Celebrate National Poetry Month

   
     Inspired by the successes of Black History and Women's History Month, a group of poets from the Academy of American Poets, teachers, librarians and publishers met to discuss the need for a similar month long celebration of the many ways that poetry has touched the lives of generations.  The very first National Poetry Month was then held in April of 1996.
     My experience in the classroom setting during this month long celebration of all things verse has shown me time and time again that children of all ages and all grade levels enjoy and are attracted to poems featuring lively, playful rhyming and alliteration.  And, when this introduction leads to inspiration, children soon learn that the ability to read, recite and create their very own poems is a rich reward.  I think that Dr. Seuss, the master of rhyming verse said it best with the following, "The more you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
     So go with your class, or with your little ones at home, and enjoy these special selections that will help you to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Every Thing On It
     Over the past year, I delighted in the newly found interest that one of my fourth grade students developed for the works of Shel Silverstein, perhaps one of the most beloved children's poet/illustrators in our nations history.  This young boy quickly devoured the classic, Light in the Attic, and aced his Accelerated Reader (be on the lookout for an upcoming post all about the "ABC's of Accelerated Reader!) test with a 90 percent (this, coming from a boy who up until this point, wouldn't even pick up a book on his own volition, let alone read poetry)! He went on the read with similar speed Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree.
      One of the reasons why my students, as well as myself, enjoy Silverstein's works is that he doesn't talk down to children.  Rather, he talks to children with respect; with an admiration for their intelligence and he, at least in my eyes, instinctively knew that children need to be encouraged both emotionally and intellectually.   Regrettably, when my student recently asked if our library had any new Silverstein works for him to check out, I had to break the sad news that Silverstein died in 1999, and we do not, unfortunately, have any new works.  Now, needless to say, I'm thrilled beyond measure to be able to tell my student that yes, there is a newly published work of Silverstein's up-until now, unpublished poems and artwork for him, as well as for my other students, to discover and enjoy.
      Every Thing On It is filled with a wide variety of poems and artwork that are alternately funny, touchingly personal, and to my delight, can be used as a springboard to teaching children a lesson on point-of-view (as many of Silverstein's poems in this collection can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways).  
     Silverstein's poems and accompanying illustrations are dependent upon each other to make an impact.  One verse in this over 140 collection of poetry struck a chord.  I have always believed in the importance of not being a follower but rather staying true to one's course--staying on the path of thinking for yourself, a belief that I have passed on to my son as well as my students.  And, with thanks Shel Silverstein for this until now, undiscovered treasure trove, I have placed this verse in a frame on the wall behind my desk in the media center computer lab classroom for every student who enters shall see, and remember the importance of being your own person.
                    "The Yesees said yes to anything
                      That anyone suggested.
                       The Noees said no to everything
                       Unless it was proven and tested.
                      So the Yesees all died of much too much
                      And the Noees all died of fright,
                     But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees
                     All came out all right."

Every Thing On It
Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780061998164
Retails for $19.99
For all ages


Stardines Swim High Across the Sky

     Jack Prelutsky is our nations first Children's Poet Laureate.  The author of more than fifty books of verse filled with imaginative wordplay, his latest, Stardines Swim High Across the Sky doesn't disappoint. This collection of sixteen poems accompanied by visually stunning, three-dimensional array of collages, dioramas and shadow boxes created by illustrator Carin Berger, are featured prominently throughout. 
     Prelutsky's finely humorous rhythmic verse tells us of an unusual rare species of creatures that are a mix of animal and inanimate objects.  For example, Prelutsky introduces us to "Plandas", who plan things but just never quite see them through.  "Tattlesnakes" are sneaky snakes who are nosy and are always sticking themselves into every one's business, and "Braindeer" who are quite smart, but their intelligence is wasted because they fail to speak or write. 
       Stardines Swim High Across the Sky will make for a wonderful addition to any classroom poetry library, and teachers can encourage their students to think outside of the box by creating their own strange pairings and write their own poems featuring their own creatively unusual characters.

Stardines Swim High Across the Sky
Written by Jack Prelutsky & Illustrated by Carin Berger
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062014641
Retails for $17.99
For ages 4 to 8