I Am the Book, a collection of poems compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Yayo

 

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, comp. I Am the Book. Illustrated by Yayo. New York: Holiday House, 2011. ISBN 978-0823421190

Plot

This illustrated book is a collection of thirteen poems written by thirteen different poets (including one written by the compiler, Lee Bennett Hopkins). Each poem revolves around the theme of books and reading. The final pages include a short note about each of the poets featured in the book.

Analysis

Although all of the poems consider the same theme, each of the poems in this collection has a style unique to the poet. Each poem features different literary and poetic elements. One of the poems would be considered free verse, and the other poems represent a variety of formats with a mixture of breaks in the poetry—couplets, quatrains, quintets, octaves, and so on (2-, 4-, 5-, and 8- line stanzas, respectively). Despite the range of styles, each poem has a strong rhythm, and many a distinct rhyme scheme. Though some poems take an artistic license towards rhyming, such as the pairing “swim” and “skin,” this overall sense of rhyme and rhythm make the poems a joy to read or hear read aloud.

Much of the language in these poems paints vivid pictures, with books being likened to conch shells, windows, treasure chests, and friends. Other senses are engaged as well, with words being splashed against your skin, words “humming / thrumming / drumming / strumming” like an orchestra, and words whispering secrets in your head. Some poems capture the calm, peaceful comfort that reading can bring, “snuggled by the window” or “buried in blankets,” while others capture the excitement of “riding [your] imagination, / flying down city streets” and “swashbuckl[ing] through [your] book’s / CHAPTER TWO.” Yayo’s illustrations complement each individual poem while tying them together into a unified collection through consistent use of oranges and blues, as seen in the reoccurring motif of sand and water. Yayo also captures the spirit of the collection by transforming books into other objects, such as a raft, a blue whale’s tail, the tab on a bag of tea, and an inquisitive dog’s nose.

Daydreamers, role-players, book lovers, and all others who appreciate the magic of words and imagination will be spellbound by this collection of poetry.

Awards and Recognitions

Lee Bennett Hopkins has received many awards for his work, including the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, and even co-sponsors the “Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award.” (The official award site is listed below.)

For I Am the Book:

“The whimsical, light-toned acrylic artwork extends the metaphors with witty, fantastical transformations of books […] Fun for sharing with preschoolers, this will also spark discussion in grade-school writing and art classes.”—Hazel Rochman, Booklist

“Lest we forget the magic of the printed page, this collection of poems by contemporary writers celebrates the joys of reading.”—Publishers Weekly

Connections

Because of the variety of styles and poets represented in this collection, many readers will have a favorite poem, one that they identify with, that tugs on their emotions, and that captures their imagination. Ask children if they have a favorite poem or poems from this collection and start a conversation by asking a simple question about that poem: “What did you like about it?”, “How did it make you feel?”, or “What did you imagine when we read it?” (Questions based on Sylvia Vardell’s “Prompts for Discussing Poetry.”) If a favorite poem has been identified, make sure to read about the poet in the back of the book and then try finding other poems they have written.

Consider reading other collections of poetry that celebrate books, reading, and words, such as:

• How to Read a Book, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• BookSpeak!, written by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon
• Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Karen Barbour

Finally, visit https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awards-contests/lee-bennett-hopkins-poetry-award to discover more about recent and past winners of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and to inspire you next great poetry read.

*This review was written for a youth literature class through Texas Woman’s University.