Children's Poetry: Goodnight Goon

Rex, M. (2008). Goodnight goon: a petrifying parody. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Reading level: Not levelable

Interest level: Grades K - 3

 

This “petrifying parody” inverts the soothing, sweet tone of nighttime classic “Goodnight Moon.” Inviting the reader to explore the “cold, grey room” full of scary creatures, this book mimics the original rhyme scheme, syllable for syllable. Use this book to lead a lesson about parody or just as a Halloween read-aloud treat.

Watch a reading of Goodnight Goon

Children's Poetry: Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: and Other Poems

Prelutsky, J., & Berger, C. (2006). Behold the bold umbrellaphant: and other poems. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Reading level: Not levelable

Interest level: Grades K - 3

  

Prelutsky curates a curious zoo of nonsense creatures, among them the eponymous umbrellaphant, the ballpoint penguin and the alarmadillo. Poems appear alongside cut-paper collages, which give the page texture and are beautifully done, as well a phonetic pronunciation of the name.

Each creature is one part zoo animal and one part common household item. This insistence on the familiar ensures that the children will be in on the joke, and hopefully understand why it’s funny. In this classroom, this book is an obvious choice to introduce the concept of portmanteau. You could also invite your students to make up their own creations to add to this cadre of creatures.

Children's Poetry: I, Too, Am America

Hughes, L., & Collier, B. (2012). I, too, am America. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Reading level: Lexile not available

Interest level: Grades 1 - 5

  

“I, too, sing America” begins this book and Hughe’s poem, alongside a railcar as it speeds through cotton fields. Hughes’ compact poem is presented one line at a time for maximum impact, and the train in the first part of the book is used as a microcosm of America, where “the darker brother” works in a hot kitchen or gathering the mail, records, newspapers and other ephemera left behind by the wealthy patrons that once pored over them in plush-backed chairs. “But I laugh/And eat well/And grow strong.” The railway employee releases a pile of refuse to the wind, where it wafts above crops and lands in the lap of a delighted field hand, who will learn from the rare printed material; other papers fly all the way to a city railcar, which is populated by “regular” people trying to get home or to work or the department store. It seems that time has passed, and we’ll maybe see if black America is “at the table/When company comes.” Those at the train still clutch at the flying papers, hungry for the knowledge they offer. Finally, we find a boy under the protective, contemplative gaze of his mother; the boy stares out the window at the cityscape, and the American flag superimposed over the image makes the blue sky look like its filled with childlike oversized stars. The next two-page illustration spread is so beautiful, it’s no wonder the publishers abbreviated it for the cover. I know that I will probably lose my blasé hipster street cred for even mentioning this, but I couldn’t help but think about Trayvon Martin when I look at this boy’s large plain white shirt, defiant eyes, and slightly irreverent smirk and the matched declaration, “I, too, am America.” I think about Trayvon’s mother, too, and the challenges faced by black American mothers. I’m sure it seems so poignant and related because of George Zimmerman’s recent acquittal, but nonetheless, I find this book – which was meant to be hopeful – heartbreaking. Collier’s images use a combination of collage, finely detailed drawings and superimposed images to create a depth of interest and meaning for the reader. This book could be used in the upper grades to introduce poetry, especially since the visual symbols in this book are quite poetic. Obviously, this book would be very helpful to accompany a unit on civil rights.