Some spring poetry books...and another spring poem!
Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Heidi at my juicy little universe for Roundup.
I'm away from my desk today, having a little spring adventure with Paul! I'll share more next week.
This month I've been reading A LOT of children's poetry! Here's three I'd like to share a bit about:
Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Claudia McGehee.
This one was recently awarded the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. I am in love with the art! And check out all the great verbs in this one: stalking, croak, gurgle, gliding, riding, skitter, hoot....And each poem has an adverb! Adverbs are generally highly discouraged in poetry, but here they are an essential element of the "form" for each number-poem. Check it out!
How Elegant the Elephant: Poems about Animals and Insects by Mary Ann Hoberman, art by Marla Frazee.
This one is organized A to Z...by poem title. So there's a lot of movement across the animal and insect kingdoms, sometimes jarringly so, like a "There Once Was a Pig" poem tucked between "Tarantula" and "The Spider's Web." But y'all: Mary Ann and Marla are magical together! (Remember The Seven Silly Eaters? Probably our favoritefavoritefavorite read-aloud with our kiddos.) I think my favorite poem in this collection is "Birdsongsingsong." Give it a gander!
Words with Wings and Magic Things by Matthew Burgess, pictures by Doug Salati.
I listened to an audio version (read by the author) before picking it up in print. Both experiences were delightful! In print we're given cutouts! And the ART: So. Much. Fun. Yay, Doug Salati! Here are a few of my favorite poems by title: "The Tiger in My Belly," "Dancer," "Have You Ever?," "Serious Question" (it has pizza in it :), and "The Tomato" (I am a sucker for a tomato...and for a tomato poem!)
Today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO is in honor of these recent glorious days...of all the seasons, I believe I have written more "spring" poems than any other. And spring is not even my favorite season! (Fall! I love Fall best of all!)Here's a small sampling:
Early Spring Rispetto (it has cows in it!)
Two Parrots Walk Together is Spring
When I found this painting, I couldn't believe Picasso painted it! Truly, he was such a versatile painter, willing to try any sort of artistic style. I imagine him as kind of insatiable in his creativity. (I can relate!) Thanks so much for reading.
The Pool at Tulieries
Today is allsails & gentle,sun & green.
Children ripple,
water giggles.
We launch
a thousand boats
in this dream
that is spring.
- Irene Latham
