Children and YA Book Reviews: Poetry Books

Poetry Book Review #1
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2005. SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN: AND OTHER POND POEMS. Ill. by Beckie Prange. New York: Hougton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0618135472

2. PLOT SUMMARY
SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN: AND OTHER POND POEMS consists of 11 poems and descriptions of pond life in Minnesota. This book is a compilation of poems intermixed with associated science descriptions, and art into a beautiful resource for children in grades 3- 7. Species and topics described are spring peepers, a wood duck, great diving beetle, green darner dragonfly, the food chain, water boatman, backswimmers, a water bear, cattails, and the painted turtle. A physical description of the flora and fauna and their behavior is included. The poems are titled and are written in a variety of formats from concrete to narrative style.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joyce Sidman (author) and Beckie Prange (illustrator) have put together a large scale full color specialized nature poetry book for children. The titled poems are arranged in a creative way with a nonfiction description (using scientific terminology) of either flora or fauna and complemented with a beautifully detailed 2 page spread of large watercolor woodcut illustrations. The illustrations tell their own story and are enhanced by soothing colors and outlines. The poems can stand alone if read aloud and would keep the audience guessing as to what is being described in a lively pond ecosystem. The poems vary in length, style, and rhythm. The title poem, “Song of the Water Boatman and Backswimmer’s Refrain” is arranged in 5 verses that are made up of quatrains followed by a three line refrain that is rhyming in nature. Several poems take on a concrete style of poetry; “Aquatic Fashion” is in the elongated shape of a narrow caddis fly and larvae; “Travel Time” is a flowing shaped poem that mimics water and the microorganisms that live within it. “Listen for Me” exhibits a mystical example of repeated sound pattern elements of words as the spring peepers come out at night. This resource of poetry and information would be a useful source in beginning a lesson on ecology. A Glossary of scientific terms is included in the back of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Award 2006
BOOKLIST Review: Starred Review. “Focusing on one pond creature or plant per spread, Sidman employs many poetic forms, including austere haikus and rollicking sea shanties, and her fine selections are both accessible and sophisticated.”
BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILREN’S BOOKS Review: “… it would serve admirably on its own as an atmospheric sequence to introduce kids to a world they don’t know or lead them to reconsider one they take for granted.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: Starred Review. “An organic union of poetry and science, this book encourages readers to ponder the minutiae and magnificent life of the natural world.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Read other books by Joyce Sidman: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG (2008), MEOW RUFF: A STORY IN CONCRETE POETRY (2006) THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS (2007)
· Connect to an Ecology or Botany Lesson on pond life; students can then write their own poems on a particular plant or animal not talked about in the book.
· Connect to Art – have students do their own wood cuts and write a short verse.
· Connect to Music – Play nature soundscape music while reading through the book and looking at the illustrations.

Poetry Book Review #2

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 1996. A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. Ill. by James Stevenson. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0688132359

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Jack Prelutsky, first Children’s Poet Laureate (2006) writes a compilation of 105 humorous poems in A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. These poems are arranged on either a one or two page spread. They are accompanied by whimsical black ink line drawings with washes of gray for added dimension. The characters and creatures in the drawings are friendly. Each poem can be read aloud independently of the others. Kindergarten through 6th grade.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Prelutsky captures a fresh humorous appeal in his collection of poems in A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. The poems follow a variety of forms (limerick, concrete (irregular, circular, triangular) boldface, backwards, font, style, and length). The diversity in rhythm, rhyme, and language keeps them interesting. Without the use of illustrations children could use their imagination to form images of the characters or events being described. Many of these lyrical poems are about animals, insects and other crawly creatures, and imaginary figures (aliens, Fummawummalummazumms, Doddies). Poetic themes vary and include verses about people, inventions, foods, and silly words. These poems are kid-friendly, entertaining, and fun. Children will like reading about a cast of characters, for example, Frenetica Fluntz, Grandpa McWheeese, K. C. O’Fleer, Dan the Invisible Man, Mister Pfister Gristletwist, and Zeke McPeake. Some of my favorites are “I Do Not Like the Sunshine,” Herman Sherman Thurman,” and “I’m Proud of My Preposterpus.” The simple black ink drawings by James Stevenson complement each poem. These poems allow students to use their imagination and enjoy light-hearted humor as they read aloud. This resource contains a useful Index to Titles and Index to First Lines in the back of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK Review: “Poems in varied typeface and placement in an open format combine with the economical line of well-placed sketches to create a fast-paced and accessible collection that’s loads of fun.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY Review: “Prelutsky's predilection for playfulness percolates throughout this collection of slyly subversive rhymes, and he couldn't ask for a better partner in crime than Stevenson, whose droll, minimalist sketches so enlivened the duo's previous escapades…”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “…another masterful collection of poems by the prolific Prelutsky, filled with zany people, improbable creatures, and rhythm and rhyme galore, all combining to celebrate the unusual, the mundane, and the slightly gruesome…”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Read aloud other books by Jack Prelutsky: MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS (2008), IT’S RAINING PIGS & NOODLES (2005)
· Explore Jack Prelutsky’s Web site for students, teachers and parents at: http://www.jackprelutsky.com/
· Read PIZZA, PIGS, AND POETRY: HOW TO WRITE POEMS (2008) and write your own poem with illustrations and display.

Poetry Book Review #3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 1999. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590371258

2. PLOT SUMMARY
OUT OF THE DUST, takes place in the rural Oklahoma Panhandle during the Great Depression from the winter of 1934 through the winter of 1935. Hesse engages the reader through a ‘narrative style’ as the main character, Billie Jo a young talented 14 year old girl and her family meet many challenges of survival over a harsh two year period. The story is divided by seasons and written in sequence. Lyrics are used throughout to capture the reality of Billie Jo’s family life and the characters she is engaged with; her Ma, Daddy, her brother Franklin, Aunt Ellis, Mad Dog, and Louise to name a few. Grades 5 and up.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As one reads through each verse, one is emotionally impacted and begins to feel connected as Hesse captures the dismal moments, thoughts, and experiences of Billie Jo’s daily life living in a dust bowl in a rural farming community in Oklahoma. One hundred and eleven verses from one to six pages are compiled in a narrative poem/novel. The meaning that underlies this poem sets a mood expressed by hard times and tragic events. Billie Jo’s thoughts are solemn and keep the reader anticipating what will happen next. The rhythm of the poetry varies throughout the book. One can interpret Billie Jo’s feelings through Hesse’s descriptive language of what is going on around her sensing feelings of touch, smell, taste, and hearing as demonstrated in an excerpt from “Dust Storm,”: “Brown earth rained down / from sky. / I could not catch my breath / the way the dust pressed on my chest/ and wouldn’t stop. / The dirt blew down so thick / it scratched my eyes / and stung my tender skin, / it plugged my nose and filled inside my mouth.” / No matter how I pressed my lips together, / the dust made muddy tracks / across my tongue. / This book is enhanced by the addition of special features located in the back of the book. The contents of the After Words (guide by Mary Jones) include background information about the author, behind the scenes in writing this story (research), a Q &A with Karen Hesse, photographs from the Great Depression, a background on Billie Jo’s world, a recipe for applesauce, and extracts from Karen Hesse’s Newbery Medal Speech.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Winner of the Newbery Medal (1998), Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award, An ALA Notable Children’s Book, An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, A Booklist Editors’ Choice, and A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year.
BOOKLIST Review: “The entire novel is written in very readable blank verse, a superb choice for bringing out the exquisite agony and delight to be found in such a difficult period lived by such a vibrant character.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “Hesse’s ever-growing skill as a writer willing to take chances with her form shines through superbly in her ability to take historical facts and weave them into the fictional story of a character young people will readily embrace.”
KIRKUS Review: “The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Connect to a History and Culture during the Depression throughout the United States
· Connect to Music played during the Depression
· Discuss feelings and thoughts about overcoming adversity in you life, write a short verse and share with class.