Monday, September 26, 2016

BOOKED by Kwame Alexander

Last April at TLA, it was my good fortune to meet and serve on a poetry panel that included Kwame Alexander. Here's the group shot:


I've since seen Kwame (somewhere -- where was it?) wearing a t-shirt that said "I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie," which I thought was super fun but didn't know it had significance related to his new book BOOKED. Well, the t-shirt-- along with other equally clever book-love t-shirts -- appears in the book thanks to one dynamic librarian Mr. Mac who pretty much changes main character Nick's life. (I have met a real-life Mr. Mac in Decatur, Alabama! Seriously. Dynamic librarian, and his name is Mr. McDonald. :)

Confession: I was about 3/4 of the way through the book before I realized the different meanings of the book's title. Sometimes I'm slow like that! But then Nick took a while to turn into a bonafide book-nerd, so I guess it's never too late, right?

Anyhow, I'd like to share with you a poem from the book. It's a response to an amazing poem by Langston Hughes called "Harlem" that begins with this line: "What happens to a dream deferred?"


Fun fact: "Harlem" also inspired one of my forthcoming picture books: POP BAM BOOM - Exploding Poems. So I especially loved seeing this poem. Enjoy! And if you want to read a story about a boy who learns to love books (among other things), read BOOKED!


What happens to a dream destroyed?

Does it sink
like a wrecked ship in the sea?

Or wade in the water
like a boy overboard?

Maybe it just floats
around and around. . .

or does it drown?

- Kwame Alexander (BOOKED)

4 comments:

  1. This book is on my WTR (want to read) shelf. Moving it to the top of the pile!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'll have to check this book out! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a great book. And oh, that poem. Kwame is da man!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a great book. And oh, that poem. Kwame is da man!

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts?