Celebrating National Poetry Month with COUPLETS

COUPLETS

Couplets are the simplest form of poetry.  It is a silly two line poem that rhymes at the end of each line.  Also, each line in a couplet should have the same number of syllables.  

I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

- by Shel Silverstein

Why don't you enjoy some of your favorite poetry forms, including couplets in these fabulous poetry books?

Book of Animal Poetry

Edited by J. Patrick Lewis

Named one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews and one of the top Children's Books of 2012 by the   New York Public Library.

Combines photography with lyrical text celebrating the animal world, in a compilation that includes works by such poets as Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and Rudyard Kipling.

A Kick In The Head

Edited by Paul B. Janeczko

Presents a selection of children's poetry which illustrates the different forms of poetry, including sonnet, couplet, ballad, elegy, and ode.

Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day is a holiday celebrated yearly on April 22nd.  More than 192 countries around the globe participate in Earth Day celebrations.  The holiday reminds us to be kind to, support, and protect our environment by reducing, reusing and recycling.

Do something special for Mother Earth today; plant a tree, pick up litter, or read a book that celebrates Earth Day.  How about these "green" books?

Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day

by Jane O'Connor

When Nancy, the girl who loves to use fancy words, learns about Earth Day and "being green" at school, her enthusiasm causes problems at home as she tries to teach her family all about respecting the environment.

It's Earth Day!

by Mercer Mayer

After Little Critter's class takes an Earth Day trip to the local recycling center, Little Critter goes home to teach his family everything he learned and to do his part to help protect the environment.

Earth Day Birthday

by Pattie Schnetzler

Set to familiar music of "Twelve Days of Christmas", verses describe different animals that illustrate the wonders of the world and includes a factual section about Earth Day and ways to celebrate it.

Free Cyberbullying Seminar Wednesday, April 24

Supervisor Kate Murray, Senior Councilman Anthony Santino and Assemblyman Brian Curran are hosting an Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Seminar with Internet saftey expert Ron Gerber. 

Click on the Cyberbullying link for further information.Cyberbullying  Parents and kids welcome.

Where: Baldwin High School
When:  Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 7 p.m.

LIMERICKS

Limericks have been making people laugh for over 200 years!  Edward Lear (1812-1888) was an English artist, illustrator, author and poet who made limericks a popular kind of poem in the 19th century.  Limericks are usually funny short poems that have 5 five lines and a special beat and rhyming pattern.  


The last word of lines 1 , 2  and 5  rhyme and have 9 beats.
The last word of lines 3 and 4 rhyme and have 6 beats.  Also, lines 3 and 4 are shorter than the others.

A example is:

An ambitious young fellow named Matt

Tried to parachute using his hat.

Folks below looked so small

As he started to fall,

Then got bigger and bigger and SPLAT!

-by Graham Lester

The Children's Room has many limerick books on display to choose from.  Here are a couple of staff favorites.

Grimericks 

by Susan Pearson

Presents limericks about ghosts, ghouls, goblins, witches, and monsters, including a bathroom singing ghost named Glen Gower and a chess playing ghoul named Augustus.

Pocketful of Nonsense

by James Marshall

Old favorites and original works by Marshall make up this collection of humorous rhymes, limericks, and poems.

ACROSTIC Poetry

What is an 

acrostic 
poem?

The word "acrostic" is Greek for "end line." An acrostic poem uses the letters in a topic word to begin each line.  The first letters of each line are aligned vertically to form a word.  The word is often the subject of the poem.  The poem does not need to rhyme.  Acrostic poems may be made using single words, phrases or sentences.

An example is:

L ots of books
I nteresting, fun programs
B eautiful place
R eading
A dventure
R esearch help
Y ou'll have a great time!

-Miss Michele and Miss Carren

Try your hand at writing an acrostic poem. For some inspiration why don't you check out these titles:

Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic

by Steven Schnur

A collection of poems describing spring, with its animals, smells and outside activities.  When read vertically, the first letters of the lines of text spell the subject of the poem.

Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic

by Steven Schnur

A companion volume to Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic.  A collection of poems describes the summer season, with its heat, sandy beaches, insects, garden vegetables and outside activities.  When read vertically, the first letters of the lines of text spell the subject of the poem.

HAIKU Poetry

HAIKU Poetry

Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry.  The poems are short, consisting of 3 lines, and use sensory language to capture an image or feeling.  The words chosen help to paint a picture for the reader.  Japanese haiku is traditionally written as one straight line.  English haiku are mostly written as three lines.  Haiku follow a rhythmic sound pattern.

The first line has 5 syllables.  

The second line has 7 syllables. 

The third line has 5 syllables.  

Spring

Pink, budding branches

Chirping sounds from high above

Spring is on its way

-Miss Michele

Come to the Children's room to check out these haiku poetry books and others!

Won Ton

A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

by Lee Wardlaw

A cat arrives at a shelter, arranges to go home with a good family, and settles in with them, all the while letting them know who is boss and, finally, sharing his real name.

Guyku

A Year of Haiku for Boys

by Bob Raczka

A humorous haiku collection perfect for guys (big and small) that celebrates outdoor fun throughout the seasons.

If Not For The Cat

by Jack Prelutsky

Seventeen haiku poems describe a variety of animals.  On beautiful colorful pages you will meet a mouse, a skunk, ants, a hummingbird, eagles and many others.

The Hound Dog's Haiku

and Other Poems for Dog Lovers

by Michael J. Rosen

Simple, charming haiku portray twenty beloved dog breeds from the Dalmation to the Golden Retriever to the Shih Tzu.  Complete with interesting facts about each breed.

April is National Poetry Month

Celebrate 

National Poetry Month

 with a few great poems!  

National Poetry Month is a month-long celebration of poetry that was started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets.  It has been held in the month of April ever since.

Poetry is a wonderful way to express our feelings and emotions, and, when read aloud, can engage both reader and audience. Poetry   also helps to build connections to the written word.  Sharing poems  is a great way to help a child build fluency in reading.

The neat thing about poems is that they have been written for thousands of years.  Poems are very versatile as they can be long or short, about any subject, can be silly or serious, or be written in the form of a shape.  

There are many types of poems such as, haiku, cinquain, limerick, diamante, acrostic, couplets, sonnet, tanka and more!  Visit the Children's Room and find the perfect poem to celebrate National  Poetry Month!