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