Marilyn Singer is the author of more than eighty-five children’s books, including many poetry collections. Her works have won numerous honors, including the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor and the Orbis Pictus Honor. A Full Moon is Rising is a collection of poems that bring readers on a whirlwind tour of the world to discover an amazing collection of full moon celebrations, beliefs, customs, and facts. You can find out more about Marilyn Singer and her work on her website here.
Since April is National Poetry Month, we asked author Marilyn Singer to tell us a little bit more about what inspired her to write A Full Moon is Rising:
I’ve always been entranced by the moon—especially when it’s full. In NYC, where I live, it can sometimes be hard to see because of the tall buildings. But one night in Midtown Manhattan (and many times thereafter), I saw it peeking out between two skyscrapers. I’m a big theatre-goer, and I had the image of that moon being an actor who’d been waiting to make a grand appearance. That inspired “Broadway Moon” and “Broadway Moon Again,” the opening and closing poems of A Full Moon is Rising.
“Broadway Moon Again”
“Broadway Moon Again”
New York City, USA
On the sidewalk, the audience of one
is now ten.
“What you looking at, girl?” they ask.
“Oh, the moon,” she says. “Just the moon.”
But what a moon!
Between the skyscrapers, it takes a bow.
“Encore in one month!” it proclaims.
“Admission is always free.”
Further Reading:
Poetry Friday: Andrea Cheng & Etched in Clay
Marilyn Singer on how to read a poem out loud
Filed under:
guest blogger Tagged:
A Full Moon is Rising,
children's books,
full moon,
Marilyn Singer,
National Poetry Month,
New York City,
poetry
Jaclyn DeForge, our Resident Literacy Expert, began her career teaching first and second grade in the South Bronx, and went on to become a literacy coach and earn her Masters of Science in Teaching. In her column she offers teaching and literacy tips for educators.
One aspect of the Common Core that I get asked questions about all the time is thematic text sets. What are they? How do you know which books to use? What types of texts should you be pairing together?
Fear not! I’ve compiled some examples of text sets that cover one topic and span multiple genres and reading levels and over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing these sets with you. Some of the titles you may already have in your classroom library, and others I think you’ll enjoy discovering.
Theme/topic: The Moon
Grade: 2nd
Informational Text: The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons (Shared Reading)
- provides scientific information about the moon
- can be used to address informational text standards
Nonfiction Poetry: A Full Moon is Rising by Marilyn Singer (Read Aloud)
- provides scientific information about the moon
- provides information regarding moon-related festivals, traditions, holidays, and celebrations
- can be used to address informational text and literature standards
Realistic Fiction: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (Guided Reading)
- the moon plays a central role in the setting of the story
- can be used to address literature standards
Realistic Fiction: Surprise Moon by Caroline Hatton (Independent Reading)
- discusses celebrations and festivals related to the moon
- can be used to address literature standards
from A Full Moon is Rising
What books would you put on this list? Add your favorites in the comments!
Filed under:
Curriculum Corner,
Resources Tagged:
A Full Moon is Rising,
Book Lists,
Caroline Hatton,
common core standards,
common core text sets,
fiction,
Gail Gibbons,
guided reading,
independent reading,
informational text,
Jane Yolen,
literacy tips,
Marilyn Singer,
Nonfiction poetry,
Owl Moon,
Read Aloud,
Reading Aloud,
reading comprehension,
realistic fiction,
shared reading,
Surprise Moon,
text sets,
The Moon Book