Poetry

Harlem By Walter Dean Meyers with Illustrations by Christopher Myers

Publisher: Scholastic Press (1997)

ISBN:  9780590543408

Harlem paints the picture of immigrants coming to America to achieve a better life.  They are told Harlem, NY is the place to be free from their chains.  This culturally diverse city comes alive with words; which describe their singing, dancing and colors.

Rating:

I give Harlem a BIG SMILE.  It was an easy to read poem, that created rich cultural imagery of the urban Harlem.  It shed a new light on this city that I haven't seen before.  It seems to be from the viewpoint of a child, which made it more straightforward.

Jim from Cautionary Tales by Hilaire Belloc with Illustrations by Edward Gorey

Publisher: Templegate Pub (1998)

ISBN: 9780872432345

Jim is a little boy, who ran away from his nurse.  He had good friends who brought him all types of treats and read him books.  When his friends brought him to the zoo, he unfortunately was eaten by a lion.

Rating:

I give Jim a LITTLE SMILE.  The language is simple and very appropriate for children.  There is rhyming at the end of each line, which is pleasing to read and lyrical.  Right under the title, it says that Jim was eaten by a lion, which ruined it for me.  Since the actual context of the poem does not state that Jim was eaten, there is no gory explanation.  Although, there is no imagination to how the poem ends, since it's spoiled at the beginning. 

Binker from Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne with Illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard

Publisher: Puffin Books (1992)

ISBN: 9780140361247

We follow a little girl, who has a friend named Binker.  She plays with him when no one else has the time and he's always around.  The only downside is that her mommy and daddy cannot see Binker, because he's imaginary.

Rating:

I give this poem a BIG SMILE.  This is a nice reminder that it's normal for young children to have imaginary friends.  This little girl seemed like an only child.  She adores her mother and father, but they are busy.  So, she turns to her imaginary friend to keep her company.  They can pretend to be whoever they like, and Binker can be whoever she needs.  There isn't always rhyming, but the repetition of her mother and father keeps a familiar beat.