Bibliography

Alarcon, Francisco. Iguanas in the Snow ill. Maya Christina Gonzalez, Childrens’ Book Press. 2001.

Alarcon, Francsio X . Poems to Dream Together. ill. by Paula Barragan. New York, NY. Lee & Low Books 2005.

Bagert, Brod, and Tedd Arnold. 2002. Giant children. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Handsprings by Doulas Florian, Greenwillow Books, 2006.

Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars,the Moon, and Mars. Orlando: Florida, Harcourt Brace. 2007.

Franco, Betsy, and Steve Jenkins. 2008. Bees, snails, & peacock tails: patterns & shapes-- naturally. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Gerrard, Roy. Sir Francis Drake. Great Britain. Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1988.

Greenfield, Eloise. 1978. Honey, I love, and other love poems. New York: Cr
owell.

Greenfield, Eloise, and Jan Spivey Gilchrist. 1991. Night on Neighborhood Street. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust, New York:NY. Scholastic Press. 1997

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1997. Marvelous Math : A book of poems. Illustrated By Karen Barbour. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689806582.

Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. 2001. A poke in the I. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Janeczko, Paul B., and Melissa Sweet. 2001. Dirty laundry pile: poems in different voices. [New York]: HarperCollins.

Livingston, Myra Cohn. Cricket Never Does: A Collection of Haiku and Tanka. New York,NY. Simon &Schuster.1997

Paschen, Elise, Judith DuFour Love, Wendy Rasmussen, and Paula Zinngrabe Wendland. 2005. Poetry speaks to children. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks.

Sidman, Joyce, and Pamela Zagarenski. 2007. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co

Stepanek, Mattie J. T. 2001. Journey through heartsongs. [Alexandria, Va.]: VSP Books.

Honey I Love Baseball by Joseph , age 9, McKinney, TX

Paul Janeczko

A collection of concret poems

By: Paul Janeczko

Illustrated By: Chris Raschka

This collection of over thirty concrete poems advances readers through a welcomed trip on a play on words and white spaces. He celebrates a culmination of carefully selected concrete poems by several authors.


One featured author, John Hegley spotlights concrete poetry, I Need Contact Lenses, where he shapes his poem in a shrinking manor to depict a vision screening, telling readers that ; I/ NEED/ CONTACT/ L E N S E S / like I need a poke in the eye.

This clever, word rich book honor concrete poems in their finest showcases poems – associated with their titles- Eskimo Pie , where the words form the shape of the favorite treat or in She Loves Me…Where each line takes on the image of each seed plucked from a dandelion- with perfect words she loves me/ she loves me not/ she loves/ she loves me/ she/ she loves/ she.

Chris Raschka has beautifully illustrated the pages with watercolors and torn-paper collages that pull the readers deeper into the poem. He balances Janeczko’s words with just enough pictures and white spaces.

This is a must have in your childrens' poetry collection.

Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. 2001. A poke in the I. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Poetry by Children

Introduction: We studied as a class Honey , I love by Eloise Greenfield. We examined her poem in detail and then released them to write their own rendition of Honey, I love. Most children focused on 4 loves and 1 dislike focusing on different topics using their senses, but this student focused on one LOVE to the extreme. This is my favorite!

I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
Like

I hear the crowd is going loud
When I make the catch my heart starts to pound.
I will go down hard tasting the grass blades with the ball in my patch
But honey, let me tell you I LOVE to make a diving catch.
I love to make a diving catch

AND

I see the batter miss the ball,
Then his smile starts to fall.
I feel I don’t have to pout, because I struck that hitter out.
Honey, let me tell you I LOVE pitching a strike out
I love pitching a strike out

AND

The runners give it their all.
But I throw it so fast, just like a fireball.
I feel the other team is going to pay.
Honey, let me tell you I LOVE making a double play.
I love to making a double play,

AND

In my hands I feel the sting,
When I hear the bat ring
This is starting to get fun.
Honey, let me tell you I LOVE hitting homeruns
I love hitting homeruns,

AND

I hear the runner is getting close to me,
I scoop the ball at my knees.
Now I know I’m not the worst.
Honey, let me tell you I LOVE making a scoop at 1st.
I love making a scoop at 1st.

AND

I see they earned extra bases.
Everybody on my team has sad faces.
Do I want to quit……I say NO
Honey, let me tell you I DON’T like making a bad throw
I don’t like making a bad throw

But I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
And honey,
I love you , too.

Honey I Love Baseball by Joseph , age 9, McKinney, TX

Extension-I think just giving children the chance to share aloud is worth the time. Celebrate!

Serious Poem

Introduction: Death is a scary thing for children. They always wonder if death occurs as a result of something they didn't do. This poem is a great way to open up discussion lines about their emotions.

Unanswered Questions

My brother, Janie died
His muscles-and-bones
Did not work anymore.
His happiness and specialness
Went into Heaven and
His body got buried in
The hole that goes into the ground
And then into the sky and
And then to the Everywhere
And Forever that is Heaven.
I know why he died
But I also know don’t know why.
I really don’t.
He is happy.
And sometimes I am , too.
And sometimes I am sad.
Or angry or scared or confused.
And sometimes I think
That maybe
I didn’t hold his hand tight enough.

Extension: I think by showing the kids where this poem is in your class library gives a child a quiet resource that they can refer to if needed.

December 1993

Stepanek, Mattie J. T. 2001. Journey through heartsongs. [Alexandria, Va.]: VSP Books.

Refrain

Children should join in on a repeated line, stanza or word (in purple)
Movement could be encouraged on the repeated line.

Buddy's Dream

Not just one, but two of him
Side by side, limb by limb
Arms do the wiggle, legs kick the air
Moving to the music, he’s a mighty pair
A crowd is there
Saying

Go, Buddy, Buddy
Go, Buddy, Go
Go, Buddy, Buddy
Go, Buddy, Go

Not just two, but four of him
Back to back, limb to limb
Dancing on the tables, whirling on the floor
Turning like a turbo, he’s a terrible four
The people roar
Saying

Go, Buddy, Buddy
Go, Buddy, Go
Go Buddy, Buddy,
Go, Buddy, Go

He’s going, going, going
He’s gone

Greenfield, Eloise, and Jan Spivey Gilchrist. 1991. Night on Neighborhood Street. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

New Favorite Book since 2005

Joyce Sidman whose inspiration drew from a fourth grade teaching experience, writes a fictional book of apology poems from a sixth grade class. The author sets the idea in motion that the children were inspired by the This is Just to Say poem by William Carlos Williams. Sidmand carries out this anthology of apology and forgiveness poems in a fascinating collection that deals with friendship, losing pets, relationships with parents, and school drama.

Sidmand organizes this book into two parts; one for apologies and for section for forgiveness. It unfolds nicely for the reader to see the writer compose their “sorry” poem and them in the next section of the book see the response to their apology.

In this clever book of poems, the characters address their attempts to apologize to others and give forgiveness using both humor and empathy.

Sidman awakens the readers’ emotions with authentic language like in the poem addressed to "the class"

How Slow-Hand Lizard Died- I stole him. / Took him home in my pocket./Felt the pulse beating./In his soft green neck./Had no place good to put him./ A shoebox./ He got cold, I think./ Watched his life wink out,/ his bright eye turn to mud,/ Brought him back/Stiff as an old glove./ Hid him in the bottom of the cage./Left the money on Mrs. Merz’s desk./(Stole that, too)/ Won’t touch the new lizard./Don’t like to touch money either/

" Signed Anonymous"

The reader will then get to see the class respond to the anonymous writer- in Ode to Slow-Hand… the sad way he left us /the sad way you feel/ los perdonamos/ we forgive you/ signed Mrs. Merz’s class.

Sidman shows readers that she understands the relationships kids have in Dodge Ball- I Got Carried Away Kyle, I’m sorry/for hitting you so hard in dodge ball. / I just really get carried away/in situations like that/ . She shows the readers the ability we have to say sorry and forgive others.

Pamela Zagarenski adds just the right touch of artistic humor with her mixed media pictures. Her pictures range from actually clips of the dictionary definition of apology to items found in a school classroom. Her creative flair will keep the reader turning each page to see the inviting illustrations.

Sidman, Joyce, and Pamela Zagarenski. 2007. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Newer Book Published 2008


Introduction:

Explain to the students that we can find a lot of math in nature. This poem would be the perfect relation when teaching a unit on geometric shapes. Tell the children as we read this poem be thinking of a beehive or honey cone and be ready to share the shape they see.




Study a beehive
And you will see
The mathematical genius of the bee.

The hexagons

you’ll find inside

fit side

by side

by side

by side.

This math
Is passed

mysteriously


from worker bee

To worker bee!


Extension:

Challenge to students to journal about other math found in nature (Ex. Butterfly wings)


Franco, Betsy, and Steve Jenkins. 2008. Bees, snails, & peacock tails: patterns & shapes-- naturally. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Science Poetry Book

This collection of twenty astronomy poems advances readers through a welcomed trip through outer-space. He celebrates the simple joys of star gazing to the mystical night sky.

Florian intertwines concrete poetry, such as, “A Galaxy” where he shapes his poem in a swirling pattern- to poems that display humor like “Pluto” Pluto was a planet/But now it doesn’t pass/ Pluto was a planet/ They say it is lacking mass/ Pluto was a planet/ Pluto was admired/ Pluto was a planet/ Til one day it got fired/.

This scientifically, rich book pays honor to all the planets and showcases their best know facts and showcases catchy word choice. In Jupiter he shows his appreciation, Jupiter’s jumbo/ Gigantic/ Immense/ So wide/ Side to Side/ But Gaseous, not dense/ with sixteen moons/ It’s plainly prolific-/so super-dupiter/Jupiterrific/.

The author’s organization of the book carefully starts with a simple “skywatch” and zooms in to focus on every planet; he even ventures into the “great beyond”. This helps readers follow the layout of the book, as well, as outer space. He offers a “galactic glossary” that supports the authentic subject material and goes a step further by providing suggestions for further readings to interested readers.

Douglas Florian has beautifully illustrated the pages with vibrant die-cut, collage illustrations that literally jump off the pages. His two-paged spreads pulls readers into a beautiful, celestial atmosphere.

Teachers will love to have this science resource to share with their students

Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars,the Moon, and Mars. Orlando: Florida, Harcourt Brace. 2007.

Biography Poem

Introduction: This is a biographical poem that covers the life of Sir Francis Drake.

When Francis Drake was only ten,
He went to sea with grown up men,
And flabbergasted all the crew
By quickly learning what to do.
He fathomed ways of wind and tide,
In storms he just brushed fear aside.
He learned to steer and read a map-
Lionhearted little chap!
One day while sailing-dearie me,
The ship’s cat toppled in the sea.
Drake dived right in and grabbed the cat-
He saved its life, just fancy that!
Young Francis grew up strong and straight,
A small but sturdy heavyweight,
And on his twenty-seventh trip
Was made the captain of a ship.
He joined a fleet which planned to go
Exploring parts of Mexico,
But when they reached those distant lands,
They found the place in Spanish lands.
The Spaniards bowed and smiled and waved,
They seemed extremely well behaved.
The English thought it would be best
To anchor there and have a rest.
At dawn next day the Spaniards crept
To rob the sailors as they slept.
But Drake awoke, “To arms! He roared,
And drove the Spaniards overboard.
Then cannonballs flew overhead-
Some ships sank; the English fled
Drake muttered, as he put to sea;
“They haven’t heard the last of me.”
They struggled back to England’s shore,
But Francis soon set sail once more.
The Spanish ships he can across
Quickly he learned that Drake was boss.
He sank their ships and took their gold
But treated prisoners well, we’re told;
For thought revenge was on his mind,
He found it hard to be unkind.
Drake chased the Spaniards near and far,
Then went shore in Panama.
He caught some Spanish chaps whose mules
Bore bulging sacks of gold and jewels.
High on a ridge, he climbed a tree
To scan the wide Pacific sea.
“By Jove,” said Drake, “I’d like to try
And sail that ocean, by and by.
Back home, he studied maps and charts,
That told of strange, exotic parts,
Then took his leave, with sails unfurled,
To circumnavigate the world.
To South America they went,
And forged right round that continent,
They had a rough and stormy ride
While sailing the Atlantic side.
Two ships they burnt, to cook their meat
(and dry their clothes and toast their feet).
They felt much better after that,
And likewise their bedraggled cat.
Up surged a storm, the wild winds blew,
A ship was sunk with all its crew.
Another turned and headed home,
Yet Francis battled on alone.
They went ashore to have a nap,
But local tribes had set a trap.
And Drake, exhausted by the fight,
Decided it was time for flight.
Next, woe is me—an awful shock
Their ship struck fast upon a rock
Attempts to free it seemed in vain,
Then, slowly , it slid off again.
In distant seas and tropic climes
The gallant crew found better times,
But, tiring of their global tour,
Returned to England, safe once more,
When Francis entered Plymouth Sound,
A mighty crowd soon gathered round
And Queen Elizabeth came, too
To welcome Francis and his crew.
“Hello, Sailor,” said the Queen,
“sit and tell us where you’ve been.”
She treated all to wine and cake,
And knighted proud Sir Francis Drake.
She told him, “Francis, dear old thing,
Go forth and fight the Spanish king.
His galleons gather in Cadiz
To take my land and call it his.”
Francis , always keen for action,
Rubbed his hands in satisfaction.
He hailed the fleet and steered for Spain
To face those Spaniards once again.
Now, in Cadiz Sir Francis Drake
Spied his foes just half awake.
He sank their ships, ransacked the town,
And burnt their mighty castle down,
Back at home, his kinsmen cheered
To hear he’d singed King Phillip’s beard.
The Queen of England, much impressed,
Said , “Well done, Drake, Now take a rest.”
Drake too a break and went away
To have a well-earned holiday.
Relaxing now, with carefree thoughts,
He filled his days with games and sports.
But as he played at bowls one day
A frantic message came to say,
“A brand-new Spanish fleet’s been seen-
Come quickly, Francis,” signed, “The Queen.”
Drake finished off his game, of course,
Then gathered up his fighting force.
And sailing forth, soon came to grips
With all the waiting Spanish ships.
King Phillip’s craft were tall and slow,
The English vessels fast and low;
They darted out and in again
Among the clumsy ships of Spain.
They fired their guns with such effect
That many Spanish ships were wrecked
The discombobulated foe
Decided it was time to go.
Sir Francis swished his sword with glee
To see the grand Armada flee,
He sent a message to his fleet,
“Well done, brave lads-revenge is sweet.”
The English sailors, pleased and proud,
Sped home to face a joyful crowd.
Their queen, Elizabeth the Great,
Laid on a feast to celebrate.
She said , “You steadfast sailors all,
Who bravely answered England’s call,
Have put the Spanish fleet to shame,
And earned yourselves undying fame.
“At least four hundred years from now
Your tale will still be told, I vow,
My bold Sir Francis, valiant crew,
England will remember you,”

Extension: Challenge the students to create a poem that tells the life of a famous explorer.

Gerrard, Roy. Sir Francis Drake. Great Britain. Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1988.

Spring Poem

Spring

By: Myra Cohn Livingston

Introduction: This is a Haiku poem that discusses the excitement of spring. Have this poem displayed when the children enter the classroom for them to view while they conduct their morning routines.

How the birds quarrel
Among themselves this morning
Over one small worm!

Extension: Ask the children how nature mirrors our classroom? After spring break, children tend to get excited about things in our classroom just like nature. Have them popcorn out ideas and make a plan to keep our excitement in check to keep our classroom nest running smoothly. (Example: Not fighting over the pencil sharpener)

Livingston, Myra Cohn. Cricket Never Does: A Collection of Haiku and Tanka. New York,NY. Simon &Schuster.1997

Non-rhyming Poetry

Introduction: This is a multicultural poem that would be great to share when classes study celebrations of different cultures.

Christmas Eve
By: Franciso X. Alarcon

I love
the delicious
aroma
of tamales
simmering
in their steam

my family
all around me
singing

the joyful
songs of
Las Posadas

everybody
eagerly
awaiting

that very
special
paper noise

gifts make
when we
unwrap them

Extension:
Have students share their own celebrations of their cultures in a poem. Compile a class celebration poetry book.

Alarcon, Francisco. Iguanas in the Snow ill. Maya Christina Gonzalez, Childrens’ Book Press. 2001.

Persona Poem-

Selected Poem

Shell

by:Deborah Chandra

Introduction: This is persona poem that speaks from the point of view of a shell. It invites you to press its “mouth” against your ear to share a special message with you. Readers will be drawn into this secret message of the sea.


Come, press my mouth against your ear,
I hold a message just for you,
Deep inside my throat is where
It curls, waiting for you to hear.

Put there by the sea itself,
Who whispered something you should know
In shadowy sounds wound round my shell,
And with my hidden tongue, I’ll tell.

Extension:
Have a variety of shells sprinkled around the room (or in an outside area) and then have each child select their shell. Once they have selected their shell have them write the secret message that their shell has to expose.


Selected by Janeczko, Paul B. Dirty Laundry Pile Selected ill. Melissa Sweet, Harpers Children. 2001.
Poem Shell by Deborah Chandra

Verse Novel- Out of the Dust

Out of the Dust

By: Karen Hesse

Fourteen year old Billie Jo Kelby tells the story of her hard life in Oklahoma during the Depression. She chronicles the tragedies of her own family and neighboring community through narrative poems. In her short life, she deals with nature’s fury destroying her family’s livelihood yet ironically discovers her musical hands bringing hope of a silver lining. It is with these gifted hands that a horrific accident eventually takes the life of her mother and robs her of last piece of happiness that she had. Billie Jo Kelby is bound and determined to rise Out of the Dust.

Hesse awakens the readers’ senses with language like in the free verse poem Dust and Rain- On Sunday/Winds came/ bringing red dust/ like prairie fire/ hot peppery/searing the inside of my nose/ the whites of my eye/ Roaring dust/ turning day from sunlight to midnight. She takes readers inside this time period creating imagery as if the readers were there. Her words bring about such imagery in Hopes in Drizzle- she brings the reader into the picture Billy Jo is witnessing of her mother in the drizzle- Today, she stood out in the drizzle/ hidden from the road/ and from Daddy/ and she thought from me/ but I could see her from the barn/ she was bare as a pear/ raindrops/ sliding down her skin/ leaving traces of mud on her face and her long back/ trickling dark and light paths/slow tracks of wet dust down the bulge of her belly/ My dazzling ma, round and ripe and striped/like a melon.

This historically, rich book pays honor to past farmers and families that endured horrific conditions in our country to only to rise above and prosper. Always in the midst of their own hardship, they were willing to lend a hand. This is presented in Wild Boy on the Road A boy came by the house today/ he asked for food. He couldn’t pay anything, but Ma set him down/ and gave him biscuits/ and milk. She goes on this poem to describe the image of this poor boy his legs like willow limbs/ his arms like reeds.

The author’s free verse poetry is arranged into chapters of seasons and further divided into months between each major chapter/season. She leaves the reader wishing for this season of purgatory to end for young Billy Jo. Hesse leaves her audience inspired that mother nature is always present in the poem Hope describing the first sustainable rain …..Steady as a good friend/ who walks beside you/not getting in your way/ staying with you through a hard time.

Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust, New York:NY. Scholastic Press. 1997

Douglas Florian-Poetry Break

Introduction:
This poem would make a great introduction to a science unit on seeds. Before you read aloud- have a variety of seeds placed on the different table groups.

Spring Seeds
By: Douglas Florian

Spring Seeds

We tilled the earth,

Took out the weeds,

Then in the soil

Planted seeds:

Pumpkin,

Parsely,

Carrot,

Pea,

Spring succeeds ex-seed-ing-ly.

Extension: Let the students pick out a seed and draw an illustration of what their seed will turn into and how watching something grows makes them feel.

from Handsprings by Doulas Florian, Greenwillow Books, 2006.

Multicultural Poetry Review

Poems to Dream Together
by: Franciso X. Alarcon

This collection of bilingual poetry is based on childhood dreams of having a better life and the pure innocence of dreaming big. Alarcon takes readers on a journey that celebrates family, future, and magical encounters.

Alarcon intertwines dreams through the eyes of a young Latino boy. Who shares his dreams both awake and while sleeping. He shares with readers simple ideas in a poem titled Questions real questions/have no answers/ just more questions. Alarcon points out the importance of supporting a family’s dream, in the poem titled Family Garden where the phrase – all in our family/ take time to tend/ each other’s dreams.

This culturally, rich book pays honor to past migrant workers that have enabled our country to prosper. In Blessed Hands he shows his appreciation, without the hands/ of farmworkers/ who in long days/ of hard labor.

The author’s free verse poetry has a catchy appeal in both Spanish and English text. Alarcon presents his poetry with the absence of capital letters and punctuation. He leaves his readers expressing his desire for a bright future , in Dreaming together- a dream/ we dream/ alone/ reality/ we dream/ together.

Paula Barragan has beautifully illustrated the pages with vibrant pictures that literally jump off the pages. Her collages bring dreams to life for the readers. Her colors dance with the cultural authenticity.

Teachers will love to have this bilingual resource to share with their students

Alarcon, Francsio X . Poems to Dream Together. ill. by Paula Barragan. New York, NY. Lee & Low Books 2005.

NCTE Poet -

Introduction:
This poem would be a great poem to introduce a unit on animal adaptations. It would be neat to have pictures of different types of mystery animal teeth posted around the room. You could let the children guess all week about what animal they think the teeth belong to.

About the Teeth of Sharks
By: John Ciardi

The thing about a shark is-teeth,
One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you find
It has another row behind?

Still closer-here, I’ll hold your hat:
Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and ….Look Out! Oh my,
I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

Extension-
Have the children research to find out if sharks have a third row and have them add a new ending to the poem.

From Poetry Speaks to Children by John Ciardi, Sourcebooks, 2005.

Hopkin's Anthology Review

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1997. Marvelous Math : A book of poems. Illustrated By Karen Barbour. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689806582.




Marvelous Math
A Book of Poems


Selected By Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrated By: Karen Barbour

Hopkins has compiled collection sixteen Math related poems. He presents these math poems with the help other writers such as; Janet Wong, Karla Kuskin, and Lee Bennett Hopkins. He shares a range of math poetry along with vibrant pictures over thirty-one pages.

He presents poetry in playful manner expressing the world’s connection to Math. He shares with readers that we can’t live without Math in the Poem titled Take a Number – Imagine a world /Without mathematics:/ No rulers or scales/ No inches or feet/ No dates or numbers/ On house or street. While he also commiserates with the difficulties math presents students in a poem “SOS: /Sammy’s head is pounding/ Sammy’s in pain/ A long division’s got / Stuck in his brain/.

Writers demonstrate different writing styles using both rhyming and free verse in variety of peoms. In Near the Window, student can pick up on the rhyming style, Is six times one a lot of fun?/ Or eight times two?/ Perhaps you./ Unhinges me/ . The poems are visually displayed on two page spreads.

Barbour is equally playful with her bright, vivid, watercolors as the poetry is. The children will love to examine each and every picture looking for a math connection, as well, as enjoying the illustrations alone.

Educators will enjoy having a specialized content anthology of poetry focusing on Math. The integration of math with language arts will excite any teacher.

School Poetry Break

Introduction: This poem is written from the perspective of the "class pet" about the giants that roam in his habitat.

This poem would be a great opportunity to get the students excited if they have a "class pet". You could have a hand scrawled note attached to their cage and get the kids all excited reading a poem from the class "hammy".



Giant Children

Psst! Listen very closely,
There's something you should know.
It's all about a giant school
Where giant children go.

Pages turn at giant speed
As giant children learn to read.
And giant brains are rally quick
When working with arithmetic.

They pound the beat on giant drums
And finger paint with giant thumbs,

Sing giant songs with giant lips
And boogie-dnace with giant hips,

Giant shoes on giant feet
And gaint giggles when they meet.
I watch them hour after hour,
Giant kids with giant power.

I'm just the classroom hamster
But I promise you it's true-
This is the school where giants go,
And the giant kids are You!

Bagert, Brod.(2002). Giant Children. New York, NY : Dail Publishing for Young Readers

Extension: You could encourage this natural excitement of writing back to the class pet. This could be an honor that each child could have each week.

African American Poetry Choice

African American Poetry Break

“Honey, I Love” by Eloise Greenfield from Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield , pictures by Diane and Leo Dillon, from Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY. 1978.


Introduction: This poem is about all the things a little girl loves. She recounts all the special memories and people in her life.

Ask the children, What do you think Love Is? Start reading the responses of 8 year old children that have been asked what they think love is. Example: Love is…when my mom saves the last biscuit for Daddy because she knows their his favorite.

Honey , I Love

I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
Like

My cousin comes to visit and you know he’s from the South
Cause every word he says just kinda of slides out of his mouth
I like the way he whistles and I like the way he walks
But honey, Iet me tell you that I LOVE the way he talks
I love the way my cousin talks
And
The day is hot and sticky and the sun sticks to my skin
Mr. Davis turns the hose on, everybody jumps right in
The water stings my stomach and I feel so nice and cool
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool
I love to feel a flying pool
And
Renee comes out to play and brings her doll without a dress
I make a dress with paper and that doll sure looks a mess
We laugh so loud and long and hard the doll falls to the ground
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE the laughing sound
I love to make the laughing sound
And
My uncle’s care is crowded and there’s lots of food to eat
We’re going down the country where the church folks like to meet
I’m looking out the window at the cows and trees outside
Honey , let me tell you that I LOVE to take a ride
I love to take a family ride
And
My mama’s one the sofa sewing buttons on my coat
I go and sit beside her, I’m through playing with my boat
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE my mama’s arm

And
It’s not so late at night, but still I’m lying in my bed
I guess I need my rest, at least that’s what my mama said
She told me not to cry ‘cause she don’t want to hear a peep
Honey, let me tell you I DON’T love to go to sleep
I do not love to go to sleep

But I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
And honey
I love you, too.

Extension:
Have children create their own Honey, I Love poems. If you have the children look at her poem than can find many patterns that 3-5th graders can manage. Have them come up with a list of five things they love and one thing they don't enjoy. You them have them go back and add in details about each of their loves. The poem unfolds beautifully.