Category: Poetry - READING STYLE GUIDE

My Color is Black

2/7/2020

Black is a Rainbow Color
by Angela Joy ill by Ekua Holmes

Black is a color. Black is a culture.

A picture book blending images and text to describe and define a color, Black is a Rainbow Color is rhythmical verse punctuated with rhyme. The poetry has a singing quality, inviting reading and responding aloud.

It’s a jubilant affirmation of identity. It’s a lyrical homage to history. It’s soul-stirring, thought-provoking. It’s a gorgeous array of colors.

Individuals pictured throughout the pages have a variety of skin tones and physical features. All share a noble heritage.

my color is black.

Angela Joy offers an abundance of resources in the back matter. She begins with an Author's Note, describing the genesis for the book. She realized that her daughter regarded the word Black as simply a color. She wanted to give her daughter a deeper understanding of Black and move the discussion beyond a selection in a crayon box.

A treasure trove of supporting resources includes: playlist of music spanning several decades, annotations explaining the origin for phrases in the text such as "Robe on Thurgood's Back" and "Dreams and Raisins," a few selected poems from Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar, timeline of Black Ethnonyms in America, and a bibliography.

Ekua Holmes' vibrant mixed media illustrations feature bold graphic shapes defined by strong black outlines. Each spread contains symbolic images: a caged bird sings on the title page, the shoes of individuals crossing a bridge made from newspaper headlines reporting on the fight for equal rights, stained glass windows glowing with the faces of women who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. There is much to see, share, and discuss.

Listen: Playlist Selections

Picture This: Celebrating Black Color & Culture

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: January 14, 2020 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1626726314

Celebration of Light

10/26/2019

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

Diwali, a five-day Hindu festival, commences with the new moon on the darkest night of fall. The picture book Shubh Diwali! introduces young readers to this festival of light.

A multigenerational family dressed in western clothing prepare and decorate their home in anticipation of the holiday. Observance includes wearing new traditional clothing, telling stories, ringing bells, and lighting lamps.

Soundar's rhyming couplets provides a glimpse into the celebration. Back matter includes an Author's Note which introduces Diwali in more detail with her personal recollections, a brief description of each of the Five Days of Diwali and a Glossary.

Chua's illustrations feature wide-eyed family and friends who have a variety of skin tones and manner of dress. Included are depictions of individuals with disabilities.

A complementary color palette that is predominantly various shades of gold and purple accentuate the night sky and contrast with the dazzling fireworks and lamp light. Interior scenes in warm yellows and golds reinforce the warmth and closeness of family and friends.

Wide-eyed wonder of the children's illuminated faces on the cover is particularly striking.

Dessert Over Darkness

Celebrate with this traditional Diwali treat.

Shrikhand (Strained Sweet Yogurt)

Shrikhand is a creamy yogurt-based dessert from western India made simply by straining yogurt and sweetening it. The yogurt is traditionally strained by pressing it between newspaper (to soak up extra whey), but if you can find thick, full-fat Greek yogurt at the grocery store, then the process is even simpler: Hang it in a mesh strainer over a bowl for a day, and let the excess whey drip out. You can substitute slivered almonds for pistachios, if that's more your speed, or even skip the nuts altogether for a smooth shrikhand flavored only with sugar, cardamom and a celebratory sprinkle of saffron threads.

INGREDIENTS

32 ounces plain full-fat Greek yogurt
1 ½ cups loosely packed confectioners’ sugar
1 cup roasted unsalted or lightly salted pistachios, roughly chopped, plus ⅓ cup for garnish, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon saffron threads, finely chopped, plus a pinch for garnish, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

PREPARATION

Put yogurt in a fine-mesh strainer suspended over a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Let excess whey strain for 24 hours.
Transfer yogurt to a large mixing bowl, and gently stir in sugar, pistachios, saffron and cardamom. When they are combined, transfer mixture into a serving dish, using an offset spatula to smooth out the top. Evenly sprinkle reserved pistachios and pinch of saffron over the top, and chill for an hour before serving. Shrikhand will keep covered in the fridge for a few days (though the pistachios will soften).

Recipe: NYT via When It’s Too Hot For Cooking, Try Yogurt For Dessert TEJAL RAO

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 1, 2019 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0807573556

Finding Her Voice

8/5/2019

A Likkle Miss Lou:
How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
by Nadia L. Hohn ill by Eugenie Fernandes

‘I wish’ I wished, ‘that I could be
A poet great and with my pen
Trace paths of peace and harmony
For the uncertain minds of men.’
May 1, 1928

A picture book brimming with poetry, rhythms, and song, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice introduces young readers to the early years of a native poet and performance artist.

Nadia L. Hohn describes Louise's fascination with the speech she that was an integral part of her daily life. Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language with a West African influence is spoken by the most Jamaicans.

At school, she was required to restrict her language to what was considered "proper" English. Louise was reprimanded by her teacher when she included words and phrases from Jamaican dialect in her assignments. Fortunately, she became a student at Excelsior College, where acceptance and appreciation for her native tongue was encouraged.
Hohn's narrative is rich and colorful. She captures the flavor and cadence of the language in this sumptuous feast of poetic expression.

Like a doctor bird's wings, the words tickled Louise's ear and like peanut drops, they stuck.

Fernandes' illustrations tell their own tale. Louise's face moves from doubt and discouragement to wonder and joy. The animated faces of her classmates and native storytellers feature a variety of warm shades of brown.

Back matter includes an extensive Note from the Author with details on the life and works of Coverley. Hohn describes her own introduction to the works of this poet. A glossary, with photos of peanut drops and water crackers, is helpful. References contains a citation list.

Spread out youself deh, Liza.
Dress ooman a come.

A picture book that sparkles with a love for language. Excellent as an introduction to the power of one's own voice and as a validation of student self-expression.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: August 13, 2019 Publisher: Owlkids ISBN: 978-1771473507

No Place Like Home

7/12/2019

Home is a Window
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Home is what feels the same and sometimes what is new.

Home is a Window is a quiet little treasure. wrapping youngsters who face change in a reassuring embrace.
Title page features a busy urban neighborhood, filled with homes and shops, pets and people. Observant readers will notice a young girl walking her dog. With the first page turn, she steps off the street and enters her home.

Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's descriptive text enumerates the comforting familiarity of simple things: a basket for your shoes, someone to help, a blanket all your own.

As the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that things are changing. Belongings are packed. The family piles into the car, leaving the city. A journey commences. Eventually the family reaches their destination. A new home. A new neighborhood. However, a sense of belonging, the familiarity of routines, and reassurance of family remain a constant. She realizes that this new place can become a home for her.

Note the book’s case nestled beneath the cover, resembling a warm and cozy patchwork quilt. This colorful blanket makes cameo appearances throughout the story. Endpapers appropriately frame the story, with a daylight urban neighborhood serving as an introduction and a suburban night scene bringing the story to a restful conclusion.

Chris Sasaki's illustrations feature a multiracial family joined together with warmth and love. Many images feature some form of an embrace: mother and daughter, husband and wife, friends and neighbors, father and daughter, dog and boy. Each reach out to touch another individual, providing a strong sense of connection. Joyous simplicity and tender reassurance permeate each image.

Share this book with those who have experienced change or anticipate a change.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: April 23, 2019 Publisher: Neal Porter Books ISBN: 978-0823441563

Undefeated

7/3/2019

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

This is for you. And you. And you. This is for us.

When times are tough and faith gives only the thinnest glimmer of light, there is hope, there are heroes. Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander's poetry pays tribute to Black Americans who with determination, persistence, dignity, courage, and vision have survived and thrived.

The Undefeated honors some of the individuals, past and present, who embody the struggle to dream and achieve. Authors, artists, athletes, poets, politicians, Civil Rights leaders, and musicians are among those referenced through soaring verses which capture the dignity and grace of the human spirit.
Alexander also pays tribute to those who suffered, sacrificed, and lost their lives.

A heart-breaking image features the framed photographs of four young girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the Birmingham Church, their faces shown behind shattered glass. Lives shattered.
Probably the most moving spread is a blank page, devoid of any face, acknowledging those who did not survive.

Two-time Caldecott Honor-winner Nelson's close-up portraits capture a spirit of quiet strength and determination. The realistic style exudes countenances glowing with warmth and intelligence. Nelson uses a rich variety of skin tones and facial characteristics. Each an individual. Each unique. The faces also portray joyful and proud moments. Eyes shining with tears.

Back matter includes an Afterword by the author, describing his inspiration for this ode to Black America. References to individuals, historical events, lyrics, and speeches that inspired individual verses provide context and background information.

This book is for everyone. It speaks to the best in us. It inspires us all. Thank you, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Nelson

"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
Maya Angelou

Be Inspired

View The Undefeated trailer and an interview with the author and illustrator, filmed at the National Gallery of Art.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 2, 2019 Publisher: Versify. ISBN: 978-1328780966

Phases of the Moon

2/26/2019

The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

"The moon reaches her zenith -
Her glow silvering the world.
Joy sings out
Within every good soul."
"Flower Song for Maidens Coming of Age." From songs of Dzitbalché 7
translated by David Bowles

Recently, several books about menstruation have been published for young readers. Most are collections of information presented in an engaging manner. The Moon Within takes a refreshing approach. Salazar weaves poetry, astronomy, and mythology together with Mexican and Caribbean culture in this intimate view of a young girl anticipating and experiencing her first menses.

The book is divided into sections mirroring the lunar cycle: New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Last Quarter Moon. This journey from childhood to maidenhood is like the moon: at times dark, at other times shimmering with reflected light.

Twelve-year-old Celestina Rivera lives in East Oakland with her father of Puerto Rican heritage, mother of Mexican ancestry, and younger brother Juju.

Magda, a drummer in her bomba class is "better than my best friend," and "my best echo." The two are inseparable.

Celi's mother is thrilled that her daughter will soon have her first period. She excitedly shares this news with friends and family and begins planning a tradition ancestral celebration to honor her daughter's first menses. Celi is mortified and feels that her privacy has been invaded. A clash between generations, cultures, and expectations leaves both mother and daughter at odds. Celi's internal dissonance extends to relationships with her peers.

She examines her feelings when Magda reveals her gender fluidity, requesting that family and friends refer to her as Mar because "I feel more boy than girl at the moment and because I can be both." In addition, Celi develops a crush on skate boarder and capoeira dancer Ivan. Sadly, when Ivan and his friends mock Mar, Celi remains silent, refusing to speak in defense of her friend. She finally realizes that she will have to take a stand. She must decide where her loyalties lie.

Salazar lyrically weaves several themes throughout this poetic first-person account. Reading becomes a sensory experience though explorations of rhythm "dancing bomba feels like warm Caribbean water swishing and swaying happiness inside of me," hearts "a locket in my heart ... holds all of the questions that do cartwheels in my mind,' and of course, the moon "I look into the dark and sway with Luna's moonbeams..."

Ultimately, Celi acknowledges that her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage are an important part of her identity. She accepts and appreciates the biological changes taking place in her body. She celebrates the girl she is and the woman that she is becoming.

A full moon for many cultures
is a time for magic
for healing
for rituals.

Join in the Dance

Meet the Author

Culture, Identity, and Menstruation

A timely reminder of the universal nature of menstruation and cultural differences: "Period. End of Sentence" won a 2019 Oscar Award for Best Short Documentary.

The film explores the stigma attached to menstruation in a rural village in India where girls are prevented from staying in school, worshipping in temples, and having access to basic sanitary products.
Follow the remarkable story of village women who learn to use a sewing machine, creating biodegradable and affordable sanitary pads for women in the surrounding villages. Their sewing machine was contributed by The Pad Project, a program created by high school girls in a California.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 26, 2019 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books ISBN: 978-1338283372

Animalia: Two Picture Books

2/8/2019

The animal kingdom is filled with wonders. Two picture books beautifully capture the magnificence of some of these creatures. Each volume features an innovative approach to subject matter as well as stunning design.

Contrary Creatures: Unique Animal Opposites
by James Weinberg

Weinberg uses bold graphic design to compare animal characteristics. The cover sets the stage with a wave-like separation between life on land and life underwater. The title font remains the same for both words. However, color and text position offer important informational cues. The demarcation between the two environments is neatly pierced with shafts of light streaming from the sky and penetrating the deep water.
Interior pages include comparisons of animal size, habitat, as well as distinguishing features and behaviors. There is even a nod to imaginary animals found in stories and legends.

A listing of the creatures along with a brief description of each can be found at the back of the book.

Debut author James Weinberg takes his silk screen art to new heights and depths with Contrary Creatures: Unique Animal Opposites. His designs are a fascinating study of color, shape, and texture. Take time to look for various textures and the pattern overlays found on each page.
Young readers may enjoy experimenting with some of these elements by creating simple potato prints. This How-To video from #MetKids is an excellent tutorial.

Contrary Creatures can be used to introduce/explore such concepts as antonyms, comparisons, animal characteristics, and design in nature. An excellent choice for inter-disciplinary activities in reading, writing, science, and art.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 16, 2018 Publisher: Page Street Kids ISBN: 9781624145803

Home for a Penguin, Home for a Whale
by Brenda Williams ill Annalisa Beghelli

Images of ocean life, both in the water and near the shore, follow a wave-like motion across two-page spreads. Brenda Williams’ rhythmic couplets undulate along with these animals, visually reinforcing the text’s aquatic theme.

Annalisa Beghelli uses various shades of blue as the primary background. Generally the deeper blues are at the bottom of the spreads, with color values becoming lighter near the page top. Animals are depicted with a light whimsical touch. Sharks and barracudas to not appear particularly menacing.

A fun read aloud with a bonus: a tiny sea snail is hidden on each page, waiting to be discovered.

Back matter is a rich source of additional information. Find facts about sea creatures, world oceans map, infographic of ocean habitats, and introduction to current issues such as climate change, clean energy and plastic dumping.

Home for a Penguin, Home for a Whale invites readers to explore a wide variety of aquatic animals. Using the back matter as a springboard for discussion, students may want to investigate ways in which they can protect animals who thrive in and near the world's oceans.
This National Geographic video encourages youngsters to take action and help save marine life.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 31, 2019 Publisher: Barefoot Books ISBN: 9781782857433

Finding Your Voice

1/18/2019

"the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one"

For two decades Laurie Halse Anderson has been speaking out, giving voice to teens who have experienced horrific trauma. Speak has brought the shame and humiliation experienced by rape victims out of the dark recesses of suppressed memory. Acknowledging the suffering, the rage. Initiating the first steps to healing.

In my early years as a youth librarian, Speak was constantly requested, always checked out. The story is as relevant to a fourteen-year-year-old girl from a small Texas town in 2000 as it is to a teen living in urban New York in 2019.

Now Anderson has added two companion books to her YA classic: a graphic novel and a personal memoir. Together these three make a significant contribution to the canon of important literature for young adults.

Here’s the beauty of these books: you can read them in any order. Maybe you discovered Speak long ago and recently learned that there was a graphic novel version of the story that spoke so poignantly to teens. Maybe you see a shiny new book titled Shout with an intriguing cover and now seek for other books by the author. Doesn't matter which book you read first, the order will be just right for you. No matter who you are or where you come from, the journey through pain and anger to triumph over tragedy can be found within these pages,

Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson

It all started in 1999. Laurie Halse Anderson published her first book: a ground-breaking young adult novel chronicling the story of fifteen-year-old Melinda Sordino. Beginning her freshman year, this young student is ostracized by her former friends and classmates. She is singled out at a school pep rally for calling the police at a summer party.
What Melinda cannot say is that she was raped at that party. School becomes unbearable. She is constantly confronted with the shame and agony of that night, as the boy who raped her is a student at her school. Shunned by her friends,

Melinda's life has deteriorated to the point where she seldom speaks. Art class is her refuge. Creating becomes a means of safely expressing herself. With the encouragement of Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, she is able to face the reality of her sexual assault. She begins to acknowledge her hurt, finally confronts her attacker, and eventually finds the courage to speak up and speak out.

Speak earned the distinguished honor of being named a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Copy accessed from public library

Pub date: October 22, 1999 Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux ISBN: 978-0374371524

Speak: The Graphic Novel
by Laurie Halse Anderson ill by Emily Carroll

Publishing a graphic novel version of Speak is both an obvious choice and a brilliant decision. This visceral narrative translates to striking visual imagery.

Anderson chooses to update the original story, including references to cell phones and Instagram. This gives the narrative a fresh, contemporary vibe. Her Author's Note serves as an introduction. A helpful list of organizations which support victims of sexual assault contains descriptions and contact information can be found in the back matter.

Emily Carroll eschews the traditional panel strip format, opting for a mix of full page images, spaces defined by diagonal lines, and boxes outlined in bold black. She uses Mel's facial expressions and body language to tell the story. Close-ups of a hand or part of a face provide sharp focal points. The excruciatingly raw self-portraits are painful to view. At times her face is mutilated, often distorted, even erased as Mel reveals her self-loathing. Most illustrations are rendered in multiple shades of gray. Intense scenes are a violent study in black, the anger exploding on a page that a rigid panel box cannot contain.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 6, 2018 Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) ISBN: 978-0374300289

Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Told primarily in verse, this memoir covers a wide range of events and emotions. Part One shares moments from Laurie’s difficult and conflicted childhood, her rape at age thirteen and subsequent reliance on drugs to mask the anguish, the slow ascent from depression during tenth grade, her year as a foreign exchange student in Denmark, and her foray into writing for teens. Part Two explores the publication of Speak and the impact it has had on her and a world-wide audience. Part Three returns to recurring symbols and themes: trees, blood, family, and stories. She acknowledges her parents’ personal troubles, but is willing to maintain a relationship with each. What a generous heart!

I loved the little glimpses into her extraordinary life. Some of my favorite poetic snapshots include her year in Denmark, her dream or more aptly described as her nightmare that was the genesis for Speak, and Laurie's heartwarming meeting with Walter Dean Myers.

While Shout is an apt name, some poems feel like they should be read sotto voce. These verses are the inner longings of the wounded yet resilient spirit that resides in many, far too many of us.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 12, 2019 Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-0670012107

Bonus: Additional Resources

Since my early draft of this post, a twentieth anniversary edition of Speak has been released. It includes a new introduction by Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by Jason Reynolds. This edition also features an updated Q&A, resource list, an essay, and poem by Anderson. I look forward to reading this updated edition.

I’ve Talked With Teenage Boys About Sexual Assault for 20 Years.
This Is What They Still Don’t Know
Laurie Halse Anderson Time January 15, 2019

Laurie reads "Me,Too" from Shout.

Laurie reads "Listen" from the 20th edition of Speak.

Love By the Numbers

12/18/2018

How Many Hugs? by Heather Swain ill Steven Henry

This board book is a little gem. Consider the following:

The engaging text has a song-like quality using rhymes and rhythms.
Lesser-known animal species are introduced.
Math multiples, an interesting concept rarely covered in picture books, is a major component.
It's forever and always a celebration of the enduring love of a parent.

Heather Swain infuses the text with some powerful scientific terminology: appendages, arachnids, cephalopod, isopod, tentacles. She weaves them so smoothly into the rhymes that they easily roll off the tongue.
Steven Henry's charming illustrations provide important context clues for unknown words. The bold color pallet and winsome facial expressions on the animal faces are a delight.

How Many Hugs? pays tribute to parental love and affection and is offered with a generous serving of STEM.
This checks off the boxes on my great gift criteria for: baby showers, young readers, kids who love animals, and youngsters who are fascinated by numbers.
How many hugs can I give to How Many Hugs?

The Benefits of Hugging

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”
Virginia Satir, family therapist

According to Healthline newsletter:

Hugs reduce stress by showing your support
Hugs may protect you against illness
Hugs may boost your heart health
Hugs can make you happier
Hugs help reduce your fears
Hugs may help reduce your pain
Hugs help you communicate with others

Hug + Book= Happiness

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: December 18, 2018, 2018 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends ISBN: 978-1250066510

Small World

12/6/2018

Firefly Forest by Robyn Frampton ill Mike Heath

Whatever you need is what you will find among the green ferns and the fireflies.

When this magical little book arrived, it immediately elicited oohs and ahhs from an appreciative audience. Firefly Forest draws readers into a world of wonder and possibility.

We placed the book among the twinkling lights in our garden. It is the perfect book setting.

Frampton's rhyming text, often in the form of couplets, offers reassuring messages of hope and inspiration.

However, it's her fantastical creations: miniature homes and furnishings, created from natural elements and placed throughout the woodland setting that capture the imagination.

Firefly Forest existed in an Overland Park, Kansas. The author anonymously developed the gnomish village, one house at a time.

Heath's ingenious design and adroit photography give Firefly Forest a storybook quality. His use of light is particularly effective. Readers will linger over the images featuring numerous tiny details. Enchanting!

Small Wonders

Love the magic of woodland miniatures? Here are more elfin marvels.

Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand.

Purchase one of Robyn's miniature doors from her website.

Visit the delightful Garvin Woodland Gardens located in Arkansas.

Enjoy the New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: March 13, 2018 Publisher: Imprint ISBN: 978-1250122636