Module 5: Poetry Book Review - Favorite New Book (since 2005)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS by Joyce Sidman

(Sidman, Joyce. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618616800)

In this unique book of apology poems, Joyce Sidman writes poems from the perspective of a class of sixth grade students. The book begins with an introduction written from the perspective of Anthony K., a sixth grader in Mrs. Merz’s class. The introduction explains the unusual “sorry poem” premise of the book, including the fact that the book also includes the response poems written by the people who received the original apology poems. The book is divided into two parts, apologies and responses, and a table of contents makes locating the poems and their corresponding responses easy. The book also quotes William Carlos Williams’ poem THIS IS JUST TO SAY, giving him credit for inspiring the project.

The poems are written in a variety of formats and emotions, including a funny poem about stealing jelly doughnuts from the teachers’ lounge (THIS IS JUST TO SAY) as well as a serious and heartbreaking poem about having to put a dog to sleep (IT WAS QUIET). Despite the vast range of poems and emotions covered in this book, Sidman manages to write in ways that will draw children in, especially upper elementary and middle school students who will certainly relate to many of the topics covered in the poems. Any child who has ever gotten carried away in a fight with a sibling will likely relate to THE BLACK SPOT, which describes the lingering remorse of a young girl after stabbing her sister in the hand with a pencil long ago:

THE BLACK SPOT
(By Joyce Sidman)

That black spot on your palm.
It never goes away.
So long ago
I can hardly remember,
I stabbed you with a pencil.
Part of the lead, there,
still inside you.
And inside me, too,
something small and black.
Hidden away.
I don’t know what to call it,
the nugget of darkness,
that made me stab you.
It never goes away.

Both marks, still there.
Small black
reminders.

by Alyssa

Both children and adults will appreciate the humor in the poem DEAR THOMAS, written in response to the apology made by the student who stole the jelly doughnuts from the teachers’ lounge:

DEAR THOMAS
(By Joyce Sidman)

Thank you for your poem.
You do have a way with you, Thomas.
Smiling, asking me how I’m doing today,
talking a mile a minute.
Slipping in and out (yes, I see you!)
stealing our hearts, and our doughnuts, too.
A nice boy like you can really
get on in the world
if he doesn’t let his fingers run away with him.

Of course I forgive you.
But I still have to call your mother.

by Mrs. Garcia (in the office)

While each apology poem and response poem are unique and endearing in their own way, it is the book as a whole that is truly an exceptional book of poetry to share with children. Capturing the spirit and emotions of childhood in a clever and unique way, Sidman offers a fascinating look at the complexity of human relationships and how we treat others. Additionally, Pamela Zagarenski’s interesting and colorful collage illustrations add to the appeal of the book. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS looks like a book that children will pick up, and the charming poems have the power to really hook children in.