I’m sharing a poem from A Strange Place to Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home?(Chronicle, 2012), written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Ed Young.
These terrific poems explore the weird habitats of particular animals. The?rhyming and the ones in specific poetic forms are my favorites.?Here’s just one fun one!
A Fish in the Air
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you’re allowed to stare.
Here, fishes walk on mud and sand.
Welcome to this mangrove stand,
Not quite water, not quite land.
Here, fishes perch to breathe the air.
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you’re allowed to stare.
–Marilyn Singer, all rights reserved
I immediately had to go online and find some pictures of these unique creatures. (What are they? You have to read the book to find out!). And that’s one of my favorite things about this collection–it makes me curious. I want to know more! That’s exactly the effect I want when I either read or write nonfiction poetry: awe at what the poem shares, and curiosity about what else there is to learn.
Donna at Mainely Right has the Poetry Friday Roundup today. Drop by and gather up some great poems!
Great subject for poems. Thanks for sharing this collection, Laura.
Isn’t it? Marilyn always comes up with cool ideas.
Great subject for poems. Thanks for sharing this collection, Laura.
Isn’t it? Marilyn always comes up with cool ideas.
That sounds like a fun collection, Laura.
It is!
That sounds like a fun collection, Laura.
It is!
This sounds fantastic. I think my science-loving but poetry tolerating boys would love it. 🙂 Off to see if my library has a copy.
I hope they do–if not, request that they get it:>)
This sounds fantastic. I think my science-loving but poetry tolerating boys would love it. 🙂 Off to see if my library has a copy.
I hope they do–if not, request that they get it:>)
I have the book, still haven’t read it. Thanks for sharing. The poems will make us curious!
Enjoy!
I have the book, still haven’t read it. Thanks for sharing. The poems will make us curious!
Enjoy!
Aw, man, you left us hanging with the type of fish? Luckily, I have super-sleuthing capabilities and I found the little guys. 🙂 This poem is delightful, and I love the concept of the book!
That was quite wicked of me, wasn’t it:>) Coming up with great premises/concepts is one of Marilyn’s great talents!
Aw, man, you left us hanging with the type of fish? Luckily, I have super-sleuthing capabilities and I found the little guys. 🙂 This poem is delightful, and I love the concept of the book!
That was quite wicked of me, wasn’t it:>) Coming up with great premises/concepts is one of Marilyn’s great talents!
“Nonfiction poetry.” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that combination of words before. I like it!
Well, that’s what I call it. Joyce Sidman is one poet who does it wonderfully–check out her stuff. Dark Emperor is the one that won a Newbery Honor.
“Nonfiction poetry.” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that combination of words before. I like it!
Well, that’s what I call it. Joyce Sidman is one poet who does it wonderfully–check out her stuff. Dark Emperor is the one that won a Newbery Honor.
Informational verse — could be the next big thing? I’m also glad to know about Marilyn Singer. Just looked at her website — what a great list of books she has!
Yes! You have treats in store if you haven’t read her yet. Go get Mirror Mirror post haste:>)
Informational verse — could be the next big thing? I’m also glad to know about Marilyn Singer. Just looked at her website — what a great list of books she has!
Yes! You have treats in store if you haven’t read her yet. Go get Mirror Mirror post haste:>)
Love Marilyn Singer. Thanks for sharing A Fish in the Air.
She IS a treasure–so many imaginative ideas!
Love Marilyn Singer. Thanks for sharing A Fish in the Air.
She IS a treasure–so many imaginative ideas!
This sounds like a cool book! My 13-year-old son always claims he doesn’t like poetry, but he LOVES nonfiction about animals. Maybe this book could change his mind…. 🙂 I’ll have to look for it.
Yes! There are some wonderful nonfiction poetry books–check out Joyce Sidman and Leslie Bullion and Avis Harley and…well, start there.
This sounds like a cool book! My 13-year-old son always claims he doesn’t like poetry, but he LOVES nonfiction about animals. Maybe this book could change his mind…. 🙂 I’ll have to look for it.
Yes! There are some wonderful nonfiction poetry books–check out Joyce Sidman and Leslie Bullion and Avis Harley and…well, start there.
Love this poem! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Iza!
Love this poem! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Iza!
I can just picture a fish walking on its fins among the mangrove roots. Looks like a wonderful book for introducing poetry to science/nature obsessed kids.
Definitely:>)
I can just picture a fish walking on its fins among the mangrove roots. Looks like a wonderful book for introducing poetry to science/nature obsessed kids.
Definitely:>)
Sounds like a fascinating book! Thanks for sharing!
It is. I love poems with science content:>)
Sounds like a fascinating book! Thanks for sharing!
It is. I love poems with science content:>)
How fun to come here, right after a post about Dark Emperor!
I had just recommended Dark Emperor to Ruth a bit before I read the DE post. Great minds and all that:>)
How fun to come here, right after a post about Dark Emperor!
I had just recommended Dark Emperor to Ruth a bit before I read the DE post. Great minds and all that:>)
I keep hoping our library will get that book!
If not, maybe you can request they purchase it? Or at least get it for you on interlibrary loan?
I keep hoping our library will get that book!
If not, maybe you can request they purchase it? Or at least get it for you on interlibrary loan?
can’t wait to read that one. Love the mangrove triolet!
So glad you love it!
can’t wait to read that one. Love the mangrove triolet!
So glad you love it!
Laura, I agree wholeheartedly about curiosity… I think the challenge of nonfiction poetry is similar to writing historical fiction: important not to show off everything one knows and remember to leave some mystery… also, don’t be so enamored of fact that you forget to use poetic devices to create something beautiful. Thanks for sharing this poem — the book is one of the Cybils nominees.
Exactly! I want it to still be *poetry,* not just sharing facts in rhyme or other poetic forms. And I don’t care how much the poet knows about it. I just want to really care about the little bit of info that is shared in this specific poem. It’s a real trick to pull off…
Laura, I agree wholeheartedly about curiosity… I think the challenge of nonfiction poetry is similar to writing historical fiction: important not to show off everything one knows and remember to leave some mystery… also, don’t be so enamored of fact that you forget to use poetic devices to create something beautiful. Thanks for sharing this poem — the book is one of the Cybils nominees.
Exactly! I want it to still be *poetry,* not just sharing facts in rhyme or other poetic forms. And I don’t care how much the poet knows about it. I just want to really care about the little bit of info that is shared in this specific poem. It’s a real trick to pull off…