Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. BOOKSPEAK!: POEMS ABOUT BOOKS. Ill. by Josee Bisaillon. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0547223001 [Suggested Grade Levels K-6]REVIEW
This is a collection of 21 poems that any teacher and librarian will love—poems that celebrate books and reading. Where else can you find a poem about the index, for example? Salas has created a wonderful variety of poems about skywriting, diaries, cliffhangers, bookplates, literary conflict, bookstores, story endings, and more. The varying use of rhyme, rhythm, voice, and point of view gives each poem added uniqueness. In addition, careful readers will find several different poem forms including an acrostic poem, a haiku, list poems, etc. With whimsical art by Josée Bisaillon, weaving together collages, drawings, and digital montages, this book is clever, accessible and appealing.
CONNECTIONS
The opening poem, "Calling All Readers," serves as an excellent introduction to a reading lesson or library story time, demonstrating the delights that can be found in a book—friendship, adventure, even time travel. It can serve as a springboard for students to draft their own poems about their own experiences with books. Many of the poems in BOOKSPEAK lend themselves to reading aloud or performance, particularly “The Middle’s Lament,” written for three voices. Invite children to choose a favorite poem, practice it, and perform it for a public event or for the daily announcements.
RELATED BOOKS
Other poetry about books and reading:
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. I AM THE BOOK. ISBN 978-0823421190
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. GOOD BOOKS, GOOD TIMES. ISBN 978-0064462228
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. WONDERFUL WORDS: POEMS ABOUT READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND LISTENING. ISBN 978-0689835889
Lewis, J. Patrick. PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY. ISBN 978-0152163877
By Sylvia M. Vardell
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