Biographical Poetry: The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

Citation:

Engle, M. (2006). The poet slave of cuba: a biography of juan francisco manzano. New York, NY: Henry Holt. Illustrator: Sean Qualls. ISBN: 9780805077063.

Review:

Engle presents an emotional poetic verse biography of a Cuban slave named Juan Francisco Manzano. Readers will become engaged in Juan's story and feel empathy for the cruelty he experienced as a slave. Readers will also admire Juan's ability to find comfort in poetry during his life experiences...both positive and negative. Engle's character presentation allows the reader to connect with the story and one is able to distinguish each character by the rhythm of the verses. A moving story and the illustrations help the reader to visualize the story. The end of the book contains an historical note so the readers will be able to read more about Juan Francisco Manzano. Engaging book and recommended for older teens.

Excerpt:

"Juan"

These rhymes are mine
mine alone
never memorized
or copied
in any way

Rhymes about
soaring in spirit
a spark imprisoned
bursting it bonds
of clay

Rhymes about feeling delight
wrapped in love
alive
and able
to pray

Introducing the Poem:

This is a great example of showing teens how creating individual rhymes about feelings can be written in a poetic form. I would instruct students to journal a rhyme from their feelings and share with the others if so desired. I would also inquire if students could share any other examples of rhymes that were motivated by emotion. This will help students explore rhymes, rhythms and poetry!

Social Studies Poetry: I Never Saw Another Butterfly

Citation:

Volavkava, Hana. (1978). I never saw another butterfly: children's drawings and poems from Terezín concentration camp 1942-1944. New York, NY: Schocken Books. ISBN: 0805205985.

Review:

This is a book that contains drawings and poems from the children of the Terezín Concentration Camp during the years of 1942-1944. The poems give the reader a first hand observation of experiencing the Holocaust through the eyes of the children victims. While the poems and drawings are expressive about the human atrocities they witness and experienced, I found a delicate beauty present when some of the poems focused on the beauty of nature from a child's perspective. The book finishes with acknowledging the poets and illustrators by giving the reader a brief synopsis of their lives. Unfortunately many of these children perished in the Holocaust and due to this subject matter I would only recommend this book for older teens. This book would be a great addition for a social studies curriculum in an educational setting and should be made available in both public and school libraries.

Excerpt:

"The Butterfly"

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun's tears would sing
against a white stone...

Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly 'way up high
It went away I'm sure because it wished to
kiss the world goodbye.

For seven weeks I've lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto
But I found my people here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut candles in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live in here,
In the ghetto.

Introducing the Poem:

This was a very captivating poem and was selected due to the artistic tones and subject matter. I would instruct students (high school) to listen to the word and reflect in their journals what they feel the author's message was. Also this is a good way to have students journal about any hardships they may have experienced due to their religious beliefs, ethnicity, economic status, etc. Another great activity would be to have students write their feelings in a poetic shape of a butterfly.

Science Poetry: The Tree that Time Built

Citation:

Hoberman, M, & Winston, L. (2009). The tree that time built: a celebration of nature, science, and imagination. Napperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc. Illustrations by Barbara Fortin. ISBN: 9781402225178.

Review:

Hoberman and Winston created a wonderful anthology inspired by the works of Charles Darwin. The poems in this text are spread out into nine sections that compliment nature and science. These sections are titled, "Oh, Fields of Wonder, The Sea is Our Mother, Prehistoric Praise, Think Like a Tree, Meditations of a Tortoise, Some Primal Termite, Everything that Lives Wants to Fly, I am the Family Face and Hurt No Living Thing." The poems that are included display many poetic form such as verse, concrete, shape, haiku, etc. The poems presented have good rhythm and rhyming. Some poems have accompanying footnotes that provide additional insight on the subject and creator of the poem. The book also includes a glossary, short biographies of the poets and a CD where you are given the opportunity to hear some of the poems read aloud. This book was an engaging fast read and would compliment science curriculums in an educational setting.




Excerpt:

"Frog"

Pollywiggle Wet skin
Pollywog Cold blood
Tadpole Squats in
Bullfrog Mucky mud
Leaps on Leaps on
Long legs Long legs
Jug-o-rum Jug-o-rum
Jelly eggs Jelly eggs
Sticky tongue Laid in
Trick flies Wet bog...
Spied by Pollywiggle
Flicker eyes Pollywog.


Introducing the Poem:
This poem has wonderful rhythm and really helps to reinforce the frog species for a science lesson. I would have children close their eyes and visualize the words of the poem. In addition, I would instruct the children to draw what they visualized in their journals.

2011 Poetry Book: "Hurricane Dancers"

Citation:

Engle, M. (2011). Hurricane dancers: the first Caribbean pirate shipwreck. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN: 9780805092400.


Review:

Margarita Engle wrote a very high quality tale of a Spanish pirate named Bernardo de Talavera, his slave named Quebrado and a hostage named Alonso de Ojeda. All three were left to swim for shore when a hurricane destroyed their ship. The slave, Quebrado, was a very smart young man who spoke two languages (Taino and Spanish) and this knowledge ultimatly helped to save his life when he found a Ciboney Indian tribe on this new found island. The pirate, Bernardo de Talavera, and his hostage, Alonso de Ojeda, were not so fortunate because they did not speak nor understand the language of the island natives. Ultimately, Quebrado decides the fate of these two men by warning the island natives about the dangers these two men pose. Quebrado befriends a Ciboney fisherman named Narido and is captivated by the beauty of a young Ciboney woman named Caucubu. The story takes some twists and turns that will keep the reader engaged. Engle did a good presentation of poetic free verse for each of her characters and the reader will be able to recognize the tone and rhythm of each character while reading their verses. An interesting aspect of the story is the historical setting which is sure to attract history enthusiasts of any age. Great book and compelling story that should be in every library’s collection!

Excerpt:

"Quebrado"

The hurricane
falls silent.

We step out of the cave,
and find masses
of writhing sea things
that look like snakes,
moons, flowers
and stars....

The Woman of the Wind
taught all these creatures
how to fly.

What will the hurricane
teach me?

Introducing the Poem:

This is a great poem to introduce children to the power of mother nature and how one can turn a weather event into poetic form. I would ask children to journal a weather event they experienced or viewed on a television and write a short poetic verse reflecting the power of such an event.

Verse Novel: "Love that Dog"

Citation:

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060292873

Review:

This is a wonderful story of a boy named Jack who is very reluctant to write poems in a journal for class. With much encouragement from his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, Jack begins to make poetic connections with real-life experiences. When Jack listens to Ms. Stretchberry read poems by Walter Dean Myers, his attempts at writing poetry take on new life and begin to shine in his journal. Especially touching was the experience Jack wrote about his dog named Sky. Creech is able to connect with readers by presenting Jack's story in short free-verse poetry which will keep the reader engaged during Jack's story and he or she might even shed a tear. The book's format is easy to follow and Jack's journal entries are dated which gives the reader a sense of timeline that is beneficial to the story. Creech concludes her book with a short segment featuring the poems Jack's teacher read throughout the story. A must have book for anyone who may have a reluctant reader and for boys in general.

Excerpt:

"OCTOBER 24"

Blue car, blue car, shining bright
in the darkness of the night:
who could see you speeding by
like a comet in the sky?

I could see you in the night,
blue car, blue car, shining bright.
I could see you speeding by
like a comet in the sky.

Introducing the poem:
I picked this poem because I really like how Jack took another poem's rhythm and proceeded to write the above excerpt in the "beat-beat-beating" rhythm. I would discuss and read poems of specfic rhythms and have children attempt to write or re-write one of their poems in a specific rhythm. This will be a great way to introduce how poetic rhythms can really add a new twist to the words of a poem.

Poetic Form: "THE CUCKOO’S HAIKU"

Citation:

Rosen, M. (2009). The cuckoo's haiku: and other birding poems. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick. Illustrated by Stan Fellows. ISBN: 9780763630492

Review:

Rosen presents wonderful haiku and other poems for more than twenty American birds. The book's layout is easy to follow and is written in three seasons (spring, summer and autumn). The illustrations are beautifully done in water color and bring a burst of color to the accompanying haiku. Readers will enjoy the vibrant colors on each of the bird's pages. Rosen adds insightful information in cursive about the pictured bird which also includes the bird's song. Each bird's song is written so that the reader will understand the rhythm and repetition of the song, which is an added benefit for the reader. The text ends with a directory of each bird that was pictured and facts about their heritage, life, eating habits, etc. This is a great book and will be a prized entry into any library's collection!


Excerpt:

"European Starling"

masking the daylight
one wheeling black star explodes
thousands of starlings


Introducing the Poem:

This is a nice poem to use to introduce children to how animal migration can be written in a poetic form. I would encourage children to write in their journals about certain animals they only see during specific seasons and then use this information and write a poem.