Poetry is a form of writing that appeals to thoughts and feelings. Poetry for children focuses on children’s thoughts, feelings, and the struggles that they are going through. The elements of poetry include rhythm, rhyme and sound, imagery, and figurative language. Students should be exposed to a wide variety of poetry forms such as poems in different shapes, ballads and narrative poems, haiku, free verse, limericks, and lyrical poetry.
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 4.0
This collection of poetry will appeal to both teachers and students, young and old alike. With inspiration from legends, such as: Frankenstein himself, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera, Bigfoot, The Creature of the Black Lagoon, Godzilla, The Invisible Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and more, Rex manages to create entertaining prose to creatively introduce these cultural and literary icons to young students. Who knew that the Creature of the Black Lagoon simply went swimming too quickly after eating his lunch and sank? Or that The Phantom of the Opera was so distraught because he was just trying to get “It’s a Small World” out of his head? It’s lyrical introductions like these that will leave students giggling and wanting more.
From cover to cover this book is full of great prose – the copyright page is in shape-poem form and even the “About the Author” is written in verse. What a great way to not only introduce but to also spark an interest in poetry with our students.
Reviewed by Tiffany Braunel
Reaching for the Sun
by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 5.8
Josie Wyatt has a lot to deal with. Her mom works and goes to school, so she never sees her. Her grandma is more like a mother to her because of this. Josie has never known her father. Some times she thinks it was her fault he left because she was born with cerebral palsy. This is also the reason that Josie feels so alone at school. However, when Jordan moves into the new development behind her family’s farm, she finds someone that can accept just who she is. Each chapter of this book is a free-verse poem that weaves into the next telling Josie’s story of being different.
Reviewed by: Julie Weideman
Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems by John Grandits Interest Level: 5-8 Reading Level: 5.7 Blue Lipstick is a collection of poems which reflect Jessie’s sarcastic opinion of high school life. Jessie doesn’t mince words. She tells it like it is from the odor of the bus driver in the morning to the air headed cheerleaders with the ridiculously thin waists at the pep rally. I chose this book because it flies off the shelf during our poetry unit at school. Students can’t get enough of Blue Lipstick. Each poem is a different shape, words go in different directions, and even letters are turned on their ears. Students absolutely love this book! Reviewed by Polly J. LaMontagne