School Library Journal» Matthew Cordell

Pick of the Day: Gone Fishing

SLJ — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:00:08 +0000

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing. illus. by Matthew Cordell. 120p. bibliog. glossary. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-547-82011-8. LC 2012032796.
Gr 1-4–This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. Wissinger adroitly uses a variety of poetic forms to express nine-year-old Sam’s excitement about an upcoming outing with his father: “Hip-hip, hooray!/It’s fishing day./Yo-ho yippee!/Just Dad and me.” To Sam’s consternation, his annoying little sister decides that she wants to go, too. She packs for the trip by filling Sam’s tackle box with her toys. “Where’s my stringer?/Something’s wrong!/The princess doll does not belong!” Sam is even more despondent when her singing helps her catch a handful of fish even before he has caught one. The trip vastly improves when he lands a sizable catfish, leading Lucy to gush with pride for him. “You caught one Sam!/Lucy scoots close to me./A big one, too!/I didn’t even look/when she caught/her first fish./But she cheered for me/Maybe I was wrong/about bringing her along.” Teachers will appreciate the seamless introduction to different poetic forms including rhyming lists, concrete poems, ballads, and haiku. Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story. She includes a “Poet’s Tackle Box” to complete this solid introduction to poetic form. Cordell’s whimsical line drawings complement the poetry by capturing the adventurous spirit and humor that this story demands. Hearing it aloud, children will appreciate the rollicking tale and the lyrical verse, while young readers will be able to enjoy the book independently. This book might inspire some to pursue an interest in fishing, but it will surely encourage all of them to delve into the world of poetry.–Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

JLG’s On the Radar: Poetry Picks for Elementary Readers

Deborah B. Ford — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:36:17 +0000

Once a year, poetry gets the spotlight during National Poetry Month. Each April we brush off our favorite poetry collections by Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky. We celebrate with a “Poem in our Pocket” Day or a poetry slam. Perhaps a local poet will visit the school. Poetry can speak to the artist in each of us. The subject matter can be as unromantic as fishing with your family or as inspiring as a woman upstairs, madly banging out words on her typewriter. The verses can rhyme―or not. Whether it’s a class assignment or a novel in verse, poetry expresses our deepest desires and fondest memories. The following new titles will motivate students to voice their own poetic thoughts.

COFER, Judith Ortiz. The Poet Upstairs. illus. by Oscar Ortiz. Arte Público Pr./Piñata Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781558857049. JLG Level: CE: City Elementary (Grades 2–6).

On Juliana’s first day of school, she is too sick to go. Upstairs, a typewriter click-clacks, and the poet stops her pacing to record the flow of words. While the soft sounds lull Juliana to sleep, she dreams of an island. On waking, the little girl decides to draw her vision and slides her picture under the neighbor’s door. The next day Juliana finds a drawing from the poet under her own door, which seems to be in invitation for a visit. A bond between writer and child/illustrator forms as the pair works as a team. As the poem develops, the city disappears, transporting them to a tropical river. But even dreams must end, and as the poet pulls the paper from the typewriter, she says “You can take her [your mother] and anyone else you choose back to the great river, and that river will always take you somewhere new.”

Ortiz’s gorgeous illustrations convey magical images, leading readers to truly “believe that words can change the world.”

DAVIES, Jacqueline. The Candy Smash. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780544022089. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Evan would never admit it, but hearing the Poem of the Day in his fourth grade circle time is his second favorite part of the day. The “poems that Mrs. Overton read were different. They were like music, and they made something deep inside of him go zing.” His sister Jessie is the complete opposite; she’d rather work on her classroom newspaper. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Evan finds himself in a quandary―does he have a crush on Megan? What love poem should he turn in for his assignment? Jessie’s problem is the lack of a lead story for her paper. When she decides to survey her class about their love interests, the two dilemmas collide, creating more conflicts than anyone could have predicted.

Fans of the “Lemonade Wars” series will be glad to see the return of beloved characters, though the title stands well alone. Teachers may also want to use the novel as a read aloud in conjunction with a poetry unit.

SINGER, Marilyn. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems. illus. by Josée Masse. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803737693. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

In a collection of reverso poems, Follow Follow , a companion book to Mirror Mirror (Dutton, 2010), offers opposing viewpoints of classic fairy tales. Readers have an opportunity to hear two sides to every story. Aladdin wants “wealth without measure/it is true freedom,” but the genie says, “This is what I demand: true freedom? It is wealth beyond measure.” With the act of reversing the lines and a few changes in punctuation and capitalization, the real meaning of wealth is revealed for the two characters. Not an easy form to create, Masse’s acrylic illustrations mirror the two halves of each poem, providing readers with visual clues to unlock character perspectives.

An author’s note describes the writing process. A summary of the tales upon which the poems are based is also included in the back matter, providing background to readers who are unfamiliar with the original stories.

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547820118. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

“For fishing tomorrow it’s just us two. Not Mom, not Grandpa, not Lucy.” On the night before a father and son fishing trip, Sam readies his supplies and dreams of the fish they will catch. Sister Lucy, however, has big ideas to join them. Sam wants no part of that―“but Dad. It was just you and me.” Lucy will be loud; she’ll scare the fish. When she promises “I won’t dance. I won’t squirm. I’ll be quiet as a worm,” Dad agrees to the threesome. The excited youngster is not quiet or still, yet she catches fish after fish. Will Sam catch even one fish before Lucy uses all the bait? Maybe fishing is just not his sport. Wait―is that a bite?

The story of a family fishing trip and sibling rivalry is told in verse, using many poetic devices―ballads to quatrains and dramatic poems for two (or three). Like a tackle box, she also provides a box of tools for budding writers in the extensive back matter. Wissinger’s debut novel, humorously illustrated by Cordell, is a gem of a poetry collection.

WORTH, Valerie. Pug: And Other Animal Poems. illus. by Steve Jenkins. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374350246. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Jenkins illustrates another amazing posthumous collection (Animal Poems, Farrar, 2007), of Worth’s animal poems with his trademark collages. “The Bengal tiger/Batters his cage:/His rage is thunder.” A snarling tiger growls at an unseen enemy. In Toads, a toad rests comfortably amongst the fallen leaves, marbles, and a lost tennis ball. For Mouse, the mouse that’s the “gift on the step” lies stiff with his feet in the air―a prize brought by the cat. Jenkins’ artwork will delight animal-loving readers of all ages.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: New Books to Make You L-O-L

Deborah B. Ford — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:55:30 +0000

Amidst all the stories filled with angst, broken hearts, and vampires, books that make you laugh-out-loud are a welcome respite. This fall offers many selections for young readers that will tickle their funny bones. Be sure to read these aloud. We could all use a good laugh from time to time.

BARNETT, MAC. Chloe and the Lion. illus. by Adam Rex. Disney/Hyperion. 2012. ISBN 9781423113348. JLG Level: HE: Humor Elementary (Grades 2-6)

What begins as a tale about a little girl who meets a lion, ends in a power struggle for artistic control. Author and illustrator meet in a pen-to-brush battle each trying to prove who has the most important role in telling a story. When Chloe gets lost in the forest, the author wants her to meet a lion. The illustrator thinks that a dragon would be cooler. With interrupting Claymation panels and bubble speech, the hilarious debate continues until Chloe sees her chance to save the day.

BLACK, Michael Ian. I’m Bored. illus. by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. S & S. 2012. ISBN 9781442414037. JLG Level: P: Primary (Grades K-1)

Kids have great imaginations. Sometimes, though, they get bored. In a moment of frustration, this story’s protagonist has no intention of allowing a potato, of all things, to get away with thinking that kids are not fun. After all, they can turn cartwheels. They can play games. “Kids can do ANYTHING!!!” Ohi’s simple drawings and creative placement of text create a story with visual impact that’s anything but boring.

KLASSEN, Jon. This Is Not My Hat. Candlewick. 2012. ISBN 9780763655990. JLG Level P: Primary (Grades K-1)

In the long-awaited sequel-of-sorts to I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick, 2011), two things remain the same. There is a hat. It is taken. In a different setting under different circumstances, a hat is missing. The story begins: “This hat is not mine. I just stole it.” He stole it from a big fish. He has lots of excuses: “It was too small for him anyway. It fits me just right.” He expects to get away with it―probably. With plenty of room for suspense, Klassen delivers another solid humorous story for your storytimes. And you don’t have to read the previous title to enjoy this one.

LEVINE, Gail Carson. Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems. illus. by Matthew Cordell. HarperCollins. 2012. ISBN 9780061787263. JLG Level: HE: Humor Elementary (Grades 2-6)

Anyone who has ever taken a poetry class knows William Carlos Williams’ poem, “This is Just to Say.” It’s the classic insincere apology. Levine takes characters from fairy tales and childhood rhymes and uses their voices to falsely apologize. “You fell and cracked your skull on the hill/ where I had carefully placed a banana peel/ Forgive me/Jill is now my girlfriend.” She breaks tradition and slips in the introduction about six poems into the book. As if she can read our minds, there is even a poem about the consequences of skipping around to read the poems. Brilliant and marvelously funny!

VIORST, Judith. Lulu Walks the Dogs. illus. by Lane Smith. S & S/Atheneum. 2012. ISBN 9781442435797. JLG Level: I+: Independent Readers (Grades 2-4)

In this sequel to Lulu and the Brontosaurus (S & S, 2010), Lulu wants something that she will have to “EARN THE MONEY TO GET.” She decides she will walk dogs. Complicating the plot (other than she knows little about her new job) is Fleischman, an overly helpful neighbor boy who seems to know everything about dog walking. Complimenting Viorst’s text are wonderful illustrations by Lane Smith. How could you not laugh? It’s a partnership bound for success.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.