Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
If you’re a regular visitor to the blog (and if you are, thank you:>), you know I love Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s poetry. She was one of the first poets whose work I fell in love with when I started seriously reading children’s poetry and thinking about writing it.
Have you read All Aboard ? This is Rebecca’s FUN rhyming picture book, but there are also some beautiful phrases sprinkled among the awesome sound effects and rhymes. Her description of a train as a “long, steel sweep” caught my imagination. I decided to do a poetryaction using one actual line of Rebecca’s. And then I tried to think of other beautiful, unexpected ways to describe a train. This would be fun to do with other picture books in your classroom, too.
Check out my Pinterest boards of poetryactions and bookalikes if you’d like to see more:>)
And don’t forget to visit Diane Mayr, history-related poet extraordinaire, at Random Noodling for the Poetry Roundup. Enjoy!
46 Responses
Oh I love this poem, Laura (especially a cold, narrow shiver–what a wonderful and unique description of a train!)
Thanks, Buffy. This is one of my favorite poetryactions I’ve done. Pure language play, really, inspired by one of my favorite writers:>)
Oh I love this poem, Laura (especially a cold, narrow shiver–what a wonderful and unique description of a train!)
Thanks, Buffy. This is one of my favorite poetryactions I’ve done. Pure language play, really, inspired by one of my favorite writers:>)
Laura,
This post reminded me of an adult I know who loves trains. I also thought that a birthday party with a poetryaction theme would be fun for all ages. In fact, I think I’ll reblog this one as something to include at my blog birthday celebration. Maybe you’ll be booking birthday parties next. You never know where this career will take you!
Ha! You do think big, Linda!
Laura,
This post reminded me of an adult I know who loves trains. I also thought that a birthday party with a poetryaction theme would be fun for all ages. In fact, I think I’ll reblog this one as something to include at my blog birthday celebration. Maybe you’ll be booking birthday parties next. You never know where this career will take you!
Ha! You do think big, Linda!
this is a wonderful poem Laura I am sharing a reading of one of my short stories on my face book page if you would like to hear it it’s my first time reading on my page and I have read in a wail but I think it runed out okay stope by when you have a moment Jessica Bigi is you user name hope you have a safe trip
Jessica Bigi is my user name
Thanks, Jessica. When I go to your FB page, though, I don’t see any stories. I think it must only show up to your Friends, so it’s not Public. But I’m on Facebook as a Page, so I can only see what’s Public…
do you think it be okay to put that on the public setting
I could not get to it either, Jessica. Make it public so we can see it, please.
this is a wonderful poem Laura I am sharing a reading of one of my short stories on my face book page if you would like to hear it it’s my first time reading on my page and I have read in a wail but I think it runed out okay stope by when you have a moment Jessica Bigi is you user name hope you have a safe trip
Jessica Bigi is my user name
Thanks, Jessica. When I go to your FB page, though, I don’t see any stories. I think it must only show up to your Friends, so it’s not Public. But I’m on Facebook as a Page, so I can only see what’s Public…
do you think it be okay to put that on the public setting
I could not get to it either, Jessica. Make it public so we can see it, please.
Oh Laura, call it fate, luck, coincidence or whatever the cosmos proffers — but you “hit home” in a big way. The recent rail tragedy threw me into my current memories. I grew up two blocks from a major railway hub. Many family members retired from jobs with the railways. My grandfather began working for the railway at age eleven as a call boy. A train needed an engineer and he was sent, via bicycle, to fetch the “designated driver.” Social media in 1900! My grandmother had a lifetime pass to ride the rails, and grandchildren could ride free until age six. My youngest and fondest memories are of accompanying her on her weekly shopping trips and being treated to lunch at a nearby F.W. Woolworth lunch counter then given a quarter to shop to my heart’s content. That would have been in the early forties.
What great memories, Martha! I love trains, though I rarely get to ride them. And this post was scheduled last week, before this week’s train catastrophe. I thought about rescheduling, but decided not to… Glad this reinforced happy images for you.
Oh Laura, call it fate, luck, coincidence or whatever the cosmos proffers — but you “hit home” in a big way. The recent rail tragedy threw me into my current memories. I grew up two blocks from a major railway hub. Many family members retired from jobs with the railways. My grandfather began working for the railway at age eleven as a call boy. A train needed an engineer and he was sent, via bicycle, to fetch the “designated driver.” Social media in 1900! My grandmother had a lifetime pass to ride the rails, and grandchildren could ride free until age six. My youngest and fondest memories are of accompanying her on her weekly shopping trips and being treated to lunch at a nearby F.W. Woolworth lunch counter then given a quarter to shop to my heart’s content. That would have been in the early forties.
What great memories, Martha! I love trains, though I rarely get to ride them. And this post was scheduled last week, before this week’s train catastrophe. I thought about rescheduling, but decided not to… Glad this reinforced happy images for you.
I haven’t come across All Aboard yet, I think it may be a good one for the grandsons! Many thanks for the recommendation and the reaction!
Thanks for stopping by, Diane! And it’s perfect for train fans of any age:>) (I’m sorry, but you’re not old enough to have grandsons.)
I haven’t come across All Aboard yet, I think it may be a good one for the grandsons! Many thanks for the recommendation and the reaction!
Thanks for stopping by, Diane! And it’s perfect for train fans of any age:>) (I’m sorry, but you’re not old enough to have grandsons.)
Gorgeous! All trains thank you.
Thanks, Amy:>)
Gorgeous! All trains thank you.
Thanks, Amy:>)
These may be two birthday books for the grandson! He loves trains…and these look just right. I have The Train to Maine, but not these.
It’s really a great book, Donna!
These may be two birthday books for the grandson! He loves trains…and these look just right. I have The Train to Maine, but not these.
It’s really a great book, Donna!
Laura, I just followed you on Pinterest so I won’t miss any poetryaction in the future. I love this idea and your combos. Poetryactions would be wonderul activities for young writers. I will pass on your information. Thanks.
Thanks, Carol–glad you like them! I’m finding picture books to be a fun writing prompt:)
Laura, I just followed you on Pinterest so I won’t miss any poetryaction in the future. I love this idea and your combos. Poetryactions would be wonderul activities for young writers. I will pass on your information. Thanks.
Thanks, Carol–glad you like them! I’m finding picture books to be a fun writing prompt:)
My nephews will love All Aboard, and your poetic response is so clever. Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Thank you, Catherine–she also has What Can a Crane Pick Up?, which is along the same lines, though All Aboard is my favorite:)
My nephews will love All Aboard, and your poetic response is so clever. Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Thank you, Catherine–she also has What Can a Crane Pick Up?, which is along the same lines, though All Aboard is my favorite:)
I love the borrowed line “a long steel sweep” but I super-loved :a cold, narrow shiver”. Perfect!
Thanks, Sally. Rebecca’s language is always such a great model!
I love the borrowed line “a long steel sweep” but I super-loved :a cold, narrow shiver”. Perfect!
Thanks, Sally. Rebecca’s language is always such a great model!