Cool Daddy Rat

Cool Daddy Rat by Kristyn Crow ; illustrated by Mike Lester

Today's poetry post is influenced by music- specifically jazz. Mrs. Hudson's grade 7's are discovering that today's music has it's roots and foundations buried in jazz and the hipster's slang dictionary. How fun!

Summary:
Ace has the coolest daddy ever. Every night he goes out to play jazz and scat all around the city. but one night Cool Daddy Rat hears something strange: "peeky, squeaky, who dat?"
It's Ace, hiding in the bass case! Lucky Ace gets to tag along and the pair zig and zag from gig to gig all over the city, filling the streets with sweet beats. But stowing away isn't the only surprise Ace has up his sleeve.

Get ready to snap, tap, and scat along with this cool , jazzy read-aloud.

Chris Raschka

Chris Raschka -- illustrator, poet, storyteller.
We have several of his books here in the library. A couple of them are my favourites to loan out to teachers during April because he delivers such good examples of various forms of poetry ( A Kick In the Head and A Foot in the Mouth), but I think concrete poetry must be one of his favourites. And I love his description of it -"yoga of words."

Check out Chris at work.

April is Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month and to help kick it off I thought I should begin with creating some of my own poetry. I started off trying to create a simple shape poem. Or try creating a diamante poem.

dribble,

dribble,

pass, bounce, jump

airtime

hope

rim, rim

please bounce in.

I hope you can guess what I'm writing about and what shape in might be in? try the link and try creating some of your own shape poetry.

Everything on it

Every thing on it by Shel Silverstein

Have you ever read a book with every thing on it?

Well, here it is, an amazing collection of never before published poems and drawings from the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling UP. You will say Hi Ho for the tiolet troll, get tongue-tied with Stick-a-tongue-out-Sid, play a highly unusual horn, and experience the joys of growing down.

What's that? You have a case of the Lovetobutcans? impossible! Just come on in and let the magic of Shel Silverstein bend your brain and open you heart.

Although I cannot see your face

As you flip these poems awhile,

Somewhere from some far off place,

I hear you laughing -- and I smile.

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

This version of the classic Romeo & Juliet also contains (and starts the book) a retelling - Juliets Story by Jacqueline Ritten, this story is written normal, like a work of fiction - a story not a play. Then the second part of the book is the actual play written by William Shakespeare. So the retelling acts as a bridge or a summary of the story told in language that is more understandable and preps you for whats coming up -- The play.

I know in the past we've had readers become interested in Shakespeares works, it's challenging, so having a book that can help with explaining the language and storyline can be a great help. this is one of those books. I especially liked at the end of the book what Romeo and Juliet's facebook pages might look like.

Here's the summary from the publisher:
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.
When Romeo first lays eyes on the bewitching Juliet, it's love at first sight. But thought their love runs true and deep, it is also completely forbidden. With family and fate determined to keep them apart, will Romeo and Juliet find a way to be together?
William Shakespeares masterpiece is one of the most enduring stories of star-crossed love of all time. Beautifully presented for a modern teen audience with both the original play and a prose retelling of the beloved story , this is a must have edition of a timeless classic.

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge

This is a surprising little book. Is it a surprise that it's about baseball? or more surprisingly that it's a novel in verse? Can the two really be compatible? No, has to be No. But that's the surprise how well the two subjects - baseball and poetry, work together (I guess it's no wonder Casey at the Bat is a classic).

So this is the story of Kevin, MVP, first baseman, stuck at home with a bad case of "Monouglyosis" just as baseball season is getting started. He's worried about losing his position on the team to another player, he's worried about what the girls at school are saying about him, he's worried that his friends are forgetting him, he's worried that the memory of his Mom is starting to fade, and he's worried that if his writing poetry will change everything.

here are a few of the poems I really liked.
How do you do, Haiku, Pantoum for Mom, and A Poem for Poetry.
Read ON

Technically, it's not my fault

Technically, It's Not My Fault by John Grandits This may be one of my favourite poetry books, it is definately my favourite concrete poetry book. I especially like, skateboard, the Thank You Letter with Footnotes, and What are you thinking about Robert? Here's the description: An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical -- and not so typical -- middle grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch and sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs a new word, snarpy. Love it. Makes poetry look fun and easy. Here's a link to his webpage http://www.johngrandits.com/books/technically.php READ ON

April is Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month and so I'm going to try to add Poetry books to this months blog postings. Today I'm thinking about all the great novels in verse we have at our library. These are terrific books for the reluctant reader, they are often short, fast reads, which always give a great feeling of accomplishment. Here's some covers of titles we have.

There are more novels in verse on the shelves, use novels in verse for a subject search and you should be seeing some more.

Book Title Poetry

What child is this?

Crackback, the stranger, the wanderer?

Lionboy?

I am the cheeze.

I AM the Cheeze!

Absolutely normal chaos.

Book Title Poetry

Book title poetry made last Friday.

Book Title Poetry

Here's how I see it...

the outsiders,

betrayed,

a curse dark as gold,

angels turns their backs

witness - wildmagic - chosen

phoenix rising

star in the storm.

Book Title Poetry

Book Title Poetry



Click here, for the last exit to normal.
Sew teen!!
the misfits,
a kiss in time,
I want to be your shoebox.
How fast is it?
Running out of time

Book Title Poetry

Here's some book title poetry made by your L.A. teachers. I think they had fun creating them too.

Concrete Poetry

Mr. Newman showed me this very cool animated concrete poem. This might be the future of concrete poetry.
Enjoy.

Mirror, mirror

Mirror, mirror : a book of reversible verse by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Josee Massee

Summary from the publisher:
What's brewing when two favourties - poetry and fairy tales- are turned (literally) on their heads? It's a revolutionary recipe: and infectious new genre of poetry and a lovably modern take on classic stories.

First read the poems forward (how old fashioned), then reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales, from Sleeping Beauty to Prince Charming, a delicious new spin.

I'm enchanted with reverso poetry, I've watched some of it scroll down the screen and then back up on youtube, and usually it has to do with a negative set of values being reversed into a positive set of values, but I had never seen it become a retelling of classic fairytales until now. Charmed by the book, the illustrations and ready to share it with those classes about to embark into the world of poetry.

Read On

Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

Defiance. Defiance is defined as 1. challenge 2.disposition to resist or contend. The main characters of this book have chosen to defie obstacles that are around them. Toby has decided that he is finished with cancer, with hospitals, chemo and being sick - even though the lump on his side tells him otherwise. Pearl has decided she is done with just about everyone, especially her kids and her poetry. So when these two defiant characters are brought together over an ailing cow, their unlikely friendship begins. They have much to learn from each other and how defiance also contains a smidgen of surrender.

I enjoyed how cleverly the author made you interested in the poems that Pearl introduces to Toby, and how she-Pearl lets Toby discover the imagery and magic that poetry brings to the world.

Heartwarming and over too soon.

Read On

Story collections

Right now in our library there is a large display of Octoberish books. All have the common theme of - the creep factor, whether it be ghosts, goblins, halloween, or paranormal. I have a few new suggestions to be added to the display. Good scary titles to make your spine tingle.

All Hallows' Eve 13 stories by Vivian Vande Velde
As some of you know, I'm a spineless wimp went it comes to horror stories, I made it through the first three stories in this book and I had to quit, it was gonna give me nightmares for sure.

666 The Number of the Beast : Stories of Horror

From the back cover-

Tales of evil. Tales of darkness. Tales of beasts.

There's the ...

Vampire who visits the same girl every night.

Dangerous rumor that turns all too deadly.

Zombie who couldn't look more innocent.

Boarding school plagued by a tortured ghost.

And so much more in this spine-tingling, bone-chilling collection of 18 stories from 18 masters of horror.

So lock the door. Turn on the lights. Don't answer the phone. And open this book ... if you dare...

Oddest of All : Nine odd stories by Bruce Coville

Started this one this morning and loved the weird, odd factor. It reminded me of the Twilight Zone my favourite tv show when I was in senior high. I might save this one for read alouds.

The Dark Side : truly terrifying tales / chosen by Susan Price

From the back cover.

Sure to leave your skin crawling with fear, this chilling collection of horror stories will get your heart racing and goose bumps popping. Twenty-four terrifying tales by such authors as Charles Dickens, Stephen King, and Edgar Allen Poe are sure to haunt even the bravest of readers.

The Curse of the Campfire Weenies and other warped and creepy tales by David Lubar

I love David Lubar, I think he's funny, quick and clever. So it's no wonder I picked up two copies of this one. Delicously silly and at the same time macabre. Can't wait to dive into this one.

Beastly Rhymes to read after dark by Judy Sierra

I'll share one.

Never Bully a Bug

Young William was not nice to bugs,

Or bees, or centipedes, or slugs.

He'd poke, and pull, and squeeze, and tweak

And laugh because they were so weak.

Young William never realized

The tiny mites he victimized

Had cousins that were giant-sized.

One day, while walking down the stair,

Young William met a bumblebear.

The bumblebear packed quite a sting,

But when a beast more frightening -

A stomping-mad rhinocepede-

Came hurtling toward him at top speed,

Young William, feeling far less smug,

Collided with a hipposlug,

And disappeared in one slow g-l-u-g.