|
August
2007
Dear Fellow Book
Lovers:
POETRY
& OGDEN NASH: A TRIBUTE
Ogden
Nash, a beloved American poet, was born on August 19, 1902.
I doubt that very many children or young adults know the contributions
this man made to his art form. He loved language, and he got
a kick out crafting silly, nonsensical poems—many that were
published in The New Yorker. He made his living as
an editor at Doubleday, which makes it especially fitting
that we celebrate his birthday on the Random House website.
I can’t think of a better way to honor this man than by creating
library programs that give children the opportunity to immerse
themselves in poetry. The interest is there. It starts when
they are very young. The rhythm of the mother’s heartbeat,
the babbling of a baby’s voice, the sweet sounds of nature,
or the cadence of adult voices in quiet conversation are a
child’s first introduction to poetry of sorts. Then, as children
grow up, their interest in poetry begins to wane. Perhaps
we try too hard or not hard enough, to help them understand
poetry. Let’s begin at the beginning.
- Have fun with a Mother Goose quiz. For
example, why did Jack and Jill go up the hill? Where does
Little Boy Blue sleep? What did the dish run away with?
At what hour does Wee Willie Winkie run through the town?
- Introduce a different poet each library session. Include
biographical information, his/her career as a poet, and
read aloud some of the poet’s most famous works.
- Older readers may want to perform a favorite
poem as a choral reading.
- Pair children together and ask them to
select a poem to read in two voices.
- Read a poem aloud and ask children to
illustrate the images that the poem evokes.
- Discuss the elements of poetry. Encourage
readers to compare the mood created by the poems of Jack
Prelutsky to Langston
Hughes, or any two poets who have completely different
styles of writing.
- Pick a favorite fictional character and
write a poem about this character. Based on what is known
about the character, make a decision about whether the poem
should be funny or sad, rhyming or prose.
- Have readers read a work of fiction,
identify the themes, and select a poem that deals with the
same themes. Share the book and the selected poems with
peers.
- Ask young readers to select a poem to
share with a best friend. What is the message of the poem?
Why is their choice especially fitting for their friend?
Here
are a few poetry offerings from Random House:
Anthologies
Emily
by Michael Bedard; illustrated by Barbara Cooney
(Ages 5-8)
Favorite
Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris (All ages)
The
Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
(Ages 8-14)
Piping
Down the Valleys Wild by Nancy Larrick (All ages)
The
Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose by Arnold Lobel
(Ages 0-6)
Read-Aloud
Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky;
illustrated by Marc Brown (Ages 4-8)
The
Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack
Prelutsky; illustrated by Arnold Lobel (Ages 5-8)
The
20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury selected
by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Meilo So (All ages)
The
Camel's Lament by Charles Santore (Ages 3-6)
Central
Heating by Marilyn Singer; illustrated by Meilo
So (Ages 8-12)
Footprints
on the Roof by Marilyn Singer and illustrated
by Meilo So (Ages 8-12)
Prose
Dogteam
by Gary Paulsen (Ages 4-8)
Humorous
Poems
Roald
Dahl's Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl (Ages 7-11)
Hailstones
and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill; illustrated
by John Wallner (Ages 5-8)
For
Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone selected
by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (Ages
5-8)
Good
Sports by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Chris
Raschka (Ages 8 up)
Hooray
for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss with some
help from Jack Prelutsky & Lane Smith (All ages)
I
Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories by
Dr. Seuss (Ages 6-9)
Poetry
for Everyday Life
Hello
School! by Dee Lillegard; illustrated by Don
Carter (Ages 3-6)
Girl
Coming in for a Landing by April Halprin Wayland;
illustrated by Elaine Clayton (Ages 12 up)
You
may email me at pscales@bellsouth.net.
|
