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Howdy, Campers, and Happy Poetry Friday! Buffy hosts today--her link is at the bottom.
The topic we TeachingAuthors are tossing around now? A favorite children's book we've read this year. Esther's weighed in with a touching picture book; I'm up to bat.
I almost went with the audio book of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time (read by the author!). This classic celebrated it's 50th anniversary three years ago, but it was in September, as I zoomed up the 405 freeway to pack up family memories, that I was transported by L'Engle's words...and her worlds.
But the book which electrified the poetry particles in my brain is Deborah Ruddell's inventive collection, The Popcorn Astronauts--And Other Biteable Rhymes, whimsically illustrated by Joan Rankin.
As soon as I read it, I searched for Ms. Ruddell on Facebook and (blush) sent her this fan mail:
Hi, Deborah! I just read The Popcorn Astronauts and I'm blown away by your oh-my-gosh-REALLY?? metaphors that are so out-of-the-box they leave me gasping. And inspired.
Here's just a taste of how Ruddell sees at the world: fresh-popped kernels of corn are astronauts, a strawberry is royalty in a beaded suit, and raisins are wrinkled rocks with "the bold, enchanting taste of well-worn pirate socks."
Raise your hand if you've ever struggled to describe peach skin. In fact, stop reading this and close your eyes. Try to imagine peach skin with fresh eyes. Can you describe it in a completely original way?
Okay--open your eyes.. Now, raise your hand if you came close to this: "flannelpajamaty skin."Here's a snippet of
Jama Rattigan's fabulous book review and interview of Deborah Ruddell this spring:
Jama: Which poem was the most fun to write and why? Which poem was the hardest? Do you have a favorite?
Deborah: NO poem is ever easy for me to write. I am a slow and tormented poet! The hardest part is when I think I’ve almost got something, but it’s just out of reach. That happened with “Welcome to Watermelon Lake.” I had the image of the pink lake and the pale green shore, but making that image work as a poem was a struggle. Just when I thought I finally had it made, my editor suggested a third stanza in which I introduce the seeds! Argh!
Deborah's answer makes me feel better--I'm not alone! And yet, look how effortlessly that poem seem to flow (click to enlarge):
In the same interview, Deborah said that the poet who most inspires her is Alice Shertle. Me, too, me, too! posted joyously by April Halprin Wayland, with help from her elves, Monkey and Eli
In place of Picture Book Saturday this week (which is not taking place do to the Read-a-thon I'm participating in), I thought I would do a Poetry Friday blowout. Since it is Poetry Month and all, I have collected some of the recent books I've read and enjoyed to share with you. Hopefully you'll find something enjoyable and useful out of all these choices!
A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing, and Shout has been put together by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. It is definitely a fun and quirky choice, one that will get those not-so-interested poetry to enjoy it a bit more.
Filled with different "sections" such as limericks, poems for two voices, tongue twisters, and bilingual poems, there is no such thing as getting bored with this book! You can use it for a variety of activities in the classroom, including teaching students about the different types of poetry available.
The illustrations are very cool and at times, abstract, lending even more interest to A Foot in the Mouth.
A Foot in the Mouth
Paul B. Janeczko
64 pages
Poetry
Candlewick
9780763606633
March 2009
Next, A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco, with illustrations by Michael Wertz, is another quirky choice, giving us 34 different concrete poems. The art is just as important as the actual poetry in this one, intergrating the actual words right into the illustration.
My favorite is "q-tip and rosie," and if you see the page, you'll know why! A hint? A dog. Enough said. I also loved "that cat peed on my hat." Ahhh just the title is silly!
I really enjoyed staring at each set of illustrations, then reading the cleverly put together poems. This is a group of poetry that kids of all ages can appreciate and enjoy.
A Curious Collection of Cats
Betsy Franco
40 pages
Poetry
Tricycle Press
9781582462486
April 2009
Finally, the one I probably enjoyed most for the week, is Deborah Ruddell's A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems, illustrated by Joan Rankin. I think I just really love animals and outdoorsy books and the poems are just so sweet and cute. An adorable book overall, really.
We have skunks, beavers, snails, badgers, wild turkeys, toads, beetles, and so many other animals in this delightful book of poems. My favorite probably being "Toad's Lunch," with a "Nobody's Pet: A Word to the Wise from a Red Fox." Funny, giggle-worthy, and so darn cute!
The illustrations are truly superb, making for a must have for libraries. I love it and think kids are going to really love it to. I haven't read any other books by this author and illustrator, but between them there are several. Their other book of poems, Today at the Bluebird Cafe: A Branchful of Poems, has gotten fantastic reviews. You can bet I'll be checking them out!
A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems
Deborah Ruddell
40 pages
Poetry
McElderry Books
9781416942115
March 2009
To learn more about any of these or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon.
