I know a lot of classrooms and libraries celebrate poetry during the month of April. Whether you celebrate it year round or at a particular time, finding new poetry books is always fun! For the next few weeks I'll be sharing some new ones you might want to add to your collections.
Poetree
written by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani
This one is actually a story but has poetry at its heart.
Two classmates, unbeknownst to each other but the reader gets a clue, leave some poems on a tree and name the tree, Poetree. Each leave poems for the tree and in return feel a kinship with the tree. They are both surprised when they find out it's not the tree they have a bond with, but each other.
Wonderful book to celebrate the joy and love poets can have when sharing their creations!
The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems
selected by Paul B. Janeczko
illustrated by Richard Jones
The late Paul Janeczko had a real eye for poetry. Besides being a poet himself, he was also able to cultivate collections of poems that seemed like they were written to be in a book together. He does it again with this collection of how-to poems. Each written with a different twist and subject, these poems flow together with a kind of order the poems themselves are written in. Quick reads, readers will enjoy the collection as well as the art from Richard Jones.
The poetic world has certainly faced a loss with the passing of Janeczko. Makes you linger over this collection just a bit longer.
From Tree to Sea
written by Shelley Moore Thomas
illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Sometimes, a longer poem can be broken up into pages. Sometimes a poem reads like a story instead of on a single page. I feel like that is the case in this book. If the words were all typed up, they make a beautiful poem. But instead, each concept of nature has its own page.
This is a love letter to the Earth reminding us there is so much we can learn from the nature and the world around us, if we only watch and listen.
An activity I've done with books like this - write the words up into one long poem and give show students. As you read, go over the words (metaphors on every page for this one) and visualize them. Then read the book and compare images.
Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations
written by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Micha Archer
This is the first of two Laura Purdie Salas books this week and they both are must haves for your poetry collection! This first one is so clever - mixing poetry, math and science - there is so much to learn from this book!
Going from early to late spring, Salas writes equations that equal poetic thoughts that are very seasonal! Including some scientific information about the spring equation on each page, readers are left with a book that is fun and informational.
Featuring beautiful illustrations by the very talented Micha Archer!
I enjoyed the backmatter as well, with author and illustrator notes, additional information about spring and a bibliography!
In the Middle of the Night: Poems from a Wide-Awake House
by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Angela Matteson
What happens when the people of the house go to sleep? That's when all of the other objects have their fun! Salas imagines through poetry what some of those objects do.
I love the poems in two voices, so fun for groups to read aloud!
Hope you've got some poetry lined up to read with students in the upcoming weeks!
Check out part 2!
