a giraffe in the bath written by mem fox & olivia rawson and illustrated by kerry argent

Fox, Mem & Olivia Rawson. A Giraffe in the Bath, Illustrated by Kerry Argent. New York: Viking, 2010. ISBN: 9780670072132

Plot Summary:
     With the intent to make their audience laugh, this silly picture book is based around instances of various animals doing everyday tasks. From a giraffe in the bath to a roo on the loo, you are bound to see the funny things that animals can do...

Critical Analysis:
     A Giraffe in the Bath is a hilarious picture book written by authors Mem Fox and Olivia Rawson. These two authors incorporate cultural markers particular to their own culture, as well as the inclusion of rhyme and meter. Mem Fox was born in Australia and resided in Africa during some of her childhood. Fox incorporates various animals that are native to Australia such as the kangaroo and the koala, as well as the inclusion of African animals such as the crocodile and the giraffe. She also includes some Austrailian dialect such as the usage of the word 'loo.' In Austrailia, this word is associated with the bathroom; thus, adding to the cultural markers found throughout this title.
     While this title is characterized as a picture book, her audience may associate it with poetry through the usage of Fox's rhythms and rhymes. For example, "a giraffe in the bath...the roo in the loo," display a fun rhyming scheme that contribute to the appeal and tone of this picture book. Throughout her clever rhymes, she attributes human like characteristics and actions to the animals she incorporates. By utilizing personification within her story, she is able to provide humor and a sense of imagery.
     In association with her usage of imagery, Fox collaborates with illustrator Kerry Argent to visually bring to life her fun story. Argent brings Fox's words to life with her vibrant usage of oils and acrylic as she brings a literal illustration to each sentence of Fox's words. When Fox states "a giraffe in the bath," Kerry literally illustrates a giraffe sitting in a bubble bath. Children know that giraffes are tall animals with long limbs, so Argent depicts this animal hanging out of tub because everyone knows that a giraffe can't comfortably fit inside a bathtub. The authors and illustrator of this title collaborate in a manner that positively contributes to the humor that of which their audience will enjoy.

Review Excerpts:

"From the imprint page where we spy koala with his towel and numbat with his rubber duckie obviously heading for the bathtub it is obvious we are in for a frivolous romp of monumental proportions from this master storyteller. Take a minute to form you own image of a giraffe with all its legs, tail and long neck in the sudsy bathtub--I can feel you giggling already! A giraffe in the bath makes you laugh. Your listeners will hoot as you act out the walrus with a wiggle and the roo in the loo is just guaranteed to trigger uncontrollable sniggering. The wonderfully funny images will have everyone laughing out loud. This tale provides a marvelous model for young revelers in language to make up their own fanciful images of other animals in funny situations. " - Children's Review 

"A sheep in the shower?  A roo on the loo?  A giraffe in the bath?  The combined talents of Mem Fox, Olivia Rawson, and Kerry Argent create a wonderful, rollicking, rhythmic adventure with a hilarious cast of zany animal friends. A great story to read aloud with bright, colourful amusing full page illustrations." - Scholastic Australia

Connections:
Similar books that customers also purchased include Mem Fox's: Koala Lou, Where is the Green Sheep, Possum Magic, and the Magic Hat.

Interactivity:

• Ask children to choose an animal and come up with a word that rhymes with it, so they can attribute human like characteristics to it.
• Before showing the pictures to the students, read the book aloud and have them illustrate exactly what they hear.
• Choose a random animal and ask children if they can take a bath? If so, do they use bath tubs? For example, a cat. A cat takes baths, but how?

a poke in the i selected by paul b. janeczko and illustrated by chrisraschka

Janeczko, Paul B. A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780763623760

Critical Analysis:

     A Poke in the I is a compilation of thirty concrete poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. Janescko integrates these poems in a manner that showcases the varying ranges that the original authors use to create their pieces of poetry. Each poem is different; however, they all exhibit the fun and uniqueness found among concrete poetry. In the Spotlight Poem, “Giraffe,” the author uses words to construct the poem in the shape of an actual giraffe as well as using imagery to depict the physical description of a giraffe. Not only does the author use her words to create an image, but she also incorporates an end rhyme at the conclusion of the poem. This element adds a fun and entertaining beat that her audience will enjoy and remember. Paul B. Janeczko does a great job of selecting fun concrete poems to include within this compilation.

Spotlight Poem:

"Giraffe"

        A

 GIRAFFE

          I

           S

             S

             O

                  T

                  A

                  L

                  L

                     A

                     N

                     D

         HIS HEAD IS SO

   FAR ABOVE HIS LEGS

       HE PROBABLY CAN'T SEE

                 H       T         E        K

                  I       O         L        N

                 S       E          S        E

                          S          E        E

                 A                             S

                 D      O         B     

                 O      R         E         A

                 R                  L         N

                 A      A         O        D

                 B      N         W

                 L      Y                     E

                 E      T          H         L

                         H           I         B

                          I           S         O

                         N                     W

                         G                      S

                                         - Maureen W. Armour

Connections:

• Select a random poem, within this collection, and have children describe what it is the words depict.
• Have children choose a random object or animal and then have them create their own concrete poem in the shape of it.

the palm of my heart written by african american children and illustrated by gregory christie

Adedjouma, Davida. The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children, Illustrated by Gregory Christie. New York: Lee & Low, 1996. ISBN: 9781880000762

Critical Analysis:

     The Palm of my Heart is an anthology of poetry written by African American children. This collection explores their self-definition as it relates to the word ‘black.’ Lucille Clifton, the author of the introduction, presents this collection by mentioning the impact of the word ‘black’ specifically referencing the skin color of African Americans. This particular collection is comprised of poetry that varies in length, but upholds many elements of poetry including: structure, flow, rhyme schemes, and literary devices. In the Spotlight Poem below, the author Andreya Renee Allen, organizes her poem within three stanzas. The beginning of her poem is introduced with the metaphor ‘black is beautiful.’ Not only does the author use a metaphor as her introduction, but this metaphor is within the refrain ‘black is beautiful, black is me.’ This refrain provides audiences with a fun participatory element where they can join in saying aloud. 

     Alongside every poem are illustrations that were created using acrylic and colored pencil. These illustrations depict African American life as it is described in each poem. Among these illustrations the artist, Gregory Christie, utilizes vibrant colors and images that bring homage to African American life and history. This compilation of poetry sheds light of the meaning of the word ‘black’ while exuding self-definition depicted through the young minds of African American children. 

Spotlight Poem:

Black is beautiful

Black is me

Black is the color

          can’t you see

          that

blue is nice,

And orange is neat

But they can’t compete

           because

Black is beautiful

Black is me

Tall, dark, and wonderful

     see!

                     - Andreya Renee Allen

Connections:

• Have children tell you to describe the word ‘black.’ What is it that comes to the children’s minds? Is it skin color? Darkness? Nighttime?  Now have children describe how the word ‘black’ makes them feel. 
• This book is a good teaching mechanism that focuses on embracing who you are. Share with children that everyone is different from the shape of their eyes, to their height, to the color of their skin; however, everyone is a person and everyone has feelings. 

behold the bold umbrellaphant: and other poems written and narrated by jack prelutsky

Prelutsky, Jack. Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: and Other Poems, Illustrated by Carin Berger. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-0060543174 (AISN: B005MQJOJ0)

Critical Analysis:

     Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant is a compilation of seventeen poems in which the author, Jack Prelutsky, incorporates plethora usage of puns, as well as incorporating the basic structural criteria and standard elements that poetry entails. The basis of this compilation is centered on the question, “What do you get when you cross a ____ with a ____?” Each poem included within this compilation crosses an animal with a random object and Prelutsky answers these questions with his clever usage of puns. For example, in the poem titled “Shoehornets,” he states that when you cross a shoe horn with a hornet, a shoehornet is the outcome. Preceding the outcome, the author presents what it is that each species does by combining the properties of the object and the nature of the animal. In “Shoehornets,” the author states that “shoe hornets make it easier for you to put on shoes,”-- just as a shoehorn does; “but when they do…they sting,”-- just as a hornet does.

      In the audio version of this title, Prelutsky collaborates with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra to add a musical inclusion to his poetry. During the readings of his poems, the orchestra plays in the background and adds elements of suspense and excitement as they use their instruments in conjunction with the flow of the poem. In the book version and the audio-version of this title, Prelutsky provides his audience with a myriad of poetic and artistic elements.

Spotlight Poem:

"Shoehornets"

SHOEHORNETS make it easier

For you to put on shoes.

They quickly slide

Your feet inside.

You can, of course, refuse.

And that is what you’d better do,

For you should know one thing –

It’s true they choose

To help with shoes,

But when they do…they sting!

                                 - Jack Prelutsky

Connections:

• Before reading the poem, have children guess what animal and objects were combined to create each title. 
• Have children create their own animal/object cross species, and allow them to describe them by using the elements of the object and the actions of the animal.

red sings from treetops: a year in colors written by joyce sideman and illustrated by pamela zagarenski

Sidman, Joyce. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009. ISBN: 9780547014944

Critical Analysis:
     Red Sings from Treetops, is a thematic collection of poetry encompassing the essence of each season. The author, Joyce Sidman, utilizes descriptive poetry in a manner that touches her audience’s sense of feeling, hearing, taste, and smell. Sidman utilizes each season in a way that divides this title into chapters. Within these season chapters, each individual poetic piece directly correlates with the appropriate season. She focuses this thematic compilation around the colors that resonate within each season. In the Spotlight Poem Excerpt, “Fall”, the author introduces the season with the colors green and brown. She personifies the color green as she describes how ‘green is tired,’‘sighs with relief, and ‘time for brown to take over.’ These lines also symbolize how during this time of the year green grass begins to turn brown. The author’s utilization of descriptive language also contributes to the vivid images that the illustrator, Pamela Zagarenski, incorporated within this collection.
     Zagarenski uses mixed media paintings on wood and computer illustration vibrant colors that collaborate with the context of each poem. Again, each poem focuses on the colors pertaining to each season, and the illustrator focuses her illustrations around these colors. In the poems that focus around purple, her illustration shows a variety of purple hues; in the poems that focus around the color red, her illustration is centered around red and its various shades. The collaboration between author and illustrator provides their audience with an array visual appeal.

Spotlight Poem Excerpt:

"Fall"

In FALL,
Green is tired,
dusty,
crisp around the edges.
Green sighs with relief:
I've ruled for so long.
Time for Brown to take over.

Connections:

• Ask children what colors are they reminded of during each season and why.
• Have children choose one color and create a poem (it could be free verse) about things that only relate to that color. 

the friendly four written by eloise greenfield and illustrated by jan spivey gilchrist

Greenfield, Eloise. The Friendly Four, Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006. ISBN: 9780060007591

Critical Analysis:

     The Friendly Four is a compilation of poetry created as a means for performance poetry through free verse. The author, Eloise Greenfield, creates a story that incorporates the help of readers while including elements of poetry. The structure of this compilation entails three of ten strategies of reading poetry aloud: unison, solos, and two-voices. Greenfield introduces her story with one solo reader that is depicted in red text. In the Spotlight Poem, "The New Boy,"she proceeds with a poem intended for two-voices -- depicted in red and blue text. In this same poem, she also uses black text to depict the intention for a unison performance. By incorporating these strategies, the author provides her audience with elements of participation for oral reading and performing. 

Spotlight Poem:

"The New Boy"

Dorene:                      Ms. Lynn Bunton has a new son.

Drum and Dorene: She said he is the perfect one,

                                     for her.

Drum:                        We think he'll be perfect

                                     for us, too. He's six,

Dorene:                      we're seven.

Drum and Dorene: He's having a party

                                     today at eleven,

Dorene:                      for Drum, himself and me.

Drum and Dorene: We can't wait to meet him,

                                     then two friends will be three.

                                                                     - Eloise Greenfield

Connections:

• Assign random children with a part to perform in this compilation. In the parts where they perform in unison, have them practice in order to perform this exceptionally. 
• After performances, eventually add gestures and props to enhance the performance of this compilation. 
• In the parts that call for 'all' readers, have the whole class perform these parts in unison. 

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.