Saturday, March 31, 2012

Salas, Laura Purdie. Picture Yourself Writing Poetry.


Salas, Laura Purdie.    Picture Yourself Writing Poetry.    Capstone Publishers, 2012.    32p.  $25.99  ISBN 978-1-4296-6124-9      elm/ms      VG-BNS           
 Teachers and students who are stuck with a poetry assignment will find explanations as well as inspiration in this short guide to making poetry writing easier!  Reluctant students, willing students, and stellar students will use the ideas in this book!  The introduction shows a boy, cross-eyed, staring at a ladybug on his nose!  The ladybug is represented in color and the boy in black-and-white.  Students will want to turn the page, and if not that, they will want to start writing! On this first 2-page spread, the writing process is explained in an easy-to-read chart, and that is as boring as this book gets!  After that, poetry topics, literary devices and photographs jump off the pages with each new section.  The four chapters include: ideas, images and metaphor in Chapter 1, word choices in Chapter 2, characters in Chapter 3 and arranging words on a page in Chapter 4.  Photographs include the aftermath of a tornado, with a teddy bear dressed in a patriotic sweater, and this is certain to encourage the most reluctant readers to make a statement!  Another shows a man sitting, literally, on the edge of a metal beam at the top of the world, riveting while the city’s activity continues below him.  All readers and/or teachers will find at least one picture that is inspirational. 
     The tips for enhancing a line of poetry are useful, and new vocabulary is highlighted in a rusty red color. Each chapter includes an example creative writing that ties to one of the photographs.  Students will enjoy reading the samples.   A short glossary , list of resources, and index round out this very good tool for the classroom or home.   
     The series Picture Yourself includes books about drama, fiction, nonfiction and poetry.  Each book provides definitions of key words relating to each topic, explanations, and photographs for that will inspire writing.    
Squaresky, Martha
 

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