Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
[Addendum: I didn’t even realize when I scheduled this post that it was for the day after the #SharpSchu book club on Twitter where Ame was one of the guest stars. She is hysterical!] Dot in Ame Dyckman’s Wolfie the Bunny got me thinking about how we constantly judge each other by how we look or what group we belong to. That made me think of kids growing up in very tough areas and inspired a poetryaction featuring a much bleaker setting than this funny book has! But it also reflects how Dot comes through as a wonderful sister to Wolfie. “I’ll start with your toes!” is the line I love best, when Dot defends Wolfie to a bear. If none of this is making sense, it’s because you must go read the book!
I’d pair Wolfie with Gaston, another wonderful nurture over nature book!
Check out my Pinterest boards of poetryactions and bookalikes if you’d like to see more:>)
Jama at the delicious Jama’s Alphabet Soup has the Poetry Friday Roundup today. Mangia!
40 Responses
Lovely poem. The juxtaposition in the phrase ‘gunshot lullaby’ is clever and I love the way the poem turns after this.
Thank you, Sally–I didn’t intend for it to go so dark, especially when it was inspired by such a funny book. But, there ya go. Poems go where they will sometimes.
Lovely poem. The juxtaposition in the phrase ‘gunshot lullaby’ is clever and I love the way the poem turns after this.
Thank you, Sally–I didn’t intend for it to go so dark, especially when it was inspired by such a funny book. But, there ya go. Poems go where they will sometimes.
Laura,
I look forward to bookalikes. So much fun to see which two books you choose that share a connection.
Thanks, Linda!
Laura,
I look forward to bookalikes. So much fun to see which two books you choose that share a connection.
Thanks, Linda!
One good sister is never a bad thing (or one good brother). I keep reading about Wolfie, must get this book. Fun, but bitter in some ways, Laura. Gaston is delightful, I agree. I do love this idea of the pairings.
It’s a fabulous book. It touches on the dark side of reality but with humor, hope, and love.
One good sister is never a bad thing (or one good brother). I keep reading about Wolfie, must get this book. Fun, but bitter in some ways, Laura. Gaston is delightful, I agree. I do love this idea of the pairings.
It’s a fabulous book. It touches on the dark side of reality but with humor, hope, and love.
Laura, “snarls to smiles”-I need to get this book to read. I passed by John Schu’s twitter feed tonight but did not have time to stop in. Now, I am sorry that I didn’t. Poetry in action-what a great idea. There is a thank you in my post today since you were among the first to get in your Spring Symphony offering.
It was fun, as always! Things move so fast on Twitter! I’m just learning how to keep up:>)
Laura, “snarls to smiles”-I need to get this book to read. I passed by John Schu’s twitter feed tonight but did not have time to stop in. Now, I am sorry that I didn’t. Poetry in action-what a great idea. There is a thank you in my post today since you were among the first to get in your Spring Symphony offering.
It was fun, as always! Things move so fast on Twitter! I’m just learning how to keep up:>)
I’m so lucky to have a good sister and no bleak kitchen, no gunshots to be heard. That’s a powerful image. Laura.
I’m looking forward, too, to seeing more of your book pairings.
Thanks, Julie. Me, too–and grateful for it every day!
I’m so lucky to have a good sister and no bleak kitchen, no gunshots to be heard. That’s a powerful image. Laura.
I’m looking forward, too, to seeing more of your book pairings.
Thanks, Julie. Me, too–and grateful for it every day!
I really loved “make claws hug”! That, to me shows so well how tenderness toward loved ones can be found buried in the tough. I’d say more but then it seems the meaning of the poem speaks better in its few words than I could in many.
Thanks so much, Donna. In WOLFIE, it’s fear covering up the tenderness, but love overcomes it. Love your point about toughness/tenderness. In a novel I’m listening to right now, two aggressive, annoying lawyers are trying to adopt a baby, and when they hold him, it’s like they’re different people. And the narrator muses that they *need* that baby as much as it needs a family, in order to let them express a more tender side of themselves…
I really loved “make claws hug”! That, to me shows so well how tenderness toward loved ones can be found buried in the tough. I’d say more but then it seems the meaning of the poem speaks better in its few words than I could in many.
Thanks so much, Donna. In WOLFIE, it’s fear covering up the tenderness, but love overcomes it. Love your point about toughness/tenderness. In a novel I’m listening to right now, two aggressive, annoying lawyers are trying to adopt a baby, and when they hold him, it’s like they’re different people. And the narrator muses that they *need* that baby as much as it needs a family, in order to let them express a more tender side of themselves…
I love Wolfie! This book is great for adoptive families, especially transracial adoptions (like one of my daughters). Your poem is as powerful as it is sparse, Laura! =)
Thanks, Bridget. A funny, playful book that can also be used as a mirror for kids, as bibliotherapy in certain situations–isn’t that the best?
I love Wolfie! This book is great for adoptive families, especially transracial adoptions (like one of my daughters). Your poem is as powerful as it is sparse, Laura! =)
Thanks, Bridget. A funny, playful book that can also be used as a mirror for kids, as bibliotherapy in certain situations–isn’t that the best?
Gunshot lullaby was startling but I was relieved to see the make claws hug at the end. 🙂 It’s always interesting to see your poetryactions — we get a cool poem plus learn about new books!
Thank you, Jama. They’re fun to write!
Gunshot lullaby was startling but I was relieved to see the make claws hug at the end. 🙂 It’s always interesting to see your poetryactions — we get a cool poem plus learn about new books!
Thank you, Jama. They’re fun to write!
This is a GREAT pair!
Thanks, Mary Lee–I love pbs that don’t shy away from hard topics:>)
This is a GREAT pair!
Thanks, Mary Lee–I love pbs that don’t shy away from hard topics:>)
I love these pairings. I need to start printing out your poems and putting them in the books they go with, so I remember to use them. I’ll bet they would inspire some terrific poems from kids too! Thank you!
Thanks, Carol! I hope to start a movement of kids writing poetryactions:>)
I love these pairings. I need to start printing out your poems and putting them in the books they go with, so I remember to use them. I’ll bet they would inspire some terrific poems from kids too! Thank you!
Thanks, Carol! I hope to start a movement of kids writing poetryactions:>)