Promises to Keep

Promises to Keep is Ann Tatlock's newest novel. The story is told by 11 year old Roz. She lives in the late 1960's. Roz, her mother, brother and sister have just moved from Minneapolis to Mills River, Illinois to get away from her father. Promises to Keep is well written, but covers some issues that don't have easy answers. I would recommend it if you like reading serious stories.

Guyku

Guyku by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds is my new favorite picture book. The subtitle for the book is a A Year of Haiku for Boys, but I enjoyed the book immensely even though I am a grown up. Raczka writes haiku poems describing different outdoor activitites many children enjoy. He starts with spring and goes through each season using words to create images that made me smile. Reynolds also has great illustrations to go with the haiku. I read it to some of my students and they enjoyed it because of the words and pictures. It is a book I may have to go out and buy for myself. There is also a website that goes along with the book at www.guykuhaiku.com.

Poetry Matters

Poetry Matters by Ralph Fletcher is a book I read for a class I took last summer. I picked it up at the library again because it is National Poetry Month. It is written for older elementary or middle school students. Fletcher gives some tips and suggestions that help students become better writers of poetry. This book was written for students, but I think teachers and writers might enjoy it as well. Reading this book made me want to write a poem or two about some of my favorite things. Have you ever written a poem by choice?