Paul B. Janeczko

Janeczko, Paul B. (2001) Dirty Laundry Pile: Poems in Different Voices. (ill. Melissa Sweet) New York: HarperCollins ISBN 9780688162528

Paul B. Janeczko and Melissa Sweet pair their talents for a fun and creative book of animal poems. When teaching poem performance and allowing students to present poems in their own creative voices and tones, this book would complement instruction and guide the teacher in providing animal poems that are revel ant, educational and fun to repeat.

Young students who enjoy animated presentations, animals and fun rhyming poetry will definitely love this book. Melissa Sweet's illustrations accompanying Janeczko's verses makes this poem picture book a great read and a great visual. The compilation of work from various poets gives variety of style and form.

One of my favorite educational and fun poems from Janeckso's collection is a selection by Jane Yolen. Grandpa Bear sings to his grandchild cub about being a bear......

Grandpa Bear's Lullaby

Jane Yolen

The night is long

But fur is deep.

You will be warm

In winter sleep.

The food is gone

But dreams are sweet

And they will be

Your winter meat.

The cave is dark

But dreams are bright

And they will serve

As winter light.

Sleep, my little cubs, sleep.

Reviews

"Youngsters, who are just finding their own voices, are thus given the unique opportunity to examine the characteristics of others."

- Horn Book

"Janeckzo's collection of 'persona' or 'mask' poems - poems written in voices of nonhuman things - is varied in topic, mood, and quality."

- School Library Journal

Classroom & Curriculum Connections

* Poetry

* Great American poets; Janeczko

* Poetry performance

Janeczko’s work:

A Poke In The I

Foot In The Mouth: Poems to Speak. Sing and Shout

A Kick In The Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms

The Best Part of Me

Lisa Lord’s Class. (2002) THE BEST PART OF ME. (photography by Wendy Ewald). New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316703062

The children in Miss Lord’s class write about their favorite parts of their body. Some of the poems are funny and some are serious, but all of them show an appreciation of their bodies and point out the beauty of being who they are.

Wendy Ewald, an acclaimed photographer devoted to teaching photography to children, collaborates with Miss Lord’s class to snap shots of their loved body parts. These black and white images that match each student’s poem illuminate the natural beauty of each other chosen body parts.

Young students, from Kindergarten to second grade will enjoy reading the poems of their peers and seeing the handwriting, side line drawings and the photography art of Wendy Ewald. As students learn about self esteem, self worth and valuing the differences of other, this is the perfect book to share and then allow them to view it individually. Not only is this book genius in the presentation, but the subliminal messages of being happy with what you have, loving yourself and finding something unique and good about you, will make this book a favorite of teachers, parents and of course the students. This book belongs in every school library!

Here’s a quick Poetry Break

The book is concluded with Nada Hussain’s poem about her favorite body part – her hands. Our hands help us do some many things and from Nada’s poem, I gather she views her hands as very important for religious reasons, to enjoy mother nature and because of their unique color…..

ALL Mine

When I pray my hands
Overlap
In the sun they shine
The color of my hands
is toasty brown
These beautiful things are mine

By Nada Hussain



Classroom Connections:
Children’s poetry
Human Body
Pictorial Art
Self esteem and self worth

Other Wendy Ewald books:

Secret Games: Collaborative Works with Children 1969 – 1999
“Wendy Ewarld has had a photographic career like no one else, teaching photography to children as a means of building literacy and self-esteem…Her project is wonderful because it lets kids speak for themselves.”
– New York Times Book Review


Portraits and Dreams: Photographs and Stories by Children of the Appalachians
Luminous, vibrant, and timeless…The emotional content is unambiguous and powerful. An American masterpiece.”
- Booklist (Starred Review)

Magic Eyes: Scenes from an Andean Childhood
“Moving, intimate, and unsparing … The images are indelible.”
– New York Times Book Review

A serious poem

Introduction:

This 11 year old boy, who is the narrator of Relatively Speaking: Poems About Family by Ralph Fletcher, talks about a few experiences that he has shared with his family and some are his perception of his family members. He, the narrator, talks about his birth order, tragic events and he's trying to make sense of adult conversations and interactions. As I find humor and chuckle after reading some of the poems, I equally find that the seriousness of others are real issues that children think about internally and may become overwhelmed or scared or confused altogether. I selected this poem, The Bravest Deed, because I can remember several incidents growing up and even in my adulthood, seeing children in the grocery stores, shopping malls and generally out in public getting a harsh spanking that was technically not a "spanking". The emotional distraught after witnessing such a dramatic act will always have a space in your mental memory. Those types of interactions are never forgotten. After reading this poem several times to myself and out loud, I began to analyze the narrator's thoughts and how he must have felt. One of the most serious aspects of this poem is the title and his perception of his mother, who I think he feels "saved" this innocent three or four year old child from child abuse. He calls this THE Bravest Deed because at this point in his life, he probably hasn't witnessed anything more brave and more worth doing than what his mother did at the supermarket this day......

The Bravest Deed

I'm shopping with Mom
at the supermarket
and we see a woman
yelling at her kid who
looks about three or four.

She grabs the girl's arm
smacks her on the bottom
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
about ten times, hard, then
CRACK! across the girl's face.

The girl is screaming
and the lady gets ready
to smack her again
but all of the sudden Mom
sort of steps between them
and asks: Is everything okay?
You're having a hard time,
looks like. I remember...

Mom points to me, laughing,
actually calms the lady down
with that girl still sniffling
and me standing there hoping
no one will notice my trembling hands.

Extension:

It takes reading this poem a few times to really feel the emotion behind it. In any situation - child abuse is a serious issue. After reading this the first time aloud, I went back to read it silently and looked at the narrator's choice of using all capital letters for the sounds the abusive mother makes as she hits her child's bottom and face. My mental voice softens when I read what his mother says to the abusive mother and my heart softens even more when I read the last sentence "no one will notice my trembling hands."

Using this poem in the classroom:

Speaking to students about child abuse is a serious topic. Depending on the experience and knowledge of the child, or lack of both, you may trigger conversation and discussion that have students "telling" on their parents or just the opposite - they stay quiet and are embarrassed that they have had similar punishments. Some people feel that spanking is a subjective topic, just like book challenges, but the fact is, harmful punishment that doesn't correct negative behavior and only inflicts pain on a child is wrong. As a teacher discussing this topic and sharing this book with students, you will have to be prepared on how to follow up and what your due diligence is after hearing specific information from the students.

Other uses for this poem:

Teacher In-Service Meetings or "Back to School Meetings"

PTA Meetings

Parent Education

Fletcher, Ralph. (2001) RELATIVELY SPEAKING: POEMS ABOUT FAMILY (ill. Walter Lyon Krudop) Orchard Books: New York. ISBN 9780531301418

POETRY BREAK

Prelutsky, Jack. (2009). THE SWAMPS OF SLEETHE: POEMS FROM BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM. (Jimmy Pickering, ill.) New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 9780375846740

Introducton:
For a current study of Jack Prelutsky and his newest book in 2009, THE SWAMPS OF SLEETHE, read a poem a day for a simple Poetry Break. Transition students from one subject to the next or calm students down from lunch and recess or P.E. with this dark and soft spoken poem.

THE SWAMPS OF SLEETHE

On sweltering Sleethe, in swamps aseethe,
Malignant beings thrive,
Abhorrent things that need not breathe,
And yet are quite alive.
Within a foul and festering broth,
These mucid horrors ooze.
As gluey fluids fume and froth,
They hold their rendezvous.

And there through time beyond all time,
Suffused with rage and hate,
They’ve been in that miasmic slime
Too vile to contemplate.
If by some trick of fate you find
This world wherein they lurk,
Then you shall leave your bones behind
Beneath the Sleethian murk.

Author's note: SLEETHE - rhymes with breethe

Extension:

Poetry performance: Recite the poem in a scary voice so that students feel the effect of a far away, foreign to our country, monster. Dim the lights and bring the students in close. Have the student's discuss what this monster looks like.

Classroom Connections:

April is POETRY MONTH! Celebrating poets and their profession all month long with various peoms and their personal biographies.

A newer poetry book from 2005 or after...

Bibliography:
Grandits, John. (2007) BLUE LIPSTICK: CONCRETE POEMS. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618568604

Summary:

Funny, humorous 15 year old Jessie tells the story of her life events in poetic concrete poems. Jessie’s strong opinions and thoughts are cynical. Jessie’s relationships with those around her are distinctive and ordinary. New hair cuts with bad hair days, the annoying little brother that Jessie wants to get rid of (at least for a little bit) and school places and events that Jessie experiences in this poem book gives us further detail on how she interacts with her elders, feels and accomplishes her everyday tasks.

Critical Analysis:

Students in grades 5th – 9th, particularly girls, will love John Grandits’ BLUE LIPSTICK. The related topics that are common to the everyday life of the typical teenage student is honest, universal and humorous. Through Jessie’s point of view, school experiences and interactions, readers can relate and enjoy a simple laugh at the common issues that most kids their age encounter. The busy wording and art shaped poems tie in the words and illustrations. It may be rather annoying for adults but students will enjoy the spontaneous and creative display of poems.

REVIEWS:
Voya
“Teens might be enticed to pick up the book with its cover in the shape of a mirror poem with a shimmery silver background, but they will likely be disappointed that the voice wavers between authentic and adult-speak throughout.”

School Library Journal
“This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience.”


CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS:

Although this book relates to the issues and circumstances of the typical teenager, I think this book is more suited for joy reading. The poetic form and creative styles of the poem display could be used to style various ways to display poetry, write poetry and illustrate poetry. I do think that this book would be great for school counselors to speak with students about issues that they and use this book as a ice breaker, resource tool and as a communication assignment for students to use at home with their parents.

RELATED BOOKS:
Other books by John Grandits to share…

Technically, IT’S NOT MY FAULT by John Grandits
TRAVEL GAME by John Grandits

A similar theme (middle school / high school drama) book to share…
MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF: A YEAR TOLD THROUGH STUFF by Jennifer L Holm

A similar type of poem (concrete) book to share….
A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS by Chris Rashka

book cover

Refrain

Introduction:
Your second grade classroom is doing a basic study of how Christmas Across the World. Within the theme, students explore traditions of the English. One of the introductory activities is listening to a poem about a little girl who wants to celebrate Christmas in England. To test comprehension and knowledge and to ensure that students are listening, have each student on a piece of scrap paper write down all of the little girl's reasons for wanting to celebrate Christmas in England.




If I Could Visit England





I would be one happy kid,


I would be a girl who did


Everything her parents said,


Even "Amber, time for bed!"


If I could visit England.





If I could visit England, I


Would see Big Ben up in the sky,


And ride a double-decker bus


(Me, Mom, and Dad - the three of us).





If I could visit England, we


Would say, "Good day, Your Majesty,


Enjoyed the Guards at Buckingham!"


And words like bobby, bloke and tram.





But most of all I want to go


On Christmas Day with lots of snow,


When opening present would occur


At least six hours earlier!


If I could visit England.

The REFRAIN: If I could visit England

Conclusion:
Have the class write in their journals where they would like to go for Christmas and why. Students can use other resources; books, Internet searches, personal preferences, etc. to think of a place that they wish to visit for the Christmas holiday.





Classroom Curriculum Connections:


Christmas holidays - international studies / Christmas around the world


Language Arts / Reading: Poetry refrains, Christmas poems











Poem taken from:


Lewis, J. Patrick. (2007) UNDER THE KISSLETOE: CHRISTMASTIME POEMS. (Rob Shepperson, ill.) Homesdale, PA: Wordsong. ISBN 9781590784389

A book of poems on social studies

Siebert, Diane. TOUR AMERICA: A JOURNEY THROUGH POEMS AND ART. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2006. ISBN 9780811850568

SUMMARY

Diane Siebert travels through America with her husband and visits some of the most spectacular places. Writing her thoughts about the factual concept, natural beauty and geographical insights, Siebert matches her work with award winning illustrator, Stephen T. Johnson. Some as stereotypical as Las Vegas, Nevada and others as factual as Baldlands, South Dakota and then there is the opinionated Mount Rushmore, North Dakota that all add character to this collection of American places.

Stephen T. Johnson used a mixture of watercolor on graphite and photography to create his amazing illustrations for TOUR AMERICA. These outstanding pictures help blend art literature with geography and history for student audiences. With some of the landmarks and places being unfamiliar - this allows the readers and audiences to get a visual of what it would be like to view these places with their own eyes.

My favorite illustration in the book is the one of Alaska's northern lights. It would be a dream come to true to experience Johnson's art in a real life experience.

LAS VEGAS

Nevada

Las Vegas glitters in the night

And shimmers in the day;

She opens arms of neon light

To those who come her way

With hopes of placing one good bet

And finding Lady Luck

While playing blackjack or roulette -

Well, OOPS! There goes a buck!

Read TOUR AMERICA to anyone and any age! If this were larger, it could be a table book for a living room coffee table. In fact, this book could be used for a library like section of a classroom. All age groups would enjoy the pictures of Siebert and Johnson work. The writing and poems are geared more towards middle school age students. High school students would still take interest if there was a classroom connection or there was direct interest because of their own personal reasons. I think that history, geography and social studies educators could use this book for a variety of poetry breaks and for quizzes and resources for research.

TOUR AMERICA can be used for

* History

* Geography

* Art

* Poetry

* American History

* Social Studies

The facts and findings of the American landmarks and tourist attractions makes this book a fun travel buddy. Some of the research that Siebert conducted to add additional value and to make this book attractive to many ages, also brings a special interest to history lovers.

REVIEWS

"Siebert once again mines her knowledge of the United States, gained during a ten-year motorcycle odyssey with her husband, to produce poems that celebrate sites famous and lesser known. The combination of familiar sights, like the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Rushmore, with less celebrated landmarks such as Lucy the Elephant (found in N.J.), helps to give the book a fresh appeal, as do the evocative illustrations by Johnson, which are executed in a variety of media"

- Kirkus Review

"This distinguished offering blends poetry, geography, art, and history."

-Lee Bock

"Johnson uses a wide range of art and mediums and lists them in the back of the book. Watercolor, oil, collage, photography, colored pencil, and more have been used, sometimes alone and sometimes mixed, and the results are amazing."

- Sharon Salluzzo, CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Other books by DIANE SIEBERT

Train Song

Sierra

Cave

Mississippi

Heartland

Award winning books by STEPHAN T JOHNSON

A is for Art

My Many Colored Days

My Little Yellow Taxi