It's for Fun, it's to Learn, it's to Share, to Understand and so much more

Title: Knock at a Star
A Child's Introduction to Poetry Revised Edition


Authors: X.J Kennedy & Dorothy M. Kennedy

Illustrator: Karen Lee Baker

ISBN: 0-316-48800-3

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

WHAT DO POEMS DO?

Make You Smile

Tell Stories

Send Messages

Share Feelings

Help You Understand People

Start You Wondering

This mini question and answer is just one part out of four that was given in the beginning of the book I chose, which is Knock at a Star by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy M. Kennedy. The book is a collection of poems and like it says it in the title a great way for a child to be introduced to poetry. The poems are separated into categories throughout the book. The categories give a description of what the poems goals are in that section. For instance, to send a message- "the poems often have a point to make. They leave us with something to think about, and they don't waste words." 

I loved that the poems had the 3R's that we used once before, rhyme, rhythm and repetition and where written in an easy way for children to understand. The poems where expressive and detailed to a point where a child would be able to close his/her eyes and imagine what the picture would look like using descriptive words. One of my favorite poems in the book is called Childhood by Frances Cornford. Cornford's poem describes a time from when he was a child thinking that as a adults got older they chose to look the way they do. It was so sweet because it reminds me of when I was a child not understanding why people looked they way they did. Who decided that? and Why? I think now of how the children in my class ask questions to all the adults not meaning to be rude but curious. "What is that?" (pointing to a birthmark). "Why do you have that?" (pointing to a pimple).

I think this poetry book can help a child understand why certain things are the way they are, as well as reading them just for pleasure. The few poems closer to the end in part three especially because they have music tones to them. I also liked the fact that the book gives the reader an opportunity to write their own poems after reading the book and help give ideas in the end of part four. So if your ever wondering what poems are used for or how to introduce poetry into the classroom, this book is the one you would want to use. 

It's Who You Are No Matter What

Title: Neeny Coming, Neeny Going

Author: Karen English

Illustrator: Synthia Saint James

ISBN: 0- 8167- 3797-5

Publisher: BridgeWater Paperback

This week my class focused on another award given to authors and illustrators. It's known as the Coretta Scott King Award and I learned it's "presented annually by American Library Association to honor African-American authors and illustrators who create outstanding books." In 1969 it originally was given to just authors but that changed in 1979 when it expanded and a separate award was given to illustrators as well. This award was given in the honor of Mrs. King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for their life efforts. 

The book I chose is "a 1997 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and winner of the Society of Illustrators 1996 'The Original Art' Award." The illustrations in the book are very different and unique from what I was used to. The pictures weren't drawn with a lot of details but as an overview of what was going on. I must say, I was very impressed that eventually I didn't notice what was "missing" from the pictures because they still matched the text. The pictures were mainly focused on colors and not so much on the peoples faces, expressions or body movements; at times they didn't even have legs or arms and I think in some way it was to show all the similarities among the people.

The story takes place in the 1950s and it's about a girl named Essie who is excited about her cousin, Neeny coming to visit to Daufuskie Island from the mainland. Essie finds out that Neeny has changed and interested in way of life done on the island. The visit doesn't go the exactly the way Essie thought it would have and before you know it Neeny is heading back home. But in the end Essie still feels that Neeny is her "best cousin" and gives her a few gifts for her to always remember the island and of Neeny's past lifestyle. 

I enjoyed reading this book because it resembles the idea of a cultures blending. Neeny blended the two cultures of her life, even though she might have preferred the way she lives on the mainland, it doesn't mean she should forget where she came from. If anything, it should make her appreciate what she has compared to how her family lives. That's what everyone in America does. America is known a the 'Melting Pot' because there are people who come from all over with all different cultures and customs. The way we keep our roots with us is by keeping the traditions and customs from our culture of where we came from and blending it with our way of life. The only thing I would have liked, personally, is to see Neeny do something on the island or read of something she kept on the mainland to remind her of her roots before Essie giving her presents. But it did mention, "Neeny say they always remind her of a field of wildflowers."  

What I especially liked from the book was the short statement given to the reader in the beginning before the story, describing the book's time period and gives a mini history of what is going on at the time. It's important because the names, places and language shown isn't what we are used to and it helps the reader with a better understanding of the book while reading it. 

There is Always More to the Story...

Title: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

ISBN: 0- 670- 82759- 2

Publisher: Penguin Group

As adults it's our job to get the truth to any story. Whether it's a judge hearing a case, a reporter questioning victims and the felons, or a teacher trying to settle a dispute which occurred in class. But in order to make a decision on what to do afterwards, we have to make sure that we know the whole story and I've learned growing up that there aren't just two sides to every story but in actuality three sides. The third side of the story is the truth but that's the part that is never told so we have to take what hear and decide what is believable before determining what the truth really is. It isn't going to be perfect but it is the best we can do for now. 

I work in an after school program and I recently had to settle a situation going on between two kids. Of course like in most cases I only saw the end effect, which was a bead being thrown at one another. I walked over to the table and asked the youngest one to come talk to me. I asked him what happened and why he threw something at the girl he was having a problem with, he then said she threw the bead at him first. I asked why she would do that and he had no response. Then I told him that he wasn't nice nor is it okay to do what he did because it now got him in trouble too. But my job wasn't complete, I still had to find out why the little girl threw the bead at him in the first place, so I called her over as well. I went through the whole process again of questioning what happened. She said the little boy said something mean to her so she threw the bead at him and in return he threw it back. Well I got the whole story and had to explain to the little girl that just because we hear something we don't like doesn't give her the right to throw stuff at people. And of course they both had to apologize to one another. 

It is very frustrating to get both sides to every story mainly because we are so concerned with just one point of view; our own. I think it's because we usually only hear one side of a story before making a decision on what to believe. For instance: the textbooks we read, the books we read and the stories passed down to us.

This weeks blog was focused on Folk/Fairy Tales. The fact is there are many different kinds of Traditional Literature. My personal favorite are the folk tales and fables because folk tales are the stories that grew out of the lives and imagination of the people and fables are simple stories in which the characters, usually an animal, actions teach a moral or lesson. The one I decided to focus on was a folk tale. Now for the most part everyone knows the story of The 3 Little Pigs, from the pig's point of views. The reader sympathizes with them, but what about the Wolf?! That's why for this weeks blog I chose The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. I love the idea that it's based on the Wolf's point of view of what happened to the pigs and after reading this I think you'll see he's not such a bad guy after all. He was just misunderstood. 

There aren't many folk tales or fairy tales that show the other side and I thought an excellent classroom activity would be to ask the children to take other stories, such as: Cinderella or the Little Mermaid and write their own version of how Cinderella's step sisters or Ursula would tell the story. 

Post #2: The Perfect Sandwich

Title: Peanut Butter and Jelly
A Play Rhyme

Written and Illustrated by: Nadine Bernard Westcott

ISBN: 0-14-054852-1

Publisher: Penguin Group, Puffin Books



This weeks blog is based on a children's picture book. I recently learned there is much more to picture books than just being an easy read for the children. Some types of picture books are baby books, interactive books, toy books, wordless books, and alphabet books; these are just a few examples. I also learned that some of the books I was exposed to at one point when I was younger may not be the best to share with a potential class someday, because even though I know there are levels and standards for what books should read in each grade it still surprised me. I never thought of books not being "good enough quality" anymore.

The picture book I am sharing with you today is one that reminded me of what Professor Berry was explaining in class when she was modeling her teaching methods on how letters are formed in their rightful "house". It was a routine to follow the 3 R's, which are rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. And I think this book not only does this for you but also shows you in the very back how to include suggested hand and body actions while reading it.

This child's picture book has many uses, for instance it's an interactive book, a concept book, a pattern book and a predictable book. I also believe this book is the perfect how to, as well as sequence book to do with children because it shows how to make something and the order in which it is made even with something as simple as an everyday pb&j sandwich.

This book is about two children who receive help from others to make a sandwich, but not just any sandwich, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now you would think that there isn't much help required to make this easy sandwich, otherwise my mother wouldn't have made it as often as she did because a little hint: she doesn't cook, but step by step on making the sandwich from scratch!

... I think I'm hungry now but I'm going to take the easy way and go get my peanut butter and jelly out of the jar ...

Only if You Truly Believe

Title: The Polar Express

Written and Illustrated by: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

When I was younger I used to believe in Santa Clause. The whole idea of a big fat jolly old man holding a huge sack full of presents to give to every girl and boy on the night before Christmas made it the best holiday of all. I can close my eyes and literally see him all red, big black boots and saying "Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!" And just like in the songs we hear every year, he was always watching us to check if we were being "naughty" or "nice". I believed in Santa so much that not only did I leave out milk and cookies for him but I also left out carrots for his reindeer! Thinking about it now I find it silly but there was something about it that holds a child's innocence. I think it is the cutest thing; the idea that every young girl and boy trying stay up for as long as possible on Christmas Eve to catch Santa putting the presents underneath the tree but failed to do so each year. 

Sadly enough, eventually reality kicks in and as we get older we stop believing and the whole experience that seemed magical to us at one point in our lives becomes a never ending list of toy requests given to our parents. I remember I used to write Santa a letter about how good I've been and what I would like for Christmas, now I ask for the usual, cash. I don't even make a list!

 The Polar Express is one of my favorite books. It reminds me of the thoughts and feelings I had when I was little. The excitement of Christmas morning, tons of presents under the tree and all because of Santa and his elves. The story is about a little boy who believes in Santa Clause and waits up for him one Christmas Eve to hear the bells from the sleigh. Instead the Polar Express arrives heading to the North Pole where the little boy receives a gift. On the way home he realizes he's lost it. Lucky for him he finds the bell under the tree and when he rings the it his mother says it's broken, but that is because she hears nothing while the little boy hears the ringing. From then on he always believed and only those who believe can still hear the ringing of the bell.