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35th out of 57 books
—
3 voters
Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems
by
Gail Carson Levine (Goodreads Author),
Matthew Cordell
This Is Just to Say
If you’re looking for a nice happy book
put this one down and run away quickly
Forgive me sweetness and good cheer are boring
Inspired by William Carlos Williams’s famous poem ”This Is Just to Say,” Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine delivers a wickedly funny collection of her own false apology poems, imagining how tricksters really feel about the misc...more
If you’re looking for a nice happy book
put this one down and run away quickly
Forgive me sweetness and good cheer are boring
Inspired by William Carlos Williams’s famous poem ”This Is Just to Say,” Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine delivers a wickedly funny collection of her own false apology poems, imagining how tricksters really feel about the misc...more
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
March 13th 2012
by HarperCollins
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I’m reading more poetry because I’m gearing up to be one of the judges in this years’ Cybils’ awards for poetry. This book is on the nominated list! My work doesn’t start until the beginning of next year, but I’m nervous, and think I should study many examples to see if I can learn something, about writing poetry and evaluating it as well as the way it’s presented.
This is the first book I’ve read since I knew I was going to be a judge. I also happen to know that one of the classes I work with...more
This is the first book I’ve read since I knew I was going to be a judge. I also happen to know that one of the classes I work with...more
Pair this one with Joyce Sidman's earlier This Is Just to Say and be sure to share the original William Carlos Williams' poem "This Is Just to Say" in which the poet apologizes--but not really--for eating the plums that were beckoning him from the family icebox. The 46 poems all have the same title and follow the same pattern, ending with a punch to the stomach each time. Characters from fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk scamper through the p...more
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Using William Carlos Williams’ famous non-apology poem to his wife, Levine carries his formatting to a humorous high with her spoofs of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and school and family issues. There is even humor in the book’s design, with the Table of Contents repeating “This is Just to Say” a multitude of times as if in the cloud, followed by several poems, and then the Introduction on page 18, to Levine’s editor’s chagrin: “Instead of at the beginning/I slipped/this introduction/in here/whe...more
I think that Walter Carlos Williams is owed an apology far more sincere than any of the ones in this book. He wrote a perfectly good little poem to his wife, about eating her saved plums for his own snack, and Gail Carson Levine has used it as an excuse to rampage through life situations and fairy tales with pseudo-apologies for things far more serious than eating a bowl of plums from the refrigerator.
While creative, some of Levine's poems are very dark and twisted, entirely changing the point o...more
While creative, some of Levine's poems are very dark and twisted, entirely changing the point o...more
I have enjoyed several of Gail Carson Levine’s books in the past and was very curious when I saw that this poetry collection was written by her as well. I hope you don’t think I’m ignorant, but I had never heard of false apology poems before picking up this book and while I know the name William Carlos Williams, I had never read “This Is Just To Say,” which this book is inspired by. For those of you that haven’t read it either, here it is:
This Is Just To Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the i...more
This Is Just To Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the i...more
I tend to run my bookgroup for kids between the ages of 9-12 like a gentle dictatorship. I choose the books, the kids vote on them, and so it goes. Now if the kids had their way we’d be reading fantasy novels day in and day out every single week. With that in mind, I like to try to make them read something a little different once in a while. For example, one week I might try to get them to read a Newbery winner. The next I would try to encourage them to dip into some nonfiction. One type of book...more
With each poem entitled "This Is Just to Say", Gail Carson Levine proves that just because you say you're sorry, doesn't mean you are. While I must admit that one or two fell flat, on the whole this book of poems was deliciously evil and funny. Many of the poems were based around fairy tales, but with a slightly devilish twist. Two of my favorites are: one based on Hansel and Gretel, in which the witch apologizes for luring the children in but that she's hungry and prefers her food young; and th...more
Inspired by William Carlos Williams's 'This Is Just To Say,' Levine has a great time studying the form of his poem, the intent, the importance. Then she writes some of the most rollicking, silly poems using his as the mentor text.
I loved her voice, her playfulness, her irreverence. I eagerly turned the pages to read the next one, and the next. Many were written in the voices of fairy-tale characters and I can see all kinds of applications in a classroom...I think we'd start writing a fake apolo...more
I loved her voice, her playfulness, her irreverence. I eagerly turned the pages to read the next one, and the next. Many were written in the voices of fairy-tale characters and I can see all kinds of applications in a classroom...I think we'd start writing a fake apolo...more
There is much to love about this book of poems--all riffs on WC Williams non-apology poem, "This is Just to Say." the author explains the form of that poem and plays around with it, writing non-apology poems based on familiar characters and familiar family conflicts. She also plays with the conventions of the poetry book--from the table of contents to the introduction to page orientation. I suspect some readers will find some of the poems gruesome, but I imagine that very feature will appeal to...more
Using William Carlos Williams poem "This is just to say," as a guide, Levine has crafted a collection of poems that are deliciously nasty. Some have literary references, like this one from Jack's cow: (This Is Just to Say) I have chewed/through/the tall/beanstalk/ which/you recently/stepped off/way up there/ Forgive me/I think/I'm worth/more than five magic beans.
Others refer to siblings, bullies, and even parents. All are funny and perfect for reading when you're in a foul mood. Levine even giv...more
Others refer to siblings, bullies, and even parents. All are funny and perfect for reading when you're in a foul mood. Levine even giv...more
Inspired by the Williams Carlos Williams poem, "This is Just to Say", Levine has provided an insightful introduction to the form of a false apology poem, as well as provided a sampling of her own. A collection Shel Silverstein would be proud of. Highly recommended for schools and confidence building in both reading, writing and poetic forms. Black and white illustrations in a Silverstein tribute by the wonderful Matthew Cordell.
Here's one of my favorites:
THIS IS JUST TO SAY
While you were buying
d...more
Here's one of my favorites:
THIS IS JUST TO SAY
While you were buying
d...more
I love William Carlos Williams's poem of taking the plums. I enjoyed Joyce Sidman's riff on that poem, filling a book asking for forgiveness. I wondered what Gail Carson Levine would do. I love it. Her introduction, which comes several pages into the book, is wonderful with the instructions on how to write your own false apology poem. I had to go back to look at the table of contents since the first go around all I saw was "this is just to say." I wondered if I missed anything else in addition t...more
I am very familiar with the original poem (William Carlos Williams's one about plums) that inspired this book but to tell you the truth, I hadn't interpreted the apology as false. I mean - I might say I'm sorry for finishing the last of the cookies, but I never write someone a poem about it, let alone a good one. That's gotta count for something. Anyhow, this book riffs on the false apology in a very entertaining way. B. didn't get all the poems on her own but the ones she did she very much enjo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Have you ever had to say "sorry" when you really didn't mean it? This is a book of poetry that celebrates the appology that isn't an appology. For example one poem is an appology of a witch who bakes a house of gingerbread to lure Hansel and Gretel. She is appologizing that she baked such a great house that she will be able to eat the young duo. Or another poem appoligizes for planting poison ivy in a yard of a person who didn't pay the author for mowing his lawn.
These poems will be fun to read...more
These poems will be fun to read...more
I did read most of this, but I don't actually want to admit I did. I was trying to get into the spirit of it, but couldn't. The verses are just petty and mean, not clever, not provocative.
Levine does say, "For those of you who lack an ounce of mean,... you can write a real apology poem. However, even this will not be possible if you are too angelic to have anything to apologize for." Well, my goal is to be that angelic. I really am not ever mean on purpose, believe it or not. So - maybe I am jus...more
Levine does say, "For those of you who lack an ounce of mean,... you can write a real apology poem. However, even this will not be possible if you are too angelic to have anything to apologize for." Well, my goal is to be that angelic. I really am not ever mean on purpose, believe it or not. So - maybe I am jus...more
Gail Carson Levine takes William Carlos Williams' poem This is Just to Say and runs with it. Following Williams' format and intent, each poem details what was done, asks for forgiveness, but then offers up a mischievous twist. From false apologies by Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother, and other fairytale characters to apology poems for friends, enemies, and readers, there's something to make everyone giggle. Levine's intro (note: you will not find this at the beginning of the...more
Written in the style of William Carlos Willimas' famous false apology poem, Levine's book is one fake, I-meant-to-do-it, I'm-a-meanie-so-what-are-you-gonna-do-about-it poem after another. Hitting only a few false notes the poems that are really striking are the ones based on fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Levine encourages readers to write their own false apology poems by carefully deconstructing the Williams' in an easy to understand format and even then she breaks the rules. The real main req...more
I finally got around to reading this book of poetry and as usual, I asked myself, "What were you waiting for?" I was inspired to re read William Carlos Williams' Poetry for Young People and I just kept coming up with so many ideas for use of this book as a mentor text in writer's workshop. We will definitely be writing our own "false apology poems," when we read Love That Dog and Hate that Cat, by Sharon Creech. My favorite poem was "This is just to say." Mrs. Richards will have to get us our ow...more
I don't normally review the childrens books I read because there are a ton, but while I was getting picture books for my class, I saw this title and then Gail Carson Levine and immediately picked it up. It wildly surpassed any expectations I could have had. I am so beyond amused. It is all in the style of William Carlos Williams' This is Just to Say, which I love anyway. Levine stays in her fairytale wheelhouse and knocks it out of the park. My only regret is that my 3 year olds are too young to...more
Following in the footsteps of William Carlos Williams, Levine has written a collection of 3 stanza poems with false apologies in the final stanza. Some of these are revised fairy tales and stories(like the woodcutter apologizing for not going to Grandma's house when he heard screams in Little Red Riding Hood because he was enjoying a good soak in the tub at the time), while others deal with school, family, and more. Some are more fun than others, but all in all, it should get a chuckle out of ju...more
Oh my, the things a teacher can do with this book! It is an obvious invitation to writing, but can also be used to teach allusion, tone, perspective, and that's just the beginning! Levine lets many familiar folk and fairy tale characters offer tongue-in-cheek apologies that fly right over the head of readers who aren't familiar with the old tales. My favorites? Jack's cow, who thinks she's "worth more than five magic beans;" and Pinocchio, who thinks telling lies is fun and doesn't "want to be a...more
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Twitter contest hosted by Harper Collins. It arrived today and I was very surprised to discover just how witty and enjoyable this collection of " This Is Just To Say" false apology poems really was. HOW FUN! I laughed out loud a couple of times! Both the drawings and the poems are hilarious and I strongly recommend checking this one out. If you enjoy good humour, witty remarks, sarcasm and meaniness - this is a book for you! It will seriously cr...more
All of these poems are riffs on William Carlos Williams' great short poem, "This is just to say." Carson's poems delight in being unapologetic. Matthew Cordell's drawings are reminiscent of Quentin Blake, with a modern twist. I think this is a marvelous poetry title for young people (and adults) who don't like poetry. One bit of criticism: "Dwarves/you snore/pick your noses/never take a bath" with the accompanying illustration is rude to people who live with Dwarfism. I know it's a fairy tale; I...more
Disclosure: I received a complementary copy of the book from the publisher via Goodreads' First Read program.
Copying the style William Carlos Williams' famous poem "That Is Just to Say", Levine has created a wonderful set of non-apology apologies on subjects ranging from fairy tales to why the introduction is in the wrong place. While none of the poems are burst-out-laughing funny, all of them are at least amusing. Cordell's art is also a wonderful fit for the book. Definitely worth reading.
Copying the style William Carlos Williams' famous poem "That Is Just to Say", Levine has created a wonderful set of non-apology apologies on subjects ranging from fairy tales to why the introduction is in the wrong place. While none of the poems are burst-out-laughing funny, all of them are at least amusing. Cordell's art is also a wonderful fit for the book. Definitely worth reading.
Based on William Carlos Williams’s “This Is Just to Say” poem, these poems borrow the form and the apology but build upon it with a wild array of situations. In each poem, an apology is offered, but all of them are done conditionally and many are completely insincere. There is an apology for eating all of the ice cream and replacing it with anchovies. There is an apology for turning a bully into a fly and having a swatter ready to go. Then there are many apologies based on fairy tales or songs t...more
HA! Some of the poems here made me unexpectedly laugh out loud. The poem "written" by Jack's cow (of Jack & the Beanstalk fame) was one of those. I don't have the book next to me, so I cannot quote it, but the cow is chewing through the beanstalk because "I'm worth more than 5 magic beans". That's the kind of snarky book this is. Pretty funny.
Lots of false apologies here. You know the kind: when someone forces you to apologize but you so do not mean it. That's what you have here. In a tribut...more
Lots of false apologies here. You know the kind: when someone forces you to apologize but you so do not mean it. That's what you have here. In a tribut...more
Sep 18, 2012
Ruqaiya
added it
I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. It arrived approximately 20 minutes ago and I have read the book cover to cover. I was expecting something delightful and humorous-like her book Ella Enchanted, which was my absolute favorite book growing up- as well as geared toward young kids. I was pleasantly surprised! Levine's collection of false apology poems modeled after a poem called "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos William is witty, dark, twisted, and extremely entertaining. It parodie...more
This book is a collection of false apology poems, they are written in a fun way. The author writes poems as the mischievous ones and how they actually feel about what they’ve done. This is a great book for those wanting a good laugh and an interesting twist on poetry. This would appeal to those who enjoy humor and poetry. It is intended for ages 8 and older. When implementing this in my classroom I would use this as filler on my shelf.
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Just letting you all know: I'm only going to review books I love. There's enough negative criticism without me piling on. A book is too hard to write.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Yo...more
More about Gail Carson Levine...
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Yo...more
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