Grimericks

Bibliography

Pearson, S. (2005). Grimericks. Ill. by Gris Grimly. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children.

Review

Limericks with their simple rhyming pattern and humorous topics are a favorite among kids. Pearson’s Grimericks are even more appealing with their spooky illustrations and haunting topics. Each Grimerick is accompanied by an illustration in watercolor and ink by Gris Grimly who is known for his ghoulish art. Many of the pages are outlined in spider webs and numbered with spiders. The introduction is even written in a Limerick:

Dear Reader, please lend me your ear.

If ghosts, ghouls, and goblins you fear,

           don’t open this book.

           No—don’t even look!

There are spooky things hiding in here.

Despite the frightful content, students will still enjoy this book since the poems are more silly than scary. It would be a great one to pull out to read throughout the month of October in preparation for Halloween. Even though every poem doesn’t adhere to the rhythm pattern typical of Limericks, there are several instances of alliteration and word play that children of all ages will enjoy!

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience: upper elementary

Before reading: Visit giggle poetry to learn about the pattern of Limericks.  

During reading: Read the following Limerick aloud to students, and then allow them to choral read it.

There are skeleton horses out west

who deliver the mail without rest.

They ride night and day.

I heard someone say

his letter was bony expressed.

After reading:  Have pumpkin, ghost, and witch hat cut outs available to allow students to practice writing their own ghoulish Limericks. Paste them throughout the library at eye level for students to read.

A Funeral in the Bathroom: And Other School Bathroom Poems

Bibliography

Dakos, K.(2011). A funeral in the bathroom: And other school bathroom poems. Ill. by Mark Beech. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Co.

Review

The title alone will invoke curiosity in elementary students everywhere. The only thing better than humorous school poems, are humorous school poems that take place in the bathroom! Dakos uses rhyme schemes and visual poetry that will appeal to young children. Most of the topics are very funny such as the poem “Emergency” where a student causes a puddle after his teacher will not dismiss him to the restroom However, there are poems dealing with more serious subjects that will be familiar to children as well such as “Crying in the Bathroom” where a young girl is crying in the bathroom because her parents have separated and the bathroom is the only place where she can be alone and escape the “sadness of [her] home”. The poems are short and rhythmic which makes them great for read alouds. Once students are introduced to this book, it will never stay on the library shelf!

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience: elementary students

This book includes several riddle poems. Post these in the library and allow students to put their answers in a shoebox in front of the riddle. Announce the names of students who get the riddle correct on the announcements.

Here is an example of a poem riddle from the book:

My head’s

in a muddle,

and I can’t find the puzzle

in this puzzle of a poem.

The Perfectionist in Class 4B

I’m

the

perfectionist

in

class

4B.

I always

cross

my

i’s

and

dot

my

t’s!

Can you figure out the riddle?

Answer: We dot our “i’s” and cross our “t’s” not vice versa.

Keesha's House

Bibliography

Frost, H. (2003). Keesha's house. New York: Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Review

Keesha’s house is told from the voice of teens that are looking for a place to fit in. Keesha has found that place at Joe’s and invites others to stay as long as they need to get back on their feet. Stephie is coping with the knowledge that she will be a teen mother and then feeling guilty for the relief that comes when the pregnancy ends in miscarriage. Harris is ostracized by his father after he admits that he is homosexual, and he finds himself living in his car and working to survive on his own. Dontay cannot trust his foster family and he is looking for a way to get out of their house where he doesn’t quite feel like he belongs. Carmen has been arrested on DUI charges and ends up disappointing the one person that cared for her. Katie covets her privacy as she chooses to live in Joe’s basement, a place where she feels safe from her step-father’s inappropriate advances. Keesha embraces each of these teens and helps them find peace through the simple act of giving them a place to stay.

Teens will enjoy reading about these controversial young adult topics while being exposed to beautiful language that connects readers to the characters more deeply than a traditional novel. Each characters’ point of view is told using the French sestina poem where six words are repeated at the end of each line through six stanzas. The people that care most for each teen cry out in fourteen line sonnets like the one highlighted below, and they would be a good way to introduce students to more traditional forms of poetry that will speak to their generation. Even though the teens endure criticism and tragedy, the overall story is one of acceptance and redemption. Teens will want to read the novel for its raw truth, but they will be impressed with the challenging poetic form when they are encouraged to take a closer look.

Classroom/Library Connection

recommended audience: high school students

Before reading: Have several verse novels, including Keesha’s House, out on display.

During reading: read “I Know the Value” by Joe.

I know the Value- Joe

I know the value of a house like this

Old and solid, hardwood stairs and floor.

But when I showed up at Aunt Annie’s door

when I was twelve—bruised, scared, clenched fists—

all I knew then was: I could stay.

As long as you need to, Joe, was what she kept

on saying, right up till she died and left

 the house to me. So now that’s what I say

when kids show up and I know they can’t ask

for what they shouldn’t have to ask for. They need

more than I can give them. I know I’m

no Aunt Annie. I ain’t up to the task

of tryin’ to be their legal foster dad.

But I can give them space—and space is time.

After Reading: Ask students to use Voki.com to create a talking avatar of their character from a verse novel. The character should read a poem or a portion of a poem from their book. Post the vokis on the library’s website.