Module 6: Poetry Book Review - Poetry By Children

COME AND PLAY: CHILDREN OF OUR WORLD HAVING FUN / POEMS BY CHILDREN Edited by Ayana Lowe

(Lowe, Ayana, ed. 2008. COME AND PLAY: CHILDREN OF OUR WORLD HAVING FUN / POEMS BY CHILDREN. Pictures from Magnum Photos. New York: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books. ISBN 1599902451)

In this unique poetry book edited by Ayana Lowe, 27 poems written by children are paired with incredible photographs of children playing around the world. Each double page features the poem in bright lettering on a black background on the left side and the accompanying photograph on the right side. The location and date of each photograph is also included, giving each poem a unique context. Individual authors are not named for each poem, giving the impression that the poems may have been the product of a collaborative effort among many children. Some of the poems rhyme and some do not, but each poem offers the refreshing perspectives of children. Sense imagery, emotional impact, onomatopoeia, and metaphorical language are among the various poetic elements that can be found in the poems. For example, the upbeat poem FUN IS A MOTION combines sense imagery, metaphorical language, and elated emotion:

FUN IS A MOTION

Fun is a motion.
Something that you really like.
Trying to fly, you feel a tingling
sensation inside of you.
Yippee!

While FUN IS A MOTION is an upbeat poem, many of the poems and photographs in the collection capture a range of emotions that children may feel while engaging in play activities. CAITLIN'S IDEA touches on the fear that children may feel when trying something new or challenging:

CAITLIN’S IDEA

It’s fun to jump.
Wheeee!
One of them is flying.
Her hair is waving.
The other one is holding on.
Why?
Maybe she’s scared.

This collection also includes an introductory poem written by Poet Laureate Rita Dove, information about each of the photographs, a world map depicting the locations showcased in each photograph, information about the writers and photographers, as well as an excerpt from Ayana Lowe on the amazing power of children’s play.

The 29 stunning photographs from Magnum Photos are the foundation for each of the children’s poems, and they capture the universal joys of childhood play with amazing clarity. With a mixture of both black and white as well as color photographs, the visuals in this collection are as unique and inspiring as the poems are. Additionally, the photographs from around the world range in date from 1951 to 2005, further emphasizing the universal and timeless nature of childhood play.

This poetry book is truly a celebration of children everywhere and the universal power of childhood play. The visual design of this book is extraordinarily appealing, and the fact that all of the poems are written by children might encourage other children to try writing poetry themselves. This beautiful collection could be a source of inspiration for children as well as a heartening reminder of the joys of childhood for adults. Just as the pleasures of childhood play are timeless and universal, this poetry collection has the potential to stand the test of time for both children and adults.

Module 6: Poetry Book Review - Paul Janeczko Collection

A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS Selected by Paul B. Janeczko

(Janeczko, Paul B., comp. 2001. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS. Ill. by Chris Raschka. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763606618)

In this spectacular collection of thirty concrete poems, Janeczko puts together an appealing sampling of this visually stimulating form of poetry. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS begins with a table of contents and an explanation of concrete poetry in general. As Janeczko states, the unique arrangement of letters on the page along with the deliberate use of font size and space “add meaning to the poem beyond that contained in the actual words.”

As the definition of concrete poetry implies, the visual representation of each poem in this collection is as much a part of the poem as the words themselves. For example, Robert Froman’s A SEEING POEM states, “A seeing poem happens when words take a shape that helps them to turn on a light in someone’s mind.” As enlightening as the words alone are, their unique placement on the page in the shape of a hanging light bulb drives home the meaning of the poem in a visual way while increasing the appeal of the poem. Similarly, John Hegley’s poem, I NEED CONTACT LENSES, makes clever use of font size and space on the page to convey its meaning by arranging the letters of the poem in a way that resembles an eyesight testing chart:

I NEED CONTACT LENSES
By John Hegley

I
N E E D
C O N T A C T
L E N S E S

like I need a poke in the eye

Each concrete poem selected by Janeczko is incredibly unique compared to the next poem. Some of the poems make excellent use of poetic elements such as sound and sense imagery to convey their meaning. For example, the poem POPSICLE by Joan Bransfield Graham makes great use of rhyme, consonance, and sense imagery in a fun, tongue-twisting way: “Popsicle / Popsicle / tickle / tongue fun / licksicle / sticksicle / please / don’t run / dripsicle / slipsicle / melt, melt / tricky / stopsicle / plopsicle/ hand all / sticky.” Adding to the fun of this poem is the fact that the words are arranged in the shape of an actual Popsicle, with the word “sticky” serving as the stick. Other poems in this collection manage to stand out and make an impact with a single word, such as STOWAWAY by Robert Carola. Children are sure to enjoy finding the hidden “intruder” in Reinhard Dohl’s PATTERN POEM WITH AN ELUSIVE INTRUDER, which features the word “Apfel” repeated over and over again in the shape of an apple with the single word “Wurm” hidden among the numerous “Apfels.”

Despite the differences in the poems, nearly all of the poems in this collection are very playful and upbeat in tone and presentation, making the collection an appealing choice to share with children. Chris Raschka’s brightly colored and mesmerizing illustrations match the artistic quality of the poems highlighted in this book and add to the appeal of this stunning collection. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS is a perfect choice for introducing children to the form of concrete poetry, and this collection is also a great way to show both children and adults just how much fun (and visually appealing) this form of creative poetry can be.