Sarah Wiggins

Reading Log 2: Poetry and Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FREC 7232: Children’s Literature
Dr. Susan T. Franks
June 10, 2010

Poetry
When Riddles Come Rumbling
Author: Rebecca Kai Dotlich Title: When Riddles Come Rumbling
Illustrator: Karen Dugan Published: 2001
Genre: Riddles Poetry
Format: Hardback Poetry Book
Awards:
Summary: This book is an assortment of riddles that are about everyday objects. Using
descriptive vocabulary and incredible illustrations the author allows the students to read and
then guess what the object is.
Strategies:
• Use to teach metaphor, simile, concrete imagery; and imaginative presentation and description
of an object or concept. The teacher would read a selected riddle aloud and then use it to break
down and provide clear examples of each of the above literary terms. Additionally the class
would analyze the riddle to find the techniques used in the poem and to define what makes a
good riddle poem.
• Riddles are an excellent vehicle for introducing students to poetry and poetry writing. This
book could be broken down so that one riddle is read a day, and students discuss it in a
prewriting or reading activity.
• Write a riddle poem together as a class and conclude by writing riddles poems individually and
sharing them with the class.
• I use this book to have the students create descriptive riddles about themselves at the start of
the year and then introduce everyone.
• At the end of the year, we have a “Living Museum” where the students research their historical
figure. They then create a riddle using the facts to explain who they are for the presentation.

Haiku Hike
Author: Massachusetts St. Mary's Catholic Title: Haiku Hike
School Mansfield (written by the students) Published: 2005
Illustrator:
Genre: Haiku Poetry
Format: Hardback Poetry Book
Awards:
Summary: "Haiku Hike" is about a group of kids going on a nature hike, and then realizing they
forgot their camera, and so they create haikus as their word pictures and record of their hike. The
original artwork is incredible and the haiku creative. Each of the haikus is written by the students of the
St. Mary’s school so it serves as a perfect mentor text.
Strategies:
• This book is the perfect example of how students can use the world around them to
write poetry. A teacher could do the exact same thing, go on a field trip either off
 campus or even on campus and have the students record their observations as haikus.
Additionally the students could illustrate their poetry using watercolors for the same
effect and then turn it into a class book or an individual book for a child. To add a
technology component, students could incorporate digital pictures and create a class
digital storybook.
• Have your students write a haiku on small pieces of poster board and make them into poetry
mobiles.
• Have students use this book to exemplify HOW to write a haiku and then practice
writing them.
You Read to Me and I’ll Read to You
Author: John Ciardi Title: You Read to Me and I’ll Read to You
Illustrator: Edward Gorey Published: 1987
Genre: Repeated Pattern Poetry
Format: Hardback Poetry Book
Awards:
Summary: A wonderful collection of poetry that is meant to be read aloud with someone. I
guess the original thought was for adults to read with children, but these poems can also be
read chorally with students or groups of students in a classroom. The book is designed for one
reader to read a line and then the other reader following.
Strategies:
• The most obvious use of this book is to improve fluency. By having students read
aloud with each other, they learn how to pace their reading which can help to improve
fluency.
• In conjunction with the book, students could create their own read with me book. The
poetry lends itself to simple rhyming patterns, so a student could follow similar
patterns in creating their own poetry. Classes could even partner to write and read
across the grade levels with book buddies, or study buddies.
Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost
Author: Robert Frost Editor: Gary D. Schmidt Title: Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost
Illustrator: Henri Sorensen Published: 1992
Genre: Narrative Poetry
Format: Paperback collection of Robert Frost Poems
Awards:
Summary: This is a book with a collection of poems by Robert Frost. It breaks the poems into
sections according to the season of the year. The illustrations that accompany each poem are great.
Although the selected poems may be difficult for some students to comprehend, the author provides
notes at the bottom of some of the pages to help with the reading and understanding.
Strategies:
• This book should be used to teach structure of poetry. Read aloud to model good poetry
as a way to teach the skills and techniques that are the writer’s craft.
• Use in response to literature to respond with the feelings and emotions the poetry
brings. A wall space could be devoted to poetry. Put up bulletin boards that stimulate children
to think about poetry. The students could write their feelings on cards and place around the
poetry or even create similar poems that would bring the same emotions.
• Use choral reading. It’s a technique which adds to children’s enjoyment of poetry by directly
involving them.
 • This book is the perfect book to teach vocabulary with. There are higher level words
that would be wonderful for students to learn and incorporate in their own writing. (
** As a side note, the Dept. of Ed in Ga. has said the difference between meeting and
exceeding standards on the writing test is using higher level vocabulary for all grades
5, 8, 11)
• Introducing theme and symbolism within literature: Theme is a difficult concept for
elementary and middle school students. This book shows consistent themes that can be
seen and discussed in small group reading groups.
• Have each student to create his or her own anthology of favorite poems.
Scranimals
Author: Jack Prelutsky Title: Scranimals
Illustrator: Peter Sis Published: 2002
Genre: Poetry
Format: Hardback Poetry Book
Awards:

Summary: Everything Jack Prelutsky writes is incredible, and this book doesn’t let you
down! A series of poetry about made up animals that are combinations of animals and fruit,
flowers, or vegetables combined. There is rhythm and rhyme throughout the entire book
Strategies:
• I use this book every year for creative poetic writing. The students love to read the
combinations Jack Prelutsky has created, but when they begin to create their own, it
is amazing to me every year how creative the students can be.
• This book is can be used to illustrate how poems can be written using rhyming words
and rhythm. Read aloud and discuss in whole groups or small group instruction.
• This book demonstrates how poetry can be humorous, use this book alongside other
of Jack’s books and Shel Silverstein’s books to allow the students to choose their
favorite and read poetry aloud daily!!!!

Realistic Fiction
The Hundred Penny Box
Author: Sherry Bell Mathis Title: The Hundred Penny Box
Illustrator: Published: 1986
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Paperback book
Awards: Newbery Honor (1976), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1976), Young Hoosier Book
Award Nominee (1976-1977)
Summary: This is one of my all time favorite books! Michael, the main character in the story,
is a young boy who forms a new relationship with his Aunt who is 100 years old. She has kept
a penny box that holds a penny for every year of her life. Michael gets to know his aunt as she
tells the stories of her life by travelling through time reminiscing with the pennies. Michael’s
mother wants to get Aunt Dew a new box, but Michael is adamant about her keeping the one
she has which is so special.
Strategies:
• This book could be read together as a class and then have the students create their own penny
 box.
• I have used this book to celebrate the 100th day of school before, and I even had the pleasure of
bringing a student’s aunt who was 100 years old. The students absolutely loved hearing her tell
stories!!!
• I think this would also be a great book to keep helping the students understand about family
members who are older and perhaps it can help them relate and understand they aren't the only
children that go through that with a loved one.

Realistic Fiction
My Side of the Mountain
Author: Jean Craighead George Title: My Side of the Mountain
Illustrator: Published: 1959
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: paperback book
Awards: Newbery Honor (1960), Hans Christian Andersen International Award, Lewis Carroll Shelf
Award (1965), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1960), 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before
You Grow Up (2009.0817|2009, Ages 12↑)
Summary: My Side of the Mountain is a tale of wilderness survival. It tells the story of a young boy
who willingly leaves his family and moves to the woods in the Catskill Mountains to live a self-
sufficient life. The main character, Sam Gribbley, demonstrates incredible character traits with
perseverance, courage, strength, and friendship. He thought that running away would be easy, but the
adventures that he gets to go through will keep you reading! I love how actual survival skills are taught
throughout the book. I am not really an adventurer, so this book took me to a place I would never have
gone to!
Strategies:
• A wonderful strategy for this book is to do a novel study and have the students keep a
travel log or diary as if they are the ones on the adventure. Each day they read and then
they write down about what they experienced. I love the reflection aspect when they
put themselves “in Sam Gribbley’s shoes”. The logs on the days of the snow storms are
the best. Through having this log, the students are learning writing skills as well as
compare and contrast. Many students even love to journal the survival skills.
Joey Pigza Loses Control
Author: Jack Gantos Title: Joey Pigza Loses Control
Published: 2000
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Paperback book
Awards: Newbery Honor (2001), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2001), BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
(2000), Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (2003-2004.3|Intermediate, 2003-2004), ALA Notable
Children's Book (2001)
Summary: I can honestly say that until this week I had never read this story before. I read it
with my son, who ironically takes medication for ADHD during the school year. This was an
incredible story about a boy who struggles with his own issues and gets to spend time with his
dad who has similar struggles. Joey sees firsthand how his medication helps him and what the
effects can be if he chooses to act irresponsibly. This story covers some heavy issues like
alcoholism, divorce, and legal issues as well. My son and I were able to have some wonderful
conversations, but I continued to think about a child who reads this without a parent to ask
questions to, it could be difficult to understand “real” issues.
Strategies:
• This book would absolutely have to be read in a small group or as a read aloud by a
teacher. With guidance in reading, this book could be so powerful in examining how
people are different and we all have our own “issues”. I think it could teach acceptance
and understanding. This book would be a wonderful bridge between ELA and teaching
antibullying in schools!
• Alongside any lesson of real life, this book is excellent for a character study, and even
compare and contrast the characters within the book. A venn diagram could be created,
or even use technology to create a PIXIE where the students illustrate the events of the
story.
The Hundred Dresses
Author: Eleanor Estes Title: The Hundred Dresses
Illustrator: Louis Slobodkin Published: 1944 (original date)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Paper back
Awards: Newbery Honor (1945), 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up
(2009.0482|2009, Ages 8↑)
Summary: This is a fabulous book about an immigrant little girl from Poland who does not
feel like the other children in her class. Due to the dress she wears, she is made fun of by her
classmates, and one day she blurts out that she has 100 dresses of all colors and fabrics. This
lie brings about more harassment from her classmates. Eventually, Wanda leaves the school
and one of the characters, Maddie, feels awful about what has happened, but it is too late to
turn back the hands of time and stand up for Wanda. Wanda’s father sends a letter stating that
they moved because she was made fun of, and Wanda decides to write her back. In the end, a
letter reveals how much Wanda really liked Maddie and her friend.
Strategies:
• This book is written in an easy chapter book format, but the true meaning behind it
would need to be in upper elementary. This is a good read aloud to use with a lesson on
acceptance. There are wonderful vocabulary words that can be taught that have
meanings of expression and emotions.
• This book has so many wonderful avenues. From a reading standpoint, this is a
PERFECT book to compare and contrast characters. By creating a graphic organizer,
small groups of students can discuss the character traits of the students and show the
similarities and differences.
• I think this would be a wonderful book for upper elementary students to turn into a
script and write a play. Dramatic literature is a 5th grade standard, and through creating
a play, students are learning the parts of a play as well as the speaking and listening in
the ELA standards.
• The original publication of this book was 1944. With this knowledge, this is a great
book to use in Social Studies to discuss civil rights during those times and how
different groups were treated. A comparison could be done through the years to see that
even today, things haven’t changed much
Mr. Peabody’s Apples
Author: Madonna Title: Mr. Peabody’s Apples
Illustrated: Loren Long Published: 2003
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Hardback picture book
Awards:

Summary: Mr. Peabody, the town little league coach is looked up to by many, especially
the children. After practice one day one of the players sees him take an apple as he walks by
the local market. He didn’t know that Mr. Peabody had already made prior payment
arrangements. The little player goes and tells others about his thievery and the rumor mill
begins. Mr. Peabody is crushed when no one comes to practice. Eventually, when he realizes
what has happened, Mr. Peabody gives the player one of the best illustrations when he has
him attempt to pick up the feathers that have flown out of a pillow. He explains this is the
same as him trying to undo the rumor.
Strategies:
• This book would be a wonderful introduction to a lesson on rumors and talking
about other people. If a teacher could easily get a feather pillow (or was willing to
make one from craft feathers) the illustration would be even stronger.
• During reading class, this book is excellent for learning problem and solution along
with a plot line. The students should create a graphic organizer that illustrates the
problem and solution as well as a plot line. For younger children, a story mobile
could be made that sequences the events of the story.
• This would be a perfect introduction to a writing lesson in which the prompt is
telling a personal narrative about a time when the student did something that had
larger consequences than they ever imagined.