Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

My second-ever attempt at book trailer creation . . .

Figuring out how to have the book audio clip and the music playing at the same time is the greatest achievement of my life.

We Are America by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. We are America: a tribute from the heart. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN 060523085

Summary:

In free verse enhanced by quotations from American history and mural-style illustrations, Myers creates a portrait of America from its native people to the children of the future with allusion to so many events, people, and ideas that have shaped the nation.  

Analysis:
Myers manages in a few lines to chronicle several hundred years of history while capturing the spirit of freedom and striving that have always defined success in America.  The poem’s words, though powerful and vivid on their own, are difficult to separate from Christopher Myers’s artwork.  Historical figures and iconic images from history appear alongside young, colorful, hopeful faces of Americans in harmony with the poem.  The imagery of the poem is strong, using metaphor and other poetic device to convey powerful emotion.

Awards & Reviews:

NCTE Notable Poetry List 2012

CYBILS Award Finalist 2011

Kirkus Reviews:  "The poetry and the paintings will be an excellent jumping-off point for discussions."

From Publisher's Weekly:  " . . . few will be unmoved by this stirring and provocative collaboration."

Connections:

• Share the author notes from the book and show students the video (below and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQXjG0hjLQ) of the poet and illustrator discussing the inspiration for the poems.
• Explore the companion website Who Is America? (http://www.who-is-america.com/) and encourage students to create video responses for the site.
• Use the historical events alluded to in the poem or depicted in the illustrations as well as the quotations to introduce history lessons/discussions.  
• More poetry/art by Walter Dean Myers & Christopher Myers:

Myers, Walter Dean. 1997. Harlem: a poem. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590543407

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823415457

• America-inspired poetry:

Borden, Louise. 2002. America is--. Ill. by Stacey Schuett. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 0689839006

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2000. My America: a poetry atlas of the United States. Ill. by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689812477

Panzer, Nora. 1994. Celebrate America: in poetry and art. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 1562826646

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my mother doesn't know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

Summary:
Written in free verse, the novel is narrated by fourteen-year-old Sophie who is navigating life, love, and high school with varying degrees of success.  In short titled poems, readers learn about Sophie’s fighting parents, best friends, and the birth and slow demise of her relationship with Dylan.  A mystery encounter with a masked man at the Halloween dance fill her with questions and longing, and when his identity is eventually revealed, Sophie must make some mature decisions about her life, identity, and popularity.

Analysis:
Sophie’s voice is authentic and emotional, conveying the confusion, passion, and angst of adolescence without shying away from sensitive topics.  The lines of most of the poems are short but full of imagery and description.  Repetition is used for emphasis in several poems, most notably and effectively in a poem describing the after-effects of a fight with her mother entitled “I Hate Her” in which she details a list of things she hates about her mother most of which have nothing to do with their fight. The concise but descriptive language manages to convey both the action of the narrative and the full range of emotions in a unique way which will connect with teen readers while also resonating with adults who can still remember the elation and tragedy of growing up.

Awards & Reviews:

ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2002) ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002) International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003) Winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award (2005–2006)

Starred review, Publisher's Weekly:  "With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike."

Starred review & Editor's Choice, Booklist:  "The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly."

Starred review, Kirkus Reviews:  "A verse experience that will leave readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction."

Connections:

• Incorporate into a Banned Books Week display, discussion, or Read-Out.  
• Introduce to young writers' group to encourage journaling and authentic voice
• Make connections to the art in the book including Renoit and the Museum of Bad Art (museumofbadart.org)
• Connect readers of the book with the author's website (sonyasones.com) for background information, writing advice, and blog.
• Other novels in verse for young adults:

Herrera, Juan Felipe. 1999. CrashBoomLove: a novel in verse. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 0826321135

Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of those hideous books where the mother dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689858205

Sones, Sonya. 1999. Stop pretending: what happened when my big sister went crazy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060283874

Sones, Sonya. 2007. What my girlfriend doesn't know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689876025

Tregay, Sarah. 2012. Love & leftovers: a novel in verse. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN 0062023586

Autumnblings by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. 2003. Autumnblings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060092785

Summary:  
In this topical collection of poems, Florian explores the sights and sounds of the changing of the season from summer to autumn to the encroachment of winter.  Accompanied by watercolor illustrations by the poet, the twenty-nine poems tumble through the distinctive ideas and images of fall:  apples, pumpkins, leaves, holidays, etc.  

Analysis:
The rhymes, repetitions, and rhythms of the poems are simple and appealing.  Florian uses form and shape of the words and lines themselves as well as the illustrations to visualize the meanings of the poems.  The word play that features in so many of the poems adds whimsy and playfulness.  The poet creates puns and invents new words like autumn-atically, fallicopters, owlphabet, and hi-bear-nate to capture those things that are so unique to this season.  Although the topics, rhymes, and poetic devices vary from poem to poem, the collection is drawn together by the overall theme as well as style, artwork, and a sense of fun.

Awards & Reviews:
From School Library Journal:  "A natural for use in classrooms and library programs, and accessible to newly independent readers, these poems will delight youngsters."

A Booklist review:  "Florian presents a winsome series of poems about fall, with the punning theme of the title carried throughout."

Connections:

• Use selections in storytimes for younger children with an autumnal theme.
• Have older students visit Florian's website www.douglasflorian.com or his poetry blog www.floriancafe.blogspot.com to learn more about the author and see more of his artwork.
• Introduce lessons about science and seasons with selected poems.
• Encourage children to write and illustrate their own seasonal poetry.
• Other topical poetry collections/anthologies about seasons:

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0060092807

Florian, Douglas. 2002. Summersaults: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.ISBN 0060292679

Florian, Douglas. 1999. Winter eyes: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0688164587

Rogasky, Barbara. 2001. Leaf by leaf: autumn poems. Ill. by Marc Tauss. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590253476

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red sings from treetops: a year in colors. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547014945

Yolen, Jane. 1986. Ring of earth: a child's book of seasons. Ill. by John Wallner. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 0152671404

Zolotow, Charlotte. 2002. Seasons: a book of poems. Ill. by Erik Blegvad. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060266988