Friday, September 8, 2017

Get Your Wiggle On: PET CRAZY (Giveaway!)


"Introducing ROSIE!" by Sangudo

Each time Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong come out with a new Poetry Friday Power Book, I jump at the opportunity to feature it. 


"Super Puppy!" by ktbuffy
That's because I believe so strongly in what they are accomplishing with these fun DIY poetry journals—slipping poetry into children's lives in a way that not only entertains, but helps young people explore their surroundings, think about themselves in relation to others, and express themselves through the power of words. The superpower of words, really.

YOU JUST WAIT, the first book in the series, explores questions that tweens and teens think about, like identity, belonging, and dreams for the future.

HERE WE GO is the next book in the series. Targeted at a slightly younger crowd, this book also grapples with questions of belonging, but within the context of community and social responsibility/activism.

PET CRAZY: A Poetry Friday Power Book
Pomelo Books, 2017
ISBN: 978-1937057718
Available for purchase at Amazon.com.
The newest book in the series, PET CRAZY, is geared toward our youngest writers-in-training (grades K-3). The cover (illustrated by Franzi Paetzold) is friendly and inviting, the larger size is great for little hands and big handwriting, but most importantly, anyone who's ever had kids, worked with kids, or has been a kid knows the magnetic draw of pets at that age. Ask any scout leader. When it comes to community service, animal rescue comes up again and again. That's because kids are crazy about their furry, scaly, and feathered friends. And who can complain about that? Pets provide a training ground for empathy, unconditional love, and responsibility, and ultimately teach children how to be compassionate and trustworthy grown-ups.

Like the previous books, PET CRAZY boasts the contributions of twelve outstanding children's poets. They provide the "anchor poems" from which Janet Wong weaves a story-in-poems, intertwining the lives of three pet-loving characters: Kristy, Ben, and Daniel. Add to that, Sylvia Vardell's game-like writing activities, creative prompts, and a wide array of interesting resources for readers, writers, and pet lovers (pet poetry books, anyone?), and you've got the award-winning formula that has made all of the Poetry Friday Power Books so doggone successful.

At their core, these books are about making connections—

WSPA International


allowing children the choice of what they read, think, write, and respond, and giving them a "behind the scenes" look at how poems work and how poets write and think. Wouldn't you know, PET CRAZY even comes with a bonus section about hidden language skills that readers can search for throughout the book! Of course you don't have to tell them it's educational, just let them have fun.


And speaking of having fun . . .

Since Carole Boston Weatherford was in the TLD spotlight last week, I thought I would showcase PowerPack 3 of PET CRAZY which includes her poem "Loose Tooth, Whose Tooth?"

(Click image to enlarge.)

Each PowerPack opens with a PowerPlay activity—a simple, yet engaging pre-writing activity to get readers thinking. For PowerPack 3, readers are given a list of words and asked to circle their favorites and/or cross out ones they don't like.

(Click image to enlarge.)

Here's my list of favorite words. (I didn't find any that I wanted to cross out.)
play, puppy, kitten, wings, lizard, crickets,
smile, happy, wonder, share, words, book,
friends, feelings, wiggle, clever, home,
promise, hug, gift, please, tickle, wander

Carole's anchor poem comes next in the PowerPack, followed by a response poem (by Janet Wong) in the voice of Daniel.

(Click image to enlarge.)

After that, a mentor poem (also by Janet Wong) in the voice of Ben, and then a Power2You writing prompt. In this case, readers are encouraged to write a poem that uses repetition.

(Click image to enlarge.)

I decided to focus my poem on two words from my list: "puppy" and "wiggle."


PUPPY GLEE

There's a wiggle in my belly.
There's a wiggle in my toes.
There's a wiggle bouncing up my legs
and tickling my nose.

There's a wiggle in my bottom
and a drumbeat in my tail.
A silly dance is coming on...
I think I'm gonna wail!

The wiggle's getting stronger now—
please, no SIT or STAY
My wiggle's just excited
that we're going out to play!!!

© 2017 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.


"Freedom" by Chris Ballard

Are you wiggling yet?

You might be when I tell you that I have five copies of PET CRAZY to give away!

Leave a comment below, or email me at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com no later than Tuesday, September 12, 2017 to be entered into the drawing. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced next Friday, September 15th. Yips of appreciation to Janet and Sylvia for providing me with these giveaway copies!



 See you here next week for the Poetry Friday Roundup!


Carole Boston Weatherford's abecedarian challenge is already resulting in some terrific poems! To add yours, post it on our September 2017 padlet. Featured daily ditties this week included poems by Damon Dean, Rebekah Hoeft, and Brenda Davis Harsham.






Matt Forrest Esenwine is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme.







48 comments:

  1. Cute, cuter, cutest! Too much fun reading pet poems. And, in this case, I think cute is a true compliment (sometimes writers cringe at that word). I love the whole idea of Poetry Power Packs. They are absolutely perfect for middle school kids that I work with.
    This week, I have an abecedarian & found book review over on A Word Edgewise https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/
    I'm sending readers to TLD padlet to read it.
    Happy Poetry Friday.

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    1. I'm sorry, Irma's thrown me off my game, Linda. I'll be by to read your post soon. :) Thanks for linking to the padlet!

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  2. I have a kindergarten student your poem reminds me of! :) May I have permission to print off copies of it for a classroom activity?

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    1. Of course, Rebekah! I'd love that. If you send it home, though, just make sure it has my copyright line on it please.

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  3. Janet & Sylvia have a great concept with these books...thanks for sharing this!

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  4. 'Wiggle' is the perfect word to pair with 'puppy'! Our G. just petsat a puppy...and oh, the best! Thank you for sharing your joyful poem and for featuring this latest cool new book from Sylvia and Janet. Meow! Woof! xxxx

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    1. If there's one thing your family knows well, it's critters! xo

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  5. Wiggle, wiggle, maybe giggle! Your poem makes me want to do both! All that wiggling is just like the neighbor's puppy. Our dog is old and long past her wiggle days, except for the tail that thumps, so I enjoy visits from the puppy (our dog, not so much). I'm excited to see more of this latest Poetry Power Pack. It looks like a winner!

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    1. Thanks, Kay— you just made me giggle thinking about your dog putting up with the puppy!

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  6. Love that 'wiggling', perfect puppy moment, but my brother has an older terrier who wiggles just as much. There are those dogs that are the most enthusiastic! The book seems perfect, as I've said before, a must for my granddaughters! Thanks, Michelle!

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    1. Gotta love a dog with a good wiggle. :) And yes, Linda, definitely a must for your granddaughters!

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  7. I can see that puppy glee! Thanks for your puppy enthusiasm and your Pet Crazy enthusiasm!

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  8. What an uplifting post when the news is full of floods, hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes! Thanks for sharing something that made me smile so much!

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  9. I think Janet and Sylvia's new book will rank high on my list! I love what you did with puppy and wiggle. It's a puppy celebration for sure and your poem had a wiggly, bouncy, puppy beat! Pure delight!

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    1. Thanks, Penny. Once you tune in, that puppy beat just kind of takes over! :)

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  10. This looks like so much fun. (But don't put my name in the draw because Jone had a giveaway last week and I won! How about that!!)

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  11. You have captured that puppy wiggle in your poem. I love all things that Sylvia and Janet do. Can't wait to see this one. Since I work with multiple grade levels, their books are always accessible to my students.

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    1. Thanks, Margaret. I don't often write cute poems about pets, but this one chomped down and didn't let go!

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  12. Why a fun book this is. I LOVE your wiggly poem. Please let someone else win. I have a copy.

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  13. "Pet Crazy" looks and sounds wonderful Michelle, thanks for sharing it. Your wiggly poem and puppy pics fit perfectly, thanks for sharing all!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. I give PET CRAZY credit for pulling that wiggly poem out of me!

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  14. thank you for sharing this pome about your dog mad me smile

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  15. Oh, I can just imagine a wiggly, waggly puppy - or a wiggly, waggly toddler! Both are adorable and just full of beans. :-D

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    1. That's how I like my puppies and toddlers too— wiggly, waggly, and cheeky. :)

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  16. Michelle, thanks for the big shoutout to Janet and Sylvia's books-"At their core, these books are about making connections—". They have been a source of poetic inspiration. To top off your post today, you gave us a great treat with your poem.

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  17. Those darling puppies! Who can resist? And the poem captures a puppy's excitement very well. Thanks for this post.

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    1. Thanks, Karen. I certainly can't resist a wiggly puppy... but I guess maybe Kay's dog can. ;) (See comment above.)

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  18. Love your wiggle poem, Michelle. My granddog Gracie, no longer a puppy, has a powerful wiggle that is attached to a painful whipping tail! But still, I love to see her wiggle.

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  19. Your wiggly poem is all kind of perfect, especially paired with the adorable puppy pictures!!

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    1. There's no shortage of adorable photos on Flickr Creative Commons, that's for sure! I wish I could have shared more.

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  20. I live with a wee wiggly pup myself - your poem, Michelle, captures her essence exactly, including the 'wail'. Yay for another Vardell/Wong hit!

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    1. Yay! I'm glad I got it right, Bridget. :) Not having a puppy myself, I had to merge recollections of many different pups I've met over the years.

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  21. Love the wiggle and the synergy with Carole Boston Weatherford. Such a great resource for bringing out the poetry in kids.

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  22. I liked your wiggly poem. I hope that you made it through Irma alright. We didn't get it too bad here.

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    1. We did, Rebecca, thank you. Glad Irma wasn't too hard on you either!

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  23. I'm wiggling into this giveaway at the last minute! We don't have any pets, but my toddler loves to pretend he's a puppy. Our house is well-stocked with imaginary doggie treats!

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