Description
Got a passion for poetry? Are you primed to rhyme? Word whiz Loris Lesynski shows you how it鈥檚 done in this unique collection that blends 鈥渂est of鈥� with 鈥渉ow to鈥�. Inside you鈥檒l find over 30 Lesynski favorites alongside advice for kids on creating poems.
In nine snappy sections, Lesynski features different ways a poem can take shape. Rhymes like 鈥淒irty Dog Boogie鈥� came from a catchy beat. Other ideas emerged from playing with words, as in 鈥淢ozza Mozza鈥�.
Further sections include:
鈥� Preparing for Poems 鈥� warm-ups for the mouth and the brain
鈥� Me Me Me Me 鈥� rhymes that start with you
鈥� What I鈥檇 Like to Know 鈥� poems that pose questions
鈥� How Illustrations Happen 鈥� providing pictures for poems
鈥� Writning Bolts 鈥� further activities for aspiring rhymers
Bursting with Michael Martchenko鈥檚 vivid illustrations and packed with over 20 pages of all-new material by Lesynski, 鈥淚 Did It Because 鈥︹�� is a playground of poetry where readers are invited to play along.
Awards
- Joint winner, Our Choice List, starred selection, Canadian Children鈥檚 Book Centre 2007
- Joint winner, Top Ten, Ontario Library Association 2007
- Nominated, Red Cedar Book Award 2007
- Nominated, Silver Birch Award 2007
Reviews
鈥淕ood advice abounds for picking poem topics, making interesting word and sound choices, and reading poems aloud. Teachers of poetry will want this dual-purpose collection for their classrooms because Lesynski shows that poem writing can and should be fun with an irresistible selection of contagiously rhythmic poems.鈥�
- Quill & Quire, *starred review, 09/06
鈥淟esynski is a rhyme-maker whose own high-energy, rat-tat-tat-dum-de-dum creations provides all the proof that the ingredients she advocates and the hints she offers鈥攆rom picking a topic to finding rhymes鈥攎ake a very fine pudding indeed.鈥�
- The Globe and Mail, 09/10/06
鈥淭he real value of the [poetry writing] tips is the emphasis on having fun with language. The author clearly believes that poetry should be fun for children, and I believe that the tone of the book neatly fits that objective . . . all of the tips will serve as fodder for thought and exploration. Lesynski鈥檚 poetic style includes a generous dose of playful fun and frolic with the English language. Early and middle years teachers will do well to add this book to their classroom library . . . many children will enjoy flicking through the book鈥檚 pages and experimenting with some of Lesynski鈥檚 suggestions . . . teachers will find many of the playful poems are suitable for sharing as classroom read alouds.鈥�
- CM Reviews, 10/06
鈥淭he rollicking poems are full of energy and opportunities for participation.鈥�
- School Library Journal