Bodies from the Ice: melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

By James Deem

cover image retrieved from

http://www.jamesmdeem.com/books.icebodies.htm

Bibliography

Deems, James M. 2008. BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST. Houghton Mifflin. New York. ISBN-13: 978-0618800452.

Plot Summary

In September 1991, Erika and Helmut Simon were climbing a mountain in the Otztal Alps, which spill into both Italy and Austria, when they stumbled upon the partially revealed body of a person, buried in the ice. What made this discovery special was realized when the body was dated to be approximately 5,300 years old, a dweller from the Copper Age. Types and characteristics of glaciers are explained in this mesmerizing book, as well as recounts of other bodies discovered as glaciers retreat. Sections of this book are devoted to legends about glaciers, the study of glaciers and glaciologists who study them, women involved in climbing glaciers, and the special circumstances surrounding climbing the mountains and glaciers around Mt. Everest. 


Critical Analysis

            What secrets do the glaciers of the world hold about the past? This question is skillfully answered, amid an intriguing selection of maps and photographs, in Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past by James Deem. Deem, who became interested in glaciers while researching this book, has numerous other award-winning non-fiction books to his credit. He has made a name for himself as a meticulous researcher, with particular interest in bodies that have been preserved in unusual settings. He writes with great insight about the artifacts found with the bodies, and the research that accompanies these discoveries. The extensive resources, related materials, bibliography, and well-explained text make this book a delight for readers, regardless of prior knowledge or purpose for reading. Readers who are interested in mummies, glaciers, or the history preserved in unexpected places such as a glacier will find plenty to feed their hunger. Other readers who are looking for a basic resource to introduce them to this topic will be equally pleased with this selection. Special care has been taken to document all referenced discoveries, allowing the reader to delve into specific cases if desired.

The organization and format make it a very user-friendly book. Text is organized into chapters, with subsections and insets further explaining related topics or details. Dozens of color and black & white photographs give the reader visual reference for the points discussed in the text. Maps clue in the reader to the locale, permitting further investigation of glaciers and mountains in the area. Deem goes to great effort to diligently research his topics, and provide adequate resources for readers to understand and dig deeper themselves.  He adequately differentiates between theories once postulated and facts that have been proven as the mummies are studied. Dozens of photographs, with their detailed captions, clarify the text. The arrangement has enormous visual appeal, while feeding the reader manageable doses of information.  Readers of all ages will be drawn in to learn while enjoying this informative, appealing text.

            

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2008

            "The discoveries of bodies and artifacts at the edges of melting glaciers around the world triggered the imagination of award-winning author James M. Deem and led to Bodies from the Ice, his third book about real-life mummies (Bodies from the Ash, 2005, etc.).  "An intriguing read, complementing the author's highly commended Bodies from the Bog (1998) and Bodies from the Ash (2005), with a bonus environmental message."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers . . . Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about."--Booklist

"With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences."  School Library Journal, starred review

Awards & Honors:

2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book

awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association

2011 Prairie Pasque Award Winner

Finalist for the 2009 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books

Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2008

Notable Book for Children 2009

chosen by the American Library Association

2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12

chosen by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council 

2009 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

chosen by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council

2008 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book 2009 (10-14)

CCBC Choices 2009

Takoma Park Maryland Library, Best Kids Books of 2008

Nominated for:

the 2010-2011 Young Hoosier Book Award (middle grades)

the 2011 Garden State Teen Book Award (Nonfiction Grades 6-12)

Connections

  Social Studies: Map the locations of glaciers around the world. Identify the mountain range, country, and continent where each is located. Graph the number of glaciers per continent. Plot the latitude and longitude of each glacier. Determine the altitude of each glacier. Compile tables displaying latitude, longitude, and altitude. Make inferences about the relationship between this information and the size of the glacier.
  Science: Dig deeper to find what is causing the retreat of glaciers worldwide. Chapter 7 of Bodies from the Ice discusses possible effects of the total melting of glaciers. Identify locations that would be most impacted by the loss of fresh water from glacial melt.
  Study global warming. Bodies from the Ice does an excellent job of not taking sides in the disagreement about the role of global warming on retreating glaciers. Some scientists believe glacial melt is the result of global warming, while others disagree, saying it is part of Earth’s natural cycle. Assign partners or small groups to research both sides of this argument. Stage a debate or form a classroom display showing the opposing viewpoints.
  Language Arts: After further researching any of the bodies recovered from melting glaciers described in this book, write a journal entry that this person might have written in the days just prior to the events that lead to being preserved in ice.

  Other books by James Deem:

Auschwitz: Voices from the Death Camp
Kristallnacht: The Nazi Terror that Began the Holocaust
Primary Source Accounts of the Revolutionary War
Primary Source Accounts of the Mexican-American War
Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii
The Vikings
El Salvador
Millard Fillmore
Zachary Taylor
Bodies from the Bog
3 NBs of Julian Drew
The Very Real Ghost Book of Christina Rose
How to Make a Mummy Talk
How to Read Your Mother's Mind
Study Skills in Practice
How to Travel Through Time
Ghost Hunters
How to Hunt Buried Treasure
How to Catch a Flying Saucer
How to Find a Ghost
Frogburger at Large
Frog Eyes Loves Pig

What My Mother Doesn't Know

What My Mother Doesn’t Know

By Sonya Sones

cover image retrieved from

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/What-My-Mother-Doesnt-Know/Sonya-Sones/e/9780689855535

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2001.  WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. Simon & Schuster. New York. ISBN: 0689841140

Plot Summary

Sophie is a typical teenage girl in every way: boy crazy, misunderstood by her family, on an emotional rollercoaster as she navigates her way through school. What My Mother Doesn’t Know is a novel in verse that weaves Sophie through the perils and pitfalls of coming of age. Sophie is, above all, always conscious of the males in a crowd. As the reader makes her way from start to finish, Sophie recounts the boys she’s loved and lost. Lou, who dumped her; Dylan, who seemed to be made for her and who actually cried when she broke up with him; Chaz, a guy she meets online who turns out to be a jerk; Zak, who she decides is much better as a “brother” than as a boyfriend; the Masked Man at the Halloween Dance; and Murphy, the dork from art class who turns out to be much less of a dork than she had ever imagined. In the poem Tomorrow Night Is Over, Sophie accurately states, “…I’ll probably have lots of boyfriends in my life…” Luckily for her, this seems to be true as she steers through the murky waters of crushes and dating.

Sophie certainly spends much of her time consumed with boys, but she always finds time for her “besties” Rachel and Grace. The three have been through thick and thin together since third grade. All have their share of issues to deal with at home, so they lend sympathetic ears to one another. Sophie shares with the reader some of the great hurts in her home life. Her parents seem to have fallen out of love and fight constantly. Her mother simply does not understand the importance of having a certain dress she dreams of wearing to the Halloween Dance, then completely freaks out when Sophie goes behind her back to buy and wear it, anyway. Her family stays home for winter break, while practically every other family jets off to an exotic location. Such are the trials and tribulations to endure, thankfully made easier with her friends along on the journey.

Sophie eventually must make a choice that reveals her true character. She agonizes about whether to go with the “popular” option, or be true to her heart and what she knows is right and pick a different alternative. Sophie manages to stay the course and make the right choice, proving she is much more than a frivolous twit or self-consumed airhead.

Critical Analysis

A novel written entirely in verse? 259 pages of poems, that somehow connect and tell a story? This concept was difficult for me to imagine. What My Mother Doesn’t Know quickly convinced me that it absolutely is a viable format for a novel.

Sonya Sones handily constructs this tale of an emotional, boy-crazy teenager. Poems of varying length and form interconnect to bring Sophie to life. Written entirely in free verse, this novel accurately conveys the gamut of feelings common to a teenager. The formats and font selection contribute to the range of topics and reactions. A single line set apart from other verses to make a point; free verse couplets to group similar ideas; changing fonts during online conversations or in emails; a concrete poem constructed to resemble an exclamation point in the poem I Wish. The variety of appearances of the poems on the page blends perfectly with the disparity of emotions and topics that run through our heroine’s heart, mind, and soul.

As a collection of free verse poetry, rhyme and rhythm are not factors here. But, rhythm seems to be achieved through the variation of the poems on the page. They do not draw heavily on alliteration or onomatopoeia, but word choice is essential to the effectiveness of the poems. Imagery, such as, “her face turned the color of the ashes dangling from the tip of her cigarette,” “so happy to see me his tail’s practically wagging!” and “I’m dancing with a bunch of girls, bouncing like kernels of popcorn in a hot frying pan,” create powerful visual images. The anxiety and emotional peaks and valleys are evident in the word choice and arrangement, as well.

“I

stop

breathing.”

“man oh man, this is going to be totally Twilight Zone.”

“I feel like a whole new part of me just got born.”

Without a single picture, the reader is able to draw a complete mental image of the scene and feelings Sophie is dealing with throughout the story. Stereotypical teenage vernacular is used fluently, drawing the reader into the story in a torrent of images and memories of difficult teenage years. Ms. Sones brings to life her characters in a format that captures the attention and the imagination. One of the beauties of the novel in verse format is that action can easily shift from event to event with no need for segues. Titles easily signal a continuance of topic or change of course. This use of free verse poetry provides a fresh take on a typical teenage novel.

Review Excerpts

Drawing on the recognizable cadences of teenage speech, Sones (Stop Pretending) poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy. The author keenly portrays ninth-grader Sophie's trajectory of lusty crushes and disillusionment whether she is gazing at Dylan's "smoldery dark eyes" or dancing with a mystery man to music that "is slow/ and/ saxophony." Best friends Rachel and Grace provide anchoring friendships for Sophie as she navigates her home life as an only child with a distant father and a soap opera-devotee mother whose "shrieking whips around inside me/ like a tornado." With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike. Ages 12-up.  Publishers Weekly (Oct. 2001) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 6-8-A story written in poetry form. Sophie is happily dating Dylan, "üntil he's practically glued himself to my side." Then she falls for cyberboy ("if I could marry a font/I'd marry his"). Imagine her surprise when he becomes downright scary. In the satisfying ending, Sophie finds the perfect boyfriend- someone she's known all along. Sones is a bright, perceptive writer who digs deeply into her protagonist's soul. Of course, mothers probably do know these goings-on in their daughters' lives. It's just much easier to believe they don't. Sones's book makes these often-difficult years a little more livable by making them real, normal, and OK.

School Library Journal 47 no10 O 2001   Sharon Korbeck, Waupaca Area Public Library, WI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Connections

     Pre-teen and teenage girls might also like: The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot, the Jessica Darling novels by Megan McCafferty, or Scribbler of Dreams by Mary Pearson
     Pre-teen and teenage boys might also like: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, You Don’t’ Know Me by David Klass, or Schooled by Gordon Korman
     Other novels in verse for teens: One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder, The Best and Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson, Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
     Challenge students to create their own free verse poems about significant events or friendships in their lives.
     Make visual connections to one or a series of poems from What My Mother Doesn’t Know by illustrating them. Include the poem(s) that correspond with the illustration.
     Challenge students to create a concrete poem from one of poems in What My Mother Doesn’t Know

    Other books by Sonya Sones:

Stop Pretending

What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

Contributing author to:

Necessary Noise

Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet & Bitter Birthday

Love & Sex - Ten Stories of Truth

Meet Danitra Brown

Meet Danitra Brown

By Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

cover image retrieved from

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meet-danitra-brown-nikki-grimes/1000333934?ean=9780688154714&itm=1&usri=meet%2bdanitra%2bbrown

Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 1994 MEET DANITRA BROWN. Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books. New York. ISBN: 0-688-12073-3

Plot Summary

Everyone should be so lucky as to have a best friend like Danitra Brown. At least that’s the message our narrator, Zuri Jackson, conveys throughout the poems that bring Danitra to life for the reader. Beginning with “You Oughta Meet Danitra Brown,” Zuri marvels at her friend’s never-give-up attitude. Danitra is a girl who knows what she wants and is willing to do what it takes to get it. She’s smart, confident, and a true-blue friend. Danitra is not concerned by what others say, as evident in “Coke-bottle Brown,” an account of a taunting name that is thrown her way. Danitra simply ignores the teasing, remarking to Zuri, “I’ve got no time for Freddy’s mess. Let him call me silly names, ‘cause I could not care less.” Zuri marvels at Danitra’s possible link to nobility in “Purple,” and her determination to win a Nobel Prize in “Stories to Tell.” The girls share typical childhood escapades throughout the book, knowing that both the good times and bad are better because they each have a best friend to experience them with.

Critical Analysis

Nikki Grimes deftly employs a variety of poetry formats to tell the story of her title character. From the simple, rhythmic jump rope rhyme that appears second in the book to introduce the reader to the narrator to the differing rhythms of the poems that demonstrate the attachment of the two main characters, readers young and old will enjoy and appreciate the simple arrangement of the poetry. Nothing here is forced; rather, each poem seems to flow, capturing the mood of the narrator as she moves from incident to incident, recounting both daily life and significant events. Cadence and rhyme give life to this fine collection of poems. Occasional use of slang and made-up words are not a deterrent to the flow and understanding of the poems. Ms. Grimes accomplishes her purpose using simple words, packed together for just the right punch. Emotions are real and justified; sadness turned to joy in Mom and Me Only, hurt turned to vindication in Sweet Blackberry, loyalty and devotion in You Oughta Meet Danitra Brown and New Beginnings.

The rich illustrations of Floyd Cooper add life to the delicious verbal descriptions in this collection of poems. Cooper captures the spirit and depth of each of the characters in Grimes’ work. The soft, dreamy watercolors convey the feeling that everything in the world will be all right as long as these two girls are together.  There is a comfortable feel in the artwork, like distant foggy memories floating at the back of your mind in the zone of contentment. The illustrations span the entire two-page spread, like they are wrapping the reader in their arms, pulling you into the story. Minute details complete the visual effect: a knowing look in one of the characters’ eyes, glasses askew in Bike Crazy, the ever-present purple in Danitra’s clothing.

Meet Danitra Brown allows the reader to escape into the world of two young girls through vivid imagery and satisfying word choice. Readers can relate to the commonplace events and emotions brought to life in Ms. Graimes’ poetry. The book is both relaxing and fulfilling. Though only thirteen poems are held within this volume, it achieves a completeness that leaves the reader with an appreciation for skillful styling in storytelling.

Review Excerpts

"Grimes creatively uses the voice of Zuri Jackson to share tales of the girls' moments of admiration, pain, self-assurance, pride in their cultural heritage, sadness, disappointments, play, and their thoughts and feelings about future dreams and aspirations. Cooper's distinguished illustrations in warm dusty tones convey the feeling of closeness. The poignant text and lovely pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments of friendship with universal appeal."

School Library Journal v. 40 (May 1994) p. 108           Barbara Osborne Williams, reviewer

"Zuri admires Danitra's independent spirit and is quick to defend her friend when she is teased about her thick glasses. Danitra is equally considerate of Zuri's emotions. . . . One of the most poignant poems, which explores Zuri's sensitivity about her skin color, is 'Sweet Blackberry.' Zuri's mother offers this retort when kids at school tease her: '“Next time, honey, you just say,/ The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.”' Floyd Cooper's full-color paintings throb with the energy of a big city and with the warmth and exuberance of the girls' dynamic relationship."

The Horn Book v. 70 (July/August 1994) p. 467          Ellen Fader, reviewer

Connections

     The poems of this book are wonderful connections to the meaning and value of friendship. Encourage children to write poems of their own that introduce a person who is special to them.
     A variety of poetry formats are used in this collection. After initial instruction in poetry formats and characteristics, challenge students to identify the format (rhyme and rhythm scheme) of each of these poems.

     The third poem, “Coke-bottle Brown,” is an excellent resource to be used to illustrate the concept of turning the other cheek when someone is ugly to you. Share this poem and launch a discussion of how to handle bullies who try to control people through words.

     This book is an excellent example of friendship through thick and thin. Pair this with picture books about enduring friendships, such as Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by P. Kahumbu, Fancy Nancy and the Boy From Paris by Jane O’Connor, Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, or the James and Martha books by James Marshall.

     Other books by Nikki Grimes:

Bronx Masquerade

Jazmin's Notebook

Danitra Brown, Class Clown

Danitra Brown Leaves Town

Meet Danitra Brown

Hopscotch Love

Under the Christmas Tree  

What is Goodbye?

Talkin' About Bessie

Aneesa Lee & the Weaver's Gift

From a Child's Heart

A Dime A Dozen

My Man Blue

Come Sunday

At Break of Day

Shoe Magic

A Pocketful of Poems

Wild, Wild Hair

Portrait of Mary  

Malcolm X: a Force for Change

     Other books illustrated by Floyd Cooper:

Grandpa’s Face

Laura Charlotte

Coming Home

Be Good to Eddie Lee

The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars

Freedom School, Yes!

Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan

Mississippi Morning

The Most Precious Gift

Shake Rag

Tree of Hope

Mandela

Miz Berlin Walks

On Mardi Gras Day

Satchmo’s Blues

Caddie the Golf Dog

Gingerbread Days

Brown Honey & Broomwheat Tea

I Have Heard of a Land

Chita’s Christmas Tree

Papa Tells Chita a Story

Cumbayah

It’s Kwanzaa Time!

Imani’s Gift a Kwanzaa

Coyote Walks on Two Legs

African Beginnings

Bound For America

A Child is Born

Granddaddy’s Street Songs

Sweet, Sweet Memory

Daddy, Daddy Be There

Pass It On

How Sweet the Sound

Ma’Dear’s Aprons

Martin Luther King & His Birthday

Far Away Drums

Happy Birthday Dr. King

One April Morning

Meet Danitra Brown

Danitra Brown Leaves Town

Pulling the Lion’s Tail

When Africa Was Home

Jaguarundi

From Miss Ida’s Porch

City Scenes

Story of Jackie Robinson

Reflections of a Black Cowboy, ‘Cowboys’

Reflections of a Black Cowboy, ‘Pioneers’

Reflections of a Black Cowboy, ‘Buffalo Soldiers’

Reflections of a Black Cowboy, ‘Mountaineers’

I Have a Dream

The Greatest Table

Tough Boy Sonatas

Prudence Crandall

Becoming Billie Holliday

The Blacker the Berry…

Willie and the Barnstorming Allstars

Blue Lipstick

Blue Lipstick

Concrete Poems

By John Grandits

cover image retrieved from

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Blue-Lipstick/John-Grandits/e/9780618851324

Bibliography

Grandits, John. 2007. BLUE LIPSTICK CONCRETE POEMS. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. New York. ISBN-13: 9780618851324

Plot Summary

Jessie, a teenager experiencing her fair share of high school angst, lights up the pages of this story in verse. The true beauty of it, however, is in the format of the poems. Imagery and emotion come to life in the concrete scripting of the story. Blue Lipstick reads almost like a diary. Jessie pours her heart into the poems, taking the reader through the gamut of her emotions: frustrated, irritated, panicked, awed, love-struck in poems with tell-tale titles like “Talking to My Stupid Younger Brother is Like Swimming Upstream in a River to Nowhere,” “A Chart of My Emotional Day,” “Bad Hair Day,” and “My Absolutely Bad Cranky Day.” Jessie chronicles her daily activities in poems with mundane titles such as “Volleyball Practice,” and “The Bowling Party,” but her experiences are anything but mundane. In typical teenage fashion, Jessie is consumed with her attire and appearance, her friends (or lack thereof,) her least favorite teacher and subject (Mr. Holt, English,) and how lame her family can be- sometimes. Reading Blue Lipstick takes the reader on a journey through high school life that brings to mind similar personal trials and adventures. 

Critical Analysis

       Concrete poems have never had it so good. Typically reserved for verse about subjects in nature (flowers, mountains, raindrops, kitty-cat faces) or other topics with somewhat predictable shapes (winding roads, sailboats,) concrete poems have new life in this fresh take on a teenager’s existence. The day-to-day trivial pursuits of an ordinary teenager, Jessie, leap into action in Blue Lipstick as the words of her story come to life in concrete poetry. Far from predictable, the shapes of these poems are as erratic as a teenage girl’s life, lending humorous authenticity to her many mood swings and escapades.

            While concrete poems can sometimes be difficult to follow through their meandering form, attempting to trace the path through Jessie’s words and anecdotes is part of the adventure. The poems themselves are the artwork, with doodles and varying fonts completing the pictures. Grandits constructs unique shape poems that literally give life to Jessie’s actions and reactions. The title poem, “Blue Lipstick,” sets the tone and color scheme for the book. Blue- both the color and the emotion- are skillfully woven in throughout the book.

Random, erratic, unique, genuine- this companion book to Grandits’ Technically, It’s Not My Fault is a skillful, occasionally hysterical, look at the life of an American teenager. The free verse styling allows Jessie to rant, rave, contemplate, and emote to her heart’s content. Grandits effectively employs a teenager’s lexicon to legitimize his subject. The rich vocabulary and careful word choice drive home the sentiments of a teenager. With each poem wrapped neatly in a descriptive shape, the mood is set as the reader turns to each new page. Even a skeptic of shape poems will find reason to enjoy Blue Lipstick.

Review Excerpts

"Grandits playfully, and quite effectively, channels a teenage girl's dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves—all in a series of concrete poems, no less—in this much stronger follow-up to Technically, It's Not My Fault. We first meet ninth-grader Jessie on the book's cover, as she's busy defending her lipstick purchase. . . . Her words (i.e., the poem) form the frame kissed by electric-blue lips. It's a cover that'll grab adolescent girls' attention—and the poetry inside is equally appealing. . . . It's to Grandits's credit that his protagonist isn't confined to a 2D existence. She leaps right off the page, in turn feisty and insecure."   The Horn Book v. 83 no. 4 (July/August 2007) p. 408-9

Grandits crafts his collections with the needs of poetry-phobic readers in mind. It isn't even necessary to crack the book, since the first poem, "Blue Lipstick," is cleverly placed on the front cover, surrounding a reflective mirror. As he did in that terrific collection, the author uses artful arrangements of text on the page, along with 54 different typefaces, to bring his images and ideas to life. This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience.

School Library Journal 53 no7 115 Jl 2007

Connections

     Blue Lipstick is the perfect vehicle to open a discussion about feelings. Use it as a part of a lesson on emotions and how to respond to situations in a positive way.
     Have students write a response poem to Jessie, either requiring concrete poetry or allowing the format of choice.

     Have students construct a concrete poem of their own, taken from a common experience in their day-to-day life, as Jessie does in this book.

     To introduce concrete poetry, share a few simple poems that are written in a regular format. Have each student select a poem and rewrite it in a concrete shape. Add other details to complete the illustration/poem. Discuss the importance of readability when using a concrete poems.

     Share other volumes of concrete poetry, such as A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, written by Paul Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka; Doodle Dandies: Poems That Take Shape, written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Lisa Desimini; and Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Michelle Berg.

Make interdisciplinary connections. Select a specific event or topic the class is currently studying and guide students in creating a related concrete poem.

     Other books by John Grandits:

                  Technically, It’s Not My Fault