A Book Slice - Tasty!

Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted each week by Stacey and Ruth at their blog, 

Two Writing Teachers

         I don’t want anyone to forget that we just finished poetry month, so it’s good to keep one fabulous book of poetry in mind in May, too. 

        I am happy to write about Laura Purdie Salas today, May 1st, about her new book, Bookspeak, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon.   I wrote a haiku for Laura today as a tribute to her love of books and poetry, and because she wrote a haiku every day during poetry month. 

Talk of poetry.

Laura’s popping up everywhere.

She writes how books feel!

            When I taught in the classroom we loved conversations about books and reading.  We discussed what books give us, what they do for us, those we like and why, those we dislike and why.   Students not only discussed these topics as a class group, but they wrote to me in letter journals about their books and delights or struggles.  They brought books that I just had to read and they loaned books to each other.  The more formal writing was about books, too: poetry, reviews, and personal stories about their earliest memories or special times with books and parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles.  I have a few books with published works about books too, but Laurie Purdie Salas’ recent book filled with wonderful poems about all kinds of book topics makes me sad because I am no longer in the classroom so I can share it with my students.  However, I have done the next best thing, I am sharing the book titled Bookspeak with all the classes in the school! 

All Things Reading!

      

It’s been quite a month.  I am connecting in several places today as I say goodbye to April, poetry month. 

       You can find me over at the Nerdy Book Club talking about all the bookshelves I have in my house (somewhat embarrassing), which really only means I own a lot of books .

       I am connecting to Betsy’s blog, Teaching Young Writers in order to share the chalk poem that I wrote and chalked last week, of much interest to all the young skateboarders who practice at the end of my street, a cul de sac. Here is my poem:

       And I will link this post to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading, to Kellee and Jen’s blog, Teach Mentor Texts which I try to do every Monday. 

Non-fiction - A Mystery

         I am in the middle of preparing a short presentation about non-fiction writing and poetry for the teachers at school, and in the recent two days, I’ve found two posts who are such perfect examples of that.  It was like a gift to me to read them.  Please look at Amy Ludwig VanderWater’s The Poem Farm for her final Dictionary Hike post about the Zaire River, and then go to Elaine Magliaro’s Wild Rose Reader for three different ways to write about one thing. 

       Thus in the midst of this preparation, I’ve been trying my own research that includes my discoveries in a poem.

Fibonacci holds my secret

1, 2, 3, 5 . . . all around

But others know the deeper ones,

those who find me on the ground.

Squirrels know me as a one-dish meal

and nibble as they please.

They hide me in their middens

to find in winter’s breeze.

But the most important secret—

are you able yet to deduce?

It’s that I sometimes become a seedling

that becomes a spiky spruce.

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       Remember there is a poetry month CHALK POEM finale that Betsy of Teaching Young Writers is hosting tomorrow.  Come join us!

           Activities still are happening in these final days of Poetry Month. The last lines of the kidlit Progressive Poem can be found through the links on the right. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover other Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  

Good things and Not so good

       Today on PBS, near the end of poetry month, they showed an interview with the United States poet laureate Philip Levine with the British poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.  It is brief, but great to see.  You can find it here.

Someone’s cat

lay at the side of the road

on my way to work this morning.

He was curled like his brothers,

seemed comfortable in his sleep.

I wondered if someone’s hand

missed that soft grey fur,

if someone’s lap missed his warmth.

I imagine the bowl of cream

sitting in the kitchen

untouched.

I hear the voice call for him

out the back door.

“He’s always been there before.”

But if no one is

waiting,

calling,

crying,

then I will give a thought to this grey cat,

and grieve his passing.

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         Be sure to read about  a poetry month CHALK POEM finale that Betsy of Teaching Young Writers is hosting on April 30th.  Come join us!

           Activities still are happening in these final days of Poetry Month. The last lines of the kidlit Progressive Poem can be found through the links on the right. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover other Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  

photo credit: caterpiya via photo pin cc

Poetry Friday Rocks!

                A few days ago, Amy at A Poem Farm posted a poem titled Urge that craftily offered the advice to use strong verbs.  It begins:  Pack your pocket full of verbs.  So I did, yesterday, during Poem In Your Pocket Day.  Today's poem is a trial and error of Amy's advice; verbs are falling from my pocket!  Poetry Friday today is with Tabatha at Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference.  Come read and enjoy the final Poetry Friday of April!

                Hm-m-m, at lunch today, I could:

munch some mangoes

attack some tuna

slurp spaghetti

pick up a pepperoni pizza

tickle my tummy with tofu

squeeze a lemon

crunch a coconut

chew some crackers

gobble grapes

tackle some tacos

chomp churros

lick a lollipop

devour a donut

nibble a nectarine

taste a tomato

woof a waldorf salad

                   Ah-h-h!  I can hardly wait.

        Be sure to read about  a poetry month CHALK POEM finale that Betsy of Teaching Young Writers is hosting on April 30th.  Come join us!

           Activities still are happening in these final days of Poetry Month. The last lines of the kidlit Progressive Poem can be found through the links on the right. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover other Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  

The Sky

           Time spent outside, in addition to reading and writing, is what I love the most.  Today was an especially good day to look!

The sky stretches like a cat,

lighting the day in an energetic light.

Raindrops pounce on dry lawns

and talk with quivering puddles.

This morning, I waited for this hushed awakening,

searched for a splash of pink across the sky,

timed to wake the crows and squirrels from cloudy slumber

and twist their dreams into milky sunshine.

Fragments of the day soon melt

twirling and swirling themselves together.

The minutes so quickly wash away.

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        Be sure to read about  a poetry month CHALK POEM finale that Betsy of Teaching Young Writers is hosting on April 30th.  Come join us!

           There continues to be so much happening for Poetry Month. The final lines of the kidlit Progressive Poem can be found through the links on the right. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover other Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  

A Love Poem

         Here is a poem, slightly changed, that I wrote for an anniversary gift for my husband a few years ago.  

  My Love Song

Come stay with me

and hug a while;

your arms will only

make me smile.

My days are joyous

with yet one fear—

an empty life

without you near.

Enough of sadness

I’ll live life true;

savoring the minutes

I spend with you.

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        Be sure to read about  a poetry month CHALK POEM finale that Betsy of Teaching Young Writers is hosting on April 30th.  Come join us!

           There continues to be so much happening for Poetry Month. The final lines of the kidlit Progressive Poem can be found through the links on the right. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover so many Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  

Progressive Poem - Day 24

The Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by Ruth and Stacey at 

Two Writing Teachers.  

         I've been writing a poem each day in April, about all kinds of topics, and enjoying every word I've written and loving every word I've read, too.  There are so many talented writers.  Just as I saw in the March Slice of Life Challenge, there is much to appreciate in the blogging/kidlit world.  
         If you haven’t heard yet, Irene Latham, at Live Your Poem... has created a Progressive Poem group for the month of April.  You can find the group’s names and links on the right.  Thank you Irene for asking me to participate, for the marvelous idea and for making it work so seamlessly.  It’s been a joy to watch for a line each day to see what’s next.  It’s a poetic cliffhanger bonanza!

       I'm the Day 24 poet!  These final few lines seem filled with danger as to which path to take.  Thank you Miranda (yesterday's poet)  for sending me down the kidlit path perhaps, because  I’ve been connecting all that has been written to a young adult audience.  I am imagining all kinds of things, but won't tell.  I'll have to wait to see what the rest of the month brings.  So, after thinking through yesterday with all the possibilities, here is my line that continues our final week. 

    I pass this on to Greg at Gotta Book.  Looking forward to it, Greg!  Here’s the poem with my line added:

If you are reading this   

you must be hungry  

Kick off your silver slippers  

Come sit with us a spell  

A hanky, here, now dry your tears  

And fill your glass with wine  

Now, pour. The parchment has secrets  

Smells of a Moroccan market spill out.  

You have come to the right place, just breathe in.  

Honey, mint, cinnamon, sorrow.  Now, breathe out  

last week's dreams. Take a wish from the jar.  

Inside, deep inside, is the answer…  

Unfold it, and let us riddle it together,   

...Strains of a waltz. How do frozen fingers play?   

How do fennel, ginger, saffron blend in the tagine?  

Like broken strangers bound by time, they sisterdance…

their veils of sorrow encircle, embrace  

Feed your heart with waltzes and spices.   

Feed your soul with wine and dreams.  

Humble dust of coriander scents your feet, coaxing  

seascapes, crystal sighs and moonshine from your melody.  

Beware of dangers along the path of truth  

And beware, my friend, of too much bewaring–   

strong hands cushion you, sweet scents surround you—now leap

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     Also - There are still lots going on for Poetry Month. Find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover so many Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, Donna at Mainely Write, and Laura at LauraSalas.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  Now he's celebrating by giving one, or more, away.  See the blog that tells all about it  here


photo credit: Camdiluv ♥ via photo pin cc

It's Monday - Read, Read, Read!

         Visit Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts for this meme where you can find many ideas for children's book (YA too!), and Sheila at Book Journeys for even more. 








Writing a poem every day in April and meeting the Monday reading meme expectations of telling what I've been reading each week & plans for the future has been rather a challenge itself.  I don't want to write small rhyming poems about each book, but do want to find a creative way to share the books as well as write a poem.  During the last week, someone wrote about the structure of a Cento, & I knew that I had to try this from the books I've read.  I have looked and cannot find the one blogger I read that told me about this first.  Please accept my apologies.  A Cento is an original poem made using lines from the works of various poets.

              A Cento is sometimes called “patchwork poetry,” and the term cento actually comes from the Latin word for patchwork.  As a quilt is pieced together from patches of fabric, the cento poem is put together with lines from other sources.  Each line should be taken from a different source and must make sense.  It doesn’t have to rhyme, but is a big accomplishment if it does.  The poet’s name and poem title should be acknowledged with the line.

          My Cento-Books This Past Week

(1) But the truth is, the world is much more like an algebraic equation.   With variables and with changes, complicated and messy.

 (2) Years blend together

as ever again, the dream begins.

(3) Children, large and small, run wildly about, screaming, laughing, falling down. climbing up, jumping, dancing.  


(4) The restless fluttering goes on all night.


(5) Sometimes someone says in a real loud voice, "Hello, World!  What have you got for us today?"

      Nobody ever answers, but we don't care.

(1) The Lions of Little Rock Kristen Levine - Strong female protagonist, finding her voice in the racist time the year after the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Great realistic family interactions.
(2) poem Winged Words (about Johann Gutenberg) Eureka! Poems About Inventors, Joyce Sidman and K. Bennett Chavez- Fantastic information and poetry about inventors from the discovery of clay to the invention of the Internet.
(3) story-Retired  Every Living Thing - Cynthia Rylant - brief stories about one particular moment when someone's life is changed because of an animal.  - Use as mentor text for fiction based on fact.
(4) Tree of Life, The World of the African Baobab - Barbara Bash - beautifully illustrated book that tells the animal relationships to the baobab tree, from its birth to death - terrific  example of non-fiction research in a picture book.
(5) The Hello Goodbye Window - Norton Juster and Chris Raschka - I'll give a longer review later, won the Caldecott medal for 2005.  Incredibly sweet story about the relationship between a grandchild & his grandparents, & a window that is special in the grandparents' house.


Next: (6) The Snow Chlld, Iowyn Ivey - so far, good.  The "magic" is starting!  And looking for short stories for a group of third/fourth graders.

     Also - check on the Poetry Tag Group shown at the right!  And find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover so many Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, and Donna at Mainely Write.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  Now he's celebrating by giving one, or more, away.  See the blog that tells all about it  here

Following Amy at The Poem Farm's Dictionary Hike

         I finally thought that I would try the dictionary poem hike that Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is doing this month on her blog, The Poem Farm.  I can't begin to equal her expertise, but she is also inspiring and  I wanted to see what happened with this Dictionary Hike!  I used a loved and favorite American Heritage dictionary.

          The word I found when I randomly opened my dictionary and pointed to “grave”, definition number three.  It said: to sculpt or carve, engrave.  And the sentence example is from Oscar Wilde: I wish I could grave my sonnets on an ivory tablet.  How wonderful is that!  One can be serious or humorous with this word.  Did Wilde mean he was aiming for a new IPad so he could create an e-book?  Whatever the answer, I just learned a new word.  The definition also said that the word can be like to be used or fixed permanently, as in words or ideas. 

           It seems to me that is a good definition of a poem.

Poets listen and heed me well,

April’s wordsmithing soon will end.

Time to grave your words, the bells

which rang called you to send.

Wrote the cruelest month by Eliot,

yet if you grave your words and share

you’ll find you have such prescience

in observing the growth you bared.

Grave the tablets, the journal pages

in spiral notebooks, or general stock.

Your words will live for future ages

and none will have been written for naught.

A Tiny Memory

         All of a sudden, I am remembering some little things that my husband likes, so thought I'd write a poem about one favorite of his.  I think I've been influenced by Donna, at Mainely Write, because she is doing the A-Z challenge and has written more than one poem about a certain topic.  They are quite wonderful, so you should check Donna's blog out!


Root Beer Floats


root beer float

two scoops in

pour the fizz

that’s all you do

to slurp it up

use a straw, then

find a spoon to

eat the cream

 Rootbeer Haiku

Wishes true – rootbeer

floats for all to savor - such

nose-tickling fizz.

     Also - check on the Poetry Tag Group shown at the right!  And find Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover so many Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, and Donna at Mainely Write.  Plus Greg Pincus of Gotta Book has just published his first E-book, The Late Bird.  Now he's celebrating by giving one, or more, away.  See the blog that tells all about it  here