The Miss Rumphius Effect

Nonfiction Monday - What's Under There?

2009-11-23T19:22:00.008-05:00

I taught an environmental education workshop this weekend in which one of our outdoor activities was to turn over rotting logs in the forest to see what we could find. It was great, dirty fun. Here are the books I like to match with this activity to get kids thinking about what they'll find when they turn over logs and rocks.

What's Under the Log?, written and illustrated by Anne Hunter - This little gem fits nicely in your hands and begins by asking the question in the title. Hunter then introduces readers to ten animals living beneath the log. The book ends with a short description of a tree's life cycle, reminding us that a rotting log not only provides a home for many creatures, but also returns important nutrients to the soil as it decays.

A Log's Life, written by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Robin Brickman - An oak tree in the forest provides a home for many creatures. When the tree is felled during a storm it becomes a giant log and serves as a home for a whole host of new creatures. This one follows the log through several seasons until the rotting log becomes a mound of rich soil, and the perfect place for an acorn to take root and grow. (Take a closer look inside this book.)

Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs, written by Anthony Fredericks and illustrated by Jennfier DiRubbio - A Sharing Nature With Children book, this one uses the form of "The House that Jack Built" to examine seven different animals that just might live under a rock near you. In the Field Notes readers will find additional information on earthworms, ants, spiders, beetles, field crickets, millipedes and slugs.

This post was written for Nonfiction Monday. Hosting this week is Diane Chen at Practically Paradise. Do take some time to check out all the great posts highlighting nonfiction this week.

Monday Poetry Stretch - Hay(na)ku

2009-11-23T05:12:00.004-05:00

I've found another new form that I would like to try this week. It's called hay(na)ku and was created in 2003 by poet Eileen Tabios. Here are the guidelines.

Hay(na)ku is a 3-line poem of six words with one word in the first line, two words in the second, and three in the third. There are no other rules and no restrictions on number of syllables or rhyme.

Need some examples? You can find some Hay(na)ku poetry contest winners at the Hay(na)ku Poetry blog. There is also a thoughtful essay about the form at Dragoncave.

As you'll see from the examples, some folks create poems comprised of several hay(na)ku strung together. So, what kind of hay(na)ku will you write? Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.

McSweeney's, Twilight, and a Bit of Wuthering Heights

2009-11-20T08:30:00.003-05:00

You know I love me some McSweeney's. Take a look at Catherine and Heathcliff Audition for Twilight. I dare you not to laugh.

Poetry Friday - Hand Shadows

2009-11-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

The poetry stretch this week was to write about games of childhood. One of my favorite things to do was make shadows on the wall, though I was never very good at it. Here is a wonderful poem about just such a pastime.

Hand Shadows
by Mary Cornish

My father put his hands in the white light
of the lantern, and his palms became a horse
that flicked its ears and bucked; an alligator
feigning sleep along the canvas wall leapt up

Read the poem in its entirety.

The round up is being hosted by Julie Larios over at The Drift Record. Do stop by and take in the wonderful poetry being shared. Before you go, be sure to check out this week's poetry stretch results.

Quick Hits - Some Posts of Interest

2009-11-19T14:54:00.005-05:00

I'm way behind on my blog reading. I haven't read a single post in the Winter Blog Blast Tour (WBBT for short) yet! But, I am saving those for the weekend, when my computer and I shall be united for too long to mention. Until then, here are two short posts that caught my eye.

John Green - On Liking Twilight

Roger Sutton - One Question or Two?

Poetry Stretch Results - Childhood Games

2009-11-19T14:25:00.005-05:00

The challenge this week was to write a poem about a childhood game or pastime. Here are the results.

Jane Yolen left this poem in the comments.
Jacks

I was no Jill at Jacks,
tumbling gracelessly down a hill.
Instead I swiped the little iron-legged tokens
with a quick hand, snagged the ball,
was on to the next round with hardly a wasted motion.
Champion of my camp, of my elementary school,
I privileged jacks over real boys,
keeping my winning streak going
until my first kiss the summer I was thirteen.
The next time I played jacks
was with my own children
who could sit on the floor with an ease
I scarcely remembered.
The last time was at a conference,
with two women friends,
one of whom brought her own jacks and ball
in a velvet drawstring bag.
We sat on the hotel floor
watched over by conference attendees.
They cheered us equally.
But two of us lost.
We lost big.
Never play pool with anyone
who owns his own cue stick, Daddy had warned.
It’s true in jacks as well.

©2009 Jane Yolen, all rights reserved
Amy Ludwig Vanderwater left this poem in the comments.
Ouija Board

My hands hover over
hoping for hints.

Who will I love someday?

I close my eyes.
I hold my breath.

What will the Ouija say?

Letter-by-letter
my future is told.

Word-by-word
her secrets unfold.

For me to make true.
For me to blame.

Ouija board –

Truth?

Or game?

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, 2009
Easter of Owl in the Library shares two poems this week.

Carol Weis left two poems in the comments.
POGO STICK

Up
down
hopping around
how many times
can I go-go?

Up
down
hopping around
zillions of times
on my pogo.

-----

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO

One potato
two potato
three potato four
rang around our yard
on chilly
autumn days
in our northern
Jersey neighborhood.

Fists held tight
we’d huddle in a circle
ready-or-not to play
the next round of
hide and seek
all wondering
who would
be IT.

Tapping fist to
chin and other
eager fists
it turned out
only
the potato
knew
for sure.
Janet of Across the Page shares a poem entitled Boggle Dreams.

Harriet of spynotes left this poem in the comments.
Rope

Skit skat
Paddywhack
One foot, four;
Jump rope,
Turn twice,
Holler for more!

Double Dutch,
Never such,
Ever such rhyme;
One foot,
Two foot,
Four feet time.

Hold hands,
Back to back,
Shake it sweet;
Whip round,
Skip down,
Don’t miss a beat!

Turning,
Turning
The rope goes round --
Faster,
Faster, that
Whirring sound

Touch down
Turn around
Back against the wall
Oh, no!
Caught a toe
Trip then fall

Jump rope stall.

Get up
Dust off
That’s how you learn
Once more
Jump back
One more turn

Turn once
Turn twice
Count each leap
Skip day
Skip night
Skip in your sleep

Skit skat
Paddywhack
One foot, three
Inside a
Jump rope’s
The place for me.
Jone of Deo Writer shares a rictameter about hopscotch.

I wrote several poems, one about playing in the dirt and mud, another about climbing trees, and this one.

That old rope wore my hands bare
but I couldn’t stay away

It traveled high over the corn field
and came back to the edge of the road

Swinging was as good as flying

As I got older, I swung upside down
rope twined around my legs—over, under, between

Swinging was my dare
my truth was freedom in the air

It's not too late if you still want to play. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll add it to the list.

Gifts for the Readers and Writers in Your Life - Part One

2009-11-18T17:21:00.011-05:00

It's about time for me to begin searching the nooks and crannies of my house for the holiday gifts I've been buying throughout the year. I still have a few folks left, but my recent online searches have me convinced that it will be easy to please the readers and writers in my life. Here are some of the things I've come across that may make my gift list this year.

New York Review Watch - The band may be plastic, but who could snub a watch with the Bard on its face? This one features a caricature by David Levine.

Writer's Pencils - Alright, I know a lot of folks write on the computer, but there are a few dinosaurs like me who write and revise on actual paper. These pencils are inscribed with quotations by O. Henry, Ring Lardner, Confucius, Beatrix Potter, and Charles Baudelaire on the craft of writing.

How to Write a Story Necklace - Hanging from a silver chain is an antique typewriter with the beginning of a story about a curious penguin. If necklaces aren't your thing, there's always the option of a brooch.

Great Poets Coffee Mug - Enjoy a cup of joe, tea, or whatever your poison accompanied by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes.

Women Writers Umbrella - Forget about that plain black umbrella--think how stylish you'll look with Austen, Plath, Dickinson, Hurston, Woolf, Alcott, Shelley, and Bronte keeping you dry.

In My Book Greeting Cards/Bookmarks - I first saw these in the gift shop of the Library of Congress and fell in love. I'm particularly fond of "In my book, you're a mystery," which features an image of Stonehenge.

A Reader's Diary - Maybe I'm just getting old, but these days I need to write down the titles of the books I've read (though the really amazing ones stand out), as well as the ones I want to read. This terrific little pocket diary is just the thing to keep book lovers organized.

Dark and Stormy Night Board Game - Bring this to your next book club meeting and have a little fun when the discussion winds down. The object of the game is to correctly guess the title or author of eight books after hearing only the opening lines.

Raval Page Flags - My books are littered with with Post-It™ notes and loose sheets of paper where I've tried to mark important passages. For the reader in your life who must mark everything, these page flags are just the ticket.

Journals Galore - I'll admit it. I'm a journal junkie. The writer in your life may just harbor this secret passion as well. Some of my favorites include Scintillating Observations, Nepalese Traveler's Journal, The Big Empty Sky, Giraffe Journal, Chapter Books (Set of 3), and Recycled 3-Pack Notebooks.

The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature, and the Passages That Feature Them - Good food and good books--need I say more?

Okay, I'm done procrastinating for a while. I'll be back with some more ideas in the next week or so. Until then, feel free to share some of your own ideas. I'd love to hear them. And if you have time, you may want to check out last year's list of gift ideas.

Books for Elementary Social Studies - Civics

2009-11-16T12:18:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been to Open Wide, Look Inside lately, you're really missing something. In the last few weeks my students have been highlighting books for use in teaching a variety of social studies topics. This week they're focused on civics. You'll find books on patriotism, symbols of America, government, democracy, as well as biographies of figures who have made a difference in the life of our growing nation.

If you want to check out book suggestions for other topics you may have missed, follow these links.

Each entry includes a brief summary of the book, curriculum connections, links for some supporting resources, and general information about the book. If you are looking for some ideas for homeschooling or classroom social studies, do take a look. You won't be disappointed.

Nonfiction Monday - How To Build Your Own Country

2009-11-16T09:08:00.015-05:00

I've been holding on to this book for a while, but since I'm teaching a class tonight on how to teach civics in the elementary classroom, today is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on it.

As a child I had dreams about having my own room. I didn't have to wait long, because my sister went off to college when I was 9, but before that time there were many days when I longed to draw a chalk line down the center of the room to mark off my space, my territory. If you ever shared a room with a sibling, you know what I'm talking about. For any kid who wants to take the notion of having his/her own territory to the extreme, How To Build Your Own Country will show him/her just how to do it.

Written by Valerie Wyatt and illustrated by Fred Rix, How to Build Your Own Country is a step-by-step guide to building a country from scratch. Here's how it begins.

Suppose you stumble across a chunk of land that no one owns. You could take it over and declare it a brand new country. Your own personal country! The Kingdom of Jason! The Federal Republic of Katie! Even if it were only the size of a bathmat, it would be yours, all yours!

If you think that's highly unlikely, you're right. Unlikely, but not impossible.

What follows are three chapters that guide readers through the country building process. Wyatt uses the micronation of Bathmatia (a hypothetical country founded in a bathroom) to illustrate each point, as well as information about countries currently in existence. The book is chock-full of facts relating to topics in geography, economics, and history. However, they're so creatively woven into the text that kids won't feel like they've picked up a textbook when they crack this one open. You'll be more likely to hear kids sharing interesting tidbits with their friends. Here's an example from a sidebar entitled "One Dog, One Vote."

Duncan M. MacDonald cast his vote in a 2006 election in the United States. There was only one problem: Duncan is a dog. He was registered as a voter over the phone (his owner took the call) and received an absentee ballot in the mail. (Absentee ballots are used by voters who can't vote in person at election time.) Duncan marked his choice with a paw print, and then his owner, Jane Balogh, mailed in the ballot. Ms. Balogh was trying to make the point that it's too easy to get registered to vote because she was concerned about voter fraud. For doing so, she was convicted of making a false statement to a public official.

The first chapter, entitled "Stake Out Your Identity," details naming your country, finding a population, designing a flag and choosing a motto, and writing a national anthem. In addition to helpful hints for completing each task, readers will find some handy-dandy activities along the way, like the U-Name-It matching column for folks stumped for a name, or the Mad-Lib™ style fill-in-the-blanks for writing a national anthem.

Chapter two, entitled "Run the Country," explains setting up a government (autocracy, oligarchy, theocracy, single-party government, and democracy are all described), holding elections, writing a constitution, making the laws, serving your citizens, making money, and taking a holiday. Here's how this chapter begins.

Running a country is a bit like having a pet fish. You have to take care of the fish or bad things will happen (to the fish). Actually, looking after a population is a lot more work than that because your citizens won't be satisfied with just food and clean water. They will expect big things, such as a justice system, a government and an economy, and smaller things, such as roads, schools and hospitals. These are the necessities that will help them lead healthy and prosperous lives. And if your citizens are healthy and prosperous, your country will be, too.

The last chapter, entitled "Meet the Neighbors," highlights the fact that we all live in "one big world, and sometimes we need to work together on issues like peace and global warming and disaster relief." What follows is an introduction to some of our neighbors (big and small, old and new, rich and poor, etc.), international organizations, and talk of keeping the peace.

While there is no bibliography at the end of the book, there is a helpful glossary and an extensive index. Remember how I said that the book covered a range of topics in social studies? Here alone is what you'll find if you explore the index listings for the letter R.

refugees
religions
representative government
representatives
revolutions
rights, citizens
rights, human
Russia

The writing in the book is engaging and often playful (jokes and puns abound), but always straightforward and clear. Topics are broken down into easily digestible chunks so that the text never gets overwhelming for readers. The cartoon illustrations are quirky, colorful and fun, adding to the playfulness of the text. (Take a look at these spreads from the book.)

Part of the CitizenKid collection (a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens), How to Build Your Own Country will make a fine addition to school and classroom libraries. For teachers who want to help kids better understand issues related to government, this book will serve as a useful guide to setting up a micronation in the classroom. You can even download some helpful learning resource materials to help with this endeavor. Just don't say I didn't warn you if your class decides to annex the cafeteria and demands its users pay taxes!

Book: How To Build Your Own Country
Author: Valerie Wyatt
Illustrator: Fred Rix
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: August, 2009
Pages: 40 pages
Grades: 3-6
ISBN: 978-1554533107

Source of Book: Review copy received from Raab Associates.

This post was written for Nonfiction Monday. Hosting this week is Tina Nichols Coury at Tales from the Rushmore Kid . Do take some time to check out all the great posts highlighting nonfiction this week.

Monday Poetry Stretch - Childhood Games

2009-11-16T00:01:00.004-05:00

While playing some games with my son this weekend I had a chance to reflect on some of the games I played as a child, as well as some of the ways I amused myself when there were no friends to play with me. I was fond of Pick-Up Sticks, Tiddlywinks, and Jacks. I coveted my brother's Battling Tops and my sister's Mystery Date. When I was outside I loved hopscotch, my pogo stick, jumping rope, and blowing bubbles.

I'm sure if I set my mind to it, I could come up with other games I enjoyed, and I'll bet you can too. So, your challenge this week is to write about a favorite game or pastime from childhood. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.

*Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503155381@N01/

Poetry Friday - Sifting in the Afternoon

2009-11-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

Today I'm sharing a poem from the November issue of Poetry magazine.

Sifting in the Afternoon
by Malachi Black

Some people might describe this room as spare:
a bedside table and an ashtray and an antique

chair; a mattress and a coffee mug;
an unwashed cotton blanket and a rug

my mother used to own. I used to have
a phone. I used to have another

Read the poem in its entirety.

The round up is being hosted by Greg K. at Gotta Book. Do stop by and take in all the great poetry being shared. Before you go, be sure to check out this week's poetry stretch results. Happy poetry Friday all!

Poetry Stretch Results - Rictameter

2009-11-12T18:51:00.017-05:00

The challenge this week was to write in the form of rictameter, and unrhymed, 9-line poem with a syllable count of 2/4/6/8/10/8/6/4/2 in which the first and last lines are the same. Here are the results.

Jane Yolen left this poem in the comments.
Today
I am trying
a brand new form of poem.
It is known as rictameter.
Who is it makes up these poetry forms?
Some clown with a post box in Maine?
Or was it just someone
who had a dream
Today?

© 2009 Jane Yolen
Kate Coombs of Book Aunt shares a poem entitled Snail.
Snail

Gypsy
hauls his round brown
caravan behind one
smooth trotless horse up and down small
country roads. When he's gone, so is the green
laundry from the garden's clothesline.
Festooned in lettuce, he
rides on--bold-eyed
gypsy.

--Kate Coombs (Book Aunt), 2009
Laura Purdie Salas shares a poem entitled Bear Attack.

Kelly Polark left this poem in the comments.
Autumn
Is so cool. He
Showers us with vibrant
Colors. Our children race and jump
In the pile the size of a Volkswagen.
We sip cider while we watch the
Breeze scatter leaves on the
Yard yet again.
Tyrant.

---Kelly Polark, 2009
Carol Weis left this poem in the comments.
Mind fog
Creeps shamelessly
Blurs judgment inside brain
Key decisions lost in its midst
Bleary vacillations picking up speed
Yearning for sun to blaze away
Thick overhanging clouds
Obscuring view
Mind fog

© Carol Weis, all rights reserved
Harriet of spynotes left this poem in the comments.
Walking
Over the hill,
Past the long-necked horses,
Thumping the fence with a fat stick
Just for the wooden sound of it,
I wade into the grass
To hush my feet
Walking
Andy of Life Allegorical shares two rictameters at her web site. She also left this poem in the comments.
Harvest
moon is slouching
lazily in the sky.
Her belly is too full to rise
just yet, so she lounges right above the
horizon, peers over the broad
shoulders of farm workers,
and inspects the
harvest.
Easter of Owl in the Library shares a poem about gifted kids.

Julie Larios of The Drift Record shares a poem entitled Late Night Thoughts.

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater left this poem in the comments.
A cat
comes to a door
looking for food and drink.
He finds this. And he finds children
kissing him before they even name him.
Small hands remind him how to purr.
Soft laughter fills the porch.
This home needed
a cat.
Andi of a wrung sponge shares a poem entitled Swine Flu with Asthma.

Bec of Re: Becca plays along for the first time and shares a poem about Scotland, complete with pictures. Welcome!

Mary Lee of A Year of Reading shares a rictameter that serves as a clever review of two books.

Jone of Deo Writer shares a rictameter in honor of Friday the 13th.

Denise Doyen left this poem in the comments.
Tricky,
Arbitrary:
Writing rictameter
Peters out my inner reas’ning,
‘Til my poetary clockworks slip gear,
Catch, and whirr, then keep on ticking,
Picking out syllables
Like live lobsters.
Tricky.

I agree with many of the writers this week who said that this form was particularly difficult to work within. I found it darn hard to make the first and last lines work seamlessly. Here are two of my drafts.

Acorns
drop among fall
leaves, littering the ground
with jauntily capped messengers.
Securing fertile ground is a challenge
when pestered and sequestered by
bushy-tailed tree climbers,
gathering up
acorns!

-----

Lucky
number seven,
four-leaf clovers, horseshoes
crickets, ladybugs, dragonflies
rainbows, falling stars, wishing wells, coins in
a fountain—not superstitions,
but dreams. Make one big wish.
Maybe you’ll get
Lucky.

It's not too late if you still want to play. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll it to the results.

In Appreciation - Books That Highlight Those Who Serve

2009-11-11T13:49:00.014-05:00

Today is Veterans Day. First called Armistice Day, this holiday falls on the day when the Germans and Allies agreed to end the first world war on November 11, 1918. Though originally established in 1919 to honor Americans who served in World War I, the name was changed after World War II and the day expanded to honor veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought. On this day and every other day of the year I am extremely grateful for all those who have served and currently serve us and our nation today with courage, honor, and sacrifice.

Here are a few books I've read recently that highlight the lives of soldiers (no matter when, where or whom they serve) and their families. These titles can help us to see more clearly what their service truly means.

America at War, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn, is a collection of 54 poems by more than 40 poets. Divided into sections, each war is preceded by an introductory page that contains the name of the war and the dates it was fought, a quote about the war, and a brief summary of the conflict. (Read my review.)

Flygirl, written by Sherri Smith - Ida Mae is a young, light-skinned woman of color who wants desperately to fly. When she reads about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, she decides to keep her identity a secret and "pass" as white. The story of the choices Ida Mae makes to follow her dream provides an account of her training and describes the challenges and risks of being a WASP.

Mare's War, written by Tanita Davis - Alternating between present and past, the story of Marey Lee Boylen's service in the African American unit of the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) unfolds against the backdrop of a roadtrip with her bickering granddaughters. Mare's story is told as she experienced life in the 40's, and as such is filled details about day-to-day life during the war, the humiliations of segregation (even in the army), and the role of WACs in World War II.

Operation YES, written by Sara Lewis Holmes - While ostensibly about the kids taught by Miss Loupe in Room 208 of Young Oaks Elementary School, the story as a whole is set against the backdrop of life in the military during a time of war. When the entire class rallies around a project that unites activism, art, and the town around the base, readers learn what it means to be part of the military family.

Sunrise Over Fallujah, written by Walter Dean Myers - Eighteen year old Robin "Birdy" Perry, an African American born and raised in Harlem, is sent to Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The emotional story of Birdy's service in a Civilian Affairs unit is an unflinching look at the life of a soldier deployed during a time of war.

Truce, written by Jim Murphy - This is the story of an event during World War I that I've been hearing about since childhood. Murphy deftly weaves a nonfiction narrative about the war in all its ugliness that still manages to find a bit of humanity in the chaos. (Check out the November 2009 Notes From The Horn Book for some insights from the author.)

What other recent titles highlight those who serve? Please share, as I'd love to know what you've been reading.

Debut Picture Book Cover - I'm In!

2009-11-09T19:40:00.006-05:00

Over at 100 Scope Notes you'll find directions for creating your own picture book cover. Here's what you do.

Go to The Name Generator and click GENERATE NEW NAME. The name that appears is your author name.
Go to Picture Book Title Generator and click CREATE TITLE! This is the title of your picture book.
Go to FlickrCC and type the last word from your title into the search box followed by the word “drawing”. Click FIND. The first suitable image is your cover.
Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Gettin’ creative is encouraged.
Post it to your site along with this text.
Go to 100 Scope Notes to see the gallery of covers!

And here's my cover ...

Image courtesy of

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70831250@N00/2284892796

Monday Poetry Stretch - Rictameter

2009-11-09T06:29:00.003-05:00

I'm writing sonnets right now and seem to be forever tapping out meter and stresses, so this week I've picked a form that requires some syllable counting. Rictameter is a nine line, unrhymed poetry form in which the 1st and last lines are the same. The syllable count is 2/4/6/8/10/8/6/4/2.

You can learn more about this form and read some examples at the group site Rictameter.

What kind of rictameter will you write? Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.

Poetry Stretch Results - What Isn't There

2009-11-07T19:54:00.004-05:00

The challenge this week was to write a poem about something that is described by virtue of what isn't there. Here are the results.

Elaine of Wild Rose Reader shares three poems this week.

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater left this poem in the comments.
Dogless House

No one waiting by my door.
No lickingwigglingwags galore.
No one barking anymore.
I’m going home.
What for?
Easter of Owl in the Library shares a poem entitled Stepmother. Welcome!

Julie Larios of The Drift Record left this poem in the comments.
Going Back to Bed After Getting Up on the Wrong Side of It

Done un-.
Plus non-.
Difference in-.
Citement ex-.
Mood nix.
Jane Yolen left this poem in the comments.
My Late Husband

The door creaks open.
It’s only air.
I hear your laugh.
You are not there.
I know you’re ashes
Underground
Without a body,
Heart, or sound.
I know you’re gone.
I watched you die.
Yet still you’re here.
I wonder why.
I do not scream
Or shed a tear
Because I want you
Here
and here.

© 2009 Jane Yolen, all rights reserved
Tiel Aisha Ansari of Knocking From Inside shares a poem entitled Full Moon and Fog.

Carol Weis left this poem in the comments.
THE TRAMPOLINE

It’s gone, that vestige of my
daughter’s youth, strapped to the
back of a pickup and ripped away, now
sprawling recklessly in a neighbor’s back
yard. Little did they know, late last night
I seized one final frolic, climbed aboard the
rusty relic that lazed for years on my front lawn
and before I knew what happened my nighty took
flight. I whipped that baby off my menopausal bod
and bounced, naked as a newborn, on that tarnished
trampoline, soaring like the titmouse that nests ‘neath
my porch, while a lecherous moon leered through limbs
of lanky oaks, surely amused by this midnight trollop.

I watched my neighbors grapple with it the next day
cart it across the grass, reckoning how in the heck
they’d get it home, while I sat and smirked
knowing full well, how I had romped
with this ol’ codger, the night before.

© Carol Weis, all rights reserved
Diane Mayr of Random Noodling shares a lovely little concrete poem.

Kate Coombs of Book Aunt left this poem in the comments.
No Tree

No tree, no branch,
no children swinging
into space and back.

No clean cotton socks,
no grumpy cactus prickle,
no slime of stately snails.

No runner's rhythmic breath,
no ragged shout of wind,
no tinkling unseen bells.

No warm embrace of bread scent,
no ripeness of spring earth,
no sour murk of skunk.

No ageless taste of sea salt,
no apple's autumn crunch,
no sweet melt of ice cream.

Nothing.
Nullness.
No one.
None.
Nearly
nowhere.

Yet, painted
in stolen sunlight
and its own wealth
of shadows, none
has more fair a face
than Moon.
Susan Taylor Brown of Susan Writes left this poem in the comments.
The Father Who Never Was

No large hand
to wipe my tears
protecting me
from all my fears

No shoulders
to ride so high
to watch parades
as they goes by

No trike training
or driver's ed
No late night talks
while mom's in bed.

No homework help
with science class
No begging me
to cut the grass

No boyfriend inspection
No first car selection

No father daughter wedding dance
Not even just a single chance
to see my father smile and say
yes, you're mine, in every way.
Harriet of spynotes left this poem in the comments.
Tyler Elm

No Tree, there is.
Only tree space,
The absence of branch and leaf
A swing-sized hole,
The memory of standing on a wooden seat
And the photo to prove it;
The snowmen built in a storm,
Under its sheltering limbs,
And the storm that made No Tree
No Tree.

No Tree, there is
Only shadow,
A hundred years solid
And now a ghost
An apparition in an old film
With the movie star beneath
On the old familiar swing.
Even now, it creaks
But there is no swing,
No shadow.
Only the opposite of what once stood
And sheltered
And held up.
Only No Tree.
Tess of Written for Children shares The Little Sadness Poem.

Jone of Deo Writer shares a poem entitled Missing the Huntress.

It's not too late if you still want to play. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll add it to the list.

Three Years and Counting - Happy Birthdy TMRE!

2009-11-06T00:02:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe, but The Miss Rumphius Effect is three years old today. I started blogging in November of 2006 because I wanted to launch a practicum blog with my students during the spring of 2007. Before I asked them to do this, I was convinced I needed to model the practice myself. I'm not particularly proud of those first few posts, as they aren't really focused, but it didn't take me long to find my footing. Three years later, I'm still reading, still writing, and so very blessed by all the friends I've made in this amazing community.

In the spirit of celebration, grab yourself a cupcake and dive into a few of my favorite posts from the last year.

Things I've Done - Okay, this has nothing to do with books, it's just a list of 100 things with highlights for those I've actually done. Here's the funny thing about reading this list now. I noticed that 80 (Published a book) is not highlighted. I guess I decided my dissertation didn't count.
Gifts for Readers and Writers - I love buying gifts for others, and this list I put together last winter still offers many great ideas for the readers and writers in your life.
Why I Love Opening a Book - The title says it all. And yes, I did love the book.
Old, New and Everything In Between - What Should Children Read? - This question gets asked and answered a lot in the kidlitosphere. Here's my take on it.
Low-Brow Topics That Make For High-Brow Reading - This thematic book list is by far the most frequented on the blog. It features the word poop 13 times. Need I say more?
How Do I Love Thee Letter D? - Another post about me (vanity, I know), with every entry related to the letter d.
Poetry Makers Series - There's absolutely no way I could pick a favorite poet from this bunch, so you'll just have to peruse the interviews for yourself. Can I just say how awesome all these folks are?

Thanks for sticking with me all this time. I hope to see you back here again very soon.

Poetry Friday - Gabardine

2009-11-06T00:01:00.009-05:00

I read this one and couldn't help but think of my Dad, the men who sit in the park, and those who gather daily for coffee and conversation at the local pharmacy lunch counter.

Gabardine
by Ted Kooser

To sit in sunlight with other old men,
none with his legs crossed, our feet in loose shoes
hot and flat on the earth, hands curled in our laps

Read the poem in it's entirety.

The round up is being hosted by Elaine at Wild Rose Reader. Do stop by and take in all the great poetry being shared this week. Happy poetry Friday all!

Books for Elementary Social Studies - Geography

2009-11-05T08:45:00.001-05:00

Last week my preservice teachers posted their reviews of books for teaching economics in the elementary classroom. This week they've focused on geography. I'm amazed at the number of wonderful selections they have, including nonfiction, poetry, and some very creative picture book suggestions. Head on over to Open Wide, Look Inside this week to see what they're sharing.

Books for Elementary Social Studies - Economics

2009-11-03T13:41:00.004-05:00

Last week my students returned to the task of reading and reviewing books for the elementary classroom, this time with an eye for the social studies. This first time around they tackled economics. You'll find books on trade, barter, wants and needs, money and more. Head on over to Open Wide, Look Inside and see what they're sharing.

On Poetry and Meeting Jane

2009-11-03T08:46:00.009-05:00

Yup. That's me sitting next to the inimitable Jane Yolen. Without completely gushing and getting all fan-girly, let me tell you that she is a lovely, lovely woman. After having her drop by to stretch with us so often, I was thrilled to finally meet her.

Okay, bear with me for a sidebar, just for a moment.
I know you've heard this before, but I work at an amazing institution. Two years ago I had the pleasure of dining with John Green and hearing him speak. He was brought to Richmond to deliver the Cathleen Mallaney Trees Lecture. Two weeks ago I lunched with Tobin Anderson and heard him speak as part of the All Henrico Reads event. Last night I had the great pleasure of dining with Jane Yolen before she delivered this year's Cathleen Mallaney Trees Lecture. The list of artists this university brings to campus is quite simply, fabulous. It is one of the best things about living and working in an academic setting. I have opportunities to see, hear and meet so many talented people that I would otherwise know only through their work.

Alright, back to Jane Yolen. First, I should tell you that we I walked to the room where we would eat dinner with some colleagues. We made some general introductions and carried on a bit of small talk. After a few minutes I gathered up the courage to reintroduce myself as Miss Rumphius. At that point I felt like I was meeting an old friend. How is it possible that this crazy thing called blogging (or social networking, whichever you prefer) allows us to feel this way?

Later in the evening, Jane gave a talk in which she focused on poetry. After beginning with a poem and an apology, she described an article published in The Atlantic Monthly on the state of poetry saying that author basically slammed the writing of poetry for children and implied that it's second-rate. I found the article, entitled Can Poetry Matter, and it isn't pretty. Here's what the author said.

And a few loners, like X. J. Kennedy and John Updike, turn their genius to the critically disreputable demimonde of light verse and children's poetry.

It is the phrase "critically disreputable demimonde of light verse and children's poetry" that Jane spent the evening carefully refuting with readings of poetry and the close examination of how much work goes into the crafting of a poem.

In addition to reading her own work, Jane read the poems of Emily Dickinson, Pat Lewis, Lilian Moore, Lord Alfred Tennyson, and David McCord. She talked of poets writing with hope (hope for the right words, hope to finish), of poets as code masters, of poems as attempts to get at the truth, and more. She described the rhythm in poems, and how reading them aloud pulls you in, pulls you forward, and then sometimes stops you in your tracks. She described metaphors as being childlike without being childish. We heard many poems she has yet to have published--animal epitaphs, sonnets on Emily Dickinson's life, a poem inspired by and about Chagall, the text of a picture book in verse, and more.

By all accounts it was a lovely evening. I can't think of better way to spend my time than to hear someone who's published more than 70 books of poetry read and talk about the craft. My thanks to Jane for once again providing me with real inspiration and a gentle nudge to keep writing.

BTW, Jane gently ribbed me about loving Pat Lewis more than her. Wherever did she get such an idea?! Let me hereby decree that I do NOT have favorites in the world of children's poetry--I love you both! And you sit at the top of a rather long list of wonderful poets, many of whom I was honored to interview this year.

Best Books in Science - Finalists Announced for 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize

2009-11-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

The finalists for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books have been announced. This prize "celebrates outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults."

Children's Science Picture Book

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
written by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm, illustrated by Molly Bang
(Visit Molly Bang's web site for more information.)

Redwoods
written and illustrated by Jason Chin
(See the review at Seven Imp and check out the book's web site.)

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
written and illustrated by Brian Floca
(Read my review.)

What Bluebirds Do
written and photographed by Pamela Kirby
(Read my review.)

Middle Grades Science Book

Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon
written by Andrew Chaikin and illustrated by Alan Bean

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past
written by James M. Deem

Cars on Mars: Roving the Red Planet
written by Alexandra Siy

Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From
written by Catherine Thimmesh

The Frog Scientist
written by Pamela S. Turner, with photographs by Andy Comins

Young Adult Science Book

Invisible Kingdom: From the Tips of Our Fingers to the Tops of Our Trash, Inside the Curious World of Microbes
written by Idah Ben-Barak

Why Sh*t Happens: The Science of a Really Bad Day
written by Peter J. Bentley

The Survivor's Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life
written by Ben Sherwood

Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
written by Seth Shostak, with a foreword by Frank Drake

Hands-on Science Book

Sadly, the judges and editors are choosing not to award a prize in the hands-on category this year, feeling that there were no hands-on science books that met the high standards of the SB&F Prize. Instead of honoring a single book, they will be giving a lifetime achievement award to a hands-on science book author for "their significant and lasting contribution to children's and a young adult science books." The recipient of that award will be announced in early January.

There are many terrific titles here, along with a few I haven't seen. (The Frog Scientist has been on my TBR for too long now!) While waiting for the winners to be announced, I'll be reading through these and making my best guess about the outcome. Won't you join me?

Another Reason I Love Weekly Events

2009-11-02T08:56:00.005-05:00

Why do I participate in kidlitosphere events like Nonfiction Monday and Poetry Friday? Well, in part because I love nonfiction and poetry, and in part because I know I'll have a post topic on those days. After blogging for nearly three years (yup, check that blogoversary counter on the right - just a few more days!), I sometimes need a bit of help in deciding what to write about. However, one of the biggest reasons I not only participate, but visit the other blogs is because I find NEW-TO-ME, AWESOME blogs.

Here's today's find and it's a treasure.
Playing By the Book - Launched in July of 2009, this is a blog about "kids’ activities based on our favourite children’s books." The author reviews the books she reads with her daughters and then shows readers all the fun, creative things the books inspire them to do. Check out some of these ideas inspired by books.

There is so much to explore here. Do take some time to visit. I know you'll be inspired by these amazing projects.

Monday Poetry Stretch - What Isn't There

2009-11-02T08:16:00.005-05:00

I've been reading seasonal poems as of late and was so struck by this poem that it gave me the idea for today's stretch.

No!
by Thomas Hood

     No sun—no moon!
     No morn—no noon!
No dawn—no dusk—no proper time of day—
     No sky—no earthly view—
     No distance looking blue—
No road—no street—no "t'other side this way"—
     No end to any Row—
     No indications where the Crescents go—
     No top to any steeple—
No recognitions of familiar people—
     No courtesies for showing 'em—
     No knowing 'em!
No traveling at all—no locomotion—
No inkling of the way—no notion—
     "No go" by land or ocean—
     No mail—no post—
     No news from any foreign coast—
No Park, no Ring, no afternoon gentility—
     No company—no nobility—
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
  No comfortable feel in any member—
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
  No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds—
     November!

Since my poems often try to capture what I see and hear, smell and touch, I thought it might be interesting to write a poem about something that describes it by virtue of what isn't there.

So, there's your challenge for the week. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.

Nonfiction Monday - Nic Bishop Marsupials

2009-11-02T00:01:00.012-05:00

I never tire of good books about animals. I am particularly fond of those that focus on narrow themes, like a single physical feature (such as Sneed Collard's Teeth), animal communication (such as Steve Jenkins' Slap, Squeak and Scatter : How Animals Communicate, or a particular group of animals. Many of Nic Bishop's books fit into this last category. Following on the success of his books on Spiders (a Sibert honor book in 2008), Frogs (the Cybils nonfiction picture book winner for 2008), and Butterflies and Moths, Bishop has turned his attention to Marsupials.

While the photographs are sure to draw readers in (they are amazing!), the text will engage them even more with its strange and wonderful collection of facts about this fascinating group of mammals. By definition, mammals are warm-blooded animals covered with fur that produce milk for their young. Marsupials are a special group of mammals identified by the presence of a pouch. While most folks can identify the kangaroo, koala, and opossum as members of this group, these animals represent just a fraction of all the marsupials scientists recognize today.

Here's how the book begins.

Most people know about lions, zebras, monkeys, and bears, but what about bettongs and bilbies? Or potoroos and pademelons? Dibblers and dunnarts?

These animals live on the continent of Australia, along with kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and a whole crew of amazing creatures. And it's not only their names that are neat. Each mother raises her babies inside a furry pouch, or pocket on her belly. this special pouch is called a marsupium, and these animals are called marsupials.

Bishop leads readers through the world of marsupials, first introducing them to the ways in which marsupials raise their young. From here he introduces readers to the members of the marsupial family that live outside Australia. The Virginia opossum is described in some detail, from where it lives to how it defends itself. While the Virginia opossum is the only marsupial in the United States, there are approximately 90 different types of opossums living in Central and South America. Who knew?!

What I found interesting about this fact was this bit that followed.

Most of these small opossums do not have pouches. Babies have to cling to their mother's belly instead, which can be tricky.

Huh? Young readers might not pick up on this, but it jumped out at me right away. Here's where I wanted a bit more information from Bishop. If marsupials are generally characterized by a pouch, how can an animal without a pouch fit into this group? Perhaps it's not the pouch at all, but the highly underdeveloped state the young are born in. I'm not sure what the answer is, but now I need to know.

After leaving the Americas behind, Bishop takes readers to Australia and New Guinea, "the absolute best places to see marsupials," and the place where more than 220 types of marsupials are found. He begins with kangaroos and moves on to wallabies (small kangaroos) and tree kangaroos. It's hard to imagine a kangaroo climbing a tree, but there are almost ten types of kangaroos specially adapted to life in the trees.

Bettongs and potoroos come next, the tiniest relatives of the kangaroos and among the rarest of the "hopping marsupials." Then come the koalas. I knew that koalas ate eucalyptus leaves, but what I didn't know was that eucalyptus leaves are so poisonous that eating them would kill most mammals. Bishop mentions that koalas are full of surprises and shares many of their more intriguing characteristics. Here's one of them.

Another surprise is that a koala's pouch faces backward toward its hind legs.

How cool is that?! Instead of opening at the top, near the mothers head, a koala's pouch opens at the bottom! And it's not only koalas with such a pouch--wombats have them too. Since wombats live in a burrow this makes perfect sense, and serves the important function of keeping dirt out of the pouch.

My favorite marsupial was the bilby. Here's how Bishop describes it.

At first, the bilby looks like a mix-and-match puzzle. It has the ears of a rabbit, the legs of a kangaroo, the body of an aardvark, and the silky soft fur of a chinchilla.

The book wraps up with a look at carnivorous marsupials, of which there are about fifty kinds. While you may have heard of the Tasmanian devil, you may not know of creatures like dibblers, dunnarts, mulgaras, ningauis, quolls, and numbats.

Bishop devotes the final two pages to describing his work in Australia trying to capture these animals on film. Since many marsupials are nocturnal, this proved to be quite challenging indeed. Also included is an extensive index and a brief glossary.

I found one weakness in the book that had more to do with design than with the actual writing. A number of the pages in the book are dark with dark text. For example, p. 8 is about the Virginia opossum. The page is dark purple with black text. One important sentence is rendered in a font that is both larger and a different color (pink!), so it stands out and is easy to read. The rest of the page is difficult to read unless you are in bright light or hold the book at just the right angle. While the dark pages with light text pose no problem, this dark text on a dark background seems a terrible design choice. Unfortunately, this occurs several times throughout the book.

Despite this complaint, I found this text to be a highly informative, well-written and gorgeously photographed book. My animal lover latched onto this one and wouldn't let go, crazy about the photos and the litany of new and interesting facts presented. Recommended.

Book: Nic Bishop Marsupials

Author/Illustrator: Nic Bishop
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September, 2009
Pages: 48 pages
Grades: 3-8
ISBN: 978-0439877589

Source of Book: Personal copy.

This post was written for Nonfiction Monday. Hosting this week is Anamaria at the blog books together. Do take some time to check out all the great posts highlighting nonfiction this week.