Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme

Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme

Poems selected by: Jack Prelutsky

Illustrated by: Meilo So

Random House Inc. 2005

Collection of Poetry

28 pages

This book by Jack Prelutsky is a great way to introduce poetry to students within a classroom. The book of poems consists of about twenty four poems that range in themes. The themes the poems describe are things such as feelings, animals, bugs, and much more. The author even has a section on every other page that starts a rhyme/poem. This helps students to understand how a poem starts and it allows them to finish it with their own version of that specific themes. Don’t be afraid, come and step into a world of poems that will hold you captive within their lines and rhythms.

The Illustrations within this book play a role in the background meaning of the poems. One piece of artwork can explain more than one poem within this book. The each illustration is created around a single theme and is spread widely across two pages. Meilo So, the illustrator, does a spectacular job capturing the illustrations on each page. She uses a variety of things to create her artwork in many of the books she illustrates. However, in this book she uses watercolors to express her art. Her illustrations express emotions and create vivid visuals for the poems.

This book by Jack Prelutsky is an excellent choice of poetry to use within a classroom. This book has about three different ways that it can be integrated into an elementary school class. First off, this book has plenty of examples of poetry within its pages. This can help students to better understand rhyming and how poetry flows. This book is also a great choice because there is a “poemstart” for each theme. The “poemstarts” are placed in this book to guide students while they learn how to write poems and rhymes. Lastly, this book can be integrated into the classroom by introducing the different types of poems and poetry. This book is an extravagant way for students to explore the variety of poems while comparing and contrasting the different types of poetry. All in all, Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme is a book will get you excited about poetry.

           

Hello School: A Classroom Full of Poems

Hello School: A Classroom Full of Poems

Written by: Dee Lillegard

Illustrated by: Don Carter

Random House Inc. 2001

Collection of Poetry

28 pages

            This story, by Dee Lillegard, expresses a variety of ways to introduce the everyday things that a child would see at school on a daily basis. A child could read these poems and understand what the different things look like and do while at school. Within this book, students can lose themselves in a tour through an already familiar setting. Nevertheless, this book is a creative way to get students to remember the aspects of things they do and use at school. All in all, Dee Lillegard does a fantastic job expressing each poem in a simple and catchy way for students to remember.

            Don Carter, the illustrator, creates his artwork in such a way that the pictures seem to pop right off of the pages. He helps to create this three-dimensional art by using an assortment of ways to create his art. He uses foam board, plaster, and acrylic paints to express help express Dee Lillegard’s poems. Don Carter is a very well known illustrator and is currently living out his passion as a children’s book illustrator.

            This book can be used in several different ways within a classroom. One way this book of poems can be used is by showing examples of onomatopoeias. This can be used while introducing the concept of onomatopoeias. Another way this book can be related to the classroom is when rhyming comes into play. There are tons of rhyming words within this book that would be a great way to introduce rhyming words. Lastly, this book of poems can be integrated into the classroom when a child is new to the whole school experience. The poems in this book consist of poems about school and things within school. Nevertheless, this book is a great book to use within a classroom setting.

Goldilocks Returns

Goldilocks Returns

Written and Illustrated by: Lisa Campbell Ernst

Scholastic Inc. 2000

Traditional Literature

40 pages

            Everyone knows the story about Goldilocks and her visit to the three bears. However, have you ever wondered what happened to poor little Goldilocks after she left the cottage of the three bears? Goldilocks Returns takes place when Goldilocks grow up. She has constantly been reminded about how she snooped around in the bears’ house. Nevertheless, she is very upset with herself and believes that she must make the whole confrontation better.  How will she correct what she did so many years ago? Will the bears allow her to even be near them? Read Goldilocks Returns to find out!

            Lisa Campbell Ernst does an unbelievable job at expressing the story with her illustrations. The illustrations really compliment the text throughout the entire book. Her artwork is expressed on the pages with watercolor and shading. The emotions of the characters are captured within the illustrations. The illustrations simple add more meaning to the story as you read and examine the artwork along the way.

            This traditional literature book has several ways that it can be integrated into a classroom setting. I would use Goldilocks Returns in my class to help introduce new vocabulary words. There are several words that Lisa Campbell Ernst uses to create her story. However, these words can be strange and new to a child. Next, Goldilocks Returns would be a great story to compare and contrast how the characters where in the original book and how they are in this story. Lastly, this book could be read while introducing career paths. Goldilocks is a locksmith in this newer story. The story even shows clues that help you to realize that she is a locksmith. All in all, this story is a great twist on the already known book about Goldilocks.

The Elves and the Shoemaker

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Retold by: The Brothers Grimm

Illustrated by: Jim LaMarche

Raincoast Books 2003

Traditional Literature

28 pages

            The Brothers Grimm retells an old story about a shoemaker and his wife. They had a spell of bad luck and became more and more poor. However, on night the shoemaker leaves his blueprints to a pair of shoes lying in his shop. The next morning, to the shoemaker’s surprise, the shoes were completely done and looked extravagant. Before long, the shoemaker started to leave more outlines every night before he went to bed. Then every morning, just like before, the shoes were completed and ready to sale. Who has been helping the shoemaker and his wife? Is magic creating the shoes for him to sale? To find out, you must read The Elves and the Shoemaker.

            The illustrations, created by Jim LaMarche, are very vivid and realistic. The people and things within the pictures seem almost real. Every detail is very well thought out and executed within the pages. Jim LaMarche used a variety of things to help capture his artwork. He used watercolor paper to bring his acrylic washes and colored pencil art to life. The illustrations go hand in hand with the story. Without the illustrations, I believe that the story wouldn’t be as detailed and exciting to read.

            This story is a great book to integrate into a classroom environment. There are three different ways I would use this in my own classroom. First, this story has a lot of large vocabulary words within the text. This would be a great way to expand my students’ vocabulary knowledge. Also, within the story the shoemaker’s customers paid him double the original price of the shoes that were created. This would be a great way to bring doubling figure in math into the picture inside my class. Then lastly, I can relate this book to a narrative writing lesson. I would ask my students write what they would do if they were visited by someone in the night that made things for them so they didn’t have to the next day.

Tap Dancing on the Roof

Tap Dancing on the Roof

Written by: Linda Sue Park

Illustrated by: Istvan Banyai

Clarion Books New York 2007

Collection of Poetry

44 pages

            These collections of poems are better referred to as Sijo. Sijo is a Korean form of poetry. This book by Linda Sue Park is filled with a variety of poems. These poems range from subject to subject. Within this book, you will explore a new way to view the world of poetry. The subjects of the poems within this book include things from math to word watching, frogs to tennis, and even laundry to brushing teeth. This book will make you smile, giggle, and wonder. Nevertheless, this book is an unpredictable choice that will leave you breathless.

            Illustrations can make or break the meaning and story of a book. The illustrations in this book do a great job at supporting the text. Istvan Banyai, the illustrator, does a wonderful job at expressing the meaning of each poem with his artwork. Some of Istvan Banyai’s art is confined to one page, while the others are spread across two pages. Each illustration within this book was digitally created for each of the individual poems. However, the artwork in this book is here to play a purpose in the meaning of the poems.

            I would recommend using this book in a second to fourth grade class. This book can be connected to the classroom in three different ways. First, there are poems about math in this book that can help children to better understand things like long division. Next, there are poems that refer to the language arts that are taught in school. An example related to the language arts would be the poem that includes ways to guide students on how to remember the meaning and spelling of words. Lastly, this book can be connected to cultural identifications within the classroom. That means this book can be used to open the door to different varieties of literature from different countries and backgrounds.

           

           

A Colony of Ants

A Colony of Ants

Written by: Richard and Louise Spilsbury

Photography by: The Bruce Coleman Collection/ Kim Taylor

 Reed Elsevier Inc., 2003

32 pages

Picture Book

 

This book is a fascinating look into the world of ants. It is very important for children to learn about science because science is such a big part of us and our world. This book is a great way for students to step inside the world of science. What do ants do when we cannot see them? How do ants live, eat, and survive?

The illustrations in this science oriented book happen to be photographs. This allows children to see realistic pictures of the ants in action. The pictures make you feel as if you are there because of how the photographer captured the vivid details in the photography. The pictures are also associated with what is being stated in the text. This helps children to read, visualize, and put them both together into one idea.

I would recommend this book for a second or third grade class. This book can be used in several different ways in a classroom. The main way this book can be incorporated into the classroom is with science. The children get to understand how ants live and survive in their habitat. This book can also be used to introduce new vocabulary words like habitat, metamorphic, and much more. Finally, this book can help introduce relationships between different types of species that help them all survive.

Math for All Seasons

Math for All Seasons

Written by: Greg Tang

Illustrated by: Harry Briggs

Scholastic Inc., 2002

40 pages

Picture Book

 

 

This book is great for getting students to think outside of the box. Problem-solving is a big part of our everyday lives. Math for All Seasons help teach children to solve problems, add, subtract, and even identify patterns within its pages. Within this book, there are many riddles, rhymes, and activities to solve before moving to the next page. This allows children to use their critical thinking skills. Can you take the pages on by one? Can you solve the riddles until you are done?

The illustrations are very important in this book. The illustrations help children to see and visualize the problems that are being asked. The illustrations may even have certain characteristics that a child must count, add, or subtract to get to an end result written. Harry Briggs, the illustrator, did an excellent job with the illustrations. He made each page a different theme that exploded with the exact colors associated with each of them. However, it was hard to believe that the illustrations were all done on the computer. All in all, the illustrator did an amazing job combining the illustrations with the activities and rhymes.

I would recommend using this book in a kindergarten or first grade class. This book can be tied to the classroom in several different ways. Right of the top, this book is great for helping children to practice their adding, subtracting, and counting skills. This book is also great for showing students how to problem-solve. Rhymes and rhythms are all through this book and can also be introduced while reading this book to children. Each page has an answer page located at the back of the book. This book is full of so many different resources and I strongly recommend this book by Greg Tang.

The House That Jack Built

The House That Jack Built

Written and illustrated by: Jeanette Winter
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000
32 pages
Picture Book

 

This book is a great way to show how ideas and words go hand in hand by integrating words and pictures in a sentence. This book is ultimately about a man named Jack who set out to build him a house. However, once his house is built, Jack has several visitors. Who will come to Jacks house? What events will occur because of his visitors?

This book was illustrated by the author, Jeanette Winter. I ultimately believe she did a wonderful job showing how pictures can replace a word. While creating the illustrations, Winter used acrylics. She used a variety of dull colors that flowed on the page wonderfully. The illustrations were printed on every other page without text. The illustrations really capture the feelings and emotions of the characters.

I would recommend using this story in a kindergarten or first grade class. This book can be connected to learning in several different ways. This story can be used to help children understand and associate pictures and words. This story also has rhyming involved. This can show children how rhyming flows and sounds. Lastly, this story is great for incorporating reading comprehension. After every character is introduced, that same character and his/her action is mention on the next page. This is constantly showing the children what has happened so far in the story already.

The Tale of Pip and Squeak

The Tale of Pip and Squeak

Written and illustrated by: Kate Duke
Penguin Group, 2007
32 pages
picture Book

 

This book is a great way to help children understand that everyone has different likes and dislikes. In this story by Kate Duke, two brothers must prepare for a grand party that they will have at their house. However, the two cannot agree on several things during the preparation. This turns into a disaster before they know it. How will they ever be able to throw their party if they cannot get along? Will the party go on?

The illustrations complement the story down to the each detail. The illustrations were done in watercolor and acrylic. The illustrations are very detailed and colorful and they pop right off the page. Kate Duke insured that the illustrations helped amplify her tale. Some illustrations are spread across two pages while others are just on one page. All in all, Kate Duke incorporated her words and illustrations to greater appeal to her audience.

I would recommend using this in a kindergarten, first, or second grade class. This book is great for incorporating art into the classroom. The character Pip loved art in this story. This is a great opportunity to talk about art and artists. Pip’s brother Squeak, however, loved music in this story. This is another great opportunity to talk about music and famous musicians as. This book also offers a chance to bring in character education. The two brothers had to overcome their differences and work together. This can show children that differences can be overcame to get things done.

Alphabet Rescue

Alphabet Rescue

Written by: Audrey Woods

Illustrated by: Bruce Woods

Blue Sky Press, 2006

40 pages

Picture Book

            This book is a great way to help children practice identifying letters in various orders. This strategy helps children to think about and fully understand letters. In this exciting story, Charley’s little letters set out on an adventure to build their own fire truck. However, along the way Charley’s little letters must help others to overcome their adventure. Will the little letters be able to succeed on their adventure? Will they help others along the way?

The illustrations in this book are very detailed and vivid. The illustrations look almost realistic. Bruce Woods, the illustrator, captures the colors and details of this wonderful story. The illustrations he created were spread across two pages and went along with the story. The text was located just below the picture on each of the pages. All in all, Bruce Woods did an amazing job capturing Audrey Woods’ story.

I would recommend using this book in a kindergarten or first grade class. This book can be connected into a classroom in several different ways. This book could first be used in just an oral reading lesson. This book is also great for pointing out and identifying upper and lower case letters within the story. This can help children to fully understand each letter. Lastly, this book can be used to incorporate writing. The children will pick a letter and write or draw their own story about that specific letter.