Module 6 - Janeczko Collection

Photo Source:  Barnes and Noble. http://www.barnesandnoble.com (accessed April 10, 2011).

Summary: This is a small book containing 24 poems written by some of the best known contemporary poets.  I say this because many of these authors are the ones I’ve learned about during my course at Texas Woman’s University.  In fact, it was such a thrill to read this book and recognize the names of the poets.  The book has a two page Table of Contents giving the name of each poem, the page number and the poet. Each poem is illustrated in watercolor by Christine Davenier.

Quality: This book has obvious quality when you consider the poets included in the book.  There are poems by Walter Dean Myers, Myra Cohn Livingston, Judity Viorst, Nikki Grimes, Colin McNaughton, Paul B. Janeczko, Naomi Shihab Nye and many more.  The language of the book is well suited for elementary students as well as upper level students.

Appeal: These poems have a humorous quality to them but are not “knee slapping” funny.  Instead they are humorous in the sense that all readers will have been in the situations described in these poems and will smile at the thought of many. There are poems about your worst enemy, about your loneliness, about your dog, and about your best friend.  A small sampling of poems that should have wide appeal.  My favorite is:

To You

By Karla Kuskin

I think I could walk

through the simmering sand

if I held your hand.

I think I could swim

the skin shivering sea

if you would accompany me.

And run on ragged, windy heights,

climb rugged rocks

and walk on air.

I think I could do anything at all,

if you were there.

Use: This would be a great poetry book to read in February when people are celebrating Valentine’s Day.  In an elementary setting, Valentine’s Day is more about friendships than it is about love. A teacher could read this book and have students write a poem to their friend, or alternatively (keeping with the theme of the book), someone who is not much of a friend.  Of course, in writing the negative poems the writer should never mention names.

Additionally, there is a great poem on page 20 by Nikki Grimes, “Summertime Sharing”, that would be perfect for a three person dramatization.  One person would act as Danitra, one person would act as her friend and the third would read the poem while the first two acted it out.  Since this is a poem about summer, it would be good for a presentation to the school at the end of the year.

References:

Janeczko, Paul B., ed. 1999. Very Best (almost) Friends: Poems of Friendship. Ill. Christine Davenier. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0-7686-0475-5.