FALLING HARD: 100 POEMS BY TEENAGERS by Betsy Franco

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Franco, Betsy (Ed.). 2008. FALLING HARD:  100 LOVE POEMS BY TEENAGERS.  Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.  ISBN 9780763634377

SUMMARY:

A collection of honest poems from teens.  They express the love hate relationship many experience during those short years of life.  First love can be felt through the poetic words of youth.  Heart aches shared as those first loves don't turn out as we once hoped and dreamed.  Curl up with this great book and be inspired by the hope of love, or comforted during heart breaks.  Find hope for new love as life goes on.

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  15 and up

Older students will relate to the raw nature of the poems, and enjoy reading published poems from young adults like themselves.  They will enjoy the humor many of the poems express.  Real issues, real feelings are expressed and shared in many of the poems.  Passion, obsession, anger, and desperation are feelings that are shared.  Young adults will have many of their feelings validated as they read the poetic treasures this book holds.

Teacher will appreciate the authentic poetry found inside this book.  Students will be more engaged as they listen and interact with poetry that relates to them in one way or another.  Sharing the poems and allowing students to use them to inspire their own writing will help struggling students who might be highly intimidated to writing poetry.  Librarians and teachers should be cautious about their target audience's ages and the specific poems they use.  There are some mature subject matters and inappropriate language shared in some of the poems.  

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from page 83)

THE PERFECT GUY

by Valerie Garcia, age 16

He gives me flowers,

Rings and notes,

Jewelry, makeup,

Other things.

I return the favors;

Anything for him.

I smile with joy --

No girl could ever be so lucky --

Until reality slaps me in the face.

It's fun to pretend,

But I must remember:

It's for her, not me.

CONNECTION:

• Share select poems with older students from Franco's poetry book.
• Read the above poem several times aloud to the whole group.
• Ask students to brainstorm their ideas of the "perfect guy" or the "perfect girl".
• Student will pick out 20-30 key words or phrases that describe their perfect guy/girl.
• They will create a Visual Poem using www.imagechef.com.
• Students will print their Visual Poem out and create a decorative background that reflects them and their poem.
• Select poems will be framed and entered into the local art show and put up for auction during school fundraiser.

LINKS:

• Jaylene Clark performing her poem, "Detrimental to My Success", found on pages 118-119
• http://youtu.be/-aQNktsy2uc

SCARUM FAIR by Jessica Swaim

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Swaim, Jessica. 2010. SCARUM FAIR. ill. Carol Ashley. Pennsylvania:  Wordsong. ISBN 9781590785904

SUMMARY:

Come one!  Come all!  Buy your tickets to the creepiest fair in town.  Get goosebumps from the Ghoul at the Gate.  Join in with the dead and run for your life in the great Coffin Race.  Most of all, don't miss the wedding of the century.  Count Dracula is sending a personal invitation just for YOU!

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  9 years and up
Grade Level:  4th grade and up

Students are going to love to spooky poems hidden inside this book.  They will eagerly read one after another.  Some will leave them laughing, running to share with a friend. While others will scare them or even gross them out.  The illustrations will add depth and meaning to the poems that students will enjoy examining.  They provide great visuals as they illustrate the poetic words each poem is expressing.

Teachers can share these poems throughout the month of October.  They serve as great poetry breaks during a day of learning.  They can be read over and over again for enjoyment, or analyzed, studying stanzas, rhyming, line breaks, tone, and mood.  This book is filled with spooky fun that students will enjoy and be engaged in during lessons.  They will definitely get into the Halloween spirit and learn a great deal about poetry along the way.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from page 17)

COFFIN RACE

There's no need to have a license.

There's no need to be alive.

The competition's stiff tonight,

'cause dead folks love to drive!

You'll see expensive models

plus some long-forgotten makes.

Reclining seats are optional,

but not a soul needs brakes.

The racetrack spirals downward

to the finish, and no wonder:

the winner gets a floral wreath

and parking six feet under.

CONNECTION:

Lesson for 4th grade and up:

• Share this and other poems from Swaim's poetry picture book.
• Allow student to reread and share their favorite poems in the Poetry Center.
• Ask students to choose one of their favorite poems from SCARUM FAIR by Jessica Swaim, and create their own spooky Halloween poem, using her poem as inspiration.
• Their poem must be 2-4 stanzas and contain some type of rhyming scheme.
• Students need to cite the source of their poem's inspiration on the bottom of their page.
• After students have written their poem and gone through the whole writing process (Revise and Edit), they will publish their poem in the Writing Center by either neatly rewriting their piece or by typing it their final copy.
• Students will attach their poem to an art piece that they created using multiple art supplies that are available.  The art should match the poem and help provide a visual for readers to see.  They can use Ashley's illustrations found in the book for inspiration as well.  
• Finished poems and art will be displayed in the classroom or around school.  

LINKS:

• SCARUM FAIR activities by author, Jessica Swaim
• http://www.jessicaswaim.com/scarum_files/Scarumguide.pdf
• 2012-2013 Bluebonnet Award Nominee
• http://texasbluebonnetaward2013.wordpress.com/scarum-fair/

FIREFLY JULY: A YEAR OF VERY SHORT POEMS by Paul B. Janeczko

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Janeczko, Paul B., comp. 2014. FIREFLY JULY:  A YEAR OF VERY SHORT POEMS.  ill. Melissa Sweet. Massachusetts:  Candlewick Press. ISBN 978763648428

SUMMARY:

Experience the work of art and poetry as you walk through all four season of a year.  The words are few, but the imagery and sensory language used in the poems will land you right in the center of the season you are reading about. Experience the wonders and beauty of that season, savor the moments and the memories each poem brings.  Then, move on to a new season ...

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  6 years and up
Grade Level:  1st grade and up
Young students can learn about the four seasons we have in each year though the poems contained in this masterful compiled poetry book.  The selection of poems and the beautiful illustrations will appeal to all ages. The illustrations will catch the viewers eye and the catching poems will make them want to linger on that page as the words reinforce Sweet's artwork.

Educators will find this to be a jewel for any classroom or library.  The poems are short and can be used for quick poetry breaks.  Lesson can be created that center around using one of the gems as a mentor text for reading, writing, or to reinforce science concept.  Artist can express themselves using Sweet's work as a mentor art piece as well.  Students can work with watercolors and mixed medias like the illustrator did.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from pages 14-15)

LITTLE ORANGE CAT

by Charlotte Zolotow

Little orange cat,

you prowl

like a small tiger

(stalking what?)

in the field

of white daises

and shining buttercups.

CONNECTION:

Lesson for Pre-k-1st grade:

• Whole group/Circle Time:
• End of spring, beginning of summer, discuss summer and types of things student will see (flowers, dragonflies, etc.).
• Share the above poem with students, rereading it slowly several times while students study the illustrations.
• Discuss what the word "prowl" means.  
• Then, discuss what it means to "prowl like a small tiger".
• Allow students time to share their thoughts verbally.
• Then, allow students to show with their bodies what "prowl like a small tiger" means.  (Example:  Students slowly crawling around on their hands and knees.)
• Discuss that the word "stalking" means?
• Ask students to infer what the little orange cat might be stalking in the field.
• Art Center:
• Students will view pages 14 and 15 and create their own illustration of a little orange cat in a field of flowers.  
• Writing Center:
• With the help of the teacher, students will add to the poem by Charlotte Zolotow and say what they think the little orange cat is stalking in their newly created poem.  
• Students' art and poem will be displayed in the classroom or in the hallway with a blown up copy of pages 14 and 15 displayed in the center citing the source for their inspiration both artistically and for their poetry writing.