Poetry Friday - "Gold-Blooming" On Its Way

  

  Poetry Friday is with Margaret Simon, who's hosting HERE at Reflections on the Teche. And, it's her birthday, with rainbows! Thanks for hosting, Margaret. Best wishes for a very Happy Birthday holding many celebrations.

  I've taken some time away from my blog, and have recently returned from a family trip to Costa Rica, on the beach, having a fabulous time in and out of the waves! Now it's time to look ahead. Schools are starting back and the trees are fading. Stores fill up with school supplies and crafty items like straw pumpkins and colorful leafy wreaths. There are shelves stocked with canning jars. It feels too soon to say goodbye to summer yet I am noticing Autumn's invitation.

      Remember On A Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring? Buffy Silverman, an expert at the gerund phrases, is giving us another wonderfully poetic look at a season, this time, it's On A Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures which will be out on September 6th. I was thrilled when Buffy sent an advanced copy, wishing I could be in a classroom of younger students, starting them off with this book's challenge to search all through these coming weeks into September, for those "treasures" of fall that Buffy shares. 

       Buffy, along with other photographers, shows beautiful photos and clever brief poems that celebrate fall in a special "leaf-peeping" way. Pages include "leaf-lunching' by a moose and "hole-digging" by a squirrel. Plants and animals "lift" and "drift",  "rattle" and "skedaddle". The action shown cannot be ignored on any page, inviting searches during the beginning weeks of school, or at home with children, and perhaps with journals for recording each discovery.

          In the backmatter, Buffy takes time to explain the actions that are shown in the book, like "crickets chirp" and "mushrooms pop", and adds a glossary and a list for further reading. 

         It's a don't-miss book for fall, inspirational to see, then do some of one's own searching on those "gold-blooming" days!

          Thanks, Buffy, for the pleasure of reading and sharing your latest creation!

Blog Tour - Nothing More Fun Than A Group Celebration

       I imagine many of you have sweet memories of evening reading. It's nearly time for bed but first, it's time to read, or tell, favorite stories. Along with a voice from someone loved, that voice might also bring a song memory. However, the evening isn't always the time we read. A quiet moment can be found anytime to stop, to read words that remind us what a wonder of a world we live in. Nancy Tupper Ling's new anthology will help do just that!

         I asked Nancy if a past memory, perhaps as a young child, motivated her to begin gathering these lovely poems so that others, family members or teachers, could share with their young ones how special the world they live in is? She answered with words and a poem! 

        One poem entitled “Tonight . . . “ from our For Every Little Thing collection was inspired by a beautiful day our family spent in San Francisco. This city is where my husband grew up and where most of his family still lives, so we visit often. When my daughter, Elizabeth, was about six years old, we walked down Lombard, the famously crooked street, and eventually ended up by The Marina, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. We had just experienced a quintessential San Francisco day. 

         That’s when Elizabeth said the words that lead to my poem’s creation. “Mama,” she said. “Tonight I will dream of the purple flowers, the ones that made you smile today. They’ll dance overhead. Their blossoms looked like fingers waving to the people. And I will dream that an orange fox sits beside me.” 

         Her words struck me then (enough to write the poem), but I also kept them close when creating FOR EVERY LITTLE THING with June! For a young child to treasure such specific things that happened in her day…so much so that she planned her nighttime dreams around them, that is the type of gratitude we hope this anthology fosters. Both a spontaneous and a planned gratitude are what we envisioned for our young readers. Let’s not pass by these simple gifts that we’re given daily. Let’s stop, breath, observe, and perchance dream. 

        It's exciting to share a new book and even more exciting to share one that fits my idea of a special pleasure, reading to children. I've read to all ages because I'm a teacher. I love when I finish and more than one child asks to borrow the book. Then, of course, we have to make a list to take turns. Also wonderful are the times I've read to my own children, and now grandchildren. Sharing books through a read-aloud means creating unique and special memories. 

         June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling have gathered, as the cover says, "poems and prayers to celebrate the day" into this new anthology, For Every Little Thing. In our recent months of challenges, there may be times when children hear the bad news and need reminding that there are many things to appreciate every single day! 

         The contents divide into seven parts such as "The World Around Us", "Night", and "Family and Friends". From the first to the last, sixty-six poems and prayers take readers traveling through the day from morning wake-up to evening goodnight. These poets bring the wondrous world to us through all their words.

 In "Waking Up Prayer", Susan J. Erickson writes "I like to wake up when the snow falls against my window/like confetti from an angel's party". I imagine rushing for the book to re-read that poem at first snow. 

In "Simple Graces", Jill Noblit MacGregor writes "Simple graces are everywhere, under rocks and in the air–/in crashing waves and tall, tall trees, simple graces for all to see." and readers search for their unique "simple graces".

In "Great Owl of Dreams", Maura D. Shaw asks an owl: "Bring me the dream in your mother beak."

And after sleep comes, Suzanne Wiggins Bunch ends her poem "Sea of Dreams" with "Waves of dreams that build and billow/return me to my comfy pillow./And though I've traveled wide and deep, I did it/while I was asleep." 

Along with wondrous words, reading aloud a book with illustrations brings more to appreciate, in this book when viewing sumptuous and varied creations by Helen Cann that accompany the poems. Small things, skyscapes, imaginary and joyful scenes, night and morning scenes brighten the pages. You will love them as you read.

 

It's a book to cherish for oneself, for a gift, for young and old. Thanks, Nancy and June for bringing this anthology to us all!

non-fiction Wednesday - Those Picture Book Stories Based on Truth!

Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy.  Thanks to her hosting and sharing and those who add their posts, you can discover and celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books!  I always learn from these books, am happy that they are more and more available today for children, for everyone!
           On this day, Alyson has written a terrific post for those who wish to participate in a Mock Sibert group, the award for the most distinguished informational book published in the United States.
     

       I found this on my library's shelf, grabbed it because it is by Maira Kalman. It came out in 2005, a brief and poignant story of the many that have come from that day we won't forget, September 11th, 2001. 
         The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboat of its time, beginning in 1931 when Babe Ruth set records, the George Washington Bridge was finished, and Snickers candy bars came out.  By 1995, the city retired Harvey, determining fireboats no longer needed. A group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap, paid to fix it up for fun. When 9/11 happened, firemen realized that water pipes were broken and a desperate call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could help. At first, they thought it might only rescue people, but without the water, they attached hoses to Harvey and it pumped water for four days and nights!  Maira Kalman's clear words and signature emotional art brings this story to us in an inspirational story you will want to read!  

            When I read this story of William Carlos Williams's famous poem, I am reminded of Mary Oliver's quote: "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." In the story, Lisa Rogers shows Dr. Williams going about his practice, in between "paying attention" to all that surrounds him. In his town, he sometimes saw patients in his office, but often went to them for treatment, but also watched out his windows. This time Rogers imagines him seeing his neighbor, Mr. Thaddeus Marshall, tending his garden, filling his red wheelbarrow with the vegetables that he sold to neighbors while he walked it through the town. Yes, there are chickens, too! Chuck Groenink's illustrations are soft, rather dreamy full pages of this small-town doctor's story, a doctor who wrote what he saw in a new way. In an author's note, Rogers shares that he may not have meant the poem (of 16 words) to be about his neighbor, but she imagines it may be. There is also a selected bibliography. If doing a poetry exploration, this will make a lovely beginning conversation about writing and the "meanings" of poems. 

Poetry Friday - Celebrating

                This week, Poetry Friday is hosted by Jone MacCulloch at her blog, DeoWriter.  Be sure to visit to see what Tabatha  at The Opposite of Indifference sent her for the Poetry Swap. You may want to stay a while!
        This past Monday, I shared I Am Someone Else, Poems About Pretending, created with poems by many poets you know by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu. It's another recent book of poetry you will love.           
         Celebrating anything gives a lovely feeling, but celebrating winning the Women's World Cup has to be extraordinary, right? What an exciting time on Sunday morning (US time) and since then, too. In the midst of this celebration, I'd like to add one more, celebrating Elizabeth Steinglass' poetry book, recently out, Soccerverse! 

         My grandchildren have not chosen to be soccer players and have chosen other sports. However, I've spent many hours at soccer practice and games watching my son learn, then improve in the game, celebrating his first goal, watching the team itself get better and better. I enjoyed the poems Liz has written about things I remember during those years as a 'soccer mom'!

         I cannot share the whole book, but I want to. It's no surprise that it begins with "The Ball", a marvel we know is not always available to kids in need around the world, though coveted in its ability for "trapping, tapping, and spinning. Perfect for kicking, bending, and winning." as Liz writes. She manages to bring the field to life in "Instructions For The Field"  which ends with a nice reminder to "catch us when we fall". Other poems include topics like shin guards talking, one of its use and one left behind takes us to memorable goals in our minds, as "A shark,/slipping/through/ the sea,/until/she smells/opportunity." Poems fill up the book with SOCCER and I've filled this ball with a few favorite lines! 

          Twenty-two poems in thirteen forms delight in images, further enhanced by Edson Ikê's innovative illustrations, each one focusing on the poem's topic both realistically and creatively. Every player, boy or girl, knows the feeling that Liz shows in this poem's beginning: "I got too mad./I tried too hard." Edson's art of an angry bull on a pointing finger is perfect for the poem "Apology" ending with "I crossed the line./I got a card." I liked this for its brevity and remember well seeing the anger, then often the embarrassment, of getting carded. Every poem will touch soccer players' hearts. They will KNOW what Liz has written about. It's a terrific addition to poetry for kids.
          Liz writes a note at the back explaining each of the poem forms she used and adds the key to which poem is in which form. Thanks, Liz, for a beautiful book.

A Giveaway Is Flying Your Way!

        Thanks to Peachtree Publishers, I have the pleasure of offering a giveaway of this marvelous book, Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion and Robert Meganck. With poems that vary (just like birds) in using the facts to tell about the birds who are the biggest, loudest, stinkiest, fastest, and more, here is the book for bird lovers, enhanced with extraordinary illustrations, both realistic and humorous. When I began to write this post, I marked too many pages I wanted you to see, looked again and chose only a few favorite parts. That's the challenge when reviewing a wonderful book, choosing what to share!

     
              Added to the book filled with poetry and science is a small chickadee guide, the Master of Ceremonies! Let me introduce you.

    Among the amazing facts, the reason for our chickadee guide is that scientists have found "that many other species of birds and some species of other animals living near chickadees can understand chickadee calls--especially warnings about predators in the area." They even lengthen their calls to show that a threat may be large!  Still another intriguing thing about these chickadees is that they can enlarge a part of their brains per a need. The part that needs to remember where those seeds are stored enlarges, or if the memory of a mating call is needed, that part enlarges. Fantastic, right?
          Robert Meganck's chickadee cartoons add to the information with its comments given in speech bubbles. On the page sharing about the wandering albatross, with the widest wingspan of all birds, a bat spreads its wings, too, showing the fact that not only birds have wings. Another page tells about the shrike, with Leslie's poem titled "Ghastly Pantry", a poem showing a way that this bird stores its food. It hangs it on a wire fence or thorny tree to allow it to rot until it softens, until the shrike's small beak can eat!

            Favorite birds, so hard to choose! While I don't know much about many birds, I do know most names, but then I turned the page to hear about the Timberdoodle and to read "Timberdoodle Blues". Here's the beginning:
                                           "Look at me. I've got eyes set above my brain,
                                            Not behind, on the sides–but 'above' my brain.
                                            Looks wierd, but I see three-sixty and can't complain."

It can see 360 degrees without moving its head!

This time, Bulion focuses on the looks, but the poems can show unique traits or behavior examples. Here is one wonderful double-page spread so you can learn about one more bird, enjoy Leslie's unique poems,  as well as Robert's gorgeous digital illustrations.

         The poems are delightful to read aloud, sometimes with rhythm and rhyme, sometimes free-verse, and for a few, forms unique to the bird's geographical area, like the tendi, "a four-line stanza with Arabic origins used in traditional Swahili poetry." for "A Billion Queleas".
         

           There is something special in every part of the book. The above spread is a picture of the opening inside cover, showing the birds inside with their unique description. The back two covers name the bird!

          Added in the back matter are a glossary, Poetry Notes about each poem, and additional resources to learn more about the world of birds. Bird lovers everywhere need to add this "superlative" book to their collections!


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End of Year Thankyous

   Join us on Tuesdays with the Two Writing Teachers and others who post. 

 

   Ending a school year runs through my veins. Once a teacher, always a teacher. I hope each one of you who have ended or are in the midst of completing the year with pizzazz have a lovely summer break wherever it may find you. I remember both the excitement and the fatigue.

  This year my oldest granddaughter attended second grade in a new school and she's had

a fabulous year. This isn't about the school, but a tribute to the impact that teachers make on their students. I thought you would like to know. This teacher started the year in part of her literacy curriculum by reading aloud Sharon Creech's wonder of a book, Love That Dog. Well, those who know me know that I love poetry, so now I was in love with this teacher! But that's not all. She not only read the book aloud, but the class studied each poem and each poet, then began writing poetry in those styles. Wow. To have Ingrid come home to show me poems written in the styles of Walter Dean Myers and Valerie Worth was a gift worth having. I began to think her teacher was Ms. Stretchberry in disguise!

 I've read lots of poetry to Ingrid and her sister, but this teacher and her approach, however it played out in the classroom, has made an impact on Ingrid that I imagine poetry will often be something she will turn to. She still writes in her journal, she still makes up rhyming songs, and she still turns to a book I own that I also bought for her classroom last fall at their book fair. It's the recent anthology created by Kenn Nesbitt and Christoph NiemannIt includes familiar and not so familiar current and past poets and poems. After I gave it to the classroom, Ingrid says her teacher read from it every day, and there was a list to sign up for students to read it during silent reading time. Nothing like making something important- a list of whose turn is next!

      Nearly every time Ingrid has come to visit, she pulls out the book and reads more poems, sometimes sharing with me, often reading silently. During that time, all of a sudden she will laugh, and say "listen to this one. Sara (her teacher-they use first names) read this one and it is so funny." I sent the book home with her this week. She says, "maybe for the summer, maybe for always. . ."

 This is why I'm writing tonight. I'm thinking of all the Ms. Stretchberrys of the world who, like my granddaughter's teacher, has given something they might never know they gave, a passion for something. 

 Thank you!

Still There Are Celebrations

  Celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and linking with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for helping us celebrate together!  

        In the midst of the furor over the election, there were good moments, too. I am not "moving on", but will continue to read and watch and fight against those who are trying to change the good in our country. You can look at the recent actions that tell so much of how this new presidency will be. And you can support organizations that will fight for people and freedoms in jeopardy.  I celebrate that I am free to do this.

On a building downtown.        I celebrate the small things this week and watch carefully over the big things. 

"Poetry presents the thing

in order to convey the feeling.

It should be precise about the thing

and reticent about the feeling, for

as soon as the mind connects with the thing

the feeling shows in the words;

this is how poetry enters deeply into

us."

        W'ei T'ai - 11th century poet

       More wonderful times with the grand-girls: Imogene wore her bunny ears all day and into the evening and I took Ingrid to Starbucks before her conference with her teacher and her mom. I'm excited to have two of my poems in this just published book. And, it snowed! It was a heavy, wet snow and I'm sure all of nature is celebrating with me. 

      I'm taking a break from blogging next week. There are too many things to do before the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

      

Poetry Friday-Swap Love

         Tabatha Yeatts of The Opposite of Indifference, and the creator of the Poem Swaps that give us so much pleasure is our lovely host today for Poetry Friday

          It's way past time for thank yous. Please forgive me Margaret Simon for being so late. Too much company on Fridays made it a challenge to share either Christmas or New Year's. But isn't this wonderful to still be sharing our Winter Poem Swap treasures, still giving much pleasure. I received the following from Margaret right before Christmas, and am still reading and loving this new anthology from Georgia Heard. Thanks again to Tabatha Yeatts for organizing the Swap!
          Margaret mentioned in one of her recent posts that she went to an art session where she learned to make gelli paper. I am intrigued by this kind of art, and hope I'll get to make some one day, but in the meantime, will enjoy the wrapping paper created and used for my gift. Also included is that wonderful bookmark and gift tag, more created by Margaret.

It's Monday!

          Visit Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up.  Others join Sheila to share adult books at Book Journeys. 

        Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

I Crawl Through It - written by A.S. King  
          It's heartbreaking reality here, although the book is described as surrealistic fiction. Four teens live in various stages of struggling with school life-the pressures of constant testing, the anxiety of bomb threats-along with personal trauma and loss. One lies, one splits in two, one turns herself inside out, and the last builds an invisible helicopter for escaping. Unfortunately, these behaviors don't seem to help, things do not improve and toward the end, they figure out that facing the challenges is the only way to save themselves. No matter how surrealistic the scenes and action were, I continued to feel compassion for the deep hurt exhibited by these teens. It was sad to feel them so alone, yet the strong friendship among the four offered hope at the end. Strong language and strange scenes might prevent recommendation to early teens, but it depends always on the individual's maturity. Definitely would recommend to older teens and their parents and teachers. In this book, A.S. King offers a window to the inner lives of some teens, and whether we wish to or not. we need to know so we can help. Thanks to Net Galley!

If Everybody Did - written and illustrated by Jo Ann Stover

       Perhaps the moral of this book is to think before you act, because "If Everybody Did" IT, things would not turn out so well. For example, "If everybody made tracks," there is a sketch of a living area "filled" with muddy footprints. Stover has used black and white sketches for the story, and filled it with exaggerations to make her point. It's fun to view, and imagine. Luckily, she ends it positively, showing what would happen if only "one" did something. Clever idea for a read aloud, would be great fun to talk about this with a group of kids.

NF picture books - Nature's Specials

Time to share on Wednesdays with Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy.   

        Thanks Alyson!   Tweet - #NFPB15

            Thanks to those who shared the following books so I could know about them and find them at my library. They are all special.

Hippos Are Huge!

written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Matthew Trueman

           It’s hard to believe that the animals we know as cuddly stuffed-animal hippos are shown in this book to be the most dangerous in the jungle. Easily also the largest, except for elephants, they can weigh as much as four tons, can bite an alligator in half, can run and swim faster than a human.  Trueman’s illustrations fill the pages, demonstrating the hugeness of hippopotamuses, now designated as “vulnerable” on the endangered list. London’s “big” words give basic ideas while his smaller text expands the information.  Anyone who has interest in these largest of our mammals will enjoy and learn. For instance, I didn’t know that hippos really don’t swim, they simply “dance”, kicking off from the bottom of a river or lake, gliding, then kicking off again.

SOLC # 30 of 31 - Still Reading & Writing

            Forgive the strange formatting-ugh! I worked to make changes, just couldn't figure it out. . .

      Day Thirty of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge.   Tweet at #SOL15. There's one more day of this wonderful March slicing. What a time it has been! 

        Thanks to Tara, Dana, Anna, Betsy, Beth and Stacey for the constant inspiration. 

Also blogging with my students at Linda & Jonathan's Class Blog.

          Link up with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. and Sheila at Book Journeys.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

       The day after tomorrow is April, POETRY MONTH.  Most times I will write and share a poem, some days I'll share poems by others, but I do plan to fill the month with poetry in some way, every day! Some of us have planned to support each other in April, using the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon of Reflections on The Teche.   You'll welcome to join us if you'd like!

       I bought Goodnight Songs by Margaret Wise Brown at the reading conference in

February, and just sat down Sunday afternoon to read and listen. Yes, listen! This book is a lullaby treasure, accompanied by a cd, new poems/songs written by Margaret Wise Brown and discovered by Amy Gary, hidden in a trunk in a barn, finally revealed by Margaret's sister. Twelve illustrators whom you know and love have illustrated each song, Tom Pratt and Emily Gary have gathered together a group that composed the music for each one. The back of the book gives short biographies of the illustrators and a  note from the musicians; the front introduction by Amy Gary shares the story of this amazing discovery. It's a must read, to see the pictures by Jonathan Bean, Carin Berger, Sophie Blackall, Linda Bleck, Renata Liwska, Zachariah Ohora, Eric Puybaret, Sean Qualls, Isabel Roxas, Melissa Sweet and Dan Yaccarino. What a collaboration to celebrate! Here's one beginning of a song/poem: "When the man in the moon was a little boy,/Sing hi ho, the man in the moon./He ran away with a shooting star./Ho hum, the many in the moon."
                                                           ================

SOLC #12 of 31

Day Twelve of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge.            Tweet at #SOL15
                Thanks to Tara, Dana, Anna, Betsy, Beth and Stacey for keeping on!

            Today it's all poetry, and the connection to the Slice of Life Challenge. 

           Also, I'm happy to be a guest poet at Michelle H. Barnes blog, Today's Little Ditty today. I've written a poem for Margarita Engle's poetry challenge that Michelle shared at the beginning of the month HERE. Michelle is hosting a different poet nearly every month who shares a poetry book, newly published, some of the poems within, and a poetic challenge for writing. It's been a pleasure to try to write a poem per the guidelines. I don't always find the right words, but often enough I do. 

         I've begun a poetry group at school and we have not gone very far, too many changes in schedules have happened, like the big Advanced School play opens tonight and about half my class are either on stage or part of the crew. That means rehearsals every evening and all day last Saturday, and some late afternoons last week. The homework must be less. So, poetry. I've been reading some to all students all through my time with them. Those in the group are asked to explore, reading some or all of the many poetry books in the classroom or at home, looking for what they like, deciding what they don't. It's a process for me, nudging middle school students into the joy of poetry. Since every student is slicing every day, and I'm also pushing them to take some risks, add pictures, start in different ways, etc., more are writing poems. Some are straight from the heart, some have been written from the structure of poems they like, some are rearranging prose lines, but they are, without our workshop, writing poetry. We'll meet again next week, and I'll share a suggestion/mentor poem and a structure, then let them go. They bring poems to share by other poets, and bring one they've written. It works for me, to just let them write.

        This is my fifth year doing the SOLC, but the first time I've had the chance to write with a class. I am so excited to see how much by now, just 11 days done, students are growing in their skills, with a nudge here and there, a compliment and comment. Their editing skills are improving. Their writing is filling up with possibilities. One just can't beat writing every day.

It's Monday-Hurrah!

Happy Reading everyone!

“We read to know we are not alone.” 

 ^{- C.S. Lewis}

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Jen at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS, and shared with Ricki and Kellee at UNLEASHING READERS.   

         And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews.  Great books are being shared!

 Tweet! at #IMWAYR

       Last week was my spring break, and while I read a lot, not as much as expected. Great week, though! Here are my reviews.  

        This book meets two challenges, the #MustReadIn2014, & the CORL challenge at the Gathering Books blog.

Paperboy – written by Vince Vawter

               This is such a quiet book. It sneaks up on you. Word by word, paragraph by paragraph, you watch this young boy during the month of July, substituting as the paperboy for his friend, Art (or Rat, easier to say if you stutter). This boy is a stutterer, and we see inside his mind how much he arranges his life around it, except when he’s with certain ‘safe’ people, whom he knows will be patient and listen. It’s a lovely story showing some growing up of a very smart boy who many think is not smart because of the stutter.