Review: Partly Cloudy by Gary Soto

Soto, G. 2009. PARTLY CLOUDY: POEMS OF LOVE AND LONGING. New York: Harcourt.

Partly Cloudy: Poems of love and longing is a collection of poems about the buds of love that spring up in young teenagers. This poetry book for teenagers beautifully captures the myriad of emotions experienced by boys and girls on the cusp of physical and sexual maturity. Soto is an award-winning poet and the poems throughout the book range in length, style, and form. Some of the poems are in free verse, while others follow more classic forms like quatrains or couplets.

Soto’s book contains table of contents which outlines the poems, in two groups: from a girl’s perspective: “A Girl’s Tears, Her Songs”; and from a boy’s perspective: “A Boy’s Body, His words”. The quality of the poems from both genders' perspectives is outstanding. It is interesting to me that the set of poems placed first in the book are from a girls perspective, though this is not to say that the poems need be read in order of printing. 

The poem "Forest of Boulders" is a poem filled with sensory images. Written from a boy's perspective, the poem shows the quiet pain a boy may experience "when a girl says no". 
Here is an excerpt from the poem:

Out of love, 
I'm going to walk

Into the forest
And sit next to

A gray boulder. 
Rain will fall, 

Thickets grow
Around my feet

Until after
So many years

I will blend into
That boulder.

(Soto, 84)

The way in which Soto weaves the words to create images in the reader's mind is powerful. The image of heartbroken boys retreating to the forest for solace, only to become boulders that "hikers will climb over" creates such vivid imagery. Surely this poem and others like it will allow boys and girls to feel more comfortable expressing their feelings, hopefully aloud and in writing.

A fun activity for a group of middle or high schools could be to have students pair up with a partner and choose one of Soto’s poems written from the point of view of the opposite gender. After reading through poem individually and in partners, the students can  write a similar poem from the gender opposite of the poem they have read and discussed. 

Soto's Partly Cloudy: Poems of love and longing is a must read for teenagers. The snippets of thoughts expressed in the poems beg to be read again and again, and of course shared with others! 

Partly cloudy book cover. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Partly-Cloudy/9780152063016#

Review: Poetrees by Douglas Florian

Florian, D. 2010. POETREES. New York: Beach Lane Books. ISBN 9781416986720.

This beautiful sideways book features a table of contents and a ‘glossatree’ or glossary. It contains eighteen poems on eighteen different trees, from banyan to Weeping Willow, to more obscure like Yews and Dragon Tree. The poems also focus on different characteristics of the trees like bark, leaves and tree rings.

The beautiful color illustrations were created with gouache water color paints, colored pencils, rubber stamps, oil pastels, and collage on primed brown paper bags, according the title page verso. There is also a neat “Author’s Note” included in the “Glossatree”, which cites five different texts Florian consulted while writing the poems.

This book of poetry would be ideal to nestle in with other poetry books about trees, both nonfiction and fiction. As a substitute teacher, I was able to share this book with a group of first graders. Most of them loved the illustrations and the vertical layout of the pages. The huge illustrations were fun to show them, along with the way the words to one poem often spanned two pages.

One of the poems the first graders enjoyed the most was "Weeping Willow". It is as follows:

Willow tree, why do you weep?
Why do you cry and moan?

   All day these caterpillars creep. 
   They won't let me alone!

Willow tree, why do you bend
Your branches to the ground?

  I bend my branches low to send
  Those caterpillars down! 

(Florian, 41)

The repetition of the line "willow tree" was exciting for the kids, and they immediately requested to read it again and everyone joined in. Florian's use of personification and dialogue between the weeping willow and the narrator is genius! Through giving the weeping willow a voice, it really made the poem come alive for the kids I shared it with. The rhythm of this poem also helped the kids to recognize that poems can be fun.

A fun, interactive activity that could be used to introduce this book would be to have the parent, librarian, or teacher bring in various items mentioned in the poems, including: seeds, leaves, pine cones and bark. These items could be passed around to the children so that each could feel the texture and see the colors of these items. 

If possible, the children could take a mini-excursion to the playground or nearby green area to collect these various items. After all of the students have had the opportunity to touch and see each item, they could choose one item to write their observations about. After sharing their observations with a partner who wrote about a different item, they could read Florian's poems on seeds, leaves and the bristlecone pine. If possible, the adult could also provide color illustrations of the various trees that Florian writes about and then move into whole class reading of the other poems about trees. 

Poetrees book cover. JPEG. Retrieved from http://books.simonandschuster.biz/Poetrees/Douglas-Florian/9781416986720

Review: World Rat Day by J. Patrick Lewis

Lewis, J.P. 2013. WORLD RAT DAY: POEMS BOUT REAL HOLIDAYS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763654023.

Lewis, J.P. 2013. WORLD RAT DAY: POEMS BOUT REAL HOLIDAYS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF. Ill. By Anna Raff. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978076365402. 

For parents, teachers and librarians already familiar with award-winning author J. Patrick Lewis, his whimsical World Rat Day: Poems about real holidays you’ve never heard of is a lighthearted look anyone will enjoy. When paired with Anna Raff’s fun and quirky illustrations, young readers are sure to enjoy this book of poetry.

Since the poems in this book are all written by award-winning author J. Patrick Lewis, the quality of the poems is consistent. The twenty-six poems focus on twenty-two different holidays most people may not be familiar with. Like the title suggests, the poems focus on holidays that celebrate animals.  Out of the collection, there is one poem that may cause some parents, teachers and librarians to skip over it- “Jack A.”. While most of the other poems contain lively rhyme schemes, this poem unfortunately sticks out like a sore thumb in the collection.

The layout of the book will appeal to most readers because the poems bring the reader through holidays, from January to December. For the most part Lewis has dedicated one poem to each holiday. The one exception to this is that the five limericks celebrating Limerick Day, April 12. Sharing these poems with a young group of students will give a simple introduction into a fun, whimsical type of poem, the limerick.

Anna Raff’s illustrations in this book use bright, fun colors. The way Raff shows the various animals doing things humans do will spark the reader’s imagination. From a hippo reading a book called Hippo Drones to the rat listening to an IPod, to the sheep dressed up like a diva singing, young readers are sure to love seeing all the silly antics of the rats and other animals.

The poem “Bats” is a great example of how Lewis uses sensory images to capture a simple nocturnal creature. The bats are described as “sweepers of twilight”. The second stanza is as follows:

            Black sacks in the morning

            Airmailed at night

            Dispatchers of insects

            In boomerang flight

This poem and the others in it could be used in conjunction with other animal poetry books, other holiday poetry books or even in a science unit on animals. A fun activity to do with students with this book would be to have the types of animals featured in the poems written on posters, displayed around the room. Then the parent, teacher, or librarian could instruct students to choose a particular animal station to begin at. At each station there will be copies of the poem about that particular animal/holiday.

As the students read through the poems aloud with each other, they could talk about what they like about the poem (and what they don’t like) and record favorite lines in their writer’s notebooks. In addition, there could even be photographs or poster illustrations of the animals. A fun way to get the kids moving would be to play some upbeat music and have the kids rotate to the different stations so that everyone is able to read each poem, preferably with a partner. This activity could be done as a morning wake-up activity or in the afternoon ‘slump’ of the day after lunch!

World Rat Day book cover. JPEG. Retrieved from http://candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763654027&pix=n

The Way a Door Closes Review

Bibliographic citation: 

Smith, H.A. 2003. THE WAY A DOOR CLOSES. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 9780805064773.

Smith, H.A. 2003. THE WAY A DOOR CLOSES. New York: Henry Holt and Co. Ill. by Shane W. Evans. ISBN 9780805064773. 

Hope Anita Smith’s The Way a Door Closes chronicles the events in the life of thirteen-year-old C.J, the oldest of three siblings. Ms. Smith won the Coretta Scott King/John Septoe Award for New Talent for this book in 2004, it was the first book published by the author for young readers.

While not a verse novel per se, the poems flow from one to the next in a logical order to tell the story of C.J.’s family. The poems are from C.J’s point of view as a young middle school boy, and show his understanding of his parents, his grandmother, his younger sisters and how they all fit together for him. The book features a table of contents and beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Shane W. Evans.

The quality of the seventeen poems is consistent throughout the book. It is inspiring to re-read the poems to see how the author weaves the family’s story through the eyes and voice of C.J.  The poems include every day occurrences at school, at home and show the effects of job loss on C.J.’s father and family. Through representing the generation of his ‘grandmomma’ in the book, young readers will be able to see, both through the poems and the illustrations, the connection between the multi-generational family members. The thoughts and emotions which the poems stir up in the reader range from happiness to tears, to laughter and contemplation.

Evans’s colorful illustrations enhance the meaning found within the text of the poems. Not all of the poems are accompanied by an illustration, so that is helpful for the reader to focus on the meaning and language used in the poem. One example of this is “The Pull of the Moon”. The text features C.J.’s thoughts on why his father left their family suddenly. Guided by his Grandmomma’s wisdom, C.J. wonders about the possibility of second chances, if two full moons could actually appear in the same month. 

The poem is in the style of free verse (as many of the poems in the book are), and the emotional impact on the reader is intense. The imagery of an individual thread connecting everyone to the moon is an image young readers will be fascinated to discuss and think about. Here is an excerpt from the poem:

…She says sometimes it’s so strong

folks can’t help but

put on their traveling shoes.

I wonder if that’s what made Daddy leave.

If he felt the pull of the moon…

(Smith, 25)

This poem represents the other poems in the book, each in some way have a reflective mood, revealing the most private thoughts of a young man struggling to understand the actions of his father and why things are happening in his life that hurt his family. This book is a powerful collection of poems. It could be used in a book discussion group or class of students ages 12-16 years old, especially with a focus on African-American poets. Through reading and re-reading Smith’s poems, young readers in similar situations will be able to know that they can persevere their difficult experiences. 

 The way a door closes. JPEG. Retrieved from 

http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780312661694.jpg

A Funeral in the Bathroom Review

Bibliographic citation:

Dakos, K. 2011. A FUNERAL IN THE BATHROOM: AND OTHER SCHOOL BATHROOM POEMS. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN 9780807526750.

Dakos, K. 2011. A FUNERAL IN THE BATHROOM: AND OTHER SCHOOL BATHROOM 

POEMS. Ill. by Mark Beech. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN 9780807526750. 

Kalli Dakos’s A Funeral in the Bathroom: and Other School Bathroom Poems is a collection of poems which present an often humorous spin on the experiences of children in the school bathroom. The variety of the poems will guide the adult reader on an emotional journey down memory lane, from tears in the bathroom to a funeral for the class pet goldfish, which all take place in the school bathroom. The book contains over forty poems of varying lengths, from a few lines to several stanzas. 

While the adult reader will be able to reflect on their school experiences, the young readers of this book may be perplexed at some of the outlandish and imaginative events that take place in the school bathroom! 

The layout of the book includes a table of contents and beautiful color illustrations by Mark Beech. The illustrations highlight the text of the poems and usually show the events portrayed within each poem. Some of the more hilarious poems like “Germs” features an illustration of different germs, grinning from ear to ear. Another light-hearted poem is “Broken Toilet”, which features a conversation between the “broken toilet” and a student named Joey. This poem is sure to get the younger kids giggling!

Aside from funny poems, the mood of the poems ranges from somber to adventurous. The theme of the poems is all that goes on behind the bathroom door, and interspersed throughout the book are “puzzle poems”, which are more like riddles. The answers to these “puzzle poems” are included on the page, in upside letters. By including the “puzzle poems” throughout the book, it gives the reader an appreciation for a different poem format. Another aspect of the book that young children may find to be either disturbing or funny is that some of the poems are written from the point of few of objects in the bathroom, such as toilet paper, the toilet and the sink.

One of the more somber poems which may surprise younger students is “Crying in the Bathroom”. It is only three stanzas long, but the words paint a picture of a young girl experiencing the sadness, uncertainty and confusion of the separation of her parents. The last stanza reads as follows:

I’m crying in the bathroom

where I can be alone,

away from kids and teachers

and the sadness of my home.

(Dakos, 22)

The first line of each of the three stanzas is the same, and the repetition of this line has a great emotional impact on the reader. Each of the four-line stanzas form a complete sentence, with the end rhyme occurring on the second and fourth lines. The imagery of a “life that’s lost its glue” is exaggerated by Beech’s illustration of a house separated in two pieces. If I was using this poem with a group of students, whether in the public or school library, I would incorporate it into a lesson or discussion on family relationships, and pair it with the poem "There Should be a Place Kids Can Go".

Be sure to include this poetry book in your collection of school poetry, especially if you work with children ages 8 to 12 years old. 

A funeral in the bathroom. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.albertwhitman.com/content.cfm/bookdetails/A-Funeral-in-the-Bathroom

I Am the Book: Poems Review

Bibliographic citation: 

Lee, B.H. 2011. I AM THE BOOK: POEMS. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421190 (hardcover).

Lee, B.H. 2011. I AM THE BOOK: POEMS. Ill. By Yayo. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421190 (hardcover).

I Am the Book: Poems features thirteen poems by thirteen different authors, including one by Lee Bennett Hopkins. The theme of the poems in the collection is clear from the title of the book: the poems focus on reading books! The book’s level of quality is evident through the variety of poets included in the anthology. The poets include award winning poets, poets who are also illustrators and more well-known poets like Jane Yolen. The book's beautiful acrylic illustrations are by Yayo. The book features a helpful table of contents listing all of the poems, as well as information about the authors at the end of the book.

The poems throughout the book represent the various moods that reading and books can bring to children. The thirteen poems featured in this book evoke in the reader different emotions about the reading experience, including: adventure, tranquility, escape and imagination. Throughout the book the different poems also contain varied use of sound elements, such as alliteration, sensory imagery such as the taste of salt water, the feeling of the wind, and different types of figurative devices such as simile, metaphor and personification. These different poetic elements keep the reader engaged and excited to discover what the next poem contains.

The poem “Don’t Need a Window Seat” by Kristine O'Connell George gives the reader the sense of adventure and escape that reading provides. The poems range from point of view, including from the view of the reader, the book or a third-party narrator. The poem “When I Read” by Beverly McLoughland was a favorite of the second graders with whom I shared this book. Since the poem is written from the point of view of a child, the students were able to share their feelings about reading with the class. 

 I currently substitute teach, so I introduced this book as one of my favorite new poetry books to a group of second graders. The students enjoyed many of the poems, but one of their favorite poems was “Paperback Plunder” by Michele Krueger. The students liked that the illustration showed a seagull reading the book. The poem features the figurative devices of simile and personification. 

The first stanza of the poem reads as follows:

            Like a sunken treasure

            long forgotten,

            I lie half buried under sand.  

            (Hopkins, 15) 

The beautiful use of simile to describe the book as a “sunken treasure” immediately hooked the second graders as we read and re-read the poem together. The language used in this poem highlight the sense of wonder, excitement and discovery that can be found through reading. 

I Am the Book: Poems makes a great addition to a poetry collection for parents, teachers and librarians working with students in grades Kindergarten through third grade. The bright, colorful illustrations work in harmony with the text of the poems, making the layout of the book one that is inviting to the reader. By including poets from different backgrounds and with different writing styles, the book will help the reader to appreciate the power of words in many different ways. 

I am the book. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.holidayhouse.com/title_display.php?ISBN=9780823421190