How to use this Page

Poetry Tag continues with a book review of a new book of poetry connected to yesterday's book review.

Today’s tagline: More poems about more animals

Guest Reviewer: Heather Garavaglia

Featured Book: Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Dizzy Dinosaurs – Silly Dino Poems. Barry Gott. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. ISBN 978-0-06-135841-8.

Heather writes: Dizzy Dinosaurs is a collection of 19 poems all about dinosaurs. It is part of the I Can Read Book series. According to the book, it is a Level 2 reader. This means that a young child should be able to read it with some help (first/second grade). For most of the poems, Level 2 is an accurate representation. 
 


The collection of poems begins with a table of contents listing the names of the poems and their authors. While many of the names may not be familiar to the readers, there are some familiar authors listed as well. After the table of contents, there is a pronunciation guide. Most books have the pronunciation guide at the end of the book, but because this is a beginning reader, it is important that they have listed the guide in the beginning of the book. This gives the reader, and the adult reading with them, time to practice the dinosaur names before reading them in the poem. Being able to practice the names of the dinosaurs will help with the flow of the poem when it is being read. 
 


Each poem is written in a different way. Some poems are written in rhyming couplets, others are written in stanzas where every other word rhymes. There are poems that combine the two, and there are some in which only a few words in the poem rhyme. While not all poetry involves rhyming, having poems that rhyme is essential in this book. Since it is in the I Can Read Book series, having the pattern and rhythm of the words make it easier for the young reader. 
 


Most of the poems in this collection have a pattern or rhythm, making it a good Level 2 book. When there is a flow or rhythm to what is being read, it is usually easier to read. “Dino School Bus” and “Picky Eater” are two examples of poems that could be easily read because of their rhyming pattern. However, there are a few poems that beginning readers might struggle with. The poems that repeat the dinosaur’s name could be difficult unless the child is very familiar with the pronunciation of it. Having to read the name of the dinosaur over and over may slow down the reader’s rhythm. A few poems have one-word lines. While those words are placed there purposely, they may confuse the beginning reader. 
 


If this book is going to be read out loud or if older

Poetry Tag continues with a book review of a new book of poetry connected to yesterday's book review.

Today’s tagline: More poems about animals

Guest Reviewers: Traci Kirkland and Jennifer Singleton

Featured Book: Betsy Franco. 2011. A Dazzling Display of Dogs. Ill. by Michael Wertz. Tricycle Press. ISBN 9781582463438

Traci writes: As promised, my 2011 poetry book trailer for A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF DOGS, is finished. Here is the link to the video.

PLUS, Jennifer writes: This hot new book of 2011 is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Rhyming poems, hand-clapping poems, and even a haiku is represented in this collection of poems. The pictures are as important as the words and without either one, it would not be the same book. Dogs are the focus here. Dogs farting, dogs escaping, lost and found dogs, and garbage eating dogs. The colors of the illustrations pop out at the reader and the reader can escape into the world of dogs as each poem is read over and over. The reader literally has to turn the book this way and that, upside down, and to the side to read the poems. Children will love this book for the irreverent use of words and the fact that it is about one of children’s favorite subjects, animals, and a well-known animal such as dogs. The poems beg to be feasted on, and they don’t disappoint in words or pictures. With these concrete poems and pictures, the imagination is on display here so children don’t have to guess what the poems are about. Dogs! And more dogs! Doggone it!

Connections
Introducing this form of poetry, concrete poetry, could be lots of fun. A teacher or librarian could compose her own concrete poetry on poster board in swirls that the students have to turn around and around to read. The text could read “Guess what we are reading today? Concrete poems are fun you see. Just like a dog that is barking at a cat up in a tree!” The librarian could introduce several poems by reading them out loud without showing the pictures and asking the children to use their imaginations to visualize what the poem looks like. Than (ah ha!) show the picture moving the book this way and that and ask if the poem matched up with the illustration in their heads.

A follow-up activity could be introducing other concrete poems by the same author and illustrator in A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF CATS. The students can make their own poem about cats and swirl and fiddle their poems around and then be introduced to this prequel to A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF DOGS.

Here is a rockin’, funny poem about farting from DA

Poetry Tag continues with a book review of a new book of poetry connected to yesterday's book review.

Today’s tagline: Works that focus on poetic form

Guest Reviewer: Stacy Ann Lambert

Featured Book: Raczka, Bob. 2011. Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word. Ill. by Nancy Doniger. Roaring Brook. ISBN: 978-1-59643-541-4
 


Stacy writes: This little diddy of poems is a thinking book filled with anagrams and rebus word puzzles. I chose this book because of the main title containing the word "lemonade" and the thoughts and feeling that come to mind when this word comes to mind: summertime, play-time, free-time, cool drink on a hot day, those things I did as a child growing up. And this does not disapoint as many of the themes are childlike in nature.

However, this book is a thinking book, and one must first solve the word patterns in order to enjoy the simplistic nature of the idea conveyed. Once the reader solves the puzzle patterns, you find that you reread the poems and a smile begins to appear on your face. This might be due to the fact that you solved the riddled pattern or perhaps you find yourself relating to the theme and the words that describe the themed singled word. A return to simple and easier times in life; childhood. Here’s one poem example

"Chocolate"
by Bob Raczka


Chocolate

h at

co at

h o t

c oco a



Connections
This series of poems takes quite a bit of "thinking" and "imagination." After showing it to our Gifted and Talented teacher, she is quite eager to get her hands on this book to present to her 5th graders as these students spend a unit on poetry. We were brainstorming ideas of an activity, and the best way to present this styling of poetry would be to explain how and what anagrams, rebus word puzzles are and look like. Start out with the more simple poems to check for understanding. Give each student a section of the book to look over (not showing them the "answers” on the following page) and discuss with a partner how the poem is constructed. Discuss as a group their poem. Then if there is a struggle, show the students the "correct" poem construction. Next students will construct a poem anagram of their own (or with a partner). But before having them disperse, discuss themes they could write about.

Tomorrow’s tagline: Another twist on poetic form

[And don’t forget to get your own copy of PoetryTagTime, an e-book with 30 poems, all connected, by 30 poets, and downloada

Poetry Tag continues with a book review of a new book of poetry connected to yesterday's book review.

Today’s tagline: More poems about books

Guest Reviewer: Kendra Duckworth

Featured Book: Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. BookSpeak!. Ill. by Josee Bisaillon. Clarion.


Kendra writes: In lieu of a traditional review, I am including a book trailer as an advertisement for this new and exciting poetry book. The rhyme, rhythm, voice of each poem, from the point of view of the book, makes this a must read! Hopefully, not only will this inspire children to read this book, but it will inspire them to read!



Connections
"Calling All Readers" would be a great introduction into a story time! What a fabulous way to demonstrate the wonderful things that can be found in a book (time travel, adventure, a friend!). This leading poem can inspire people to read and to write about their own adventures in books. Have students select a book about an adventure or tell a story about an adventure. Make connections with this poem through other books shared. 


Calling All Readers


by Laura Purdie Salas

I'll tell you a story.

I'll spin you a rhyme.

I'll spill some ideas - 

and we'll travel through time.



Put down the controller.

Switch off the TV.

Abandon the mouse and

just hang out with me.



I promise adventure.

Come on, take a look!

On a day like today,

there's no friend like a book.



Another poem in this book, "I've Got This Covered," talks about the appeal of the book jacket and how it is the first attraction to a book. Have students make a new jacket to a book they love and want other students to be attracted to.
The ideas are boundless to share poem and book and get students enthralled in reading.