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April is National Poetry Month! All month long we’ll be celebrating by posting some of our favorite poems for Poetry Friday. For our third Poetry Friday post, we chose Song in my Heart by Tony Medina, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Jackson from I and I Bob Marley.
Song in My Heart
I am the boy
From Nine Miles
The one sing
Like three little birds
In a reggae style
The one blessed
By Jah
To travel miles
Across the world
With my island girl
Guitar in hand
And my dreads
A twirl
With music
In my belly
And songs
In my heart
Healing the world
With my reggae art
Keeping you always
Like a song
In my heart
Let us know what poems you’re reading in the comments section!
0 Comments on Poetry Friday: Song in My Heart as of 4/17/2015 11:51:00 AM
Fun Fact: Parents these days speak in code. As a New York children’s librarian I had to learn this the hard way. Let’s say they want a folktale about a girl outwitting a witch. I pull out something like McKissack’s Precious and the Boo Hag and proudly hand it to them. When I do, the parent scrunches up their nose and I think to myself, “Uh-oh.” Then they say it. “Yeah, um . . . we were looking for something a little less . . . urban.” Never mind that the book takes places in the country. In this day and age “urban” means “black” so any time a parents wants to steer a child clear of a book they justify it with the U word, as if it’s the baleful city life they wish to avoid (this in the heart of Manhattan, I will point out). Any black author or illustrator for children that you meet will probably have stories similar to this. Maybe part of the reason I like Greg Neri so much is that he’s not afraid to be as “urban” as “urban” can be. He does all the stuff these parents cower from. He writes in dialect, sets his stories in cities, talk about gangs and other contemporary issues, and produces stories that no one else is telling. That no one else is even attempting to tell. Street chess? Try Chess Rumble. Graphic novels discussing how the media portrays black youth? Yummy. And how about black cowboys living in big cities like Philadelphia or Brooklyn? For that you’d have to find Ghetto Cowboy (not “Urban Cowboy”) and read it in full. Because if there’s one thing Neri does well it’s tell a tale that needs to be told.
Cole’s been in trouble plenty of times before, but this is different. This is worse. After getting caught after skipping school for large swaths of time, Cole’s mother has had all that she can take. Next thing he knows they’re barreling out of Detroit, the only home he’s ever had, straight for Philadelphia. There, Cole’s father, a guy he’s never met before a day of his life, lives a peculiar life. Cole’s heard of cowboys, sure, but whoever heard of cowboys in Philly? Turns out that his dad helps run an urban stable where he works to get neighborhood kids interested in helping care for and ride the local horse population. But with a city intent on carting the horses away, it’s going to take more than good intentions to keep these modern day cowboys up and running. It’s going to take Cole’s help.
Betsy –
Thank you so much for writing about this book – I just sent it along to the rest of the children’s literature team at MSU. In addition to your notes about the story, I really appreciate two specific points: the way that parents talk in code about what they want – particularly the use of the word urban. I have heard similar language from pre-service and practicing teachers and it is a topic that we discuss in our children’s literature courses.
I also love that your observation that when vernacular is used in adult books it is artistic but that everyone freaks out about it in children’s books. I definitely want to get my hands on this book, particularly because you note that the vernacular supports the theme & character. We offer a multicultural children’s literature course where we specifically have conversations about the use of cultural vernacular and what it means for us as readers when we are not from this culture. It is awkward to talk about at first – particularly for those of us who are white – but the more we discuss why we may feel that language is either dumbed down (or too complicated) the more we reveal about ourselves and our own language preferences.
(I’m also excited to have a new horse book to pass along to my daughter that doesn’t have glitter or tiaras involved.)
- Kristin
jan godown annino said, on 10/3/2011 7:44:00 PM
G. Neri’s novel sounds important for the readers it targets but important for us all.
Once again, many thanks Fuse #8
It’s hard to have a favorite part of the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet to look forward to, but definitely up there is the red carpet interview portion. Each year Jim Averbeck whips out the camera and questions and has the luminaries of the field give their thoughts and opinions on a variety of schtoofs. 2011 was no different and he was joined in his efforts this year by fellow co-hosts Kristin Venuti and our own Katie Davis. Here is one of the many videos Jim has placed on the marvelous Kidlit On the Red Carpet blog. Extra points for interviewing bloggers like Liz of Tea Cozy and Sondra Eklund of Sonderbooks in addition to authors and illustrators like David Diaz, Yuyi Morales, Ellen Hopkins, Jenny Han, John Rocco, Katherine Paterson, Clare Vanderpool, Margi Preus, Alan Katz, Javaka Steptoe, Kirby Larson, Lin Oliver, Duncan Tonatiuh, Kimberly Marcus, Jeanette Larson, and Adrienne Yorinks. Check out the Facebook page if you’ve half a mind to do so.
Now let us begin today’s trailerfest with a remembrance of notable librarians past. The great children’s librarian Anne Carroll Moore had no tolerance for children’s books that she considered gimmicky. Pat the Bunny, for example, was hardly up her alley. So one wonders what she would make of this children’s book coming out this November from McSweeney’s McMullens. It’s called Keep Our Secrets by Jordan Crane and I can honestly say I’ve never seen a book for kids do this before . . .
Apparently the ink never fades and works like this every time. They say that, but when I was a kid we had hypercolor shirts. So I’ve been burned before, McSweeney’s. That pain of seeing what happened to my shirt when it went through the wash never really went away. Oh, the humanity.
Let’s do a more traditional picture book trailer now. Thought: Can you can something “traditional” if the medium itself has only been in existence a couple of years? In any case, I rather liked this trailer for David Mackintosh’s Marshall Armstrong is New to Our School.
Thanks to Pamela Paul for the link.
Of course it’s an extra special treat when a trailer includes the author and even gives some background on the creation of the book itself. And look! Behold the remarkable Jarrett Krosoczka and his first new picture book in years!
your neighborhood librarian said, on 7/31/2011 5:02:00 AM
Mmm, that Jordan Crane book just became my new favorite gift for a second or third birthday! But it’s going to be a bit short-lived in the library, I think they’re going to try to scratch off the black ink.
Elizabeth Bird said, on 7/31/2011 6:11:00 AM
That’s what I’m wondering too. I mean, how easy would it be to scratch? That might be a fun blog post right there. Hand the book to five-year-olds and then record the damage they do. Little fingers are marvelous at destruction.
Julie said, on 7/31/2011 7:58:00 AM
Wonder what the policy is for cleaning books like Keep Our Secrets? Would it be cleaned? Is it along the lines of a board book (which has a tendency to be chewed, licked, pawed, etc.)? Because personally I would have been the kid who’d lick the book, just to see if that’d work. It’s shocking I’m still alive today.
I like the idea of a Consumer’s Digest blog post. I too wonder if the ink would wear away.
Miranda said, on 7/31/2011 8:56:00 AM
I know that recently we have explored more interactive features of books online; however, “Keep Our Secrets” is more interactive physically. I wonder if there will be more books of this kind?
Elizabeth Bird said, on 7/31/2011 9:53:00 AM
Now there’s a blog post! Physically interactive books. This, Press Here, tactile books as whole, books that break down the fourth wall, etc.
Jesse Joshua Watson is an award winning, NY Times Bestselling illustrator and author whose work includes Hope for Haiti, Chess Rumble, and the Hank Zipzer series.
Whether hammocking in Brazil, exploring in Hong Kong, dodging taxis in Russia, studying art in Europe, dancing in Jamaica, or raising kids in Port Townsend, Washington, Jesse connects with people. He loves both the differences and the similarities that are so colorfully displayed across our diverse world. Jesse’s passion and appreciation of people is voiced through his brush and on his canvas.
About the book:
The earth shook, and his whole neighborhood was gone. Now he and his mother are living in the soccer stadium, in a shelter made of tin and bedsheets, waiting in line for food and water. But even with so much sorrow all around, a soccer ball inspires a small but powerful link between a heartbroken country’s past and its hopes for the future. Jesse Joshua Watson has created an inspiring testament to the strength of the Haitian people and the promise of children.
My take on the book:
For me, I have no doubts as to why soccer is called ‘the beautiful game’. Not only is it a game which is simply beautiful to watch but, because it is the most popular game in the world and such an integral part of so many peoples lives, it often can be used as a metaphor for life.
I’ve experienced this in action. While visiting for several weeks in a rural village in Uganda, I would get approached and greeted on a pretty regular basis because I would often wear soccer jerseys. I would get asked “Which football team do you support?” or “Are you a supporter of Arsenal (or Manchester United or some other English Premier League team)?’ If I had a soccer ball with me, I drew even more attention and more people who almost immediately became friends. Just because of a game. It’s powerful when you really think about it.
In Jesse Joshua Watson’s book, soccer becomes an even bigger metaphor. In the wake of such a horrible disaster, soccer brings some normalcy back for the children. Soccer is a game they most likely played everyday. Even amongst their immense sadness, the power of play and of playing soccer can bring back memories of good times. The young boy in the story even dreams of playing for his beloved Haiti and of scoring a winning goal.
This is a book which can and should be used in schools to teach children not only about Haiti, but also about hope in the midsts of great and seemingly insurmountable adversity. Young readers will certainly be inspired by the boy in the story and a creative teacher will be able to find a host of interesting activities that can be tied in with this book. Teachers can also pair it with another fantastic book about the earthquake in Haiti: Eight Days (A Story of Haiti).
Hope for Haiti is a beautifully written and illust
0 Comments on Review: Hope For Haiti as of 7/24/2011 10:17:00 AM
Do something good before jetting off this weekend – check out this beautifully-produced video from Pearson’s We Give Books and On My Mind Foundation. These two organizations paired up on a trip to Haiti to help schools affected by the earthquake disaster last year, and address the overwhelming illiteracy rate in that area. Now, We Give Books is providing 1,000 books to kids in Haiti, and you can find out more and help here.
The video features Jesse Joshua Watson, author/illustrator of the Putnam book Hope For Haiti, one of my favorite picture books we’ve published recently. Jesse’s artwork is brilliantly colored and perfectly suited to this uplifting story. It goes well beyond soccer and speaks straight to the heart of Haiti’s youngest generation. A must read – and I’m so glad that children in Haiti were able to experience it in their own language!
Hey Annie — Very cool. Thanks for the info. Can you get for me a copy each of the book in English and one in Kreyol ? I will send the Kreyol translation to our sponsored boy Rebert in Haiti. Daddy-O
Jesse Joshua Watson was interviewed in August of 2009 for W.A.R. and this quote from his interview still resonates with me.
“When someone reads a story with a black character and begins to empathize with them and crawl into their skin and their problems, major construction has been done in the heart of the reader. It may not undo the years of society’s doctrine, but perhaps that little bit of ground gained will lead to a little bit more. Maybe baby steps aren’t going to solve the problems of race in our society today, but it is better than writing an entire generation off and waiting until they die to proceed.”
Since that time, Jesse traveled to Haiti to help with local support efforts. He also wrote and illustrated HOPE FOR HAITI, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the World Vision’s programs for children in Haiti.
2 Comments on Review of the Day: Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri, last added: 10/3/2011
Betsy –
Thank you so much for writing about this book – I just sent it along to the rest of the children’s literature team at MSU. In addition to your notes about the story, I really appreciate two specific points: the way that parents talk in code about what they want – particularly the use of the word urban. I have heard similar language from pre-service and practicing teachers and it is a topic that we discuss in our children’s literature courses.
I also love that your observation that when vernacular is used in adult books it is artistic but that everyone freaks out about it in children’s books. I definitely want to get my hands on this book, particularly because you note that the vernacular supports the theme & character. We offer a multicultural children’s literature course where we specifically have conversations about the use of cultural vernacular and what it means for us as readers when we are not from this culture. It is awkward to talk about at first – particularly for those of us who are white – but the more we discuss why we may feel that language is either dumbed down (or too complicated) the more we reveal about ourselves and our own language preferences.
(I’m also excited to have a new horse book to pass along to my daughter that doesn’t have glitter or tiaras involved.)
- Kristin
G. Neri’s novel sounds important for the readers it targets but important for us all.
Once again, many thanks Fuse #8