Children's Poetry
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Poetry Break # 19

Two Poems that Can Be Matched With Picture Books

Introduction: Ask students how many ever thought about running away when they were little. Let a few students tell their stories.

 

The Runaway

 

I made peanut butter sandwiches.

I didn’t leave a mess.

I packed my shell collection

and my velvet party dress,

the locket Grandma gave me

and two pairs of extra socks,

my brother’s boy scout flashlight

and some magic wishing rocks.

 

Oh, they’ll be so sorry.

Oh, they’ll be so sad,

when they start to realize

what a nifty kid they had.

 

I’d really like to be here

when they wring their hands and say,

“We drove the poor child to it.

She finally ran away.”

 

If  I peeked through the window

I’d see them dressed in black,

and hear them sob and softly sigh,

“Come back, dear child! Come back!”

 

The house will be so quiet.

My room will be so clean.

And they’ll be oh so sorry

that they were oh so mean!

 

Poem by Bobbi Katz. Taken from The Kingfisher Book of Family Poems by Belilnda Hollyer, editor. Illustrated by Holly Swain. New York: Kingfisher, 2003, p. 60. ISBN: 0753455579.

 

Extension:  a) Pair this book with Noisy Nora, a picture book by Rosemary Wells. Compare and contrast the two works. (Citation: Wells, Rosemary. Noisy Nora. New York: Viking Books, 1999. ISBN: 0670887226). b) To perform Bobbi Katz’s poem, ask students to be the “chorus,” and have them read two stanzas: “Oh, they’ll be so sorry” and “The house will be so quiet.” The teacher or a student who is a strong reader will read the rest of the poem.

 

 

badday.gif

Introduction: Ask students if they have ever had a day where everything went wrong. Tell them about an “everything wrong” day that you experienced.

 

Monday!

 

Overslept

Rain is pouring

Missed the bus

Dad is roaring

Late for school

Forgot my spelling

Soaking wet

Clothes are smelling

Dropped my books

Got them muddy

Flunked a test

Didn’t study

Teacher says

I must do better

Lost my money

Tore my sweater

Feeling dumber

Feeling glummer

Monday sure can be

A bummer.

 

Poem by David L. Harrison. Taken from The 20th Centruy Children’s Poetry Treasury by Jack Prelutsky, editor. Illustrated by Meilo Sol. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999, p. 68. ISBN: 0679893148.

 

Extension: a) Pair this book with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. (Citation: Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. New York:  Scholastic Inc., 1972. ISBN: 0590421441.)  b) Ask students to write about a bad day they have experienced.  Invite volunteers to read their work to the class.