Creech, Sharon. (2004). Heartbeat. New York: Scholastic, Inc. (partnered with HarperCollins Publishers)
Literary Genre: Poetry (Chapter Book)  Twelve-year-old Annie loves “running running running”. Especially barefoot running. She likes to feel her bare feet hit the soft earth and the wind on her face. Running is the glue that bonds Annie to many of the important people in her life. Her mother and grandfather were both runners. Her best friend, Max runs barefoot with her nearly every day, but he runs to escape his life. Max is moody, disadvantaged, and maybe even a little jealous of Annie’s family. Max’s grandfather died and his father left. Annie, on the other hand, has a loving, growing family. Annie’s mother is expecting a baby and her grandfather’s health and memory is unstable, so he moves in with Annie and her parents. Although Annie’s grandfather is losing his memory, there are moments when he shares his life experiences and wisdom with both Annie and Max. As one life is starting and another is ending, Annie gets to thinking about who people are and how they become who they are. Max sees running in track as his ticket out of the small town where the story takes place and Annie’s reluctance to join the track team seems to cause some tension in their friendship. While running is a major theme of this novel, Annie is also an artist. At school, Annie is given an assignment to draw the same apple for 100 days. Annie takes the assignment more seriously than her classmates do and she starts to view the apple (a symbol for life) from different perspectives. The baby’s birth brings change and resolution to the novel. Annie is trying to understand herself and those around her, but everything is changing. Will Annie learn to accept these changes and understand those around her? Read to find out. Sharon Creech writes this touching story in free verse poems. This format paired with strategic repetition allows the reader to feel the rhythm of Annie’s story. From the “thump-thump, thump-thump” of the running to the “a-whoosh-a-whoosh-a-whoosh” of the baby’s heartbeat, Creech’s utilization of onomatopoeias bring the story to life. The flow of the verses also lends itself well to developing Annie’s voice. Heartbeat is without a doubt quality poetry/children’s literature. The novel portrays emotion, insight, and a fresh viewpoint. Creech’s effective usage of language and poetic devices gives Annie a sincere voice that readers can connect to. I absolutely loved this novel! I was intrigued by the realness and complexity of the relationships between Annie and the other characters.
**Related Links:
-Visit the Author's Website at http://www.sharoncreech.com/index.html
-For running tips visit http://www.kidsrunning.com/krasktraining.html
-A Literature Circle Guide (For Teachers) http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/heartbeat_t.pdf
**Podcast Review:
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Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Heartbeat
The Swamps of Sleethe
Prelutsky, Jack (2009). The Swamps of Sleethe: Poems from Beyond the Solar System. J. Pickering. New York: Alfred A. Knopf (an imprint of Random House Children’s Books).
Literary Genre: Poetry (Picture Book)
This space themed collection of poetry will take you on a journey to undiscovered planets beyond our solar system. While the poems exhibit Jack Prelutsky’s humorous flair, the warning nature of poems are a little darker in tone than his other works to suit the maturity level of older students. The colorful illustrations were created using mixed media, which appeals to older children and adds another dimension to the space themed poems. Prelutsky invites readers to interact with the poetry with a fun bonus feature; many of the planets’ names are anagrams that need to be translated into a descriptive English word.
I really enjoyed the quirky illustrations and the somewhat spooky verses about the wild creatures and vegetation that lurk on these undiscovered planets. The Swamps of Sleethe captured my attention because it is a collection of poetry that could spark school-aged boys’ interest in poetry. It is critical for educators, parents, and others working with children find interesting reading materials (such as this) to motivate boys that are resistant to reading. The descriptive language in the poems lends itself for plenty of uses in the classroom, such as enriching vocabulary, discussing prose, word choice, voice, mini-lessons on developing setting, and much more.
Literary Genre: Poetry (Picture Book)
This space themed collection of poetry will take you on a journey to undiscovered planets beyond our solar system. While the poems exhibit Jack Prelutsky’s humorous flair, the warning nature of poems are a little darker in tone than his other works to suit the maturity level of older students. The colorful illustrations were created using mixed media, which appeals to older children and adds another dimension to the space themed poems. Prelutsky invites readers to interact with the poetry with a fun bonus feature; many of the planets’ names are anagrams that need to be translated into a descriptive English word.
I really enjoyed the quirky illustrations and the somewhat spooky verses about the wild creatures and vegetation that lurk on these undiscovered planets. The Swamps of Sleethe captured my attention because it is a collection of poetry that could spark school-aged boys’ interest in poetry. It is critical for educators, parents, and others working with children find interesting reading materials (such as this) to motivate boys that are resistant to reading. The descriptive language in the poems lends itself for plenty of uses in the classroom, such as enriching vocabulary, discussing prose, word choice, voice, mini-lessons on developing setting, and much more.
The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders
Prelutsky, Jack. (2002). The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders. P. Mathers. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Literary Genre: Poetry (Picture Book)
Jack Prelutsky’s language is rhythmic and playful in these 28 poems for young readers. Many of the poems will carry readers around the world from the mountains of South Dakota to the waters of Monterey Bay, from the sycamore tree of Indianapolis to a flock of penguins in the Gulf of Mexico. Other poems share verses about animals, such as the ten brown bears with big bow ties, the furry furry squirrel, a little brown toad, and one old owl. Mathers' simple, bright watercolor illustrations are engaging and are sure to encourage readers to laugh aloud while reading Prelutsky’s humorous words.
Jack Prelutsky is one of my favorite Children’s Poets. One reason being that he exposes younger readers to rich language and new vocabulary, with words such as “frolicking”, “serenade”, “gaily” and “ominous”. Prelutsky is also a master of rhyme; it gives his poem a rhythm that almost reads like a song. I particularly liked the animal poems in this collection and how Prelutsky and Mathers came together to have the illustrations show another feature of the animal than the text describes as if inviting the reader to go and learn more about these amazing creatures. This is without a doubt quality poetry that engages readers and shines a positive light on a genre that often intimidates (even scares) readers.
Literary Genre: Poetry (Picture Book)
Jack Prelutsky’s language is rhythmic and playful in these 28 poems for young readers. Many of the poems will carry readers around the world from the mountains of South Dakota to the waters of Monterey Bay, from the sycamore tree of Indianapolis to a flock of penguins in the Gulf of Mexico. Other poems share verses about animals, such as the ten brown bears with big bow ties, the furry furry squirrel, a little brown toad, and one old owl. Mathers' simple, bright watercolor illustrations are engaging and are sure to encourage readers to laugh aloud while reading Prelutsky’s humorous words.
Jack Prelutsky is one of my favorite Children’s Poets. One reason being that he exposes younger readers to rich language and new vocabulary, with words such as “frolicking”, “serenade”, “gaily” and “ominous”. Prelutsky is also a master of rhyme; it gives his poem a rhythm that almost reads like a song. I particularly liked the animal poems in this collection and how Prelutsky and Mathers came together to have the illustrations show another feature of the animal than the text describes as if inviting the reader to go and learn more about these amazing creatures. This is without a doubt quality poetry that engages readers and shines a positive light on a genre that often intimidates (even scares) readers.
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