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Janeczko, Paul B. 2005. A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms. Illus Chris Raschka. Massachusetts: Candlewick. ISBN: 978-0763606626.
Janeczko's poetry anthology features poems in different formats and is the perfect addition to any library. He provides the reader with the type of poem, an example of this type of poem and a simple explanation of the poem's format. The following (untitled) poem by Kristine O'Connell George is an example of a Senryu poem, which doesn't rhyme, has a set number of syllables per line and its content focuses on human nature.
by Kristine O'Connell George
First day, new school year,
backpack harbors a fossil...
last June's cheese sandwich.
George's poem, although short, provides humor and irony for the reader. Any student between the ages of 10-13 will relate to this poem in that they haven't touched their backpack since the previous school year, although the unforgotten 'treasures' they find will vary!
Extension
On the first day of school and using this poem as an example, encourage students to write a poem about something interesting they found in their backpack or something they wished they had in their backpack. Display Janeczkos's book, along with other titles featuring different types of poems around the room to give the students ideas. Allow them to share their poems aloud with eachother.
Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 9780689858208.After Ruby's mother dies she is sent to live with her father, who happens to be a big movie star. Ruby is grieving her mother's death and bitter about having to leave her friends to go live with a father she has never known.
This well thought out novel in verse is an earnest, quick read for readers 12 and up due to Sones' ability to accurately channel the thoughts and feelings of Ruby. The last verse from the poem entitled It Mega-stinks demonstrates this:
What's the point of having
a bathroom that could be featured
on MTV Cribs,
when there's no one around I care about
to show it to?
Because Ruby is portrayed in a realistic and complex manner, the reader will commit themselves to finding out what happens to her. She contemplates her life in the same ways any teenager would. A good example of her introspection comes from the final stanza of Lakewood Daze.
But most days,
I wander around Lakewood feeling invisible.
Like I'm just a speck of dust
floating in the air
that can only be seen
when a shaft of light hits it.
With it's extreme, raw emotion and the depth of the main character, it's apparent to see why this novel by Sones was named by the American Library Association as a 2005 Best Book for Young Adults and also a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
To find out more information about Sonya Sones and her novels, visit http://www.sonyasones.com.
Grandits, John. 2007. Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 978-0618568604.
All the poems found in John Grandits' book of Concrete Poems revolve around one central character named Jessie. The poems are very unique and clever, while also being relevant for children ages 11 and up. The very first poem from Blue Lipstick will draw the reader in, and compel them to read on immediately. I have provided an image of the poem below in order to give the full effect of the poem.
Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. Source: Grandits, p. 1 (2007)
Stupor Farms 2% AWAKE
Jessie, wake up!
Eat your cereal.
What's wrong with you?
You look totally out of it.
Didn't you sleep well last night?
MISSING Have you seen Jessie's brain?
LAST SEEN: 2:45 this morning.
LAST KNOWN ACTIVITY: Staying up all night instant-messaging Lisa.
If you find this missing brain, contact Jessie immediately!
The most interesting component of this poem is the use of an already-formed, strategically placed picture/object (i.e. milk carton) on the page used as a vehicle for the text to help convey its mini story. This helps give it a dramatic edge.
Extension
Have students draw or cut out a shape. Then, have them write words/phrases or sentences on their picture which describe their shape or relate to it in some way. Allow them to share with eachother and/or post them up in the classroom or library.
Florian, Douglas. 2003. Autmnblings. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060092788.Douglas Florian has created an entire book of poems devoted to Autumn. The title, Autumnblings, is modern and edgy and will immediately capture the attention of children ages 5 and older. Florian's poems are fun and tangible, and he has not tied himself down to any one particular style of poetry, which makes it exciting for the reader. A great example of Florian's animated poetry is What to do With Autumn Leaves:What to do With Autumn Leaves
by Douglas Florian
Kick them.
Catch them.
Pick them.
Snatch them.
Romp them.
Stomp them.
Hurl them.
Heave them.
If you want to,
Even leave them.
Young readers will 'fall' for Florian's fun book of rhythmic, autumn poetry.
Extension
To start off the school year, have each child choose their favorite poem about autumn. Encourage them to read their choices out loud to their peers and to use props (umbrellas, leaves etc.) or draw a picture to go with the poem. It might even be fun to take this event outdoors into the autumn weather in order to experience poetry and the start of a new season. For those students looking for a bigger challenge, have them write their own poem about autumn to share.
Wong, Janet S. 1996. A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0689807886.
Janet S. Wong's collection of poems in A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems is autobiographical. She has cleverly organized the poems into 3 sections, each one representing a portion of who she is:
Part I: Korean poems (her mother's heritage)
Part II: Chinese poems (her father's heritage)
Part III: American Poems (her heritage)
This inspiring, multicultural book of poems is filled with short, thought-provoking poetry which clearly touch upon the difficulties and joys that come from mixing very different cultures. Wong's style is direct and clever, as demonstrated in Hospitality:
Hospitality
by Janet S. Wong
My guest
must not have noticed
how I removed my shoes
as we stepped inside my house.
My guest
must have missed
the neat line of freshly shined shoes
near the door.
My guest apparently did not see
my mother's shock as she watched
his shoes walking toward her,
muck-covered shoes
impossible to ignore
when she offered him
nothing to eat.
Subtle yet powerful poems such as these will be devoured by children ages 10 and up, especially those who come from diverse backgrounds or who have suffered through adversity.
Prefacing each section of poems are a few paragraphs which provide the reader with more information about Wong's cultural background.
If you would like even more information about Janet S. Wong, her website (http://www.janetwong.com/) is filled with her works and personal information. She even has audio clips of her reading her poetry!
Grimes, Nikki. 2001. A Pocketful of Poems. Illus Javaka Steptoe. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 978-0395938683. 
Nikki Grimes is the 2006 recipient of the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for excellence in poetry for children. Her talent as a poet, as well as her ability to reach out to children through poetry is evident in her book entitled A Pocketful of Poems. Each topic in this anthology is conveyed in a free verse poem and then a haiku, as shown below in Grimes' Hot:
HOT
by Nikki Grimes
(Free verse)HOT is a thirsty word that
wakes me from a deep sleep.
I leave my dreams and stumble to the kitchen.
I place the word in the sink, then
turn the cold water on full-blast.
(Haiku)
Hot days send me to
the water fountain where my
face goes for a swim.
Grimes' expertly creates a vivid image of what the word 'hot' looks (and feels) like. The accompanying art work by Javaka Steptoe, consisting of colorful collages, adds texture and depth to the Grimes' poems.
Extension
Have children create collages and when they are finished, encourage them to write a poem about their collage. For those children in need of a bigger challenge, encourage them to write several poems, using different formats/techniques (haiku, free verse, limerick etc.) for each. Give the children the opportunity to share their collages and poems with their classmates, either verbally or posted on a 'poetry wall'.
