Title of Book: This is Just to Say; Author: Joyce Sidman; /ISBN: 9780618616800; Published by: Houghton Mifflin 2007
Summary:
A fictitious teacher, Mrs. Mertz, gave her students an assignment to write poems to their family in which they asked for forgiveness for something. The family member was then to write a poem back to the child. These poems ranged from the humorous (a child apologized to his hamster because he had to live in a cage and not the jungles of Asia) to the heartbreaking (a child promised her Daddy she would be perfect if he would just come back.) The poems and their responses are remarkably believable.
My Impressions:
Where has this book been all my life?! I may just learn not to despise poetry if I read any more books like it. The teaching possibilities are endless. In this one book virtually all forms of poetry are presented and it wasn’t boring or tedious (words that I associate with poetry) and I got so caught up in the stories of the children it was much later I realized it was a book of poetry I had enjoyed. Wow! If you are reading this and you know Joyce Sidman, will you please ask her two write a part two and three? FYI- one of the poems included the words, “pissed off at you” and another used Jesus Christ’s name as a curse word.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from Barnes and Nobel)
Gr 4-7 - Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Set up a min-poetry writing station. Mount a cookie sheet or something similar to the wall and display with several sets of those magnetic poetry words. The children can make and add to other patron’s poetry. Copy some poetry starters onto colored Xerox paper and let children fill them in with colored markers and add that to your display area.
Summary:
A fictitious teacher, Mrs. Mertz, gave her students an assignment to write poems to their family in which they asked for forgiveness for something. The family member was then to write a poem back to the child. These poems ranged from the humorous (a child apologized to his hamster because he had to live in a cage and not the jungles of Asia) to the heartbreaking (a child promised her Daddy she would be perfect if he would just come back.) The poems and their responses are remarkably believable.
My Impressions:
Where has this book been all my life?! I may just learn not to despise poetry if I read any more books like it. The teaching possibilities are endless. In this one book virtually all forms of poetry are presented and it wasn’t boring or tedious (words that I associate with poetry) and I got so caught up in the stories of the children it was much later I realized it was a book of poetry I had enjoyed. Wow! If you are reading this and you know Joyce Sidman, will you please ask her two write a part two and three? FYI- one of the poems included the words, “pissed off at you” and another used Jesus Christ’s name as a curse word.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from Barnes and Nobel)
Gr 4-7 - Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Set up a min-poetry writing station. Mount a cookie sheet or something similar to the wall and display with several sets of those magnetic poetry words. The children can make and add to other patron’s poetry. Copy some poetry starters onto colored Xerox paper and let children fill them in with colored markers and add that to your display area.
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