Poetry Week

Three Children's Poetry Picture Books

The Great Migration

This book is prefaced by a note from the author. Greenfield introduces the poetry by explaining the history between 1915 and 1930, discussing how African Americans moved from the South to the North, in order to escape racial discrimination and injustice as well as institutional racism.She explains this movement is known as The Great Migration.inequalities still existed. Greenfield concludes the introduction on a personal note, "... I had become a part of The Great Migration". 

Each page has an individual poem that links to the following page- detailing the process of one travelling from the South to the North during this time period. The pages are composed of dark images, perhaps insinuating the sorrow and pain brought forth by the hardships of living in the South as an African American during the early 1900s. Poems are told from varrying perspectives of men, women, and children. It is interesting to notice the difference and similarities of the very realistic characters in this story. Though they are nameless, each character's perspective brings a new tone to the story as a whole. For the most part, the poetry is written in free verse, and it is seemingly literal. The poems use a great deal of imagery, as there is hardly any need for the pictures on each page. The story goes on to detail the journey to the North, involving the train transportation. In this section of the book, one poem is carried out for several pages, titled "The Trip". My favorite poem in the book is: 

 Question 

Men and Women:

Will I make a good life 

for my family, 

for myself? 

The wheels are singing, 

"Yes, you will, 

you will, you will!"

I hope they're right. 

I think they're right. 

I know they're right. 

We're going to have

a great life. Got to try it. 

Going to do it. Going to

make it. Not mater what. 

           I enjoy the uncertainty and determination that this poem highlights. I am sure many of the migrant felt this very way on their journey to the North. I especially enjoy the rhythmical meter in this poem. I also find the spacing very intriguing at the end of this poem. It causes me to think of the reasons behind Greenfield's purpose in placing incomplete thoughts with each other in the last three lines. 

          

           Overall, this book is extremely effective in creating a personal connection from the reader to various realistic characters in history. I think the fact that having the author be someone from the actual era from which this book is written bring a a great deal of authenticity to the overall effect of the book.  It would be great to use this book as a supplemental reading in a social studies class. I would use this book in upper elementary school and middle school. 
          
            Greenfield, E. (2010). The great migration: Journey to the North. New York: Harper Collins       Publishers. 
         

         A Lucky Thing
         
           This collection of poetry surrounds itself on seemingly mundane aspects of life-  mainly farming aspects. Simple things like a barn are turned into magnificent images of detailed happenings through the authors used if imagery. The poems detail small happenings- allowing the reader to make sense of why robins might envy chickens. This book is a fun and engaging read, with beautiful paintings on each page. My favorite part of the poems is their use of space among each page. The spacing of the lines and stanzas lends itself to the meaning of the words within the poem. This book would be a great introduction to any poetry unit. Students could get a glimpse at effective use of imagery and instrumental diction. I would use this book all the way up through high school for this purpose. 

         Schertle, A. (1999). A lucky thing. New York: Browndeer Press. 


          Night Garden: Poems from the World of Dreams

           I loved reading Wong's interpretations of dreams. Dreaming has always intrigued me, and this collection of poems explores the mysterious aspects of the world of dreams. Each poem deals with a part of dreaming that one encounters during the night. For example, "Old Friend" details that happening of an individual turning up in a dream that the dreamer has not seen in a long while. In this poem, the dreamer questions himself, asking why this particular old friend has turned up in the dream. Other poems involve dreams dealing with flying, falling, and dogs. Each poem is surrounded by pictures, depicting themes within the dream- some are unclear, perhaps showing that some dreams are also unclear. My favorite poem is the ending poem:

There is a Place

There is a place

where the museum houses thousand of paintings

seen nowhere else in the world, 

the colors so bright they grab your eyes 

and hold you there, looking,

where the library is filled with brand new books

waiting for you to open them first, 

to tell stories only you could know, 

where fresh cherries have no pits, 

where puppies never grow old. 

There is such a place,

hidden deep

in me. 

           This poem is so great! It discusses the magic and uniqueness within every individual. We all are museums full of wonderful paintings. No one else in the world will ever be able to see the wonders within our minds. Such places are hidden within each of us, and we have endless opportunities to discover within ourselves. 

          Wong, J.S. (2000). Night garden: Poems from the world of dreams. Hong Kong: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

      Bronx Masquerade 

           Bronx Masquerade is an excellent book of poetry for middle school students. It is written from the perspectives of eighteen different characters. Thus, each character is depicted by a different voice. Grimes' close attention to detail and characterization of the particular narrator for a given section of the book made the story seem more authentic. The story follows each character during high school, through their ups and downs. Tyrone, perhaps the most familiar character in the book, provides a glimpse into the lives of the other voices, so the reader can better understand each individual story. 

           Each character deals with some sort of problem they're facing. For some, the death of a relative plagues their memories... others feel as though they're trapped, and others deal with abusive acquaintances. The reader follows the characters through the use of short strings of text along with brief poems. 

          

           I believe this book would be great to use in a classroom. It shows that, despite our multicultural diversity, we all carry burdens. It also brings up the idea that we can help one another simply by listening to one another and showing that we really- honestly- care. It is so often - too often- that we forget what a positive difference simple kindness can make in another's life. 

           I also appreciate the fact of reading this book before I go into teaching. it is a good reminder about my need to be there for all of my students. It also reminds me of the fact that all students are individuals and that they all have different stories to tell. Such stories might impact the manners in which they behave in class towards me as well as to one another. 

           Furthermore, this books made me realize the opportunities that poetry instructional units can bring into the classroom. Some students might secretly love enjoy poetry. For these students  I should provide ample ways in which they can showcase their work, like Open Mic. I thought having students write poems and share them was an excellent idea. Students can also work on performing poems this way as well.

           After reading this book, I am not as nervous about teaching poetry as I had been. It is a fun and creative way to let kids let out their problems and worries. It also provides an ample way in which students can perform and take pride in their own work. 

          Grimes, N. (2002). Bronx masquerade. New York: Dial Books.