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(1)
4-6
Graphic design meets riddle meets visual wordplay in Raczka's collection of sturdy and joyful perspectives on the ordinary stuff of the world. Each offering consists of a one-word title and a more extended poem. The poems themselves variously involve reading aloud, turning the page upside-down, and in one case, reading in a mirror. An entertaining chance to dig deep into words and their meanings.
Reviewer: Sarah Ellis
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2016
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Michael Wertz.
This collection of twenty-nine jaunty concrete poems about the undersea world explores the varied behaviors of marine life such as the needlefish, spiny puffer, coral reef, and spinner dolphin. The abstract aquatic scenes on blue backgrounds feature bold shapes and lettering in yellow, red, white, and orange. This book would pair nicely with a visit to the aquarium. Reading list, websites.
(3)
K-3
Poetry Adventures series.
Illustrated by
Andy Rowland.
In this installment, Cleary introduces the perennially kid-friendly concrete poem. The twenty-three poems and accompanying illustrations acquaint readers with the form: e.g., "Orange or blue and full of helium floating up to reach the ceili-um" is in the shape of a balloon. This amusing collection invites young readers to play with both the sound and visualization of words. Reading list, websites.
40 pp.
| Lee
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-60060-651-9$18.95
(1)
PS
Fifteen childhood building projects are deftly rendered in concrete poems and mixed-media collages, each paired with a photo of an iconic building bearing a resemblance. A toddler's upside-down stack of graduated plastic doughnuts look like Wright's Guggenheim Museum; a snowball igloo mirrors a sample shelter for living on Mars. Hale suggests that using what's at hand to "dream up" new things is vital to creativity.
Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2013
32 pp.
| Norwood
| January, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59953-434-3$25.27
(4)
K-3
Poetry Builders series.
Illustrated by
Reginald Butler.
These how-to poetry books focus on friends writing poems together. The stories, though contrived, clearly present the characteristics of each form. Teachers will find the volumes useful for making poetry accessible to students. A few helpful writing exercises are appended to each story. Colorful but undistinguished illustrations show a multicultural cast of enthusiastic young writers. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Poetry Builders titles: Connor and Clara Build a Concrete Poem, Nina and Nolan Build a Nonsense Poem, Rena and Rio Build a Rhyme, Penelope and Pip Build a Prose Poem, Henry and Hala Build a Haiku, Luke and Leo Build a Limerick, Ana and Adam Build an Acrostic, and Sophie and Sadie Build a Sonnet.
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Michael Wertz.
As in A Curious Collection of Cats, Franco's concrete poems celebrate animals complete with lovable quirks and downright silliness. Wertz's stylish digital illustrations pop with color and capture the personality of each dog variety, from pug to maltipoo. The combination of funny poems and goofy dogs makes for a great gift book--and a sneaky way to inject poetry into someone's life.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2011
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Nancy Doniger.
In this volume, poet meets Scrabble nerd. Raczka makes poems from a single word by rearranging various letters from that word, anagram-style. Some are imagistic: moonlight is "hot / night / thin / light / moth / in / motion." Some are mini-narratives: friend is "fred / finds / ed." The concrete poem format makes you want to try some yourself.
Reviewer: Sarah Ellis
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2011
(3)
4-6
Poetry Basics series.
These books describe the title poetry form's history, characteristics, and variations. Many examples are provided as well as ideas for how children can write their own pieces. The information is accessible, and the writing is sufficiently lively to engage readers. The well-designed pages feature a variety of art reproductions from different literary eras and some photographs. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Basics titles: Concrete Poetry, Haiku, Limericks, and Nursery Rhymes.
40 pp.
| Tricycle
| April, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-1-58246-248-6$16.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Michael Wertz.
In each of thirty-two concrete poems, Franco distills the essence of felines in all their grace and ridiculousness, as they interact with dogs, squirrels, one another, and people in a variety of funny ways. Wertz's illustrations, monoprints adjusted in Adobe Photoshop, keep the words that wrap and weave around the cats readable while creating visual interest in the backgrounds.
48 pp.
| Clarion
| April, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-618-56860-4$15.00
|
PaperISBN 978-0-618-85132-4$5.95
(2)
YA
Grandits playfully channels a teenage girl's dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves in these concrete poems. Across the thirty or so poems, Jessie reveals she's a vegetarian, plays volleyball and cello, and can't stand cheerleaders. In turn feisty and insecure, Jesse leaps off the page. By book's end, she's removed some bricks from "The Wall" that divides her likes and dislikes.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2007
10 reviews
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