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Splish Splash

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As fresh and sparkling as a mountain stream, Splish Splash invites young readers to plunge into the pleasures of concrete poetry, to have fun with words and ideas, and to see and appreciate the shapes of language and of everyday things.71 Top Books of the Century (Nonfiction), Instructor magazine A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A National Council of Teachers of English Notable Children's Book in the Langauge Arts A Children's Book of the Year, Child Study Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" Great Stone Face Book Award Nominee, New Hampshire A Kansas State Reading Circle Selection "Children's Books Mean Business," ABA-CBC Exhibit California Collection '97, '98, '99, and 2000

Paperback

First published August 15, 1994

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41 people want to read

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5 stars
15 (18%)
4 stars
43 (53%)
3 stars
17 (20%)
2 stars
5 (6%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,787 reviews
July 24, 2013
3.5 STARS
I really loved the author's newer collection "Flicker Flash" and don't feel this was quite as strong. Some of the poems are still really good and there is a fun variety of different forms of water but some of the poems were a bit bland. I also wasn't a fan of the illustrations either in style or as advancing the poetry--which is a big drawback when dealing w concrete poetry. Bummer.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
September 29, 2020
Would make an ideal introduction for kids creating their own "picture" poems.
Profile Image for Allison Frank.
8 reviews
July 14, 2022
I like how the author and illustrator shaped the words of each poem as what the poem was about.
10 reviews
June 21, 2016
This book is filled with different poems about water and where you might see it. Each poem has a major theme and explains where/what/how the water is used and its purpose. The illustrations are made up with the words and creatively laid out so that it illustrates the water in each setting. Children will be able to get a sense of what phase the water (liquid, ice) is in and how we use it in everyday life.
Splish Splash is an enjoyable collection of poems that introduces younger kids different elements of water and how it’s used. I enjoyed reading this book, although some of the poems were harder to follow along with because the color choice of the text, and the some of shapes the text made. However, I would recommend this book because it contains useful information about water, water cycle, and different settings in which we can find water. It also is a nice introduction on reading poems and seeing the text in this book laid out very uniquely.
20 reviews
April 2, 2014
Book: Splish, Splash By: Joan Bransfield Graham
“Clouds”
Up in the air, gathering
Of water drops, a crowd,
Huddling, a puddling,
Just dampness is allowed
From lakes and ponds, many places
Too many to keep track-
But when it rains and rains and pours
Clouds put the water back


OVERVIEW: This poem screams science. I would use this poem when discussing the earth and science category of the GELDS. The objective would be for children to investigate and asks questions about the properties of water. I could also make a chart or picture story to go along with this poem. There is a possibility that this poem could be used for a physical movement activity to go along with the goal in the GELDS.
76 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2016
This would be a great introduction to poetry to young readers as the words, ideas, shapes, and language is conducive to young readers. The poems in this book would be something that children could relate to because they know what water does. They might not know what water does all the time in every situation, but the picturs and the words make it so it is easy for them to know. The children might know the famous song of splish splash I was taking a bath, and that could also be used in a lesson about water. I believe that this book was a great read, and I would recommend this book to anyone who has a need for poetry in their life, which is everyone. Joan Bransfield Graham has done a great job with explaning and illustrating everything that is going on in the story.

Profile Image for Heidi.
238 reviews9 followers
September 18, 2008
I bought this book for my 3-year-old daughter at a yard sale but knew nothing about it. It has since become one of our favorites, and my daughter requests it all the time! It is actually a book of poems, all about the different forms that water takes. The poems are short and most have some form of rhyme. They are all picture poems, in that the words take the shape of the "water" they are describing. It's charming and clever and a great way to introduce little ones to poetry!
Profile Image for Calie Youmans.
32 reviews
November 29, 2015
Splish Splash is a wonderful beginner reading book. Chub the fish enjoys sitting in his tub and when ten of his friends want to come in chub says "jump in if you wish". The story is great for beginner readers and Ashley Wolff's illustrations add colorful and playful fun. I believe this is a great kindergarten or first grade book. Great for beginner readers! I would use this book as a take home book for children to practice reading.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
964 reviews22 followers
August 6, 2010
Concrete poetry all about water. I like some of these better than others. I really liked the repetition and the shape of "waterfall". I also really enjoyed "sprinkler," "Popsicle," "Steam," "Wave,"and "Icicle". Some of these are really simple, but some use some very descriptive vocabulary that would be difficult for language learners.
Profile Image for Diane.
7,288 reviews
June 16, 2014
"... water has so many looks, sounds and moods and colors - yet in every shape, its' always WET!"

Concrete poems about all different forms of water. These are a fun way to introduce a unit on water for younger students.
Profile Image for Alison Durbin.
179 reviews21 followers
March 26, 2015
I found this book to be very entertaining. I thought the poems were kid friendly, and the way in which the poems were written was very creative. I think this book would be a good book to have to introduce poetry to young children. A future purchase of this book is almost certain.
110 reviews
March 2, 2015
The selection of poems included in this book are both concrete and about water. The concrete poem takes the shape or form of the object it is describing. The students will enjoy reading these fun poems in a variety of shapes. I would recommend this book to first through fourth grade.
Profile Image for Andrew.
78 reviews
April 26, 2015
A wonderful book using concrete poetry. Readers will have fun reading the poetry which the text is illustrated to form a picture of the subject. An innovative way to get students interested in poetry.
Profile Image for LINDA.
168 reviews7 followers
August 9, 2008
I love the way that the text is formated differently, from page to page to help illustrate! Creative and colorful!
100 reviews
July 25, 2016
This a cute picture book filled with poems the different phases of water. This book can be used in the classroom when teaching about water.
Profile Image for Pauline.
Author 13 books35 followers
December 3, 2014
The poems are good but the interior design is not good. So poems you can't even read because like one poem is written in green color font on a greenish background.
154 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2015
I thought this was a fun book! It was very colorful and had short poems for young readers to understand.
24 reviews
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December 9, 2015
This book would be great for begining readers. It gives great practice, with pictures and age understandable words. Great for students to take home with them and work on reading by themselves.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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