Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror

Author: Marilyn Singer

Illustrator: Josee Masse

Genre: Poetry 

Awards: None

Grades: 3rd-6th 

This book is full of familiar stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. On each page you read the original poem and then you read the new version of each. The newer version  is a backwards version of the traditional story. The words in both versions are the same, the lines are simply reversed. Each version is also told through a different point of view. For example, in Little Red Riding Hood the forward version is told through the girls point of view and the backward version is told through the wolf's perspective. 

I would most likely use this book as a read aloud to teach about poems. This book can also be used to teach about differing perspectives. 

Swirl bt Swirl

Swirl by Swirl 

Author: Joyce Sidman
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Genre: Poetry
Awards: None
Grades: PK-2nd

This poem begins with a description of a snail's shell. The poem then continues to show all of the other places that spirals show up in nature. From things like fast flowing rivers to many different plants, spirals are all around us. At the end of the book there is a picture of every spiraled thing that was in the book along with a short description of each.

This book could be used in an art classroom as a tool to teach children about spirals.The poem could also be used a read aloud, especially for younger students. 

My People

My People

Author: Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Charles R. Smith Jr.
Genre: Poetry
Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Award
Grades: PK-3rd

Langston Hughes uses this poem to describe the beauty of the African-American people. In this poem, Langston Hughes compares different qualities and characteristics of his people to things the sun and the stars.

There are many ways in which this poem could be used in a classroom. One example is that it could be used during an unit about African-American History. This poem could also be used to teach about respect and the beauty of the African-American people. 

Step Gently Out

Step Gently Out 

Author: Helen Frost
Illustrator: Rick Lieder
Genre: Poetry
Awards: None
Grades: PK-1st

This book is a poem that is about the different insects that are in the world. The poem begins with an ant and then becomes about a honeybee, crickets, moths, spiders, and other insects. At the conclusion of the poem, it has a picture of each insect with a few facts about each insect that was included in the poem.

This poem could be used within a science unit to teach about the insects. I would use it as a way to introduce my students to a new unit. The facts at the end of the book would also be helpful for older students to research about a certain insect. 

In the Wild

In the Wild 

Author: David Elliot
Illustrator: Holly Meade
Genre: Poetry
Awards: None
Grades: PK- 3rd

This book is a collection of short poems that describe certain animals in the wild. Animals like a lion, a rhinoceros, a polar bear, a zebra, and a giraffe are all shown in this book. The poems about each animal expresses the details pertaining to their habitats and their physical characteristics.

I would use this book as a introduction to a unit about animals. The basic yet fascinating descriptions of each of the animals will help to excite the students about the new unit.