Days to Celebrate: A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2005. Days to Celebrate: A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More. Ill. by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 978-0060007652.

Review

Lee Bennett Hopkins has collected an array of poems celebrating a calendar year in this brightly illustrated book. Each section begins with a calendar highlighting important events that take place during that month as well as other important tidbits about the month and famous quotes such as “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” by Albert Einstein. The events celebrate people, holidays, historical events, and other fascinating facts that are worth recognizing. There is a table of contents as well as an index divided by title, author, and first line to help readers locate certain poems.

Students will enjoy reading familiar poets such as Langston Hughes and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as well as being introduced to some poets with whom they may not be familiar. The colorful illustrations by Stephen Alcorn create a pleasing, lighthearted feel to the book. Although the mood of the poems are mostly celebratory, some poems are more serious as they deal with more serious historical moments. For example, the poem “A Question for Martin” by Nikki Grimes asks,

Did you wake in the night,

ears bursting and bloody

from the rising crescendo

of your people’s cry?

is that what made you

willing to die?

This honest representation of our history adds to this book’s appeal and provides students with a way to celebrate poetry throughout the year!

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience: 4^th grade and up

Janet Wong’s poem “Prayer for the Lunar New Year” is a great way to get a fresh start. Use this poem at the beginning of a new year to help students set goals.

Before reading: Have students write in their journal about any goals or resolutions they have for this year.

During Reading: Read the poem slowly to students allowing them to look at the picture of the woman with her arms open wide, ready to embrace the new year.

This is the day

you grow another year wiser.

This is the day

you forget what you know to be impossible.

The moon loves to play a game.

Play.

Sweep your grudges out,

scatter them to nothing.

Scrub your wishes pure,

wash your heart clear.

Open your windows wide,

Let the new year begin.

Janet S. Wong

Reread the poem. This time ask students to picture their goal in their head as you read. 

After reading: Give students a picture of a dust bin to “sweep your grudges out”. Have them write down anything they have been holding onto that they need to let go such as doubt and anger that may prevent them from having a good year. Then allow them to fold up their dust bins and throw them away in the trash. Post the poem on chart paper in the classroom and allow students to write their goals around the edges as they open their windows to begin a new year!