honey, i love and other love poems written by eloise greenfield and illustrated by leo and diane dillon

Greenfield, Eloise. Honey, I Love: and other love poems, Illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986. ISBN: 9780064430975

Critical Analysis:

     Honey, I Love is a collection of sixteen poems told from the vantage point of a child about the enjoyable things of life. The author, Eloise Greenfield, does not follow a specific arrangement in the layout of her poetry, but each poem conveys the small things that children love through their perspectives. From the noises and movements of train rides, to the keepsakes given by loved ones, to the accent of a cousin from the South, the author is able to provide her audience with descriptions of these simplistic events in methods that illicit innocence. This innocence is strengthened by the incorporation of language that would be used by children, thus, providing an element that appeals to children. 

     Most of the poems included in this collection are free verse; however, there are some poems that have distinct rhythms, rhyme schemes, and word sounds. In the poem "Things," Greenfield utilizes repetition by repeating the entire line "Ain't got it nomore." The utilization of this concept emphasizes the idea and concept of this specific poem. Another contributing factor that enhances these poems are the incorporation of illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. These illustrators use a technique of collaborating realism and cartoon-like children's illustrations together which continues the theme of a child's perspective. Throughout the collection, the concept of a child's perspective is maintained through techniques that recollect childhood experiences that are described by children themselves.

Spotlight Poem:

"Things"

I went to the corner,

Walked in the store,

Brought me some candy,

Ain't got it no more.

Ain't got it no more.

I went to the beach,

Played on the shore,

Built me a sand house,

Ain't got it no more.

Ain't got it no more. 

I went to the kitchen,

Lay down on the floor,

Made me a poem,

Still got it,

STILL GOT IT!

          - Eloise Greenfield

Connections:

• After the reading of one poem, ask children who do they think the poem was told by. Follow-up by asking them why they think the poem was told by their guesses and what things lead them to think that.
• Prior to this assignment, go around and ask adults to provide you with brief descriptions of everyday occurrences i.e. the car ride to school. After you've collected these descriptions, have children describe these same occurrences and observe the differences in perspectives.