retrieved from www.christianbook.com on  March 29, 2013

Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People

Written and Compiled by: Carole Boston Weatherford

Published by: Philomel Books

Year: 2002

ISBN: 0399237267

Critical Analysis:

Using a combination of photographs, archival engravings and strongly rhythmic poetry, Weatherford creates a moving and powerful timeline of African American history. Beginning with Mother Africa Speaks to Civilization the author writes of the call of Mother Africa for her children to remember where they came from. This free verse poem reminds them that they are her favorite, her pride, and yet she tells them:

           

                                                I let you go out into the world,

                                                for I knew-as well as I know you-

                                                that you would do great things Weatherford, p. 2).

Remember the Bridge as well as many of the author’s other poems contain strong rhythms and a rhyming pattern that lends itself to choral reading, musical accompaniment and movement.

                                                Forget not the glory

                                                of Africa’s past,

                                                the temples and riches

                                                that to this day last: ….

                                                The journey continues,

                                                the bridge still holds strong,

                                                hand reach across water,

                                                hearts sing a new song (Weatherford, p. 9).

From the sorrow of On the Auction Block the author moves through African American history to include the everyday life stories found in Family Farm and Miss Mae’s Quilt, to the rise to greatness of The Contralto; from the pain of Jake’s Plea to the triumph of The Explorers. In conclusion, Weatherford’s

I Am The Bridge reminds the reader of the greatness of the human spirit as she writes:

                                                I stand with valiant soldiers

                                                who claim the victory

                                                and jump in jubilation

                                                with slaves at long last free (Weatherford, p. 50).

An author’s note at the end of the book describes her personal journey and lends an added touch to this inspiring piece of literature. The photo and illustration credits invite the reader to conduct their own research into African-American history.

Awards:

American Association of University Women Award for Juvenile Literature, 2002, Winner United States

Notable Children’s books in the Language Arts, 2003, NCTE Children’s Literature Assembly; United States

Teacher’s Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States

Connections:

History Connections: Excellent choice for African-American History Month: read an excerpt each day and create a wall sized timeline of the events written about in this book.

Music Connection: Have each student choose a poem and find music that they feel fits the poem. Encourage them to utilize African or African-American musicians and music.

Art Connections: Have students research African and African-American art forms and then have each student choose a poem and create artwork to coincide with their chosen poem. 

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

Written by: Margarita Engle

Retrieved from www.nassaulibrary.org on 3/29/2013

Illustrated by: Sean Qualls

Published by: Henry Holt and Company

Year: 2006

ISBN: 0805077065

Critical Analysis:

Hauntingly moving, tremendously powerful, emotionally excruciating yet hopeful; these are only a few of the phrases best used to describe this well written biography of the life of Juan Francisco Manzano, a poet slave of Cuba. Done in free verse, told in alternating points of view and enhanced by the charcoal drawings of Sean Qualls, this sparsely written yet extremely powerful verse novel by Margarita Engle immerses the reader into the life of slavery endured by one of Cuba’s most gifted poets. A word of caution is warranted as some portions may be too harsh for sensitive readers. But for those readers who can make it to the end of this emotion laden book, hope survives as the author ends on a positive note by writing of Juan’s escape to freedom.

                                                               

          So many voices

                                                          wishing me well, crying out

                                                          God be with you

                                                           hurry, hurry

                                                           don’t delay!

                                                               

                                                           So many voices, joined as one

                                                           so many eyes in the gloom

                                                           seeing through the darkness

                                                           watching me, singing out hopefully

                                                           as I escape! (Engle, p. 172).

                                                               

The acknowledgements at the end of the book give the reader further resources to peruse. Also included are excerpts from some of Manzano’s own poetry. Written in Spanish and translated into English these beautifully written verses are filled with Manzano’s feelings of beauty, hope, and love. This book is a thought provoking, emotionally charged, and beautiful work of art.

                                                          An excerpt from “Dreams” (“Illusiones”):

                                                          Si, you la vi una noche…Cuan hermosa

                                                          Me parecio esta vez entre otras bellas!

                                                          Mas de un afecto tierno que hasta entonces

                                                          Ignoraba me fue-senti en el alma

                                                          La dulce agitacion del seno

                                                          El placido latir, y el grato anhelo

                                                          De vivir para amar y ser dichoso…

                                                          Yes, I saw her one night… How beautiful

                                                          She seemed to me this time, as always!               

                                                          And from a tender affection up until then

                                                          Ignored- I felt in my soul

                                                          The sweet agitation of breath

                                                          The quiet pulse, and the pleasant desire

                                                          To live for love and to be happy….(Engle, p. 180).

Awards:

Booklist Starred Review, Feb. 15, 2006; American Library Association; United States

Notable Children’s Books, 2008; ALSC American Library Association; United States

Teachers’ Choices, 2007; International Reading Association; United States

Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, 2007 Winner United States

Pura Belpre Award, 2008 Winner Narrative United States

Patterson Prize for Books for Young People, 2007 Special Recognition United States

IRA Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award, 2007 Winner Young Adult-Nonfiction International

Connections:

This work is definitely an excellent addition to a unit on slavery although it is not recommended for elementary school aged children. Read this together or assign it as required reading to introduce the fact that slavery was not just in the United States nor were African Americans the only race enslaved.

Provide copies of Poems by A Slave in the Island of Cuba, Recently Liberated: Translated From the Spanish, by R. R. Madden, M. D. With the History of the Early Life of the Negro Poet, Written by Himself; to Which Are Prefixed Two Pieces Descriptive of Cuban Slavery and the Slave-Traffic, by R. R. M.: Electronic Edition. Manzano, Juan Francisco, 1797-1854 and Madden, Richard Robert, 1798-1886. www.docsouth.unc.edu/neh/manzano/manzano.html

Have students research and find other poetry, artwork, and songs created by other slaves and former slaves. Create a wall sized timeline that includes names, times, country of origin, poetry, works of art, and photographs or paintings of writers and artists if available.

retrieved from us.macmillan.com on 3/1/2013

Diamond Willow

Frost, H.. Diamond Willow. New York: Frances Foster Books, 2008. ISBN 9780374317768

Critical Analysis:

Using a combination of shape verse and prose Frost tells the tale of Diamond Willow, a young Athabascan girl struggling with the growing pains of adolescents. Longing for independence yet wanting her family to really see her for who she is, Diamond Willow pours out her heart and soul in verse.

                                                            I

                                                           tie

                                                       the dogs

                                                    and Grandpa

                                                helps me feed them.

                                            We look at Roxy’s foot.

                                     I tell Grandpa she had a run-in

                             with a porcupine. Oh, he says, that nune

                           It’s one of our Indian words. Or, as we say,

                           Dinak’i. I know some, from bilingual class,

                        but not as much as Grandpa and Grandma, not

                         even as much as Mom. Sometimes, when we’re

                      dropping off to sleep out here, I hear them talking

                        Dinak’i, chuckling together, and I feel a little bit

                             left out. Not that I would like to go back to

                                the old times I hear the two of them talk

                                  about- back when people didn’t have

                                         TV, computers, telephones, or

                                          snowmachines and airplanes.

                                              I’d miss all those things.

                                                   But I like to listen

                                                     to their stories.

                                                      I know if I try,

                                                       I can learn to

                                                         understand

                                                               them.

Told from Diamond’s point of view, Frost cleverly inserts darkened print into the middle of each poem that reveals the deepest secrets of Diamond Willow’s heart much as the diamond shaped scar on a willow reveals a hidden beauty that only comes from a branch being broken off. Beautifully and sensitively written poetry skillfully reveals the inward heart of a pre-teen girl as well as the culture from which she comes. An author’s note at the beginning of the book enlightens the reader to the reason for the chosen shape of the poems. The prose inserts give a further glimpse into Native Alaskan culture. Well written, heartfelt, and delightful.

Book Reviews/Awards:

 Frost’s book sparkles with the beauty of nature, realization of truth, and surprising twists in both form and plot. The ALAN Review, Fall 2008 (Vol. 36, No. 1))

Each of Frost’s narrative, concrete poems—all variations on a diamond shape—have a hidden message emphasized in boldface type. They are the essence of feeling in each poem, just as the animals in Frost’s story are the essence of a loved one. The revelation of a secret kept far too long brings the story to a rich emotional climax that affirms Roxy’s place in Willow’s heart and family and encourages Willow to open her heart to happiness and let others in. CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2009)

Cybil Award, 2008 Finalist Middle Grade Novels United States

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2009 Winner United States

Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2009 Bank Street College of Education; United States

Connections:

Social studies connection: read this book throughout a unit on either Alaskan or Native American history/culture. Combine this with a museum field trip or a guest speaker.

Library Connection: In November create a display of Native American literature, folk tales and poetry for Native American Heritage Month. If you can, invite local Native Americans to share their stories, artifacts and customs.

Other Books by Helen Frost:

Why Darkness Seems So Light: Young People Speak Out About Violence, 1998

Rabbits, 2001

Keesha’s House, 2004

retrieved from charlesbridge.com on March 1, 2013

Last Laughs Animal Epitaphs

Lewis, J. P., Yolen, J.. Last Laughs Animal Epitaphs, Watertown:  Charlesbridge,2012. ISBN 9781580892605

Illustrated by: Jeffrey Stewart Timmins

Critical Analysis:

Sometimes darkly humorous, sometimes laugh out loud funny and sometimes falling short of the mark the text in this book sometimes fails to deliver on the expectations readers might have of the authors. The epitaphs to fallen animals range from average rhymes and rhythmic poems to one liners. A few times, such as in Firefly's Final Flight, not even the illustration can elicit a laugh from this two word work. This is quite a letdown since the opening poem is entitled Last Laughs.

Often a bit grim, sometimes morbid, the text in this book is propped up by the illustrations. Comprised of mostly black and brown digitally adapted ink and gouache artwork with an added splash of red, to more than hint at a bit of blood, this book might lure those reluctant poetry readers or entice the older child that understands the dark humor. Without the illustrations making the humor stand out in an otherwise average bit of verse some of the text just fall flat. No Longer Horsing Around  really isn't that funny until you read the words,

                                                                       

                                                            First he was just

                                                            a little hoarse,

                                                            then the fever

                                                            took its course.

and then notice the illustration of a sheep with his hind end over the creek taking care of business while a very dark stream of something flows below the illustration of a very ill looking horse. 

This work is definitely not a picture book for the young and uninitiated. Besides the morbid humor and the dark, almost monochromatic illustrations young children just aren't going to understand the play on words often used, nor are the more sensitive of the little folk going to be able to appreciate the gallows humor. An okay read but definitely one in which the audience must be chosen with care.

Book Reviews:

But those itching to move beyond the positive messages and bright colors so ubiquitous in picture books will find this just the thing to elicit appreciative playground groans. Gallows humor at its finest. Booklist, Sep. 15, 2012 (Vol. 109, No. 2))

The charms here will appeal to lovers of Edward Gorey, Tim Burton, and their deliciously creepy kin, and the entries could make a ghastly and hilarious choice for older reading aloud with the right irreverent group. The Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books, September 2012 (Vol. 66. No. 1))

Connections:

I once took a college course on loss, grief, and coping. Reading a select few of the poems in this book during class would be a great way to introduce a bit of humor into the lessons on the stages of grief or on how people deal with grief in different ways. Know your class before you do this.

Read this at Halloween time and have the students write epitaphs for imaginary people or animals. Let them know that humor is okay even if it is a bit on the dark side. Remember, this isn't a book for the little ones but might work well in a middle school or high school setting.