Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Heidi at my juicy little universe for Roundup.
I'm away from my desk today, having a little spring adventure with Paul! I'll share more next week.
This month I've been reading A LOT of children's poetry! Here's three I'd like to share a bit about:
Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Claudia McGehee.
This one was recently awarded the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. I am in love with the art! And check out all the great verbs in this one: stalking, croak, gurgle, gliding, riding, skitter, hoot....And each poem has an adverb! Adverbs are generally highly discouraged in poetry, but here they are an essential element of the "form" for each number-poem. Check it out!
How Elegant the Elephant: Poems about Animals and Insects by Mary Ann Hoberman, art by Marla Frazee.
This one is organized A to Z...by poem title. So there's a lot of movement across the animal and insect kingdoms, sometimes jarringly so, like a "There Once Was a Pig" poem tucked between "Tarantula" and "The Spider's Web." But y'all: Mary Ann and Marla are magical together! (Remember The Seven Silly Eaters? Probably our favoritefavoritefavorite read-aloud with our kiddos.) I think my favorite poem in this collection is "Birdsongsingsong." Give it a gander!
Words with Wings and Magic Things by Matthew Burgess, pictures by Doug Salati.
I listened to an audio version (read by the author) before picking it up in print. Both experiences were delightful! In print we're given cutouts! And the ART: So. Much. Fun. Yay, Doug Salati! Here are a few of my favorite poems by title: "The Tiger in My Belly," "Dancer," "Have You Ever?," "Serious Question" (it has pizza in it :), and "The Tomato" (I am a sucker for a tomato...and for a tomato poem!)
Here's a small sampling:
Early Spring Rispetto (it has cows in it!)
Two Parrots Walk Together is Spring
When I found this painting, I couldn't believe Picasso painted it! Truly, he was such a versatile painter, willing to try any sort of artistic style. I imagine him as kind of insatiable in his creativity. (I can relate!) Thanks so much for reading.
The Pool at Tulieries
Today is allsun & green.
Children ripple,
water giggles.
a thousand boats
in this dream
that is spring.
- Irene Latham
Love your ArtSpeak poem this week! I, too, can't believe Picasso painted that one. "water giggles" makes me very happy all over. :) And thanks for mentioning those 3 poetry books -- must see them!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's not classically Picassic, is it? "Children ripple/water giggles" is just perfect for the painting. Thanks for the book recs--I'm a big Mary Ann Hoberman fan so that's the one I'll start with!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me how sumptuous illustrations and poetry can be together and introducing me to those books. I too particularly love how you associated ripple and giggle together.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recs on this dream-that-is-spring day!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful books. Listening to verse is so satisfying to me. I just love it. I'll have to see if I can get an audio version of the books you've listed above. And, I'm kinda wowed by what I'm learning about Picasso through your project. I really, really didn't know the wide variety of styles this painter produced. This painting is charming... "all/sails & gentle" is such lovely language. Enjoy your adventure!
ReplyDeleteI love the surprise that children ripple. And ohh, I wrote a rispetto this week, so I followed to the link to read yours!
ReplyDeleteAh, that lovely poem is as beautiful and peaceful as this surprising painting by Picasso. Absolutely stunning, each word.
ReplyDeletePicasso? Really??? Wow. We think we know someone and still they can surprise us!
ReplyDeleteI am gobbling up all I can
"in this dream
that is spring"!
Oh, those thousand boats!! I adore this -- and the recs! And the painting!! Whoa!!
ReplyDeletePicasso repeatedly surprises me! Wow, I've never seen that one.
ReplyDelete