It's National Poetry Month!
And I am going to try to read and post about a book of poetry a day to celebrate. Yes, poetry should be celebrated every day. Yes, I should be reading more books of poetry all year long. Perhaps this challenge to read a book a day will translate into more regular poetry reading throughout the year.
The book that I chose to kick off my personal celebration of Poetry Month is one of my favorites.
A Poke in the I: a collection of concrete poems. Selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. 35 p. Candlewick Press, April, 2001.
When I was a K - 8 librarian with a fixed schedule, I shared this every year since I found it. It was published in April, 2001. I started my job as the school librarian in September of 2001; so I feel like I've grown up with this book, at least professionally. I cannot recall now how I learned about it, most likely, read a review. But it must have been soon after publication because my personal copy is a first edition.
I love everything about this book from its design through the selection of poems to the exuberant illustrations. Firstly, its design. Gorgeous. I always teach students to note the pre-matter in picture books. I also enjoy decorated end-pages. These are a bit cryptic and non-sensical, la la la la la. Poo poo pi doo. La la la...march across the end-pages in tangerine orange on a red background. Turn the page and the title page features Paul Janeczko's name in red lettering sort of bleed into the letters of Chris Raschka's name, which are in black. Very cool. Turn the page and the copyright information is written out in the shape of the copyright logo, with the CIP info contained in the center of the C. Turn the page, and read the Table of Contents written to form a table, complete with framed photos of the author and illustrator on top. Turn the page to read Notes from the Editor. These words appear on the verso with a cute, bearded green man (see "photo" on top of the table of contents) playing a saxophone. On the recto, appearing to be blasted out of the sax are the notes, which explain what concrete poetry is and introduce the thirty playful poems contained within.
The book makes for a leisurely read aloud. Gather your listeners close and take your time. Let the poem sink in and delight in the reactions of your listeners when they get it. Some perennial favorites are: A Weak Poem, Cat Chair, Stowaway (you may have to explain what a stowaway is though), Popsicle, Forsythia, Tennis Anyone? and Pattern Poem with an Elusive Intruder.
I will never forget the first time that I read the book out loud. I did not pre-read the entire book and read Sky Day Dream cold. I read it the way most text gets read, left to right, top to bottom. When I finished it, I said, "Hm. That one doesn't make sense to me." Here's a crummy photo of the page. (My wireless printer/ scanner really needs a wire for the scanner and I don't have one handy right now.)
A little first grader, who always made sure to park himself right at my feet each week, suddenly straightened and said, "Mrs. Kahn, you need to read it from the bottom!" That was his view.
with them
could fly off
into the sky
fly off
some crows
once I saw
suddenly made sense when read from the bottom. Silly me. I learn something from my students every day.
Mr. Janeczko and Mr. Raschka collaborated again on two more volumes: A Kick in the Head: an everyday guide to poetic form, in 2005 and Foot in the Mouth: poems to speak, sing and shout, in 2009.
The book that I chose to kick off my personal celebration of Poetry Month is one of my favorites.
A Poke in the I: a collection of concrete poems. Selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. 35 p. Candlewick Press, April, 2001.
When I was a K - 8 librarian with a fixed schedule, I shared this every year since I found it. It was published in April, 2001. I started my job as the school librarian in September of 2001; so I feel like I've grown up with this book, at least professionally. I cannot recall now how I learned about it, most likely, read a review. But it must have been soon after publication because my personal copy is a first edition.
I love everything about this book from its design through the selection of poems to the exuberant illustrations. Firstly, its design. Gorgeous. I always teach students to note the pre-matter in picture books. I also enjoy decorated end-pages. These are a bit cryptic and non-sensical, la la la la la. Poo poo pi doo. La la la...march across the end-pages in tangerine orange on a red background. Turn the page and the title page features Paul Janeczko's name in red lettering sort of bleed into the letters of Chris Raschka's name, which are in black. Very cool. Turn the page and the copyright information is written out in the shape of the copyright logo, with the CIP info contained in the center of the C. Turn the page, and read the Table of Contents written to form a table, complete with framed photos of the author and illustrator on top. Turn the page to read Notes from the Editor. These words appear on the verso with a cute, bearded green man (see "photo" on top of the table of contents) playing a saxophone. On the recto, appearing to be blasted out of the sax are the notes, which explain what concrete poetry is and introduce the thirty playful poems contained within.
The book makes for a leisurely read aloud. Gather your listeners close and take your time. Let the poem sink in and delight in the reactions of your listeners when they get it. Some perennial favorites are: A Weak Poem, Cat Chair, Stowaway (you may have to explain what a stowaway is though), Popsicle, Forsythia, Tennis Anyone? and Pattern Poem with an Elusive Intruder.
I will never forget the first time that I read the book out loud. I did not pre-read the entire book and read Sky Day Dream cold. I read it the way most text gets read, left to right, top to bottom. When I finished it, I said, "Hm. That one doesn't make sense to me." Here's a crummy photo of the page. (My wireless printer/ scanner really needs a wire for the scanner and I don't have one handy right now.)
A little first grader, who always made sure to park himself right at my feet each week, suddenly straightened and said, "Mrs. Kahn, you need to read it from the bottom!" That was his view.
with them
could fly off
into the sky
fly off
some crows
once I saw
suddenly made sense when read from the bottom. Silly me. I learn something from my students every day.
Mr. Janeczko and Mr. Raschka collaborated again on two more volumes: A Kick in the Head: an everyday guide to poetic form, in 2005 and Foot in the Mouth: poems to speak, sing and shout, in 2009.