Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
I spent most of the last week in Florida, visiting family. That’s always an emotional time, so I’m choosing a lighthearted Poetry Friday selection!
Jamie Swenson’s picture book is an explosion of fun sounds and wordplay. I wanted to add a stanza or chapter of my own and pick an animal Swenson didn’t use in her book. I wanted something I have a strong emotional response to, so I chose a crocodile (shudder). What a fun mentor text exercise to get kids using vivid verbs and adjectives!
And I’m going to be greedy and pair it with my own book, A Rock Can Be…. I love the way Jamie lets us see animals in totally new ways, and that’s what I try to do with rocks (and leaves and water), too.
Check out my Pinterest boards of poetryactions and bookalikes if you’d like to see more:>)
And don’t forget to visit Matt (“The Voice”) Forrest Esenwine for the Poetry Roundup. Make sure to celebrate his awesome news with him. What news? You’ll have to pop over there and find out! Enjoy!
16 Responses
Laura,
Your book series about rocks, water, and leaves does help us to see things in a different way! Good pairing examples for Bookalikes!
Thanks, Linda. I didn’t really find that theme until I was well along in the writing process, but now it’s my primary hope for readers:>)
Laura,
Your book series about rocks, water, and leaves does help us to see things in a different way! Good pairing examples for Bookalikes!
Thanks, Linda. I didn’t really find that theme until I was well along in the writing process, but now it’s my primary hope for readers:>)
Ooooh, “scaled and silent” is perfect! Having met both Aussie crocs and Florida gators, I’ll take a lazy gator, thank you.
I am horrified and fascinated by saltwater crocs–never met one and don’t plan to:) Have met several gators…
Ooooh, “scaled and silent” is perfect! Having met both Aussie crocs and Florida gators, I’ll take a lazy gator, thank you.
I am horrified and fascinated by saltwater crocs–never met one and don’t plan to:) Have met several gators…
I know that teachers at school use your books, Laura, & now you’ve introduced another similar one that children can write to. The first time I saw-gators or crocs?-in Florida ditches, I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem very inviting for a walk! Thanks for this!
THanks, Linda–Jamie’s is a really fun book! Yes, gators and cockroaches were two of the Florida natives I was super happy to leave behind when we moved to Minnesota!
I know that teachers at school use your books, Laura, & now you’ve introduced another similar one that children can write to. The first time I saw-gators or crocs?-in Florida ditches, I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem very inviting for a walk! Thanks for this!
THanks, Linda–Jamie’s is a really fun book! Yes, gators and cockroaches were two of the Florida natives I was super happy to leave behind when we moved to Minnesota!
I like the idea of bookalikes! This is something I would ask my students to do!
Excellent! I’m building up a library of poetryactions and bookalikes and hope to share hints on how teachers could use them with students and have students create their own. (Pry in the fall.)
I like the idea of bookalikes! This is something I would ask my students to do!
Excellent! I’m building up a library of poetryactions and bookalikes and hope to share hints on how teachers could use them with students and have students create their own. (Pry in the fall.)