Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Engle, Margarita. 2011. HURRICANE DANCERS:  THE FIRST CARIBBEAN PIRATE SHIPWRECK. New York:  Hary Hold and Company, LLC. ISBN 9780805092400

SUMMARY:

Gripping historical fiction novel written in verse.  Each word carefully chosen to convey a message of being lost and broken to finding the strength to move on and forgive.  Readers will experience this journey through the narrative voices of various perspectives linking together a story from slavery to freedom.  

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  12 years and up
Grade Level:  7th and up
Readers will be drawn into this story as the author masterfully invokes thoughts, ideas, emotional connections, and sensory imagery with each turning of the page.  They will be rooting for young Quebrado as he finds his way to freedom.  Readers will enjoy the journey back in time, and through the span of about twenty years, in this well organized novel.  The various perspectives throughout the book add to the depth of connections and emotions the reader will feel towards its characters.

Using this type of historical fiction novel will help educators to inspire their students to read and research historical topics.  The interesting topic and journey the main character experiences will ensure engagement of all students.  Boys will especially be interested in the adventure this novel has in store for them.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from book - Pages 132-133)

YACUYO

As soon as I am alone

on a sunlit beach,

I shed all my old names,

both the gentle ones

given by my parents,

and the rough names

I received from my life

as a ship's slave

in hurricane season.

I choose the name

of a place -- Yacuyo,

"Far Light."

The name glows brightly.

It carries me galloping

on my sky horse

all the way back

to the sheltering forests

of high mountains

where I have friends

and a home.

I no longer feel

like Quebrado,

a broken place,

half floating isle

and half

wandering wind.

I am free

of all those old

shattered ways

of seeing myself.

I am whole.

CONNECTION:

Comparing historical fiction novels written in verse:

• Read another historical fiction novel written in verse with students.
• Suggestion:  INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN by Thanhha Lai
• Read HURRICANE DANCERS by Margarita Engle in its entirety.
• Lead students through various types of discussions:
• Comparing:
• Main characters
• Setting
• Situations for leaving their original homes
• Their new found homes in the end
• Characteristics of each historical fiction novel written in verse
• Historical time period and events that are true from each novel
• Discuss various types of personal connections students made during each novel reading and how those connections are personally similar and/or different.
• Allow students to create a poster displaying their thoughts and ideas about both historical fiction novel, spot lighting each main character through the use of a heart map.
• Students participate in a gallery tour to view peers' posters, and give positive feedback using Post-It notes.

Research Caribbean pirate shipwrecks:

• Students work in small groups to research Caribbean pirate shipwrecks using various types of technology tools and nonfiction resources that are available.
• Students will work together to create a visual display of their choosing (using technology or creating a poster to display), and present their findings to their peers during whole class presentations.
• Students are encouraged to print and/or include visuals/pictures of facts they found during their research and include them in their display for all to see during whole group presentations. 

LINKS:

• Informational website to learn about Taino Indian Culture in Poerto Rico
• Educator's Guide written by author, Margarita Engle

The Arrow Finds Its Mark edited by Georgia Heard

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Heard, Georgia, comp. (2012). THE ARROW FINDS ITS MARK:  A BOOK OF FOUND POEMS. ill. Antoine Guilloppe. New York: Roaring Brook Press.  ISBN 9781596436657

SUMMARY:

Words surround us everyday, everywhere we go.  This anthology is a collection of some of those words found on such items as an Oxi-clean detergent containers, SPRINT newspaper advertisement, and a computer drop-down menu to name a few.  Then, the words are reordered and modified, morphing them into a work of beauty to inspire young poets to find their own poetic voice in the world around them.

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  8 years and up
Grade Level:  3rd and up
This book has many great features that the reader will enjoy.  Readers can find specific poems using the table of contents, and it also has a great introduction to the book on the inside cover that will help the reader better understand the book's concept.  Students will be drawn in by the books unique concept and humor.  They will find the language and structure of the poems appealing. Young readings and writers will find the language used throughout this book interesting, and will make many connections to its subject matter.

Educators can use this book to inspire their students to put on their "poetry glasses" to sharpen their "poet vision", and find that poetry exists everywhere.  Educators can plan for explorations to assist students in finding existing words and phrases from their surroundings to create refreshing new poems that they have a personal connection to.  Educators can use the poems in the book as a great modeling tool, and as a mentor text that will spark creativity in young writers.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from book)

NICKNAMES IN THE NBA

(Found by J. Patrick Lewis in All-Time Player Directory, Official NBA Encyclopedia)

The Mailman, The Admiral, The Answer, The Truth, The Pearl, The Glove, The Dream, The Sheriff,
The Goods, The Waiter, Big Ticket, Big Country, Big Smooth, Big Nasty, Big Baby, Big Fundamental,
Z, Zo, Rip, Bo, Tip, Lo, Stro, Cat, Doggie, Piggie, Goat, Snake, Bull, Horse, Sam I Am,
Tim Bug, Tin Man, Thunder Dan, Sir Dunks-A-Lot, Boom Dizzle, The Hobbit, Vinsanity,
Mt. Motumbo, White Chocolate, Vanilla Gorilla, Dollar Bill, Tractor, Scooter, Ukraine Train,
The Owl Without a Vowel, The Human Highlight Film, Durantula, Magic, Shaq,
Larry Legend, The Chosen One, His Airness.

CONNECTION:

• Introduce lesson about using creative adjectives in students' writing using the above poem.  
• Introduce the topic with a picture or PowerPoint slide displaying famous NBA players.  
• Read the poem slowly in its entirety while students view picture or PowerPoint slide.  Allow them to jot down their ideas as to who each nickname might be referring to.  
• Provide a copy of the poem for each student, typed up in columns with a space by each name.  
• Allow students to work in groups to discuss, and use both technology and nonfiction books as reference tools to investigate the owners' of the nicknames.  After the allotted time, see which group got the most correct answers.  
• Then, transfer this learning into their own writing where they are describing a person, place, or thing.  
• Students will circle each time they mention or refer to their person, place, or thing in their first draft.  
• They will then use technology and a thesaurus as reference tools to come up with an expanded list of creative adjectives they can use in their writing to make it more interesting and fun.
• Students will add at least five creative adjectives in their second draft as they work through the writing process.  

LINKS:

• Georgia Heard's official website
• Great educational resources text listed here by Georgia Heard.

Follow Follow by Marilyn Singer

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Singer, Marilyn. 2013. FOLLOW FOLLOW:  A BOOK OF REVERSO POEMS. ill. Josee Masse. New York:  Penguin Group. ISBN 9780803737693

SUMMARY:

A collection of poems that can be read from top to bottom or from bottom to top.  Each direction the poem is read, a different meaning, message, or view point is conveyed.  Like magic, the same words hold new meaning while maintaining the poems topic. The focus for this poetry pictures book centers around classic fairy tales with a sly twist.

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  6 years and up
Grade Level:  1st and up
Marilyn Singer presents familiar fables and fairy tales in a fresh new way.  Readers will enjoy revisiting old favorites like THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, PUSS IN BOOTS, and THE GOLDEN GOOSE.  The language used in each poem is used in a unique way that leaves an impression on the read as ideas, descriptions, and emotions are conveyed.  The poems are organized and laid out in a clear and creative manner.  Each poem is represented creatively through Josee Masse's art.  The bright colors bring the characters to life.  On the opposite page, the poem is presented twice.  Once for the readers to read from top to bottom, and then again from bottom to top.  Readers will eagerly want to read additional poems to experience Singer's creative craftsmanship.

Educators will find the poems within this book a refreshing tool to engage students in their learning.  The poems and the creative way they are presented will be appealing and memorable to students.  Most will be familiar and remind them of childhood experiences, making them a perfect fit for the engagement phase of lessons to activate background knowledge on a topic or subject. To clarify poem topics, the book includes an informational section in the back where each poem is discussed.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from book)

READY, STEADY, GO!

(Read TOP to BOTTOM - Hare's POV)

That ridiculous loser!

I am not

a slowpoke,

Though I may be

the smallest bit distracted,

I can't be

beat,

I've got rabbit feet to

take me to the finish line.

(Read BOTTOM to TOP - Tortoise's POV)

Take me to the finish line!

I've got rabbit feet to

beat.

I can't be 

the smallest bit distracted.

Though I may be

a slowpoke,

I am not

that ridiculous loser.

CONNECTION:

Use the above poem to introduce students to one of Aesop's fables, THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE.

• View 1934 Disney video to engage students in the lesson.
• Disney 1934 "The Tortoise and the Hare" video (8:25 mins.)
• Discuss and create an anchor chart displaying characteristics of fables:
• Short story
• Animals as main characters who take on human characteristics (talking, walking, wear clothes, live in houses, etc.)
• Personification
• Usually one problem
• Ends with a lesson or moral
• Provide a copy of the above poem for each student.
• Read Marilyn Singer's poem, READY, STEADY, GO!, in its entirety.
• Then re-read the Hare's section only.
• Discuss this section of the poem and how the punctuation clarifies the POV of the Hare, and identify the types of fable characteristics found in this section of the poem.
• Re-read the Tortoise's section.
• Discuss this section of the poem and how the punctuation clarifies the POV of the Tortoise, and identify the types of fable characteristics found in this section of the poem.
• Re-read the poem in its entirety once again.
• Discuss the moral or lesson this fable is conveying.
• Provide other fable text for students to read, discuss, and identify fable characteristics while working in a small group.
• Groups will create a poster to present their group's story, the fable characteristics found, and a self-created poem that can be read from top to bottom AND bottom to top using Singer's poem as a mentor text.
• Groups will hang up their poster and participate in a gallery tour to view their fellow peers' work.
• Students will leave positive feed back using Post-It notes.
• Assess individual student's comprehension during a final unit test that include and compares fables with other types of genres that have been discussed, such as fairy tales.

LINKS:

• Companion book to MIRROR MIRROR:  A BOOK OF REVERSIBLE VERSE by Marilyn Singer
• Link to Amazon
• Meet the author
• Youtube video - Interview with Marilyn Singer