Book Review: The Poem that Will Not End: Fun with Poetic Forms and Voices, by Joan Bransfield Graham

Why I Picked It Up:

One of my most popular sessions is For the Love of Poetry and in the process of finding great poetry picture books, I found this gem.

Why I Finished It:

This book is so much fun.  It’s light, energetic, and accessible (in stark contrast to what we think of when we think about poetry books!) In reading this book aloud to a second grade class, the students requested pages to be reread and they joined in.  Each page has a unique poem about an everyday occurrence, for example, a baseball game, recess, being tired, eating french fries, and more.  At the end, there are pages that explain all the different poetic forms and types of poems.

Who I Would Give It To:

A perfect book for any teacher’s poetry collection!

Integration Ideas:

Poetry Ideas:

When reading poems with students, it’s important for students to identify rhyme scheme and meter.  Many of the poems in this book rhyme.  Have students discuss the words that rhyme in the book.  This is a good time to discuss spelling as well.  Sometimes rhyming words have the same spelling patterns and sometimes they don’t, and the discussion can help students in understanding spelling on a deeper level.  Not only should rhymes be identified and rhyme schemes explained, but students should discuss why the poet chose to use rhyme.  Rhyme is not necessary, why would rhyme be chosen.  Students might discuss that the poems are intended for a younger audience and rhymes help students remember poems and read poems.  The sound is musical and engages.  When poems rhyme, it is easier for younger students to find the rhythm of the poem as well.  Have students reread a poem from the book repetitively to help teach fluency.  Then have students discuss the meaning of their poem and decide how it should be read aloud in terms of voice and actions.  Have students perform their poem for the class or small group.

Since these poems are so accessible to students, it is a great mentor text to have students write their own poetry.  Have students choose an everyday occurrence from their life and one of the poetry forms listed in the back and write their own poem.  Remember, that with young children, they will need extensive modeling and assistance with the type of poem chosen.

Teaching Couplets:

A couplet is a literary device which can be defined as having two successive rhyming lines in a verse and having the same meter to form a complete thought.  In the book, there is a poem entitled “Couplet to French Fries”.  Have students read and discuss the couplet provided and discuss what they like and do not like, as well as the features of a couplet.  Show students other examples of couplet poems.   Ask students to discuss what they see in the two lines provided.  What do you notice about these two lines?  Show two more lines and ask the same questions.  Continue this for a third time.  Ask students what they noticed about all three examples.  Lead students to the discovery that they are all two lines and each of the two lines have the same meter and rhyme.  Ask if it is a complete thought.

Have students choose a topic about which to write their own poem.  Once a topic is chosen, have students brainstorm important vocabulary or words for their topic.  (Example: if I chose to write about gymnastics, I might choose words such as athlete, beam, bars, vault, floor, tumble, compete).  Have students identify one complete thought they would like to share.  Then work on making the rhythm and the rhyme work.  I would have students brainstorm possible rhymes before they begin.

Online Resources

Lesson Ideas

Couplet Examples

Poetry for Children

Create Diamante Poems

Create Acrostic Poems

 

What is your favorite poetry book?