water sings blue: ocean poems written by kate coombs and illustrated by meilo so

Coombs, Kate. Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems, Illustrated by Meilo So. California: Chronicle Books LLC, 2012. ISBN: 9780811872843

Critical Analysis:

     Water Sings Blue is a compilation of poetry directly attributed to the ocean. The author, Kate Coombs, cleverly utilizes many elements of poetry such as stanzas, imagery, and rhyme schemes to resonate the essence of the ocean. Within the Spotlight Poem, "Not Really Jelly," Coombs incorporates an end rhyme scheme in every other line. This end rhyme presents the opportunity for children to grasp on the sounds of each rhyme among the words fish, dish, and squish. Along with the usage of end rhymes, the author also uses a vast amount of imagery. In the poem, "What the Waves Say," there is an abundance of imagery throughout this ten line poem. Shimmer, foggy, whisper, swish, and roar are all words that appeal and vividly describe the waves of the ocean and provide readers with illustrative appeal. Recipient of the 2013 Lee Bennett Hopkins award, Kate Coombs demonstrates excellence in providing children with an outstanding compilation of poetry that encompasses the essence of the ocean and its components. 

Spotlight Poem:

"Not Really Jelly"

You're not really jelly,

you're not really fish --

you're free-floating noodles

escaped from a dish,

all slither and jiggle

and tremble and squish.

                  - Kate Coombs

Connections:

• Perform the poetry for the children and ask them what words remind them of the ocean and why. Provide children with paper and pen to write these words down and educate them on the importance of descriptions and imagery within poems. 
• Prior to reading the poems, ask children what they think of when they think of the ocean. 
• After reading this compilation, choose a random oceanic element and have each child write a small poem about it by incorporating end rhymes and imagery.