A Full Moon Is Rising

Singer, M., & Cairns, J. (2011). A full moon is rising: Poems. New York:

Lee & Low Books.

A Full Moon Is Rising is a wonderful collection of multicultural poems. Marilyn Singer’s poems celebrate the magic of a full moon as it is experience around the globe.  There are poems set it the city, the country and across the world from Africa to China to Columbia. Different religious and ethnic traditions are represented, including Sukkot, moon watching in Canada and the Chinese Moon Festival. The end papers even include notes and a map of all the locations that appear throughout the book. In this collection, we visit India, Israel, Morocco, China, Australia and so many more. 

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

           

            Jacqueline Woodson, on of today’s best authors, was raised in South Carolina and New York. However, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and the powerful Civil Rights movement. Each poem is both relatable and emotionally charged. Woodson’s eloquent poetry reflects her story, and how she became the writer she is.

Jacqueline Woodson's website 

        

The Llama Who Had No Pajama

Hoberman, M., & Fraser, B. (1998). The llama who had no pajama: 100

favorite poems. San Diego: Harcourt Brace &.

This cute collection of one hundred favorite poems is perfect for teaching rhyme, rhythm, word play, alliteration, and verse. The collection is fun, peppy, and happy. Perfect for the reluctant rhymer.

Video here

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

Prelutsky, J. (1998). Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! New York, NY: Knopf :.

            This wonderful poem book started by Dr. Suess and finished by Jack Prelutsky is one of my all time favorite books. The story surrounds a school that is well liked by its students notably because of its many eccentric teachers and funny subjects. However, the students must make a good grade on a standardized test or else they will be sent to a different school that is horribly dull and requires uniforms.

         I love this story because it makes light of the standardized testing that our students are so heavily bogged down with. It would be a great story to read to remind students of what is important- authentic learning and fun.

Video here!

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Silverstein, S. (1974). Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and drawings. New York:

Harper Collins.

Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of children’s poetry and drawings, all created by Shel Silverstein. The poems address common childhood concerns, but also presents some poems included purely for fun.

         The book is beloved by teachers and students alike. It is a great addition to any poetry unit or read aloud.

The Important Book

Brown, M., & Weisgard, L. (1949). The Important Book. New York:

HarperCollins.

            The Important Book is one of my absolute favorite books. It can be appreciated by children of all ages. It eloquently describes what is important about grass, water, the sky, apples, daisies, and bugs in short, predictable poems. Most significantly, it explains to children that the important thing about them is that they are them.

            This book is perfect for a poetry mentor text lesson. Each poem gives enough guidance for the students, but the nature of the poems allows for a tremendous amount of creativity.