Monday, April 17, 2017

NPM Day 17: The Letter O

My book spine poem for NPM 2017:

She walks in beauty
A jar of tiny stars
Awakening the heart
Open the door
House of light 
Pass the poetry, please!


Continuing my alphabetic stroll
through National Poetry Month
by sharing five titles I own that
begin with the letter O.

Open the Door:  How to Excite Young People About Poetry
Edited by Dorothea Lasky, Dominic Luxford, and Jesse Nathan
True confession time - this is the only title in my book spine poem
that I haven't read.  I've picked it up occasionally and read some of the
essays (not so exciting).  But I couldn't resist using it in in my poem since it's such a perfect segue into Mary Oliver's book of poetry,
House of Light (which I have read).

Opening a Door:  Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom 
by Paul B. Janeczko
I know I shared books by Janeczko on the letter J day.  But I didn't share this one
and it's wonderful!  After a short introduction by X. J. Kennedy, and a brief Part I "Becoming a Teacher of Poetry,  the book moves quickly to the important stuff in Part II "Exploring the Possibilities of Poetry" with fifteen explorations of specific poems.  "All young readers deserve a chance to be touched by a poem," and these explorations will help the middle school teacher do just that.  Finally, the book wraps up with another brief section, Part III Becoming an Active Reader of Poetry:  Advice and Resources.  If you teach middle school, check out this important title published by Scholastic that is only 144 pages long.   Maybe I should replace line four in my book spine poem with this title.  (It took me until day 20, but I finally did put this title in place on my book spine poem.)

One Minute till Bedtime:  60-Second Poems to Send You Off to Sleep 
Selected by Ken Nesbitt
I checked this one out from the library, but knew
right away that I had to have my own copy. 
The book flap refers to it as "...a new bedtime classic." 
I heartily concur.

One Big Rain:  Poems for Rainy Days
Compiled by Rita Gray and illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke
This book strolls through the seasons and includes this invitation:
"As you read about rain, in various poetic forms,
Ripple in it, float in it, boat in it.
Go on, get wet." 
-Rita Gray
Perhaps only those of us who live in the 
Pacific NW can truly appreciate a book 
of poetry about rain for every season.  

One Today:  The Inaugural Poem for President Barack Obama
by Richard Blanco and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
I love this beautiful picture book and the poem written for
Present Obama's second inauguration that celebrates America
from dawn to dusk and coast to coast.  
I'll never forget reading it to an eighth grade class
(when I was substitute teaching)
and having them applaud when I finished the book!

2 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed One Minute Till Bedtime very much, bought one for Ingrid's class too when they were studying poetry. The others are new to me, too. But that's okay, I'm not sure I need more! Have a wonderful day, Ramona!

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    Replies
    1. I totally get what you mean because I'm trying to resist buying new books. But I do enjoy checking them out of the library. And occasionally, I succumb to the new book. Do check out One Today!

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