Poetry: A Hatful of Dragons

A Hatful of Dragons: And More Than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems
By Vikram Madan

Madan, Vikram. A Hatful of Dragons: and More than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems. New York, NY: WordSong an imprint of Boyds Mills & Kane, 2020. 9781684371501

Plot Summary

This humorous poetry book is filled with poems about a panda, a pangolin, a box of mail-order eggs that surprisingly hatch dinosaurs when we expected dragons, aliens with a garden gnome pal, a tiny ghost, a robot uncle, dragons galore, an unruly bunch of clams, slobberly slobs, and more! Some poems are connected and each illustration is expressive in this delightful book of silly nonsense. 

Analysis

Vikram Madan has created a poetry book that is filled to the brim with humor, a wide range of subjects, and recurring characters.  Every page has expressive black and white illustrations that personify each poem, like the ten tiny aliens and their garden-gnome pal in the poem Permanent Guests who build their home in an occupied shoe. Later in the book, these characters are seen again in their shoe home, as the man wearing the shoe walks across the page. Readers will delight in searching for a professor who built a Page Machine that lets him hop from page to page. Including recurring characters that can be seen on multiple pages gives readers extra enjoyment as they begin to notice and search for the clues in each connecting poem. Another example of recurring characters are the girl and the crab from Taxi Crab who cause a ruckus in the taxi and get dropped off back on page 7. Readers will find themselves flipping back and forth between the pages to spot each character again.

One interesting poem is the 13,841,287,201 Nonsense Poems In One, which is a fill-in-the-blank poem that lets readers build their own poem from a list of options on the opposite page. There are twelve blanks in this poem, with seven choices to fill each blank. Madan wrote a cracked concrete poem, titled Brouhaha. This poem features words that have fallen through the poem and onto the floor, leaving readers confused until they can put it back together again. The rebus poem, Australian Animal Chant is only made of pictures of animals from Australia with a key containing their names on the opposite page. Rhyme and rhythm are the key poetic elements present in this book and make this an ideal choice for reading aloud in a group.

Excerpt

PSSSSSSSTTT!!!

My name's Professor Dobbleydook,

Inventor of the Page Machine,

Which lets me travel through this book

To spy on any page or scene.

When traveling through space and rhyme

I like to go incognito.

Should you spot me some page, sometime

I hope you'll pause to say hello!

Connections

Separate the children into groups and print out copies of 13,841,287,201 Nonsense Poems In One out for each group. Cut out pieces of the fill-in-the-blank options found on the side. Have each group select a group of fill-in-the-blank pieces and combine them with the poem to create something new. Each group can then take turns presenting their new poems. After they share their new poems, give them paper and pencils to draw the characters like Madan has done for his book.

Review

A reviewer for Kirkus Reviews wrote that this poem was, "A loopily meta collection of silly, interactive poetry . . . The fun starts in the illustrations even before the poetry does, with characters that recur throughout the book . . . This collection will encourage several giggle-filled read-throughs."

“A HATFUL OF DRAGONS: And More Than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems.” 2020. Kirkus Reviews 88 (6): N.PAG. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=142188266&site=ehost-live.

Poetry: Mountain Dog

Mountain Dog
by Margarita Engle
Illustrations by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov

Engle, Margarita, Olga Ivanov, and Aleksey Ivanov. Mountain Dog. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2014. 9781250044242

Plot Summary

Tony the boy lived in Los Angeles with his mother until she was sent to prison for dog fighting. When the social worker tells Tony that he is going to live with his Tío Leonilo, he's scared; Los Angeles is the only home he's ever known. Tío is a forest ranger on the Pacific Crest Trail and volunteers on the search-and-rescue team to help find lost humans with the help of Gabe, the Trail Angel chocolate lab. Tony the boy finds comfort in Gabe the dog and soon learns what it means to be a Rescue Beast with a Trail Angel of his own. As he battles with his inner turmoil, Tony the boy opens up to the infectious happiness of Gabe the dog and learns that he wants to become a Rescue Beast and maybe even a veterinarian, if he can just overcome the dreaded obstacle of math. Tío, his classmate Gracie, and her grandma B.B. help Tony the boy heal from his trauma and embrace his future on the mountain.

Analysis

Mountain Dog is written as a novel in verse, switching between Tony the boy and Gabe the dog's perspectives. Margarita Engle uses her own experiences with search-and-rescue dogs, immigration, and the dreaded subject of math to create a heartwarming tale about a boy who overcomes his trauma and fears to become something far better than he ever imagined. Though the tale of immigration and foster care may not be relatable to every reader, every reader will be familiar with the sense of loneliness and fear that Tony struggles with throughout this novel. Each time that Tony feels fear or anger, Engle switches perspectives to show that Gabe is sensitive to these feelings and is trying to help Tony overcome them by embracing the wonderful life of work-play and roundness. Gabe the dog's perspective gives the story a happy and warm feeling. As Tony works to leave his past behind him, readers will feel the push and pull of emotions.

Engle's decision to write a novel in verse that switches from one perspective to the other gives this story a sense of roundness, something Gabe the dog would love. Choosing to write the second perspective from Gabe's point of view gives readers a better understanding of the relationship that Tony and Gabe share. If Engle had chosen to write the second perspective from Tío's point of view, the story might not have been as impactful and compelling. This story is all about the relationship between Rescue Beast humans and Trail Angel dogs, and the two perspectives reflect this dynamic. Engle uses sense imagery and figurative language as the poetic elements. Tony the boy's perspective is a vivid portrayal of how he views the world like in the poem Trail Names, "A cold wind shrieks/ like the spirits/ in one of Tío's spooky/ campfire stories." Lines such as these are descriptive and immersive.

Engle includes note at the end of this novel, written from Tony, Gabe, and Luz, that gives readers a guide for "How to Stay Found in the Wonderous Woods". She has also included a note to readers that explains her background with search-and-rescue dogs and a section for a Q & A from her and the two illustrators, Olga and Aleksey Ivanov.

Excerpt

RESCUED!

I'm at a crossroads, a place

where two paths meet.

There aren't any road signs

telling me which trail

will lead toward a future

and which could carry me back

into my past.

Connections

After, or while, children read this novel in verse, set up an outdoor scavenger hunt activity where they can search for "lost" items. To learn navigation, try writing clues for them to follow to locate a specific spot. If there are enough participants, try having them search for and rescue each other by playing a game of hide and seek, where one team of children hides while the other team has to search and find them.

Reviews

One reviewer from Kirkus Reviews stated, "Revealing both Tony's and Gabe's points of view in alternating chapters, the author deftly incorporates a fascinating mix of science, nature (cool facts aplenty) and wilderness lore into a highly accessible narrative that makes room for a celebration of language: "Maybe words / are my strength. / I could turn out to be / a superhero / with secret / syllable powers." The Ivanovs' black-and-white illustrations nimbly reflect the story's tone."

“Mountain Dog.” 2013. Kirkus Reviews, November, 73–74. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=92575795&site=ehost-live.

Carol Schene, writing for the School Library Journal, stated "Gabe's insights into Tony's struggles and his vividly captured doggy enthusiasm and devotion keep the story upbeat. The bond that develops between the canine and boy makes this book an inspiring read that will be especially believable to dog lovers. Black-and-white drawings appear throughout the story, and these empathetic depictions of the characters, animals, and setting capture the spirit of the text."

Schene, Carol. 2013. “Mountain Dog.” School Library Journal 59 (9): 142. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=90018513&site=ehost-live.

Poetry: Echo Echo

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths

By Marilyn Singer

Illustrated by Josée Masse

Singer, Marilyn, and Masse Josée. Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016. 9780803739925

Plot Summary

Just as there are two sides to every story, there can be two sides to every poem. Classic myths have been given a new life in this book of fourteen reverso poems. One side of the story is told when reading the poem from top to bottom. The second side is told when reading the poem from bottom to top. From Arachne and Athena to Eurydice and Orpheus, gods and heroes alike can tell their stories in a new lyrical way.

Analysis

Marilyn Singer cleverly explores Greek mythology using a poetry style that she invented herself, called reverso poems. Each poem carries a different meaning that is based on whether it is read from top to bottom or vice versa. This poetry style helps readers to really dig into each poem as they read it from varying perspectives. For example, in the poem King Midas and His Daughter, the first poem is from his daughter's perspective and shows her begging for her father's attention. When read in reverse, the poem shows King Midas lamenting his mistake of touching his daughter and turning her to gold. Singer uses rhythm, sound, and emotional impact to give each poem vibrancy. By changing the punctuation and capitalization of her poems, she changes the feeling and sound of the words. Some poems sound sad or angry at first, but when read in reverse they sound happy or curious. This is a reflection of the Greek myths themselves, which contain stories of gods and mortals being fickle. Most readers are familiar with the topic of this collection of poems, especially with the rise in popularity of Greek mythology thanks to authors like Rick Riordan. These poems will feel familiar and yet very new because of Singer's reverso poetry style. At the bottom of each poem, Singer has included a sentence or two that explains the Greek myth that is portrayed.

Josée Masse has perfectly illustrated the emotions of each poem while emulating Singer's reverso style. Each illustration shows both sides of the story in a split image that functions as a mirror. Both sides of each illustration come together to reveal the story in its entirety. Masse used soft shades of blue and gold throughout this book and each illustration is reminiscent of ancient frescoes. There are so many details from each poem that readers will have plenty to study as they explore each page. This book of poems is impressive by itself, but it does not compare to the emotional impact that it brings when it includes the illustrations.

Excerpt

DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE

I feel such

despair.

No more

flowers blooming, trees in leaf.

There will be

six months of grief

after

so much joy and laughter.

So much joy and laughter

after

six months of grief.

There will be

flowers blooming, trees in leaf.

No more

despair.

Connections

After reading this poem, give each child a set of refrigerator magnets and instruct them to compose a poem. After they finish their poem, use the magnets to flip the poem from top to bottom and see if a second poem can be created. Using the magnets will make it easier for the children to visualize how to create their own reverso poems. Another exercise that can be a good way to explore the mirror effect of the reverso poems is to have each child chose a poem to illustrate as Josée Masse illustrated it. This will be a challenging but rewarding exercise in perspective.

Reviews

One reviewer for the School Library Journal wrote, "A brilliant practitioner of the eponymous poetic form conveys both the drama and pathos of myths that have entertained throughout the ages, while establishing that there are two sides to every story. Full-page artwork, bathed in dazzling blue and gold tones, sets the stage for these timeless tales of gods and mortals told with a poignant and commanding lyricism."

Dar, Mahnaz, Shelley Diaz, Della Farrell, Daryl Grabarek, Kiera Parrott, Luann Toth, Kent Turner, and Tyler Hixson. 2016. “Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths.” School Library Journal 62 (12): 40. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=120749680&site=ehost-live.

one reviewer for Kirkus Reviews stated, "The complicated fates of the dozen mythic figures portrayed here, among them Arachne, Midas, Demeter, and Persephone, lend themselves particularly well to this reflective form, and Masse's gorgeous acrylics, richly stylized in blues and gold, effectively capture the dualistic nature of the reverso form."

“ECHO ECHO Reverso Poems About the Greek Myths.” 2015. Kirkus Reviews 83 (22): 118. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=110915223&site=ehost-live.

Poetry: Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

Bedtime for Sweet Creatures
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Grimes, Nikki, and Elizabeth Zunon. Bedtime for Sweet Creatures. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020. 9781492638322

Plot Summary

It's bedtime, but one small creature is not sleepy. With eyes like an owl asking "Who? Who?", the child crawls into bed with his bear. He growls, hisses, roars, and yawns, grinding his teeth and claiming "I'm not sleepy". His mother knows better and tucks him in tight. Soon he's up again, for one last kiss, one last glass of water, and one last trip to the bathroom. Just as mom and dad settle down for bed themselves, the little child sneaks in to join them, bringing owl, bear, snake, kitty, fawn, squirrel, koala, tiger, and wolf with him.

Analysis

Telling a story that is all too familiar to parents around the world, Nikki Grimes delights once again with her poetry. Each young reader can identify with the child who isn't ready to sleep, and each parent can identify with the mother who is trying to convince her small creature to get the rest they need. She utilizes sound and sense imagery to detail the nightly routine of small children getting ready for the bedtime that they're really not ready for. She celebrates the colorful and wild imagination of a child and a patient mother's love. This poetry book is warm and comforting and will easily become a bedtime favorite among readers of all ages.

Elizabeth Zunon's illustrations give a wonderful insight into the imagination of a small child avoiding sleep. They are playful, whimsical, and full of color. She printed the words to float around the page and blend with the illustrations. Some of the words are in a color that compliments the illustrations and stand out, like "Monstersssss" as the child hisses like a snake. These words should be emphasized when reading just as they are emphasized on the pages. The expressions of each person range from a snarl to a kiss and feel realistic. She uses bright colors, varying textures, and geometric shapes to bring each animal from the child's imagination to the page. 

Excerpt

NO! NO! NO!
You beat
the word
like a drum
the minute
I say,
"Come,
sweet creature,

it's bedtime."

 

Connections

This book of poetry would be excellent for exploring different animals. Children could each pick one of the animals from the book to act out as the book is read for a second time. Each time that the child in the book speaks, the child who chose that animal could say the lines. Other nonfiction books that talk about the different animals featured in this book could be used to learn more about each animal.

Reviews

A reviewer for Publishers Weekly wrote "Zunon's expressive, heavily textured collage is interspersed with abstract animals (evocative of Senufo textile art), clearly delineating imagined from real. Despite the mother's best efforts at trumpeting away any monsters and checking under the bed before reading the child a story, the child appears at the parents' bedside in the late night hours, pleading, "Mommy, can I sleep with you?" As she opens the covers for the tot to join, the parade of gentle beasts joins, helping to lull the now "very sleepy child" into slumber—and turning the visually pleasing adventure into a loving, effective lullaby."

“Bedtime for Sweet Creatures.” 2020. Publishers Weekly 267 (49): 5. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=147208566&site=ehost-live.

Tiffany Flowers wrote for Booklist, "Grimes and Zunon have created an adorable and imaginative bedtime story to add to collections for young children . . . The mother's loving understanding is demonstrated by how she works with her child's rich imagination, never slipping into admonishment. As such, children will engage with the pajama-clad tot's antics and be soothed by the book's positive tone. A fabulous interpretation of an everyday battle."

Flowers, Tiffany. 2019. “Bedtime for Sweet Creatures.” Booklist 116 (6): 58. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=139755849&site=ehost-live.

Poetry: Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings

Dinothesaurus Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
By Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2009. 9781416979784

Plot Summary

Learn about eighteen different dinosaurs in this colorful book of rhymes. From the Brachiosaurus who traveled quite s l o w to the Spinosaurus who wore long underwear flannel, no dino is left undefined. Carnivores and herbivores can both be found between these pages. Some are old and some are young, but each are scary and unique.

Analysis

Douglas Florian has once again created a book of poetry that will delight readers of all ages. This book of poems is well-coordinated and consistent. Dinosaurs are always a hot topic among children, and this book will be no exception. Florian is as educational as he is entertaining. The rhyme and rhythm of each poem in this book is evident and the words flow easily when spoken out loud. Some words in some of the poems are different from the rest; they could be larger, smaller, spaced out, or in a different font. These words catch the eye and give greater meaning to what is being said. For example, in the poem Minmi, the word 'biggest' is the biggest and the word 'smallest' is the smallest. Readers might find themselves growing bigger and shrinking smaller to animate this poem. 

His illustrations are chock full of detail and "easter eggs" of words or phrases from the poems that they are paired with. Each illustration contains letters that are tossed about the page; these letters spell out the name of the dinosaurs. Details that are in the poems are present in the illustrations as well, like in the poem Iguanodon. In this poem, Florian asks where is the IguanoDONNA and includes a pearl necklace and two bracelets on the second Iguanodon to show readers that she is right there on the page where she should be.

Florian has included a glossarysaurus at the end of this book that gives further explanation for each of the poems including The Age of Dinosaurs and The End of Dinosaurs, which are the first and last poems. There is also a page dedicated to dinosaur museums and fossil sites, which includes a brief description of each museum or site and the website that readers go visit. Florian also includes four books for further reading.

Excerpt

STEGOCERAS

Thick head. Brick head. Hard head, too.

Round head. Mound head. Odd head, you.

Bone head. Stone head. Head like a dome.

Bash head. Smash head. Then head home.

Connections

One fun activity to include with this book would be creating a new dinosaur from pieces of the ones that are in the poems. Library staff could print and cut out the pieces of the dinosaurs, like the Spinosaurus's spines, the Stegosaurus's spikes, or the Tyrannosaurus Rex's teeth. Children could choose the pieces that the liked the best and glue them to cardstock to create their dinosaur. To bring their dinosaur to life, they could them glue the stiffened cardstock onto a wooden stick and use their creation as a puppet. This activity could lead into a dinosaur theater event if the children wanted a way to show their creations off. 

Reviews

Kristine Wildner, writing for the Catholic Library World stated "Young children love fun, silly poetry; couple this with their insatiable curiosity and love of dinosaurs and we have a winner. Dinothesaurus is a must-have for every elementary or public library."

Wildner, Kristine. 2010. “[Dinothesaurus].” Catholic Library World 80 (4): 337. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=502992783&site=ehost-live.

Julie Roach, with the School Library Journal stated "Each selection includes a helpful pronunciation guide as well as the meaning behind the dinosaur's name. In muted colors with unexpected details, the ethereal artwork differs from the bold, aggressive pictures found in many dinosaur books."

Roach, Julie. 2009. “[Dinothesaurus].” School Library Journal 55 (8): 94. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=518511216&site=ehost-live.

Poetry: The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist

The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist
By Margarita Engle
Illustrated Aliona Bereghici

Engle, Margarita, and Aliona Bereghici. The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist. New York, NY: Two Lions, 2015. 9781477826331

Plot Summary

Explore the life of Louis Fuertes through expressive poems and highly detailed watercolor and ink illustrations. From his perspective, Louis explains how he fell in love with birds and wanted to help them live, caring for injured birds under his front porch and in his kitchen. His father wanted him to be an engineer but he wanted to become a bird artist. After deciding that he no longer wanted to hunt and kill the birds in order to paint them, Louis learned to paint them quickly and captured their free spirits in nature. He visited places like Alaska, the Caribbean, and South America to study the many birds he sees. Museums asked for his art, and he was able to share his love of nature with millions of people all over the world.

Analysis

Margarita Engle and Aliona Bereghici have blended poetry with words to create a seamless biography of Louis Fuertes's life in a bite-size book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Engle wrote the poems from Louis's perspective, giving each poem a feeling of authenticity. The poems are in chronological order and Bereghici illustrated Louis growing as the book progresses. This book of poetry relies heavily on figurative language. One example of this figurative language is "the narrow pencil in my hand/ feels as wide and free/ as a wing/ in wild sky." from the poem Bird Art. If the poems were read alone, without the aid of illustrations, readers would have a clear picture of the way that Louis viewed the world around him. Each poem is thought-provoking and inspiring. Readers will finish and find themselves wanting to sketch or draw the birds that they see.

Bereghici's illustrations are so full of detail that readers will want to study each page before flipping to the next one. The combination of watercolor and ink allowed her to give each bird a texture on their wings and expressions in their eyes. She has included small banners on each page that identify the places and birds that Engle describes in each poem. Bereghici has captured the warmth of Louis's life and his strong connection to nature.

Excerpt

SOUTH AMERICA

Howler monkeys join in,

whooping and roaring, while

my bird friends and I chuckle,

peep, croak, whistle, and shriek,

making our wild voices

rise up and soar!

Connections

After reading this book, ask children to pick their favorite birds from the illustrations. Ask them what they like about each bird and encourage them to be as expressive as Engle was in her poems. Give them a piece of paper and ask them to draw their favorite birds while you read through the book a second time. After you finish reading, see how far they were able to get in their drawings. This will let them see how difficult it was for Louis to draw the birds without hunting them first. After they share how far they got in their drawings, allow them to finish and share their creations.

Reviews

Maggie Chase with the School Library Journal stated "Bereghici's stunning watercolor and ink spreads practically fly off the page with their richly colored, realistic depictions of Fuertes's environment and experiences . . . The text is minimal, but Engle has selected strong, descriptive words to tell this story."

Chase, Maggie. 2015. “The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist.” School Library Journal 61 (5): 132. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=102364428&site=ehost-live.

A writer for the Publishers Weekly wrote, "While Bereghici’s watercolor-and-ink art offers realistically detailed images of the birds Fuertes loves, whimsical moments are present, too, as when Fuertes he dives underwater to observe ducks (“I plunge into a lake and look up/ from below, studying their funny tails/ and their paddling/ webbed feet”). Engle’s quiet verse portrays Fuertes as a quietly impassioned individual most at home in the presence of animals or sharing his love for them."

“The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist.” 2015. Publishers Weekly 262 (17): 74. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=102363794&site=ehost-live.