Performance Poetry:You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Mary Ann Hoberman & Michael Emberly

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 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 the words in the middle. There are many features to make the text easier for the beginning reader to navigate. Each short story is contained within the left and right pages of the open book, providing readers with a view from the beginning of the episode to the end. The font is large , color-coded, and clearly visible on a white background allowing each reader to easily follow the chosen part. The surround pen and watercolor illustrations  of realistic children and fanciful animals are light hearted and reflect the gentle humor of the text, while providing a visual reference for young readers as they learn to read the words and comprehend the text. Hoberman’s writing has a lyrical quality achieved through the rhythms and rhymes that are joined like verses in a poem. The familiar topics are presented with just enough substance to sound like spontaneous conversations between friends.Because each story is complete on its own, readers can read a few or many,or reread a favorite. After just a few episodes, children will come to anticipate the repeated closing lines, “You read to me, and I’ll read to you”.
USE:
One of the poems from the book that shows a highlight on the analysis is The Snowman. “Hi Ho! Hi Ho! The world is white! Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It snowed last night!/It snowed while we/Were fast asleep./It’s nice and high/It’s very deep./ Put on your clothes./ The ones for snow./ Pull on your boots.And then let’s go!/What shall we do/The first of all?/ Let’s build a snowman./ Roll a ball./ I’ll roll the bottom/ On the ground./ I’ll make the middle/NIce and round./ I'll find a pebble/ For each eye./ And if he starts to melt./He’ll cry!His mouth can be/ An apple slice./ AN apple slice will turn to ice./I’m getting pretty/Icy,too./You do look icy./So do you./Let’s go inside/And get a drink./ Some cocoa would.Be good/ I think./ And while we’re in./What shall we do?/ You read to me./ I’ll read to you. In this episode, Hoberman creates a colorful story full of rhymes while showing a picture of friends building a snowman. Although this story did not have a middle section for reading together , there was still a colorful part for each reader to read in their own voice.
I could use this book with students who struggle with reading out loud or  a beginner reader. I can start by modeling with an
advanced student the way to share the poem reading each colored part in partners. Then the middle section together if there is a middle section. I can guide the students to work in pairs and choose a story to read following the same techniques I used in my demonstration.

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