Sometimes you pick up a book just meaning to scan the contents, with no intention of really reading it. But then something happens… you read just one line or word. And before you know it, you're buried in that book and can't put it down!
That's the way it was for me with PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY, a poetry collection for children by J. Patrick Lewis. Here's my favorite poem from the book…
Please bury me in the library
In the clean, well-lighted stacks
Of Novels, History, Poetry,
Right next to the Paperbacks,
Where the Kids' Books dance
With True romance
And the Dictionary dozes.
Please bury me in the library
With a dozen long-stemmed proses.
Way back by a rack of Magazines,
I won't be sad too often,
If they bury me in the library
With Bookworms in my coffin.
I love the word choices and the rhythm. And I'm sure that the title of this book alone has drawn many kids into the world of poetry.
Similarly, my grandson loves poems with humor. When the kids were at our house for the day he would read poems by authors like Shel Silverstein, Bruce Lansky or Alan Katz out loud to his siblings and cousins until they were all laughing together.
Another time, another grandson was in a grumpy mood, mad and pouty about something. I started reading THE POUT, POUT FISH, a picture book in verse by Deborah Diesen, out loud. Try as he would, it wasn't long before he was giggling, then laughing out loud.
Poetry connects us to each other. It can lighten the mood or help us through times of stress. It opens the door to language and creativity. And much more.
Find more Poetry Links for National Poetry Month on Reading Rockets!
Hooray for the Power of Poetry!
Hooray for Poetry Month!