Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Grimes, Nikki. 2013. WORDS WITH WINGS. Pennsylvania: WordSong. ISBN 9781590789858

SUMMARY:

Welcome to the fictional world of Gabby.  To escape the angry words of her home, her days are spent daydreaming.  The imagination is celebrated through this outstanding novel written in verse.  The words are few, but full of power, meaning, and spirit of hope for a different life.

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  8 years and up
Grade level:  3rd grade and up
Educators will be inspired by this novel as a loving and patient teacher assists young Gabby in capturing her daydreams, putting them down on paper, and inspiring new dreams. The power of the imagination and of words is remarkably demonstrated in this wonderful piece of poetry.  The layout of this novel will be beneficial to any reader as the Table of Contents and titles guide the reader.

The language the author uses speaks for and to every daydreamer with its vivid sensory details and rhythm that helps the reading escape with Gabby.  Students, daydreamers or not, will be drawn in and inspired by the melody of Grimes' words as they are so beautifully chosen and written.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from page 63)

PLANETARIUM

David's mom

takes him on a trip

to the planetarium.

I know because

I get to go!

We lean back in our seats,

feel the dark wrap round us

like Saturn's rings,

and hold our breaths,

staring up at a night sky

speckled with starlight

and bigger than

all our dreams

slung together.

Can't wait to see

what drawings

David will do.

Me, I gather new words

like moon rocks,

souvenirs I get to keep

long after we leave.

CONNECTION:

Educators could share this poem during science lessons about planets.  Would be wonderful to share before a trip to a local planetarium as well. Slowly read through the above poem several times to allow students to experience the thoughts and feelings shared by the author.  Discuss the end of the poem, where Gabby talks about "...gather new words like moon rocks..." 

• In conjunction with the science lesson, allow small groups to brainstorm characteristic of a chosen planet.  
• Allow students to expand on their adjectives using a thesaurus.  
• Students, using PLANETARIUM as a mentor text, and "gather new words like moon rocks, souvenirs ... to keep ..."
• Students, working in their small group, create a poem using their old and new adjectives describing their chosen planet.
• Students neatly write their newly created poem on a poster.
• Students creatively decorate their poster illustrating key terms and topics found within their poem creating a visual that matches their poem.
• Display posters for all to see.
• Allow students to do a gallery tour to read, view, and experience their peers' poetry and artistic work, offering positive feedback on post-it notes.

LINKS:

• http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/news/words-with-wings-by-nikki-grimes/

Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Florian, Douglas. 2009. DINOTHESAURUS. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416979784

SUMMARY:

Take a giant step back in time into a world filled with carnivores, herbivores, spinosaurous, and of course T-rex.  With each turning of a page, another dinosaur will come to life through Florian's comical and informative poems.  The illustrations are unique and interesting as each extinct animals characteristics are displayed for the viewer.


QUALITY AND APPEAL:

Age Range: 6 years and up
Grade Level:  1st grade and up
Students will enjoy learning about each extinct animal and will marvel at the detail each illustration depicts. Both young and old will find the punctuation tools useful as they try to say each dinosaur's name.  The author also has simpler names in parenthesis.  Each poem is pleasing to the ear with rhythm and meaning, as truths are spoken and on visual display.

Educators will find the table of contents and the Glossarysaurus useful tools when searching for key topics to share and discuss with their students.  Each page has clear label and titles that will guide the user through the book to find and enjoy factual information as the author presents it.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from pages 36-37)

SPINOSAURUS

SPY-no-SAW-rus  (spine lizard)

What kept the Spinosaurus warm

When it was colder then the norm?

Spines much like a solar panel.

(And long underwear of flannel.)

CONNECTION:

The poem, SPINOSAURUS, could be shared during science lessons where various types of energy are being discussed, as well as prehistoric animal units.  Students will enjoy the short, catchy, and funny poem about the Spinosaurus.  To reinforce the ideas of solar energy, teachers guide their students through this fun and interactive lesson.

• Students work in small groups to design and create a solar oven using various types of items such as a box, black paper, and some type of reflective material like foil and mirrors.  Groups should be creative in their designs to capture as much heat as possible.
• Students choose from a variety of possible items to cook in their solar oven:  egg, cookie dough, or s'mores.  
• On a hot and sunny day, allow groups to test their solar oven by attempting to cook their chosen food.  Students should monitor the progress of their food as the light from the sun is reflected onto their design.  

Reinforce the learning about solar energy and solar panels by sharing the SPINOSAURUS poem again. Discuss how this animal's spine could have kept it warm during cold seasons.

LINK:

• http://youtu.be/o7H_tWezh9A

Yum! MmMm! Que rico!: Americas' Sproutings/Haiku by Pat Mora

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Mora, Pat. 2007. YUM! MMMM! QUE RICO!. ill. Rafael Lopez. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN 9781584302711

SUMMARY:

With each turning of the page, readers' mouths will water as they learn about various types of foods and their origins. Mora crafts this fabulous collection of haiku to celebrate native American foods. Viewers will enjoy the magnificent artwork from Lopez as they view the playful colors that add to the enjoyment and celebration of each of the fourteen different types of foods.


QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  4 years and up
Grade Level:  Pre-K and up
This book would be a wonderful tool to introduce children to various types of foods.  Readers will learn how chocolate is made, why tomatoes are considered a fruit, and how huge the largest pumpkin ever grown weights.  The illustrations throughout the book feature multicultural characters that are bright and appealing.  The haiku poems use creative sensory language that capture both feelings and imagery.  Each poem has a catchy rhythm that will appeal to readers of all ages.  Great mentor text that children can use to explore syllables as they create their own haiku.

Educators will find this book a useful tool for their classroom as they introduce topics such as haiku, various types of food, celebration of colors, and art.  Great discussions on many levels will be inspired by the pages of this wonderfully playful book.  Readers will be ready for a yummy healthy snack after each reading.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from book)

PAPAYA

Chewing your perfume,

we taste your leafy jungle.

Yum!  Juicy tropics.

Side note about Papaya:

Papaya, also known as tree melons,

are believed to have originated in

southern Mexico and Central America.

When ripe, the fruit is juicy and sweet.

Shaped somewhat like a pear,

a papaya can weigh as much as twenty pounds.

CONNECTION:

To extend the learning before, during, or after reading INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN by Thanhha Lai, teachers can share the poem PAPAYA, the side notes, and the beautiful illustrations on the two pages it is presented on.  This would be a wonderful addition to Lai's historical fiction novel that is written in verse. Students will enjoy seeing a visual of a papaya fruit.  

• To expand on both books, students could have the opportunity to taste papaya.  
• They could then discuss the fruit's characteristics using their five senses.  
• Then, using Mora's poem PAPAYA as a mentor text, students can create their own haiku about papaya.
• Create their own illustration, inspired by Lopez's work to display along with their self-created poem.
• Student participate in a gallery tour to view and discuss their peer's haiku creation and their illustration.

LINK:

• http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=2192&a=1

Poetry for Young People by Maya Angelou

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Angelou, Maya. 2007. POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. ill. Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. ISBN 9781402720239

SUMMARY:

This inspiring compilation of Dr. Maya Angelou's work includes twenty-five of her thought provoking poems.  Each captures the reader's emotions from cheerful and spirited to superior poems that will invoke pride.

Series:  "Poetry For Young People"

QUALITY & APPEAL:
Age Range:  8 and up
Grade Level:  3rd and up
Great discussions are inspired by each of the twenty-five poems found in this beautifully illustrated picture book.  Students will be able to examine how imagery can be use to represent many poetry elements as well as themes, ideas and the voices from history.  Various types of connections can be made with each poem and share with others for deeper connections than the personal text-to-self connections that students find easier to make.

Educators and readers will find a table of contents, index, and poem titles (headings) for easy access to specific poems found within the book's pages.  The high quality of Dr. Maya Angelou's work may be unfamiliar to today's 21st century audience.  Use the valuable poetry breaks throughout the learning day to introduce a new group of learners to her inspiring and thought provoking words that will stimulate their thoughts and emotions.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from pages 34-35)

CAGED BIRD

by Maya Angelou

...But a caged bird stands on the graves of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

CONNECTION:

This poem would be a perfect addition to the Harriet Tubman:  What Was Her Greatest Achievement? Data-Based-Questioning Mini-Q.  During discussions about Harriet Tubman risking her life to be a conductor and assist other escaped slaves reach freedom, this poem could be read slowly to enrich the discussion with thought provoking imagery.  The poem can be revisited at the end of the Mini-Q for additional connections as students prepare to write their essay conveying their thoughts and opinions of what her greatest achievement was. 

Students work in groups to create their own poem expressing the thoughts and feelings they have about Harriet Tubman and her miraculous success in escaping slavery, but also her brave and selfless years she helped others reach freedom and start new lives outside of the "cage". Students will share their poems with the whole group and add them to their final essay.  

Amazing Faces by Lee Bennett Hopkins

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2010. AMAZING FACES. ill. Chris Soentpiet. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781600603341

SUMMARY:

Amazing Faces is an anthology.  The various poems were selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins to express the universal emotions people feel from very diverse backgrounds.  Poem authors include Lee Bennett Hopkins, Janet S. Wong, J. Patrick Lewis, to name a few.


QUALITY & APPEAL:

Wonderful book to enrich a diverse community classroom where all feel welcomed, safe, and acknowledged.  Students from various backgrounds will enjoy seeing and hearing words, phrases, and pictures that symbolize "home" to them.  Students will be drawn in by the beautiful artwork of Chris Soentpiet.  The familiar childhood experiences, no matter the cultural background, will bring students together as they share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings about the many interesting topics found within this inspiring book.  Great discussions from the poems that will extend and enrich each students' insight and knowledge about themselves, the fellow students in their classroom, and the world around them.  Stimulating students in such a meaningful way will expand their imagination and their overall learning.

Educators will enjoy this picture book's poems as they are consistent in their high quality.  Each poem and illustration consistently reinforces the purpose of the book.  

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from poetry picture book)

ABUELA

by Patrick Lewis

Her face, a lacework of courage;

Her brow, brown as settled earth;

Her chin, worn thin, a point of pride;

Her cheeks, soft antiques of the sun;

Her smile, a profile in mischief,

Latina, abuela, she is everyone

Of us come from otherwhere,

Happy to call another stratosphere 

Home.

NOTE:  abuela:  grandmother

CONNECTIONS:

After reading ESPERANZA RISING by Pam Munoz Ryan, share this powerful poem with students to introduce an author's study.  Students work in small groups researching the author Pam Munoz Ryan, focusing in on key information related to the novel ESPERANZA RISING.  Students will create an informational poster, citing their sources.  They will present their group's information to the class and display their posters.  After all presentations, students will revisit the ABUELA poem and begin brainstorming ideas to create their own poem about their grandmother.  Students will create their own poem, and go through the whole writing process to revise, edit, and publish their work.  Their final publication will have a picture (one drawn by the student or a photograph brought from home) attached and displayed for all to see with the original ABUELA mentor poem in the center of the display.

Question and Answers with author Pam Munoz Ryan:  https://www.scholastic.com/esperanza/popups/authorqa2.htm

AWARDS:

• Texas Bluebonnet Masterlist
• Starred Review by Publishers Weekly
• Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education
• Great Lakes Great Books Awards Nominee by Michigan Reading Association

LINKS:

• Activities:
• http://www.rif.org/documents/us/Amazing-Faces_All.pdf
• http://www.soentpiet.com/amazing.html

Revenge of the Lunch Ladies: The Hilarious Book of School Poetry by Kenn Nesbitt

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Nesbitt, Kenn. 2007. REVENGE OF THE LUNCH LADIES: THE HILARIOUS BOOK OF SCHOOL POETRY. ill. Mike and Carl Gordon. Minnesota: Meadowbrook Press. ISBN 0881665274

SUMMARY:

This compilation of 45 sassy poems guides readers through a school year, from beginning to end, in a humorous manner that will make school seem more fun. From the sadness that summer is over, to the smells in a classroom, students will relate to the poems and the feelings they portray.  

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  6-12 years

Grade Level:  1st - 6th Grade

Educators will find the layout of the poems beneficial as lessons are planned for during a full school year. The arrangement is suitable for school use from beginning to end, in a logical order  The book also has a table of contents, an index, and poem titles (headings) for easy access to specific poems.  Educators will also enjoy the tune suggestions for many poems to add sound to the poems as they are shared in the classroom. The poems will provide great breaks in the day for learning.  Great discussions will come from the poems as teachers guide students' learning about a poem's meaning, types of rhythm and rhyming found, various types of figurative language, sensory imagery, and the emotional impact they see and feel.  

Students will connect to the topics and be drawn in by the familiar childhood experiences and interesting topics the poems explore in connection to school.  The tunes will add to the enjoyment as students sing along to newly learned poems and their learning is stimulated.  The basic black and white art work found throughout the book will also be appealing to students, especially those that enjoy doodling.  

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from page 24)

What I told Mrs. Morris When She Asked How I Was Feeling Today

"Grumbly, grouchy, groggy, grumpy, sleepy, slouchy, 

fussy, frumpy, whiny, wearly, cranky, crazy, 

dingy, dreary, loopy, lazy, dizzy, drowsy, 

crusty, crummy, loony, lousy, scruffy, scummy, 

bleary, batty, shaky, shabby, rusty, ratty, cruddy, crabby.  

That describes it, Mrs. Morris.  

Thank you for the new thesaurus."

CONNECTIONS:

Educators can share this poem with students and discuss all the words the author uses. Students can discuss and brainstorm words that describe how they are feeling under different circumstances (today, birthday, Christmas morning, before a big performance like a play or game, etc.). Once students have identified their "event" and their basic list of adjectives describing how they feel, they can begin looking up their basic words in a thesaurus.  They can add to their list of adjectives describing how they feel.  Students will share their new list with peers, showing the new creative adjectives they found using the thesaurus.  Then, students will create their own poem, using the original poem as a mentor text, using their creative adjectives to show their feelings on their chosen event.  Students will eventually go through the full writing process where they will peer edit each other's writing, revise to clarify ideas, and publish their poem to be displayed with the mentor text in the center of the display with lesson objectives (TEKS) listed that students' are mastering.  For added visual appeal, students could personalize their newly published poem with basic pencil drawings to continue emulating the mentor text.  

LINKS:

• www.gigglepoetry.com  
• Kenn Nesbitt's poems appear on this popular children's poetry website.
• www.poetry4kids.com
• Kenn Nesbitt's funny poems can be found here as well.  
• www.poetryteachers.com
• Ideas for educators on teaching poetry in a fun and interesting way.