Poetry Friday - Musings On Our World

Karen Eastlund, with whom I've had a great time with at Highlights, is hosting today on Poetry Karen's Got A Blog! Since most of us are not going much of anywhere these days, Karen is sharing a Norwegian memory from her dad for Father's Day and a poem votes as the "finest Norweigian poem of all time." Wow, that's quite an honor. Thanks, Karen!


I'm becoming more political every day, and can't seem to stop more learning about candidates, policies, and reading books that help me know about #ownvoices for #blacklivesmatter and other groups left out because of who they happen to be. 

           Last Monday, FYI, I posted a review of the new poetry book, Woke - A Young Poet's Call to Justice. You can find it here. Don't miss reading this book!

This week I voted and am working to get people registered through sending postcards. It's so easy in Colorado. We've voted by mail since 2013 and according to some news sources, it's also cheaper! There are drop-off stations everywhere or one can use postage to mail the ballot in, too. 

         I also realize that sometimes one needs to laugh, and this week a book of Ogden Nash's Beastly Poetry was donated to the used bookstore where I volunteer. And it was full of chuckles and smiles for me. Wouldn't it be the most fun to read what he would write in our world today?

The Cow

The cow is of the bovine ilk;
One end is moo, the other, milk.

The Duck

Behold the duck.
It does not cluck.
A cluck it lacks.
It quacks.
It is specially fond
of a puddle or pond.
When it dines or sups,
It bottoms ups.

       He wrote of all kinds of creatures but touched today's world after all when toward the end I found


The Germ

A mighty creature is the germ,
Though smaller than the pachyderm.
His customary dwelling place
Is deep within the human race.
His childish pride he often pleases
By giving people strange diseases.
Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?
You probably contain a germ.



        I'm taking a break for July, wishing all of you a good month of summer wherever you might land!

It's Monday - New Wow Books - One Old Discovery

              Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites.  Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!
          Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR


           I hope all of you are doing well and doing the best you can during this time. Enjoy your family and Happy Summer!

         I have a second post today, a blog tour with a giveaway! Come visit here!

          The girl in this book is in seventh grade, but at least in my area, sixth graders begin middle school. My oldest granddaughter will be starting this strangest of growing-up experiences next year. Unlike Shayla, the protagonist in Lisa Moore Ramée's debut chapter book, my granddaughter is starting in a new school knowing very few students. I wish her well in navigating this time, hope she will find courage as Shayla did.

         Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble, so much so that when she's really upset or nervous, inside, her hands itch. She really values following the rules and is looking forward to starting seventh grade with the United Nations (her two best friends from grade school). 

         Soon enough Shay realizes that rules change when kids get older. They want to be liked, girls and boys both. Her two friends are of different backgrounds, Latina and Asian. Shayla is black. Each wants something different and in this story, that means some disagreements, perhaps even friendships broken.

          Some at school are saying she's not black enough, doesn't mix enough with her black classmates! Different boys like Shayla, but she likes other boys. Sound familiar. Young teens are trying to figure out who they are, and Shay struggles with it all, too. Teachers and the principal also play a part in her life, mostly good, but when it comes to what's really important, Shay does figure out what is most important to her, wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

          Shay's older sister Hannah is involved in protests, but at first, as I wrote earlier, Shay really doesn't like breaking rules. She's learned from others, including her coach while doing track. And she's thinking more about what her favorite history teacher is saying, that we have to be ourselves, no matter what. 

          What I loved was reading the thoughts of this marvelous young woman that Lisa Moore Ramée has given us. If you know a young adolescent, you'll see how much they think about life and stuff, over and over again. Ramée has Shayla ending each chapter with a bit of learning, showing her grow and grow until she feels good about what happens, what she does even though it takes lots of courage. For example, Shayla says: "I never knew walking right into trouble would make me feel strong. Maybe it has to be the right type of trouble."

           It's a wonderful book that's so current, it feels as if Ramée wrote it yesterday. There are the students, the varied teachers, and the protests over another police officer getting off the hook for a shooting. It's about today!

           I was lucky to win this copy from Michele Knott's giveaway and it is terrific. Remember You Are (Not) Small? These two creatures are happily building a sandcastle when more than one creature you'll recognize from the earlier book needs to add some advice. This turns into quite an amazing structure, and a surprise! Everything 'perfect' is in the eye of the beholder, right?