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Hee.  I don't really have a  post today, but I wanted to point anyone passing through that Buffy Silverman's host-post today features her own "Things To Do If You Are" poems.  She was inspired by Elaine Magliaro's Things to Do poem in Falling Down the Page, and Elaine was originally inspired by the great Bobbi Katz, who as far as I know originated the "Things to Do" form.

Oh wait--I do have a post!  Here's one of Bobbi's early Things to Do poems, from her book Upside Down and Inside Out: Poems for All Your Pockets (1973).

A Memoir in Rhyme  Ghostwritten by Bobbi Katz  Illustrated by Adam McCauley  Sterling  2010   A picture book collection of monster poems in the guise of a memoir of a monster hunter.  What's not to like?  Every couple of years is seems we get a collection of ghoulish rhymes and monster-themed picture books, with one that stands out.  Off the top of my head the only recent one I can think of is

The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme

Ghostwritten by Bobbi Katz

Illustrated by Adam McCauley

Sterling Publishing, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4027-4417-4

Bobbi Katz, author of many picture books and books of poetry for kids, puts her talent to work here with 23 monster-related poems sure to make you giggle.  She pulls creepy creatures from all over into play, from mythological beasts (Medusa and Cyclops) to movie monsters (Godzilla) to literary terrors (Frankenstein and Dracula) and creatures of her own creation.  I particularly like the Verbivore, who attacks books and eats the action.  But I have to take issue with the Suds-Surfing Sock-Eater - everybody knows there’s no monster in the washing machine stealing your socks.  It’s the dryer that zaps them into another dimension...obviously.  

Anyhow.  From Grendel’s family recipe for Danish pastry (main ingredient: Danes) to

I talked about this book last week, too, for one that is great to share during National Poetry Month 2010 or any poetry unit you do with elementary students. More Pocket Poems edited by Bobbi Katz is a sequel, of course, to Pocket Poems. So, actually, either one is nice for sharing poetry with young students. Today, I wanted to point out some poems from More Pocket Poems and activities you could do with them.

One of the first poems in the book is “March” by Emily Dickinson. It starts: “Dear March, come in!” Children could take any month they want to write about and follow Emily Dickinson’s format to write their own poems. For example, you could write: “Dear May, come in! How excited I am! I looked for you before. Put down your hoe, you must have worked, In the garden ’til you’re sore.” Or something like that. . .:)

Another poem in the book is “August Ice Cream Cone Poem,” and it’s two words long: “Lick quick.” This is a great one to discuss with students, starting with, “Why is this a poem?” and talking about how important poem titles are. Without this title, the poem would not make any sense. Children can try to come up with their own rhyming word pairs and then a title and illustration to create a poem.

The poem “The Taste of Purple” is filled with great imagery that makes you want to eat some grapes. Bring in some grapes while you enjoy this poem with your students; of if you home school, share some grapes with your children. Then ask them to write a response to this poem in their reading response journals. (Part of National Poetry Month 2010 activities can be writing and discussing poetry as well as creating some.) SO, in their journals, they should write if they agree with the author that her poem describes what purple tastes like. They should also discuss what they think other colors taste like. For example, children can pick their favorite color, think of foods that are that color, and then write a poem based on these thoughts.

Do you have any poetry activities you do on a regular basis in your classroom or at home to celebrate National Poetry Month 2010 in April or during a poetry unit?

photo by lululemon athletica www.flickr.com

To get ready for spring and April, National Poetry Month, I thought we should start having some Wacky Wednesday posts about teaching kids poetry. Whether you teach your kids at home or you are a K-12 teacher, your students can benefit from reading and studying poetry. The next two weeks, the Wacky Wednesday posts will target elementary school students, using a book called More Pocket Poems poems selected by Bobbi Katz and illustrated by Deborah Zemke. Then I’ll have a post or two for middle school and high school teachers and home schoolers. So, on to April, poetry month, and looking at poems. . .

Bobbi Katz wrote a poem titled “Put the World in Your Pocket.” In this poem, she talks about how it’s nifty to hold a quarter or key in your pocket, but that a pocket can’t hold really big things like summer, elephants, or the sea. However, and here’s the secret–if those things are in a poem, a pocket sure can hold them! This is the introductory poem in the book More Pocket Poems, and it’s a perfect starting point for teaching kids poetry and doing several poem activities during April, poetry month.

The rest of the book has poems by some very famous poets, and all of this poetry could easily fit in a pocket or two. For example, “March” by Emily Dickinson is included in this book with a cute illustration of hats flying in the wind–did students know they could carry March around with them? There are also “Skeleton Parade” by Jack Prelutsky and “Song of the Witches” from MacBeth by William Shakespeare. Bobbi and the poets take children through the four seasons, and the illustrations add to the poetry fun. Teaching kids poetry with this book might just be e-a-s-y or at least easier.

Once you have shared some poems from this book with your students, ask them to choose a poem either from the book or a favorite. They should copy it down; or if they are too young, you can make a copy for them. Ask them to illustrate it, fold it neatly, and put the poem in their pockets. (Maybe send a note home earlier in the week to make sure students can wear a jacket or pants with a pocket that day if you teach in the classroom–or bring some aprons with pockets in case anyone forgets.) At the end of the day, gather students around or put them into small groups and ask them to take out their pocket poems to share for April, poetry month, activities.

Stay tuned next Wacky Wednesday (3/17) for some poetry writing fun while teaching kids poetry. Also, don’t forget there’s a book giveaway going on this week. See yesterday’s post for a chance to win a copy of Aries Rising, the first book of a new contemporary YA series with some astrology mixed in! Contest goes until Friday at 11:55 p.m. CST.