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FREE CHOICE POETRY: Long Way Down

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BIBLIOGRAPHY : Reynolds, J. (2019). Long way down . New York, NY: Antheneum. ISBN:9781481438261 SUMMARY: Long Way Down is a mystical realist novel for young adults by American author Jason Reynolds. Focused on the subject of gun violence, particularly the survivor’s journey from grief and trauma to catharsis and spiritual recuperation, it is told by teenager Will Holloman, who takes a surreal elevator descent through his apartment building on his way to avenge his brother’s death in a gang shooting. ANALYSIS : The book Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a unique free verse poetry book. Long Way Down has one main setting in this story, an elevator. In this elevator, Will, the main character, is greeted by ghosts who knew his older brother Shawn. As Will ventures out to obtain justice for Shawn’s death, the spirits try to subliminally stop him from taking a life, just for revenge. Reynolds utilizes the format and details in the story to have different perspectives in one particula
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POETRY BY KIDS:Salting the Ocean

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Nye, Naomi Shihab. Salting the Ocean; 100 Poems by Young Poets .  Illus. by Ashley Bryan.  Greenwillow, 2000. ISBN 978-0688161934. SUMMARY: Naomi Shihab Nye's extensive work with students and their writing in the classroom led to this wonderful collection of poems from the past 25 years. Nye chose 100 poems from students that she worked with, ranging from grades 1-12. In her introduction, "To the Poets," Nye gives this encouragement: "You are making a map of the days you live." ANALYSIS : The poetry represents a range of life experiences mostly written in free verse.  Some of the poems are readily understandable while others take a little more contemplation to capture the author's message. The poetry is personal and genuine, ranging in length from two lines to filling two full pages.  There are many heartfelt and emotional scenes as in the poetry of Jennifer Caraway as she remembers the life of her cat. Other poems reflect humor as in Amy
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JANECZKO COLLECTION:FIREFLY JULY: A YEAR OF VERY SHORT POEMS

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Janeczko, Paul B. (Selected by). 2014. FIREFLY JULY: A YEAR OF VERY SHORT POEMS. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763648428. SUMMARY: It only takes a few words, if they’re the right words, to create a strong image. Whether listened to in the comfort of a cozy lap or read independently, the thirty-six very short poems in this collection remind readers young and old that a few perfect words and pictures can make the world glow. Selected by acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko and gorgeously illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems invites children to sample poems throughout the four seasons . ANALYSIS: Several classic favorite poets are included, such as William Carlos Williams, with THE RED WHEELBARROW, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickenson. Janeczko also chose many popular poets of today in this compilation, such as April Halprin Wayland, J. Patrick Lewis, Joyce Sidman, and many more. Each seasonal segment of
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Sidman Poetry:

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Sidman, J., & Zagarenski, P. (2010). Red sings from treetops:A year in colors . New York: Scholastic ISBN: 978-986-6273-30-8 SUMMARY : Joyce Sidman's poetry brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste. illustrator Pam Zagarenski's interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color, but feel it. ANALYSIS: Poet Joyce Sidman takes on the challenge to create poems about seasons using colors. This book was written with astounding creativity, as it portrays the changing of the seasons by bringing color to life. We experience each season through a series of poems. The colors, actually written as words, are elaborated in a way that heightens the senses. The placement of short lines creates a natural rhythm. Rhyme is used occasionally as if each rhyme effortlessly fell into place without straying from the overall flow. For example, “In summer, white clinks in drinks.
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Hopkins Award Poetry:One Last Word by Nikki Grimes

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grimes, N (2018).One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN:978:1619635548 SUMMARY: In this collection of poetry, Nikki Grimes looks afresh at the poets of the Harlem Renaissance—including voices like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more writers of importance and resonance from this era—by combining their work with her own original poetry. Using "The Golden Shovel" poetic method, Grimes has written a collection of poetry that is as gorgeous as it is thought-provoking. Analysis: Between the covers of this compact volume lies artistic, literary, sociocultural, and curricular gold.   Taking her inspiration from the poets of the Harlem Renaissance and her poetic form from a method first developed to honor Gwendolyn Brooks, Grimes offers an introduction and a homage to these strong African-American voices. After providing brief author’s notes on the Harlem Renaissance and its role in inspiring her own work, she
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Performance Poetry:You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Mary Ann Hoberman & Michael Emberly

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B IBLIOGRAPHY: Hoberman, M. A., & Emberley, M. (2001). Very short stories to read together . Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN: 0-316-36350-2 SUMMARY: A unique book in two voices that uses traditional reading teaching techniques alliteration, rhyme, repetition, short sentences, to invite young children to read along with an adult. Each of the twelve short stories fit on one spread and features childlike themes- family, friendship, pets, and seasons. ANALYSIS: Mary Ann Hoberman playful introduction to one of her series of read-together books explains how the dynamics of the text work. Hoberman designed these books specifically to provide an engaging shared reading experience for a pair of beginning readers or one beginning and one more advanced reader. You Read to Me, and I Read to You is a collection of thirteen very short, humorous stories printed to allow one reader to read the words presented on the left,a second reader to read the words on the right, and both readers share t
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Biographical Poetry: Carver: Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Nelson, Marilyn. 2001. Carver: A Life in Poems. Asheville, N.C. Front Street. ISBN 1-886910-53-7 SUMMARY: This 59 poem novel depicts George Washington Carver’s life from different point of views. In this novel, Carver’s life begins from an infant and continues all through his death. His challenges of being born into a slave family, coupled with his intense desire to learn, guide the book as Carver manages to use his intelligence, determination, and ingenuity to follow his dreams. Even while facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Carver managed to inspire others and lived a life of learning and aiding others. These poems vividly portray Carver through some of his accomplishments and take the reader through a journey of his life. ANALYSIS: This novel is replete with imagery that helps the reader visualize what is happening. In “Watkins Laundry and Apothecary: Mariah Watkins, Neosho, Missouri,” the speaker states, “He was sweet with the neighbor children. / Taught the
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