Poetry Module 3 Book Reviews

 Poetry Module 3 Book Reviews:

Book Review #1: Creature Carnival poems by Marilyn Singer illustrated by Gris Grimly

1. Bibliography:

Singer, Marilyn, and Gris Grimly. Creature Carnival. Hyperion Books For Children, 2004.

2. Plot Summary:

The book starts by welcoming the readers to the carnival by mentioning to the parents to spend their money and see the amazing attractions. The way the book is set up is that each poem is one single attraction. For example, the Sphinx, the Frog Prince, Godzilla, The Fly, etc. The poems are all in riddle form, describing the attractions and trying to get them to guess it at the end of the poem/riddle. As the reader goes through the book and poems, it gets closer to the end of the carnival. At the very end of the carnival, it thanks the readers with a "Closing Time" poem, along with a "Featured Creatures" at the end, which I thought was really helpful to have for students who, like me, didn't want the book to end! 

3. Critical Analysis:

The book has a really cool table of contents that displays all the poem titles at the beginning labeled as "Attractions" in such a creative, carnival design! This design of the carnival theme remains throughout the rest of the book. Something great about these poems is that the poems have a lot of rhyming told in a riddle format. This rhyme and riddle format helps teach two in one and learning about different traditional creatures that they should kow about.

4. Review Excerpt:

Kirkus Reviews: true feast for all monster fans, this versified tour gathers creatures from myth, folklore, urban legends, and even films, into a decidedly unsavory sideshow. Visitors will encounter the likes of the Cheshire Cat and Godzilla, a drooling Frog Prince and a ruthless beauty queen mermaid. Or, if they so desire, they can wrestle a multi-armed kraken, or take a ride on, well: “Not a horse, not a bird, / wouldn’t drop an egg on us. / Very sleek, very Greek, / In a word: / it’s Pegasus.” Grimly casts an oddball array of egg-headed, pencil-necked young onlookers, marveling at each unkempt, pop-eyed, usually leering Attraction before ending up being hauled off in a cage themselves. The carnival’s residents, nearly three dozen strong, get identifying notes at the end. This attention-getting menagerie will have readers and listeners sitting on the edges—and probably falling right out—of their seats: as the mustachioed barker declaims, “Listen—that’s the werewolf’s band / over by the I Scream stand. / Ticket, please. I’ll stamp your hand.” Step right up. (Poetry. 7-10)

5. Connections:

Students who read this book will relate to attending the carnival if they ever went with their family or want to go, this gives them a chance to get to see what to expect. Additionally, the book mentions a lot traditional monsters and creatures that are major fables that students should know or hear about at some point. This book helps open up a lot of conversations about the types of rhyme schemes and even some vocabulary words that can be explained or discussed further. 

Book Review #2:  Cat Poems by Dave Crawley and illustrated by Tamara Petrosino

1. Bibliography:

Crawley, Dave, and Tamara Petrosino. Cat Poems. Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, 2005.

2. Plot Summary:

This story talks about all the different types of cats and the different activities they do throughout the day because, well, cats! It beautifully highlights their attributes that make them unique and different from dogs or other pets. The poems are specially dedicated to the job or adventure the cat has. For example, there's Grocery Store cat, Cat Nap, Playground Cat, and Zip-Zoom! All of these poems playfully exemplify what the little activities they do as pets or even as "country cats." 

3. Critical Analysis:

This is an amazing book that has a lot of pictures with actual actions the cats are doing that match with the poem. It also has a lot of repetition of words for children to enjoy reading and make it catchy. I loved reading about the different types of cats and the different activities they do. Additionally, the rhyming made it fun to read!

4. Review Excerpt:

“My cat can’t read, can’t read a word. / (To think he could would be absurd.) / Yet every time I read a book, / he scrambles up to take a look.” Winning high marks for child appeal, this collection pairs two dozen rollicking rhymed tributes to the behavior and vagaries of cats with simple, vivacious cartoon portraits of chubby, skinny, ragged, neatly groomed, lazy, wild, wide-eyed, heavy-lidded, young, old and ageless felines, mostly in domestic settings. Some, like “Finicky Felicia” or “Mixed-Up Max,” are named, while others are anonymous—but all offer entertainment to their humans, companionship and comfort in times of stress: “She rubs her head against my leg, / and I’m no longer sad— / for suddenly my awful day / is really not so bad.” Crawley may not dig so deeply into the feline psyche, and his own, as Cynthia Rylant does in Boris (see below), but rare is the young reader who won’t respond to the deep affection he conveys, affirmed by the closing observation that stroking 20-year-old Tandy “still brings back the joy— / when she was a kitten and I was a boy.” (Poetry. 6-9)

5. Connections:

Students are able to make connections through owning a pet, even if it's not a cat. Even if they have never owned a cat or a pet, some children can relate to wanting a cat or a pet at some point in their lives or currently. If they do already own one, they can connect to the activities they do and the little troubles they get into as cats.

Book Review #3: Tugg and Teeny Jungle Surprises by J. Patrick Lewis illustrated by Christopher Denise

1. Bibliography: 

Lewis, J. P. Tugg and Teeny: Jungle Surprises. Sleeping Bear Press. 2011. Ann Arbor, MI. ISBN 978-1-58536-686-6

2. Plot Summary:

This book contains 3 main stories of the adventures of Tugg and Teeny, who are jungle animals. They spend their days in the jungle, meeting other animals and helping out when possible. The first story, they are trying to play detectives and figure out a mystery of where the hat could possibly be. The next chapter is the story of who won the Zig-Zag race between the two zebras, which makes it difficult because they both look identical. The third and last story is the animals learn what wind-fishing is so that they are all able to participate. 

3. Critical Analysis:

This is a great story for beginner chapter books because it is sectioned and divided into chapters, but also kept short enough to not lose the reader's attention. It has some sound effects like onomatopoeia to engage the reader and

4. Review Excerpt:

Sleeping Bear Press: Meet Tugg and Teeny. Best friends since... well, forever! Tugg (a gorilla) and Teeny (a monkey) live together in their jungle neighborhood, Sidekick Thicket. As opposite as night and day, the two friends work and play together, each helping the other face life's challenges. Lively, impulsive Teeny always wants to try new things. Sure and steady Tugg is always there to lend a hand or give a word of encouragement. In Book Two of this beginning chapter book series, Teeny ponders strange and quirky situations in the jungle. All with the help of her best friend Tugg.

5. Connections:

One of the best connections students can make is with jungle animals and with the little ad\ventures they go on and try out together. They are able to connect with racing, zoo animals, hats, friendship, etc.

Book Review #4: Red Sings From Treetops by Joyce Sidman

1. Bibliography:

Sidman, J. Illustrated by Zagarenski, P. Red Sings from Treetops: a year in colors. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Boston. 2011. ISBN--13: 978-0-547-01494-4

2. Plot Summary:

3. Critical Analysis:

This is an amazing book that helps students with their color association, their words sounds, and the repetition of the words through poetry and pros writing. 

4. Review Excerpt:

Kirkus Reviews: A woman and her white dog, both wearing paper crowns, wander through the four seasons, observing nature’s palette: “In summer, / BLUE grows new names: / turquoise, / azure, / cerulean.” A red bird flying across the pages becomes a continuity motif. In summer, RED is a delicate hummingbird; in fall, “RED swells / on branches bent low. / RED: crisp, juicy, / crunch!” In winter, “RED hops to treetops / ...begins to sing: / and each note drops / like a cherry / into / my / ear.” The seasons flow into each other, bringing readers full circle. Fresh descriptions and inventive artistry are a charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions. Details in the artwork will invite repeated readings and challenge kids to muse about other color icons. (Picture book/poetry. 5-8)

5. Connections:

Students are able to get through the book in the sense of connecting with the animals, the colors, the experience and journey of the character throughout the journey. It helps them make connections between animals, seasons, items, weather, and definitely emotions!