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.

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josée Masse

 

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror. Illustrated by Josée Masse. New York: Dutton Children’s Books-Penguin Group, 2010. ISBN 978-0-525-47901-7

Plot

This collection of free verse poems are all based on well-known and well-loved fairytales. But there’s something extra special about these poems—they are “reversos.” The fourteen poems in the collection are all written twice so that they can be read traditionally, straight down, and read in reverse, straight back up. Each pair of poems tells two sides of the story, such as from the perspective of two different characters in the same fairytale, or from the perspective of the same character at two different points in time.

Analysis

These are free-verse poems that do not rhyme, but the use of punctuation, which at times strengthens the rhythm and at times helps it flow smoothly, makes the poems fun and easy to read aloud. Instances of alliteration, repetition, parallel construction, and short, one word sentences mixed with longer sentences all provide emphasis and variety for a dramatic reading. Punctuation again plays a part, often altering emphasis between each of the poems in a pair. This not only enhances the reading of the poems but also changes the effect of the phrase without changing the wording—an important element of a reverso poem. This allows the emotions of the characters to come through. A despondent character becomes elated, a sinister character is counterposed with a carefree one, and so on. One example of this is from the pair of poems “Bears in the News.” In the first poem, a defensive Goldilocks says, “Big deal? / No!” But from the perspective of the three shocked bears in the second poem: “No / big deal?!”

The layout of the book enhances the two versions and two perspectives of each poem; each pair of poems shares a page, but the page uses different background colors to appear divided in two. The illustrations are also divided in two to represent each version of the poem, but they meet up smoothly in the middle. Even without illustrations, it would be easy to identify the fairytales in the poems. Although these poems are based on traditional tales, they are never in danger of feeling old and stodgy. The language used throughout makes the tales feel fresh, such as in “In the Hood” based on Little Red Riding Hood. “In my hood / skipping through the wood” becomes “skipping through the wood, in my ‘hood” (the former from the perspective of Little Red and the latter from the perspective of the wolf). Singer cleverly uses words with double meanings in many of the poems, with one meaning coming across when the poem is read top to bottom and the other meaning coming across when the poem is reversed.

Many of the poems are humorous takes on the traditional tales and will make readers laugh out loud, and others will make readers wonder and marvel at seeing the tales in a new light.

Awards and Recognitions

Marilyn Singer is an award-winning poet and author, and Mirror Mirror has received several starred reviews, appeared on multiple “best book” lists, and is an ALA Notable Book.

“A collection of masterful fairy-tale-inspired reversos […] Masse’s gorgeous, stylized illustrations enhance the themes of duality and perspective by presenting images and landscapes that morph in delightful ways from one side of the page to the other. A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery and perspective.”—starred Kirkus review

“Fun, thoughtful, beautifully written poems that employ a poetic form called a reverso to spin a familiar fairy tale in a new direction.”—starred Shelf Awareness review

“Truly a visual, as well as a literary, puzzle and such a treat!”—starred Library Media Connection review

Connections

Many of these poems would be a wonderful choice for a duo to read aloud, one child reading or reciting the poem top to bottom and the other bottom to top. This can be made even more fun with simple props or costume pieces to help listeners visualize which character is speaking.

If you enjoyed this book, you will also enjoy Marilyn Singer’s other two books of reverso poems (both illustrated by Josée Masse): Follow Follow and Echo Echo. 

Finally, try writing your own reverso poem! Though it can be, it doesn’t have to be long; Singer’s first reverso poem, featured in the author’s note, was just four lines—

A cat

without

a chair:

Incomplete.

*********

Incomplete:

A chair

without

a cat.

Singer also provides a list of pointers for those interested in writing their own reversos, found at Read Brightly here and listed below:

• "Find a story, subject, or character with two sides.
• Start with a few lines that can be flipped so they make sense in reverse.
• Select phrases that can be turned into questions and interjections.
• Use a lot of participles, infinitives, and single word sentences.
• The reversos have changes only in punctuation and capitalization, so get to know punctuation — how can you use a comma, period, dash, colon, semi-colon, etc.?
• Write the poem on the computer so you can move the lines around until they make sense.
• Don’t get discouraged — reversos are hard to write. Play and have fun!"

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