Where The Sidewalk Ends

Bibliographic Information (APA): Silverstein, S. (Year published). Where The Sidewalk Ends. Illus. Illustrator First Name Last Name. City published, State published: Publisher.

Brief Annotation: This is a hilarious book full of poems with illustrations that will be sure to have kids laughing.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: Preschool-12

Readers who will like this: Many children will enjoy this book but especially children with a sense of humor.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a great children's poetry book that will keep children guessing. There are some illustrations that add to the humor of the poems. This can be used for all ages and can spark interest in poetry.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Is poetry funny and fun or boring?

Soap Soup and Other Verses

Bibliographic Information: Kuskin, K. (1992). Soap Soup and Other Verses. U.S.A: HarperCollins Publisher.

Brief Annotation: A collection of short poem verses about various topics including body parts, weather, seasons, eating, and food.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: K-3

Readers who will like this: Creative students who enjoy poetry or a good laugh.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; this was a very comical and entertaining piece to read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What makes a good poem?

Oh, Brother!

Bibliographic Information: Grimes, N. (2008). Oh, Brother! Illus. Mike Benny. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books.

Breif Annotation: This collection of poems tells the story of one little boy's changing family, and his final acceptance of these changes.

Genre: Narrative Poetry

Grade Level: 1 - 4

Readers who will like this book: Poetry lovers. Anyone who has had to learn to accept a change in their family.

Rating/Response: 4 out of 4. The poems hit the center of the emotions that many children must face today. The poems are short, allowing for plenty of discussion between, and keep the story moving forward.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: What makes a family? Who belongs in a family?

10/40: "All About . . ." Books from 50 Literacy Strategies by Gail E. Tompkins
Writing "All About" books is a strategy that helps students focus in on a single topic in their writing, and to begin to understand the writing process. Using this strategy tied to Oh, Brother!, the students will write an "All About My Family" book. As it is a personalized topic, each student will have plenty of information to draw from. Working through the writing process, children will create a book containing one or two sentences per page with a corresponding illustration. After revisions, the students will be able to share their books with the class. This strategy is an appropriate instructional match for Oh, Brother!, as it would be about students' individual families. Both the book and the strategy would work wonderfully in a unit on family.

Dirty Laundry Pile: Poems in Different Voices

Bibliographic Information: Janeczko, P. B. (2001). Dirty laundry pile: Poems in different voices. New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Annotation: A collection of poems told from the creative viewpoint of household objects and their view of the world.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: K-3

Readers Who Will Like This Book: Readers of all ages. The humor and creative view of the objects telling a story is an unusual approach for poetry.

Personal Response and Rating: I rate this book a 3. The unique perspective of poems told with humor and from an object's point of view should appeal to a wider audience than some of the traditional poetry written in language not easily understood by a young audience.

Prereading Question: What household object would you be and why?

Reading Strategy Connection:

A. Reading Strategy - Journals; Double Journal

B. Description of Strategy - The student folds a piece of paper in half the long way and writes down a passage from the reading he or she found meaningful on the left side of the page. Directly opposite on the passage on the right side of the page the student records his or her response to the passage. For younger students, the teacher could record students' choices and their responses.

C. Rationale - Poetry is an excellent venue in which students can be challenged to reflect and try to relate to a perspective other than their own. The double journal allows students to pick something they feel is significant or has meaning to them and record a personal response to their chosen passage or idea.