Thursday, September 11, 2014

Celebrating A New Book of Poetry

                It's September 12th, and more than a week until autumn officially arrives, but a dust of snow is on the way! No, I'm not going to share a snow poem, but just wanted to share that cooler weather is coming, time for the poems of falling leaves, crisp air, apples, and wool sweaters. And it also means a bit more time for reading poetry!
               Today for Poetry Friday, Renée LaTulippe is our host at her blog, No Water River. Thanks Renée!  While we might be nostalgic for our summers, Renée is sharing her nostalgia for her young boys, starting pre-school for the very first time. Be sure to see how she's written about them!


          Although I do purchase numerous books of poetry, and search used bookstores for them, too, I'm not sure I can ever find all of the books that have been published by J. Patrick Lewis. So when I saw that there was a new book of his that has gathered many of the poems he has written, I knew that was a good one to buy. And it is! 



          There are eight sections of poems-topics like animals, reading, and mother nature-and a thoughtful forward. In it, he shares his journey as an opsimath, one who learned late in life.  He speaks of studying the classic poets Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, then reading many, many others. And he shares Robert Frost's definition of a poem as "one who begins in delight and ends in wisdom," but John Barr (former director of the Poetry Foundation) wrote that "a children's poem begins in delight and ends in...more delight."
          The poems are to be read aloud to children, enjoyed by those who love children's poetry, and celebrated for their, well, delight.


Gorgeous Cover!

Here are a few poems included in the book found online for you to enjoy:


           from Animals:

Snake Song


Toad gets measles

Frog gots mumps
Both gots such
disgusting bumps.
            the rest is here

             from Mother Nature
The Gray of Day

Shy Evening paints all heaven gray.
Erasing blue from balmy Day.

         found at Your Daily Poem here, under the title Dusk, Back Porch, Canada

             from Places

What To Wear Where


When I was a boy
In Looziana,
We wore blue jeans
And a red bandanna.

                the rest here

            In addition to having a treasure of poems from J. Patrick Lewis, the illustrations by Maria Cristina Pritelli fill the pages with color and whimsey, pleasing the eyes like the poems please the ears.


32 comments:

  1. Hi, Linda. "Snake Song" has me cracking up. The use of voice is amazing -- exactly the kind of wordplay that children love in rhyming poetry.

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    1. It will be a delight to share these with the students, a good resource for me! Thanks, Laura!

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  2. I, too, agree with Laura. "Snake Song" has kid (and adult!) appeal on every level...especially here in the desert! I've seen a frog, toad, and snake all this week! Thanks for sharing this fabulous book, Linda! = )

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    1. Be sure to see the book shared by Myra at Gathering Books, Bridget, poetry about the desert! Thank you!

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  3. What a treat! Hadn't seen any of these poems before. Especially love The Gray of Day. I need to get this collection too. Thanks for sharing, Linda :)!

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    1. You're welcome, Jama. Happy to show you a new book!

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  4. I would say Pat has a style all his own - but he has so many styles, I can't really say that! Thanks for sharing these.

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    1. Funny for you to say that because he mentions a similar thing in his introduction, Matt, that his work is not easily recognized because he writes so many different ways!

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  5. Linda, I think I was channeling you this morning when I picked this book off my nightstand and decided I needed to share a poem from it! I really love this book, with so many of my favorites in one volume.

    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Serendipity! I am thrilled to have the book, as you said, many fabulous favorites all together! Thanks, Tricia.

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  6. How did I miss this one? I'm writing up an order card right now...

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  7. This looks like a terrific collection, Linda! Thanks so much for sharing it today!

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    1. You're welcome, Catherine. I hope you'll find & enjoy the book.

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  8. You can't go wrong with Pat Lewis! He's a master.

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    1. It is great to have the collection, Julie. I know it'll be great to share with students this year.

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  9. Wow - haven't seen this. What a treasure! (Would get along just fine with the rest of my JPL books, I'm sure!) Thanks for sharing. :0)

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    1. But this might include some you've missed (te he). Glad you now know it's available, Robyn. Thanks!

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  10. Requested this from our library already, just waiting to get my hands on it. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Oooh...I need to get my hands on this one! Thanks for sharing, Linda.

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  12. He is SO very prolific! It's hard to keep up!!

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    1. That's why I thought it would be a good collection, & it is. Thanks, Mary Lee

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  13. Once again, I'm wondering when J. Patrick Lewis ever sleeps...

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    1. Yes, I agree, but this one at least is a good collection of many. Thanks, Ruth.

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  14. I need to get this book as I have just this week been reminding myself that, yes, everything IS a poem. Thank you.

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    1. Perfect timing, then, Susan. I'm glad you saw it!

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  15. Thanks for this, Linda. My family shares this book around the dinner table in the evenings-- our dessert. :) I'm so lucky to be able to feature Pat Lewis and this book on my blog next month!

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    1. How wonderful, Michelle. I'm loving it bit by bit too, again.

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  16. What an awesome resource! Will definitely check this out. Was sharing his World of Wonders poems today in my geography lesson!

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  17. Oh wow, dear Linda. That book cover is indeed very promising - looks like a gorgeous book of poetry indeed. Thank you so much for sharing! :)

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