Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night

BIBLIOGRAPHY

            Sidman, Joyce. 2010. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. Ill. by Rick Allen. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 978547152288

PLOT SUMMARY

In Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, Joyce Sidman has written a collection of poems that describe the wonder and mystery of nighttime. The book contains a collection of 12 beautifully written poems, which inspire readers to learn more about the creatures of the night. The poems are accompanied by factual information, which provides more details about the creatures in the poems. This book is not only entertaining, but also full of educational information.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night is a collection of poems about the majesty of nighttime. The book opens with the poem “Welcome to the Night,” thus welcoming readers to the splendors of evening. After readers explore the various sites and sounds of nighttime, the book closes with “Moon’s Lament,” begging the question “Where has it all gone--.” 

Sidman’s poems are lyrical and have an ethereal quality. She uses a variety of rhythms and rhyme throughout the various poems, which add to the diversity of the collection. Some poems, like “Welcome to the Night,” have a discernible rhyme pattern while others like “Love Poem of the Primrose Moth” do not contain any rhyme. Her use of sound makes the poems easy to read and add to the imagery and overall effect of the poems. 

Sidman’s careful use of descriptive language makes the poems exciting and rich with details. She creates strong visuals images with the use of similes, like “where the moss grows like candy” and with unique word combinations, like “hooked face and hungry eye.” This book of poetry is well balanced, providing variations in content and style, thus keeping the reader’s interest. Each poem also includes a small lesson on the topic of the poem. For example the poem “Cricket Speaks” is accompanied by factual information about crickets.

Rick Allen’s gouache illustrations are the perfect complement to Sidman’s poems. The block-prints combined with dark colors create a shadowy effect. The details of the illustration complement the actions in the poems, but alone are still interesting and provide the opportunity for discussion.

Sidman and Allen capture the magic of night beautifully in this illustrated collection of poems. The reader experiences the sights, sounds, and smells of nighttime through Sidman’s detailed poems and Allen’s intricate pictures. This book of poetry will appeal to both young and old alike.

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night provides an excellent opportunity to discuss nocturnal animals as well as fears about the dark. The factual information provided in the book is useful for helping make connections between poetry and real life.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW, 2010: “This picture book combines lyrical poetry and compelling are with science concepts.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “It invites lingering enjoyment for nature and poetry fans...”

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER CHOICES, 2011: “Rick Allen’s detailed, colored linoleum print illustrations lend additional beauty to this gratifying nocturnal experience.”

AWARDS

John Newbery Medal: Honor Book, 2011

Horn Book Award: Honor Book, 2011

CONNECTIONS

*Discuss nocturnal animals. Show pictures and read facts about various animals.

*Create owl masks and ask children to read “Dark Emperor” aloud. Good instructions for creating a mask are located here: http://www.sproutonline.com/crafts-and-recipes/crafts/owl-mask

*Turn off the lights and listen to a disc of night sounds. Ask children to discuss all of the things they hear.

Flamingos on the Roof

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

            Brown, Calef. 2006. Flamingos on the Roof. Ill. by Calef Brown. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618562985

PLOT SUMMARY

In Calef Brown's wacky collection of poems, Flamingos on the Roof, anything goes. From a diner that serves weather to a soppy circus, readers experience all of the silliness in Brown's zany world. The absurd rhymes and colorful illustrations are sure to make this collection of poems a favorite with children.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The poems in Flamingos on the Roof are written in meter and all include a rhyming element, which is sure to be popular with young children. The poems in the collection are silly and nonsensical, so the rhythm fits harmoniously with the content. Some of the poems are much better than others. “Weatherbee's Diner” is an excellent example of Brown's effortless poetry; however, the poem “Bob” is more forced and does not roll of the tongue quite as easily. Brown uses a variety of sound devices throughout his poems, which gives them a sing-song effect. The poem “Peas,” includes lines like “peas peek out of the pod, which illustrates Brown's brilliant use of alliteration. While poems like “Combo Tango,” illustrate his whimsical use of assonance.

Flamingos on the Roof does not appear to be arranged in any discernible order, which fits with the overall whimsy of the collection. Brown's poems are preposterous and full of surprises, which add to their charm and appeal. His brilliant use of personification, like in the poem “Bug Show” allows him to use a host of characters and create unique and exciting images. In the poem “Barnacle Built for Two,” Brown paints a vivid image of two barnacles on the side of a ship, with lines like “Stuck on the hull of a sailing ship / with powerful barnacle glue.”

Brown's full-page, acrylic illustrations are child-like and flawlessly capture the sentiments of each poem. The font used for the text adds to the fun and charm of the collection. This poetry book is an excellent read-aloud for school-age children. Children will delight at both the humorous poetry and the big, bold illustrations.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS REVIEW, 2006: “Composed with a fine ear for consistent rhythms and silly wordplay, these verses will tempt readers into repeat visits, or as the poet puts it: ‘Swivel on your kneecap. / Wobble like a mud flap. / Take a little catnap. / Do it all again!’”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BOOK REVIEW, 2007: “Packed with amusing details, the paintings consistently expand upon the text. Read aloud, these poems are sure to delight listeners.”

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION, 2007: “This book would be a great addition to any school library to encourage the love of poetry.”

AWARDS

Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry: Winner, 2007

CONNECTIONS

*Split children up into two groups and have each group read one section of “The Appleton Twins.” Students should be encouraged to use inflection and sound effects to emphasize the differences in the twin voices.

*Read one the longer poems like “Soggy Circus” or “A Camping Tale” and then ask children to create an image to illustrate the poem. Show the illustration in the book after the children have completed their interpretations.

*Discuss Haiku poetry and encourage children to write a Haiku poem after reading “Ten-cent Haiku.”

*Read other whimsical poetry collections and have a discussion about favorite poems and poets. Some possible collections include:

·         Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein

·         It's Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky

·         Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy and Steve Bjorkman

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689858208

PLOT SUMMARY

In Sonya Sones verse novel One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, we meet 15-year-old Ruby Milliken. Ruby is devastated by the death of her mother and to make matters worse she must say goodbye to her best friend and amazing boyfriend. She is forced to move across the country to live with her movie star dad, whom she's never met. Ruby is furious that her mother's dead and now she must go live with the man that abandoned her before she was ever born. However, Ruby soon learns that things are not always as they seem and that everyone deserves a second chance.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, Sonya Sones flawlessly captures the voice of 15-year-old Ruby Milliken. Sones' novel is written in blank verse poetry, so the length and complexity of each poem varies throughout the novel. However, Sones use of imagery weaves around 200 separate poems into an emotional and well-crafted novel. Although the novel is meant to be read in its entirety, the rhythm of the poems lend themselves to being read aloud, individually.

Separately, the poems are emotional, but combined the poems are compelling. The whole collection must be read in order to fully appreciate the emotional impact of the poems. The poem “We flip to the next page,” details a profound moment in which Ruby finds out that her absentee father has always longed for a relationship with her. The poem is full of  revelations; however, the impact of the poem is reduced when it is not read in the context of the novel.

This book will appeal to young adults because the poems are written from the perspective of a 15-year-old girl. The references to current movie stars and fashion trends along with the use of slang terms provides a modern appeal. The language Sones uses in the poems resonates with the target, young adult, audience. In the verse “I don't know why they call it Lakewood,” Sones illustrates what it's like being at a new school and trying to fit in. Lines like “I can feel a huge zit / blooming on the tip of my nose. / It's flashing on and off like a neon sign,” brilliantly capture the insecurities of adolescent youth.

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies creates a good opportunity to discuss grief and the life changes that young adults experience. The book also provides an excellent opportunity to discuss various types of poetry.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW, 2004: “A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”

KLIATT REVIEW, 2004: “Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students.”

THE ALAN REVIEW, 2005: “Young readers will be drawn to the journalistic feel, poetic set-up, and page-long chapters.”

AWARDS

• Society of School Librarians International Book Awards: Honor Book, 2004
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2005
• John and Patricia Beatty Award: Finalist, 2005

CONNECTIONS

• Ask students to select their favorite poem and read it aloud. Then, discuss how this type of novel differs from a traditional novel.

• Discuss dream interpretation and share some books about Freudian and Gestalt theory.

• Ask students to share their experiences with other verse novels. Share a list of other novels in verse, including:
• What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
• Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
• God Went to Beauty School by Cynthia Rylant
• Street Love by Walter Dean Meyers