retrieved from barnesandnoble.com on 4/19/2013

A Foot in the Mouth

Selected by: Paul B. Janeczko

Illustrated by: Chris Raschka

Published by:  Candlewick Press

Year: 2009

ISBN: 9780763606633

Critical Analysis:

The author of this wonderful anthology has cleverly written the introduction directly to children. It basically tempts children to read, memorize, and recite these poems together and share them with an audience. The choices are organized into poems for one voice, tongue twisters, and two voices. These are followed by list poems, poems for three voices and short stuff that is just plain fun to recite. It is finished off with bilingual poems, rhymed poems, limericks, and poems for a group.  It gently lures readers by guiding them from poems just for one and ends with poems to be shared with a group.

The poems are selected from a wide range of sources and time periods. From the Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll to Speak Up by Janet Wong, from Ping-Pong Poem by Douglas Florian to Macbeth, Act IV, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare this anthology shares a wide variety of poetry by many different authors with each one geared towards recitation.

Artwork by Chris Raschka, cleverly accent the text with watercolor, ink, and torn paper illustrations. They invite a second and even a third look with something so enticing and unique in each one that children and adults alike will be drawn back to them again and again.

Most of the poems have a distinct rhythm that lends them to choral recitation. Come Drum!, by Avis Harley is a wonderful example of the rhythmic nature of the majority of the poetry in this anthology.

                                                      Come, drum! Sound out the day!

                                                      Your humdrum frame has much to tell.

                                                      Roll out your rhythms and sweep us away.

Each stanza invites the addition of a variety of rhythm instruments such as drums, tambourines, or maracas. In certain sections adventurous students might even be enticed to dance as the poem pounds out the surf/ shakes out the song/ dances in our veins. All in all a great addition for classroom and home perusal.

Awards, Honors, Prizes

Parents’ Choice Award, 2009 Gold Poetry United States

Booklist Star Review, Feb. 15, 2009; American Library Association; United States

Star Review Publishers Weekly Book Review; Cahners; United States

School Library Journal Book Review Star Review, March 2009; Cahners; United States

Classroom Connections:

Cultural Arts: Practice performing Come, Drum! with dance and rhythm instruments

Social Studies: Finish off a unit on communities with a group recitation in costume of I Heard America Singing