Poetry Book Review: Curriculum Connection: Spectacular Science a book of poems

Spectacular Science: A Book of Poems. Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Ill. Halstead, Virginia. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.  New York, NY. 1999.

This poetry book is just FUN and it makes learning about science fun as well. This would be a great book to introduce a new science topic, as a warm up or just to enhance a science lesson.

The book starts with a poem titled "What is Science?" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. This would be a wonderful poem to display on the wall at the beginning of the year in a science class. Reading it orally to the class could be a spring-board to discussions on what will be taught in the class and spark interest in students. (as well as the added bonus of bringing poetry into the Science classroom!!)

The poems are a compilation of various scientific topics.  They are written in a fun manner, but also have important, educational information embedded within each poem.  The illustrations are "whimsical" and fun just like each poem.  The illustrations enhance the poems as well as the subjects covered.  The poems could easily be used from elementary to high school, the poems lend themselves to all age groups to enjoy and learn from. 

Excerpt:

Rocks

Florence Parry Heide

Big rocks into pebbles,

pebbles into sand,

I really hold a million rocks here in my hand.

Poetry Break Spring

Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems. Alcaron, Francisco X. Illustrations by Gonzalez, Maya Christina.  Children's Book Press, San Francisco, CA.  1997.

Introduction:   Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems

by Francisco X. Alcaron

Explain to students that this is a poetry book where the poems are written in both Spanish and English.  Show  the students the cover of the book and have them share their observations with the class.  Read the poem orally to the group.

Laughing Tomatoes

Francisco X. Alcaron

Laughing Tomatoes

in our backyard

we plant

tomatoes

the happiest

of all

vegetables

with joy

they grow round

with flavor

laughing

they change

to red

turning

their wire-framed

bushes

into 

Christmas trees

in spring

If possible, have someone who speaks Spanish read the poem a second time, this time in Spanish. 

Read the poem a third time, this time read the poem's alternating lines, read the line in English, then the same line in Spanish.

Show the students the illustrations that support the poem.  

Extension ideas:

Plant some tomatoe plants in the school yard, allow students to be responsible for watering and taking care of them.  

Bring in tomatoes for the students to observe, both whole and cut in half.   See if they make the connection of the people in the pictures having tomatoe seeds for teeth.

This could lead to a lesson on vegetables, gardening, good health.

Biographical Poem: Twelve Rounds to Glory The Story of Muhammad Ali

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali. Smith Jr., Charles R. Illustrated by Bryan Collier.  Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MS. 2007.

This is the story of Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay's life and events that created the legend he became. The book begins with the beginning of his life and proceeds through each life altering event.  Smith does an excellent job of telling the story in poetry, and including both the positive and not so positive elements of Muhammad Ali.

I did not know much about Muhammad Ali's life, just that he was a famous boxer and his quote "fly like a butterfly, stink like a bee".  Smith brought this man to life before my eyes, I felt as if I was sitting alongside the boxing ring watching a fight, hearing him give a speech, or listening to him brag about himself as he put other boxers down.  After reading this book, I wanted to learn more about Muhammad Ali, I want to talk with someone who was present at a boxing match.  To me that is a good book, one that makes you want to find out more.

The illustrations are amazing. The likeness to Muhammad Ali is perfect. Some pages have "busier" illustrations where others have a very simple one. Each illustration enhances the part of the poem it is representing, they do not take away or outshine the poem.  Some illustration have a few words or a quote from the text.

At the end of the book there is a time line of Muhammad Ali's life. This was a great way to end the book and pointed out other interesting facts about his life that were not mentioned in the poem.

This book would be a great addition to any library. It is a great demonstration of a Biographical poem. I can see boys in particular wanting to read this book over and over, but it could appeal to girls as well.

Awards:  2008 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award

 2008 Norman Sugarman Best Biography Honor Book

To hear poems from this book read by the author visit the following link:

 http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/mybooks-4-8.htm

An extension to this book was suggested by Charles R. Smith on his website, I thought it was a great idea.

*Have students talk to a parent or adult and have them tell the student their life story. Once they have their story, have them pick out the interesting parts and create a poem in a style similar to this book.  (I think this would be a fantastic Grandparent's Day activity).

Verse Poem: what my mother doesn't know by Sonya Sones

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother doesn't Know. New York, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2001.

What My Mother doesn't Know is Sonya Sones' second novel-in-verse. It is the story of Sophie and the situations and experiences she has with boys, her friends and her parents.  This story is very realistic and feels as if it was written from the heart and mind of a teenager. 

The novel-in-verse format made for a quick and easy reading experience. I personally enjoyed being able to read a book, comprehend and enjoy it while also moving through it at a fairly fast pace. I am new to the novel-in-verse book format, but can certainly see the pros of this type of book for both reluctant, as well as advanced readers. I also feel this type of book would make for a great read aloud in a classroom setting.

What My Mother Doesn't Know is told in first person by Sophie.  The story begins with Sophie talking about her first boyfriend, and first love and progresses to her second and third boyfriend.  Sones does a magnificent job of touching on a variety of emotions through out the novel.  There were parts of the story where I laughed out loud, and parts where I felt tears brimming my eyes because the heartache Sophie was writing about I could feel as well.  Sones writes about middle school exactly as I remember it, having the "loser" or outcast, the popular kids, and your group of friends whom you would go to the ends of the Earth for.  This novel brought back memories and feelings of middle and high school I had long forgotten, and some I wish to forget again.  Each character in the book had distinct personality traits that set them apart from the other characters, I feel the characters had great depth to them and each one contributed to the story. This novel left me thinking back to the story and characters and wanting to know more days after I completed reading it. I think that is what defines a "good book", when you find yourself thinking about a book long after you have finished reading it.

I immediately reserved a copy of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know, the sequel to What My Mother Doesn't Know and am anxiously awaiting the phone call letting me know it's ready for me to pick up.  

Excerpt from What My Mother Doesn't Know

Tears

Usually

I can feel them coming,

feel them swirling in my chest

like a swarm of angry bees,

buzzing up through my neck

and filling my head,

till it feels like a balloon

getting ready to burst.

Usually

there's time to at least try to stop them

before they stink out through my eyes

and slip down my cheeks like hot wax.

But not this time.