Florian Poetry






Bibliographic information:

Florian, Douglas. Autumnblings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2003. ISBN: 0060092785



Review:

Autumnblings is a collection of poetry and paintings by well known, award winning poet Douglas Florian. The collection features concrete and abstract poetry that stimulates readers’ senses with rhyme, rhythm and repetition. Florian’s text “falls”, “tumbles”, “twirls” and “climbs” in order to create more visual and content connections within some poems. The poetry in this collection highlights elements of the fall season that are often forgotten. Florian sparks reader’s recollection of moments enjoyed during autumn months and brings to light both positive and negative aspects of the season. The table of contents and pagination help readers to easily locate specific poems. The collection of twenty nine poems is organized in one and two page layouts with a painting paired with each poem. Florian has chosen water colors and colored pencils in the tones most often associated with fall.



 

Highlighted Poem:

Geese Piece by Douglas Florian

                                    Can

                                                  you

                                                           tell

                                                                     me

                                                                           which

                                                                                      formation

                                                                                                              do

                                                                                            geese

                                                                                    fly

                                                                        in

                                                           fall

                                       migration?





Introduction/Activity:

4th grade: how the physical layout of text can add interest/meaning to poetry

After sharing the entire book, re-read Geese Piece on pages twenty two and twenty three. Ask students how the arrangement of the text adds interest or meaning to the poem. Ask students to offer other poem topics that could be arranged in ways that would help readers connect with the meaning of the poem. Ex: falling snow or leaves, sunshine, rainbow, flowers blooming.

LS 5663 Spring 2012

Module 2    Multicultural poetry

Bibliographic information:

Mora, Pat, and Rafael López. Yum! mmmm! qué rico!: Americas' sproutings. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2007. ISBN: 9781584302711

Review:

Yum! MmMm! Que’ rico!: America’s Sproutings by Pat Mora is a delicious collection of her Haiku poems celebrating foods native to North and South America. These tasty morsels appeal to readers’ visual and rhythmic senses and tempt their taste buds, too. Most of the poems brought to life are about treats that most readers have eaten.  However, the unfamiliar delicacies are presented in such an enticing way that many readers will want to try them. Each poem is paired with an interesting fact or historical note allowing readers to learn geography, history and cultural facts as they enjoy the imagery and playfulness Mora creates with her words. In her “Dear Reader” note at the end of the book, Mora writes that she always wanted to write about foods in North and South America so she combined them into this one book. This added feature is where readers also learn of her love of poetry and diversity. There is no table of contents, index or pagination to help readers find a specific poem but Mora includes a mini Spanish-English dictionary, acknowledgements and author’s sources at the beginning which helps readers connect with her poetry.  Rafael Lopez creates rich, multidimential illustrations with arylics on wood panels that increase readers' interest in Mora's poems.

Highlighted Poem:

Papaya by Pat Mora

Chewing your perfume,

We taste your leafy jungle.

Yum! Juicy tropics.

Introduction/Activity:

3nd grade: Haiku/Research project

When students are preparing to present the information they have collected for their research assignment on an inventor, teach the characteristics of Haiku (uses just a few words to capture a moment or create a picture in the reader's mind, written in three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line).  Read Yum! MmMm! Que’ rico: America’s Sproutings to demonstrate how Mora used Haiku to present each food. Re-read “Papaya” and ask students what they learned about a Papaya from the poem. Have students write a Haiku about their inventor and include it as part of their presentation of the inventor.

LS 5663 Spring 2012


Module 1     African American Poetry

Bibliographic information:

Steptoe, Javaka. In daddy's arms I am tall: African Americans celebrating fathers. New York: Lee & Low Books, 1997. ISBN: 9781880000311

Review:

In Daddy’s Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is a unique collection of concrete and abstract poetry honoring fathers. All the poets are of African descent and each poem is an original work written specifically for this collection. The poets represent several generations of new and well know poets, educators and actors. Expressive, figurative language, rhythm and repetition of text are used to bring images of the poets’ memories to life for readers.

There is no pagination, index or table of contents that would allow readers to find one specific poem within the book. The “About The Poets” and “About the Illustrations” inclusions allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of each poet’s background and how the exceptional artwork was created.

Steptoe used a variety of techniques and materials such as torn paper, pastels, fabric and appliques to create truly distinctive collages. Some of the most unusual items in his illustrations are salvaged floorboards, coins, insects, barrettes and soil.

This is a treasure of both poetry and art all readers will enjoy.



Highlighted Poem:

My Father’s Eyes by Sonia Sanchez

I have looked into

my father’s eyes and seen an

african sunset.

Introduction/Activity:

2nd grade: Imagery

After reading the entire book, re-read My Father’s Eyes by Sonia Sanchez. Ask students to draw a picture of what they think the poet is trying to tell us she sees when she looks into her father’s eyes.