POETRY BOOKS: What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Mother Doesn't What My Know

By Sonya Sones

Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689855535 

Plot Summary

            This verse novel tells the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of Sophie, a young teen, within a school year. As typical of most teen girls, the focus is on relationships, boys, friends, and parents, particularly her mom. She shares her triumphs and struggles in a journal-like format, each entry in poem form. This quick read would appeal to reluctant readers and many teenage girls.

Critical Analysis

            Though divided into entries of poems, the book reads very fluently, almost like prose, most of the time. Rhyming is used on occasion, usually in what seems to be a break to a more traditional poem format. Similarly, there is little strong rhythm, just occasionally. Sound devices such as repetition and alliteration are use at times throughout.

            The language chosen, particularly the phrasing, communicates strong emotion, with short lines and pauses uses strategically. The pomes reflect the thoughts of a teenager, being sporadic, emotional, and at times profound. Vivid imagery is used when the topic is of particular importance to Sophie, much of it devoted to the boys and her relationship experiences.  Authentic teenage emotions are clearly communicated, including anger, confusion, and love.

            The journal-like entries lend even more to the teenage theme. The story of Sophie, her friends, and boyfriend experiences are followed surprisingly fluently by the reader. This book is a full-on girl book, which will appeal to many teens who are experiencing many of the same things as Sophie. The fluid poems allow for the book to be read through quickly, which helps to hook reluctant readers.

Awards, Honors, Best Book Lists:

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United StatesBooklist Book Review Stars, Nov. 15, 2001 ; United StatesBooklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2001 ; American Library Association; United StatesKirkus Book Review Stars, September 15, 2001 ; United StatesMiddle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesMiddle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesTop 10 Youth Romances, 2002 ; American Library Association; United StatesYALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002 ; American Library Association; United StatesYALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2002 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United StatesYoung Adults' Choices, 2003 ; International Reading Association; United States

Iowa Teen Award, 2006 Winner United States Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2004 2nd Runner Up Grades 7-12 Wyoming Thumbs Up! Award, 2002 Honor Book Michigan United States

Review Excerpts

Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Nov. 15, 2001 (Vol. 98, No. 6))

The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly. Sophie's voice is colloquial and intimate, and the discoveries she makes are beyond formula, even while they are as sweetly romantic as popular song. A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read.

Claire Rosser (KLIATT Review, September 2001 (Vol. 35, No. 5))

Sones' method of telling a story through brief poems is captivating. The reader flies from one experience to the next, enjoying the frequently witty titles of the poems, re-reading the poignant images, laughing at the impossible dilemmas. Sophie is full of life, excited about falling in love, worried about her image, loyal to her friends, trying to understand her parents. Sones' revelation of Sophie's character through poetry is brilliant.

Connections

Other novels in verse:

Love that dog
2001 Sharon Creech. HarperCollins, New York : U.S.A

Danitra Brown leaves town
2002 written by Nikki Grimes ; illustrated by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins Publishers, New York

Who killed Mr. Chippendale? : a mystery in poems
1996 Mel Glenn. Lodestar Books, New York

POETRY BOOKS: Flamingos on the Roof: Poems and Paintings by Calef Brown

Flamingos on the Roof: Poems and Paintings

By Calef Brown

Brown, Calef. 2006. FLAMINGOS ON THE ROOF: POEMS AND PAINTINGS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618562985

Summary

            A collection of thirty poems, accompanied by illustration paintings, with unrelated everyday topics put in zany perspectives. Full of fun and humor, with little seriousness to be found, the poems present an imaginative view of the world.

Critical Analysis

            These off the wall poems would be enjoyed by both younger and older readers. Most poems have a strong, almost sing-song rhythm, coupled with an abundance of rhyme which reflects the light-hearted fun of poetry. Though the rhyming is at times forced, it helps to add to the humor, as in the use of mosquitoes in tuxedos.  Alliteration is commonly used as a sound technique to aid in fluency.

            Adding to the fun is the use of idioms and similes, as well as interesting words such as “snazzy.” The descriptions and comparisons the writer uses create zany images, such as Weatherbee’s Diner with its “storm” of dishes such as “sun-dried tornado” and ”lighting slathered with sleet”. Though light and fun, the reader can clearly see creativity, imagination, and curiosity of the author communicated. One can just imagine him sitting somewhere, thinking about an ordinary thing like a pea pod or barnacle, and how they would act or think or do if animate.

            The poems appear on the bold colored left page, with a bright painting on the right. The painting are intriguing, with the style being a what I describe as a mix of Van Gough, Picasso, and Egyptian hieroglyphs. The details in the paintings add a whole other dimension in meaning to their accompanying poems, particularly with the TV Taxi, from which a myriad of amazing things are ”nothing to see.”

Awards, Honors, and Best Book Lists:

Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesChoices, 2007 ; Cooperative Children’s Book Center; United States

Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, 2007 Winner United States

Review Excerpts

Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Apr. 15, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 16))

Words and pictures manage to be both clear and weird, an enjoyable mix.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 6))

Composed with a fine ear for consistent rhythms and silly wordplay, these verses will tempt readers into repeat visits, or as the poet puts it: "Swivel on your kneecap. / Wobble like a mud flap. / Take a little catnap. / Do it all again!"

Diane Guiett (Library Media Connection, January 2007)

These poems beg to be read aloud with words that roll off the tongue, such as "Listen to the lingo/This is how the steps go/Boogle to the banjo/Bop to the bongo." from "Combo Tango." The variety of subjects will appeal to a wide audience. This book would be a great addition to any school library to encourage the love of poetry.

Connections

Other books by Calef Brown:

Dutch sneakers and flea keepers : 14 more stories
2000 by Calef Brown. Houghton Mifflin, Boston

Soup for breakfast : poems and pictures
2008 by Calef Brown. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston

Hallowilloween : nefarious silliness from Calef Brown
2010 by Calef Brown. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston

*Students could read other authors of humorous poetry, such as Shel Silverstein, for comparision

*Students could create their own fun poems, making an ordinary topic something extrordinary

POETRY BOOKS: Button Up! by Alice Schertle

Button up!

By Alice Schertle

               Illustr. by Petra Mathers

Shertle, Alice. 2008. BUTTON UP! Ill. by Petra Mathers. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN  9780152050504

Plot Summary

               This book is a collection of 15 short, illustrated poems, each about a different piece of clothing. Being from the perspective of clothes, the reader is given an interesting insight to how the clothes interact with their animal wearers, their feelings, purposes, and backgrounds.

Critical Analysis

               These fun and humorous poems have a lightness to them, though the clothes take themselves very seriously. Tanya’s old t-shirt insists she does not deserve to be a rag, as Tanya is the one who grew, the shirt didn’t shrink.

               The poems are written with distinct rhythm and rhyme, adding to the fun of the typically short lines which beg to be read aloud or even sung. The unforced rhyming gives bounce and fluency which fit the quirky subjects. Schertle makes use of different sound techniques in different poems, including alliteration, onomatopoeia, and repetition, such as the galoshes that squash and the “ghastly and ghoulish and ghostly” sheet turned Halloween costume.

               Personification is prevalent throughout, with the clothes who think and feel and have personalities. Words are carefully selected to best reflect the situation and personality of each article of clothing. Sensory words allow the reader to clearly see and feel the itchy, twitchy sweater, and the curled toes of the wearer of a pair of shoes. Most intriguing is the communication of the emotions of the clothes, which the reader easily identifies with and relates to. The clothes are not only concerned about themselves, but include their feelings about their wearers.

               There is a variety of formats of poetry and ways the poems are arranged on the page, which are reflective of the content of the poem. The illustrations add detail, including the depiction of the menagerie of animals who wear the clothes. These poems will appeal greatly to young readers with their simplicity and fun, but the topic would also intrigue older readers.

Awards, Honors, Best Book Lists:

Best Children's Books of the Year , 2010 ; Bank Street College of Education; United StatesBooklist Book Review Stars , May 15, 2009 ; United StatesHorn Book Fanfare, 2009 ; United StatesKirkus Best Children's Books, 2009 ; United StatesKirkus Book Review Stars, March 15, 2009 ; United StatesSchool Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2009 ; Cahners; United States

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010 Winner United States Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, 2010 Winner Grades K-3 United States

Review Excerpts

Kathleen Isaacs (Booklist, May 15, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 18))

With varied rhymes and rhythms occasionally disrupted for emphasis, Schertle’s poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud.

Ellen Welty (Children's Literature)

The whimsical watercolor illustrations are engaging and perfectly capture the attitude of each piece of clothing. They also reinforce words and images in the minds of beginning, readers encouraging children to read on their own. These poems are great for reading aloud in a classroom or sharing on a lap.

Connections

Other poetry books by Alice Schertle:

I am the cat
1999 by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Mark Buehner. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, New York

Teddy bear, teddy bear
2003 poems by Alice Schertle ; paintings by Linda Hill Griffith. HarperCollins, New York

A lucky thing
1999 poems by Alice Schertle ; paintings by Wendell Minor. Harcourt Brace, San Diego

*Students could compare the poems with different topics, then write their own set of poems with a common chosen topic

*Students could compose poems from the perspective of a common inanimate object.