Poetry Review #39

Lilah Tov Good Night

Hebrew for "good night"

Author: Ben Gundersheime (Mister G)
Illustrator: Noar Lee Naggan
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020

ISBN: 978-1524740665

Reading Ages: 3 and up
Genre: Poetry for Early Learning, Children's Jewish Fiction Books, Stories in Verse, Lyrical Lullaby

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is one of my new favorite books! It was originally a song that was made into a lyrical lullaby. I bought it for my grandchildren to enjoy and fell in love with the art and rhymes. This is a book that you should buy as a printed copy, not an ebook, in my opinion. The artwork is just too fabulous not to appreciate in print format. 

Poetic Elements: The rhyme and rhythm are a song that became a poem, a visual story, and a moving combination of all of the above. 

“Lovely illustrations depicting a Jewish immigrant tale. The text is concise and simple. . . . The rhymes work well. . . . The luminous, digitally colored pencil illustrations tell a more expansive story. . . . This book can be read as a simple bedtime story or discussed as an immigrant tale. Either way, it will likely find a receptive audience with Jewish families in search of bedtime books or families looking for immigrant stories.”

~~School Library Journal

Appeal: This book is deceptively simple. On one level it is a simple children’s story about a little girl saying good night to common things around her, but on a deeper level you see a family leaving their home in search of a new one. The Jewish diaspora was a major part of Jewish history and is unobtrusively discovered in the lovely artwork that accompanies the poem.

“As the sun sets and the moon rises, an unnamed young child says good night to everything in the natural landscape. . . . Simple, brief, descriptive text... Lush, detailed, soft-edged landscapes provide another, deeper, and more nuanced level to the proceedings. . . . The protagonist is saying good night to the creatures and places spotted on what readers will see as a lengthy journey. . . . At the end of their travels, there is a new home awaiting them. They travel quietly and surreptitiously. . . . Each young reader will interpret the work differently depending on individual understanding and knowledge of history, or perhaps with a wise adult to help. Haunting and beautiful.”

~~Kirkus Reviews

Overall Quality: The book is oddly peaceful and does not present a stressful version of the Jewish diaspora, so young readers will be comforted by the book's simple story and rhyme. The superiority of the lyrical lullaby, sweet, quiet, and effortless with the charming artwork, is exceptional. 

Gundersheimer's work is well known. He has two bilingual albums, "Chocolalala" and "ABC Fiesta," a GRAMMY-winning album, “Los Animales,” Jewish albums “The Mitzvah Bus” and “Seeds of Shalom,” and an environmental bilingual album, “Mundo Verde/Green World.” He promotes multiculturalism, unity, and peace.

Noar Lee Naggan is an illustrator born in Israel and graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.

Layout: The layout is a story in verse. 

Connections:

Spotlight Poem -

“The moon is rising,

big and bright

Time to wish everyone

good night”

Sharing - This book would be perfect for reading before bed.

Activity - I would teach the poem in song to younger readers. This would be a great way to connect the art of songwriting and poetry. 

Lailah Töv,

Shalom!

Poetry Review #38

 Out of the Dust

Author: Karen Hesse  
Publisher: Scholastic, 2009 
ISBN: 2009 978-0590371254 
Reading Ages: 10 & up  
Genre: Teen & Young Adult United States Historical Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Poetry

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is a hard book to read. It is a story about the struggle to survive and the strength of the human spirit. I gave it 5 roars because it reminds me of all the hardships that past generations have had to survive.  It alludes to the amazing ability of humans to overcome even the bleakest of times. I also believe it is a valuable read for upcoming generations. This is the kind of story that teaches us to be grateful for all the good things in life. 

I also think this book is significant because it was one of the few poetry books awarded a Newbery Medal before 2009. 

“from 1987 to 1997, only 1 out of 42 books awarded was a poetry collection, the 1989 medal winner Joyful Noise, by Paul Fleischman. From 1998 to 2008, 3 out of 43 books were poetry (Carver, Show Way, and Out of the Dust)” 

~~  Roxanne Hsu Feldman

Poetic Elements: This book is written as series of free verse poems in the first person as journal entries. It does not rhyme, or use regular patterns. Free verse allows the author to use their own ideas to shape the work.  The poetry is beautiful, but I could see how younger readers might be confused by the lack of backstory. Younger readers might need an explanation or brief history lesson on the conditions that lead to the American "Dust Bowl."

Appeal: I have read a great many mixed reviews on this book, and I agree that the book might not be for younger, more sensitive, readers. However, I believe that the reality of the world we live in is portrayed in many uncomfortable situations and the retelling of history encourages us to be a more grateful and a more prepared people. This should be embraced in the appeal of this book.  

It is not uncommon for other cultures to remind future generations of the hardships that were overcome and the value of not repeating mistakes in history in the form of literature. I believe that more and more American classrooms and younger generations are struggling to read books that value important historical lessons because of the uncomfortable information. The “Dust Bowl” warns us of agricultural elements that could have been prevented and the horrors that follow when humans disrespect the land. 

The historical value of the book, written in a way that is distinctive and creative, should not be discredited because the author portrayed the sufferings of the people during this moment in history.   

 

Overall Quality: The quality of the writing should not be confused with the suffering that this time period holds. The author based the fictional family and characters on historical families and their accounts. 

"Billie Jo tells of her life in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl: Her mother dies after a gruesome accident caused by her father's leaving a bucket of kerosene near the stove; Billie Jo is partially responsible--fully responsible in the eyes of the community--and sustains injuries that seem to bring to a halt her dreams of playing the piano. Finding a way through her grief is not made easier by her taciturn father, who went on a drinking binge while Billie Joe's mother, not yet dead, begged for water. Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality."  ~~ Kirkus Reviews

Newbery Medal Book 

Scott O’Dell Award

Layout: The lay out is two years of journal entries by the main character. 

Connections:
Spotlight Poem - 

“Daddy came in,
He sat across Ma and blew his nose.
Mud streamed out.
He coughed and spit out
mud.
If he had cried,
his tears would have been mud too,
but he didn’t cry.
And neither did Ma.”

Dorothea Lange Photograph

Farm Security Administration (FSA)

Sharing - This book would be great for sharing with a combined lesson in American history on the "Dust Bowl."  A book talk would work well for it, also.  

Activity - The importance of the "Dust Bowl" and the environment would be a great activity to relate this occurrence to present day. 

Soil Conservation 

Poetry Friday!

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by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

Poetry Friday Schedule can be found at

A Year of Reading

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library."

~~ Albert Einstein

Poetry Review #37

Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku

Author: Lee Wardlaw
Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co, 2015
ISBN: 978-0805099874

Reading Ages: 4 - 8 years
Genre: Children's Picture Book, Children's Poetry, Japanese Senryū Poetry, Haiku

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? I had never read this book before, but I loved it! How did I miss this book? The names of the cat (Won Ton) and puppy (Chopsticks) are so clever, and fitting. Kids will connect to the humor and adults will be impressed with the smart word selections weaved into a story.    

Poetic Elements: I love the fact that the poetry is so cat like! It actually reminds me of a cat thinking out loud. The imagery and sound are part of what really makes this poetry book stand out.

“Young readers who fell in love with Won Ton in Wardlaw and Yelchin's first book, Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, 

will enthusiastically welcome this new adventure, and those not yet familiar with the earlier book will likely seek it out.”

~~ Booklist

 
Appeal: This is a must read for poetry lovers. It is unusual with a very different sort of feel to the book. However, it follows the traditional Haiku pattern of three lines, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables again.

“Each haiku is complete in itself, capturing the essence of cat...and together the poems create a whole tale of displacement and eventual mutual understanding.”

~~ The Horn Book

Overall Quality: The pictures are a great way to help younger readers understand the meaning of the poetry. Eugene Yelchin is the author of "Breaking Stalin's Nose." He does a fantastic job of pulling it all together and giving life to the characters. 

“The poetry is concise and witty...technically deft, and age-accessible. Yelchin's graphite-lined gouache art craftily echoes the verse.” ~~The Bulletin

NCTE Notable Poetry List Book
Muse Medallion - Cat Writers' Association
2012 Librarians' Choices List
2012 ALSC Notable Children's Books
2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

Layout: It is a story told in poetry. The layout is very similar to other picture books. 

Connections:

Spotlight Poem - 

"Master of escape!

High-flying, dog-defying

acrobatic cat!

Puthimoutputhim

outputhimoutputhim-wait!

I said him, not me!"

Sharing - This is not Won Ton's first staring role, you can find him in the shelter waiting to be taken home in, "Won Ton : A Cat Tale Told in Haiku."  Combining the two books would be a great way to introduce both Won Ton and Haikai to students. Once you meet him, you cannot help but want to take him home, too! He would make a great addition to any classroom or library collection. 

Activity - Won Ton and Chopstick anyone?  I have quite a collection of chopsticks from all over Asia. I introduce students to chopsticks and let them try to pick up and eat different foods with them. The kids love it! 

Making won tons and using chopsticks to eat them with would go nicely with this poetry book. 

 

"Won Ton and Chopstick" Read-A-Loud 

Cream cheese filled won ton recipe 

How to use chopsticks

Different types of chopsticks

Book Review #36

 I Am the Tree of Life: My Jewish 

Yoga Book

Author: Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Illustrator: Andre Ceolin

Publisher: Apples & Honey Press, 2020
ISBN: 978-1681155524

Reading Level: 7 - 9 years

Genre: Children's Picture Book, Children's Jewish Life, Health, Religion, Yoga  

Topic: Yoga, Children's Religion, Multicultural

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is a beautiful book that combines the practice of yoga asanas and the teachings of Judaism.  

Critical Analysis

Accuracy: Mychal Copeland is both a Rabbi and a certified yoga instructor. 

Organization/Design: The organization of the book allows for the asana on one side, and then the connection to Judaism on the other side of the book. 

"The book begins with a basic balance

 — tree pose — 

which the author connects to the Torah, the Tree of Life. The author lists the simple steps needed for how to stand and breathe while in the posture. On the opposing page, Copeland describes the Tree of Life and its importance in Judaism."

~~ Paula Chaiken

Style: The style is quiet and calm. The illustrations included both a boy and a girl performing the asanas.   

Awards: Sydney Taylor Honor Book Award 2021

Connections: This would be an excellent resource for reli­gious school teach­ers or Jewish school libraries. 

Yoga with Rabbi Mychal

Poetry Review #35

Monster Motel

Author: Douglas Florian
Illustrator: Douglas Florian
Publisher: Voyager Books 1997
ISBN:978-0152013868
Reading Ages: 5 to 10 Years

Genre: Children's Poetry, Halloween, Humor 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? I think if you are looking for scary monsters, this would not be the book for you. This collection, in my opinion, is suited to younger readers. The monsters are silly and not very intimidating, which is great for younger kids. Older readers might not be as impressed by the monsters, but the humor is enjoyable for  readers of any age. The "Hotel Transylvania" movie immediately comes to mind, with another motel/hotel with strange monsters that are not really scary either.   

Poetic Elements: Repetition, rhyme, and the use of anthropomorphism is used frequently in this collection of poems. There is also the use of onomatopoeias, where the words make the sounds of things. 

Humor is the main topic throughout the anthology of 13 poems about monsters staying in a hotel. 

        "An excellent choice for youngsters who                         beg for something scary."

~~ Booklist

Appeal: The author is also the illustrator. He uses illustrations done in a blend of watercolor, ink, and pen.  I like the illustrations and they really make the monsters feel vivid and captivating for the reader’s imagination.   

Overall Quality: The author is well known for his work in the area of poetry and art.

"In the introductory poem, a bellhop greets readers: "Welcome to the Monster Motel,/ Where mostly monstrous monsters dwell." Each of the remaining 13 poems describes a different resident. Florian's creatures are, however, gentle and bizarre rather than scary. Some of the more interesting ones are those that might exist almost anywhere. "The Gazzygoo," for instance, lives inside the cracks of a sidewalk. Others, such as "The Fabled Feerz" and "The Brilly," are bigger and bolder. The language and the images are creative and rhythmic, and the subject matter will certainly appeal to children. The poems themselves, though, are not as consistently vivid or successful as the illustrations. Florian's seemingly simple watercolors grow more intriguing with each new book. His emphatic use of line, his imaginative use of color, and his ability to convey mood and expression are 

all superbly demonstrated here."

~~ Lauralyn Persson,

School Library Journal

Layout: The poems went with each monster on the page. The author added a watercolor picture of himself as a monster on the book jacket. I thought that was really cute! 

Connections:
Spotlight Poem - The first lines of "The Brilly."

"The Brilly is a silly beast;

It has no sense, to say the least. 

It wears its shoes upon its hands

And ties its feet with rubber bands." 

Sharing- I think this would be a great book to introduce boys to poetry. It would also be a good choice to share during Halloween.   

Activity- Allowing students to create their own monsters would be a fun activity. You could use simple colors, markers, and paper, or try it with playdough, purple and green slime, and googly eyes. There are a lot of options. 

More books by Douglas Florian:
Shabbat Shalom!
Poetrees
Insectlopedia

Douglas Florian 

You're Not My Best Friend by Douglas Florian

Author Douglas Florian Visits 2nd Grade

Poetry Review #34

 The Earth under Sky Bear's Feet: Native American Poems of the Land

Author: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator: Thomas Locker 
Publisher: Puffin Books, 1989
ISBN: 978-0698116474
Reading Ages: 4 - 8 years

Genre: Multicultural Poetry, Children's Native American Books, Anthology

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? This is a culturally important collection for libraries and classrooms. I loved the night theme that ran though the poems and artwork.   

Poetic Elements: Repetition, simile and expressive relationships with nature are components of the collection that twinkle and shimmer. This book is both educational and inspirational. It has the potential for a highly positive impact on readers. The imagery is related to the earth during twilight, evening, and at night. The connection to nature is the "star" of the show.  

"From the Mohawk and Missisquoi peoples of the Northeastern United States to the Pima, Cochiti Pueblo, and Navajo people of the Southwest to the Subarctic Inuit, these pieces reflect an awe and appreciation of the natural world. Locker's deeply hued paintings burst with the beauty of night." 

~~ The Horn Book

Appeal: It is relaxed and comforting and would be terrific for a nighttime storybook moment. It has a sleepy, far away, feel to the collection. 

"A thoughtful collection that eloquently bears out the theme of unity of all creatures." 

~~School Library Journal "

Overall Quality: The author is a Nulhegan Abenaki citizen committed to maintaining his ethnic inheritance and customs. This is a  group of 12 poems that offer Native American explanations of the natural world.

The illustrator is a major American painter whose work is dedicated to nature. 

“Locker’s landscape technique has seldom worked to better effect….Engrossing.” 

~~ Kirkus Reviews

A short flute performance and explanation. I love this peaceful, moment he created to discuss his heritage and customs.

Joseph Bruchac  

   

Layout: I enjoyed the author’s notes found at the end of the book. They are a useful supplement for additional reading.

Connections:
Spotlight Poem -

“Sky Bear”

Long ago,

three hunters and their little dog

found the tracks of a giant bear.

They followed those tracks

all through the day

and even though it was almost dark

they did not stop, but continued on.

They saw that bear now, climbing up

a hill, which glittered

with new-fallen snow.

They ran hard to catch it,

But the bear was too fast.

They ran and they ran, climbing

up and up until one of the hunters said,

“Brothers, look down.”

They did and saw they

were high above the Earth.

That bear was Sky Bear,

running on through the stars.

Look up now

and you will see her,

circling the sky.

(Mohawk,  Northeast)

Sharing - Native American Heritage Month, in November, would be a great time to introduce Native American poetry.   

Activity - A short study on the constellations would give students an appreciation for the night sky.

Patterns in the sky