Poetry Pleasures: Five Poetry Picture Books

It's National Poetry Month.  I'm busy celebrating at Merely Day by Day by attempting to write a poem each day.  Of course, it's also the perfect time to share a few new favorite picture poetry books I've purchased this year.  These are selections perfect for any classroom library.

New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins.

There's so much to love about this collection of poetry edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins:  the beautiful artwork, the wondrous words, the surprise of favorite poets selected.

A selected snippet from This is the Hour by Irene Latham, a poem within this collection:

"This is the hour
when sun dreams,
when river
sings
its' silky song...."

I Am Loved:  A Poetry Collection by Nikki Giovanni with illustrations by Ashley Bryan.

This collection of poems by Nikki Giovanni is a delight from start to finish.  A celebration of life, each poem selected is complemented with art sure to delight.

A selected snippet from No Heaven, a poem within this collection:

"How can there be
No heaven...

When shadows
cool
And owls
call
And little finches
eat upside
down"

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms by Robert Paul Weston and Misa Saburi.

This book is a bit different from the others shared as it is a story written in Tanka.  In this story, Sakura lives in Japan and loves spending her time with her grandma under the cherry blossoms.  She has to move to America with her family but misses her grandma and the cherry blossoms.  Nothing is the same in this new place.  This is a delightful story of love, change, and the little gifts life gives us as a reminder of all we hold dear.

A snippet from the story:
"Sakura's new school
was a big, boisterous place
where each word was new.

They nipped and snapped on her tongue
like the tang of pickled plums."  

Out of Wonder:  Poetry Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth with illustrations by Ekua Holmes.

Every time I pick up this book, I notice something new.  In this book, the authors celebrate famous poets by writing poems in similar styles to the poet.  Each section shares a way poets work and offers advice for the budding poets in our classrooms.  As in the other examples, this books is a celebration of poetry, but also of art; each page illustrated with art to inspire.

This snippet from How to Write a Poem was written by Kwame Alexander in celebration of Naomi Shihab Nye:

"Let them dance together
twist and turn
like best friends
in a maze
till you find 
your way
to that one word." 

Shaking Things Up:  14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood with multiple illustrators featured in this collection.  

This collection features poetry to celebrate the lives of 14 women who helped to pave the path for the rest of us.  Each poem features an illustration by a different artist celebrating the lives of these women.  I was fascinated by the variety of styles of poetry used by this poet in this collection....so many possibilities.

This snippet is about Molly Williams and is titled, "Taking the Heat."

"The fire laddies gave her praise
respect where it was due
dubbed her Volunteer 11 - 
a member of the crew.

She glowed with pride.  A pioneer!
She blazed a path, it's true,
yet women weren't hired here
'til 1982." 

I love poetry tucked within my day, and it certainly is perfect for the little cracks in our day with students.  Whether you plan to use poetry for shared reading, as a mentor text for young writers, an opportunity to study wondrous words, or just to delight in a little read aloud, these titles will be celebrated additions to your collection.

Poetry Month Pleasures: Five Poetry Month Challenges Your Students Will Love

It's April and poetry is in the air.  While every day is a good day for poetry, I love the way poetry just seems to find me in April.  I've downloaded a few poetry audiobooks from the library (yep, I might have scored a few books where the poets actually are reading their own poetry), filled my living room shelf with poetry, pulled out all of my books about writing poetry, and am attempting to write a poem each day at Merely Day by Day (just a poetry playground this month, nothing like the poems you'll see linked below).

Of course, this is also the month that poets everywhere dress up their blogs and celebrate poetry with a monthly challenge.  As a teacher, if you're looking for a little inspiration, a mentor poem, or poetry your students will love, here are a few sites that might be perfect for your exploration:

The Poem Farm

Want to think about technique?

The Poem Farm:  Each day, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is sharing a poem about Orion written using a different technique.  Her poetry month challenge is to write about one subject thirty different ways.  Each day she highlights a new technique, shares her poem, and reflects on the process.

A Year of Reading

How about a golden shovel poem?  

A Year of Reading:  Mary Lee Hahn has decided to take on the challenge of writing a golden shovel poem each day this month using a student selected quote.  I've been absolutely fascinated by the process and challenge of writing a shovel poem.  A daily stop by A Year of Reading will certainly give you and your students much to ponder, and a daily dose of wondrous words.

Live Your Poem

Does art inspire you?

Live Your Poem:  For the last several years I have been following Irene Latham's April ARTSPEAK challenge.  Each day, you can stop by Irene's blog for a poem inspired by a piece of art.  This year, Irene's poetry is focused on art from the Harlem Renaissance.  I'm learning a lot as I follow her journey.

Carol's Corner

Hoping to write about a topic from a variety of angles? 

Carol's Corner:  This year, Carol has decided to write a poem each day about the life of a reader.  As teachers working to help our students build a reading life, I am enjoying looking at reading from so many angles.  What a great way to have our communities consider their reading lives.  A stop by her blog is also a smart reminder that we can take one topic and write about it in so many ways.

Check It Out

Need a mentor poem for your students?

Check It Out:  There's nothing better than student poetry.  If you find yourself in need of a mentor poem this month, you might want to stop by Jone MacCulloch's blog.  She's sharing a student poem each day during the month of April.  Oh, my heart.  I love student poetry.




Other Poetry Links:

• Jama's Alphabet Soup:  2018 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Event Roundup (more poetry month possibility)
• The Poem Farm:  Drawing into Poems (Amy's 2013 poetry challenge was one of my favorites to help students write poetry.)
• Writing the World:  A Little Haiku (if you just want a little Haiku, Laura Purdie Salas, has one each day for you.) 
• Tyler Knott Gregson:  This one is just for you.  Tyler Knott Gregson shares his poetry on Instagram and Twitter.  He has two books out, and shares is poetry almost daily on his site.  It's one of my favorite stops.