POETRY FRIDAY

 WELCOME TO POETRY FRIDAY!

So glad you came by today!

I had a hard time deciding on a theme for today.

The flowers in Denver are gorgeous, 

but several variations on flowers

  has been done several times recently.

Then I thought about basketball

because I've been watching the NBA finals all week,

but I wasn't sure how many poet/basketball fans 

there were in the Poetry Friday crowd.

Finally decided I would just share

a plentitude of perfectly poetic picture books…

HOW TO

Julie Morstad

This quiet and poetic picture book has definitely jumped into my top five favorites for this year.  The one I looked at had a slide on the cover (as does the one on Amazon) but I couldn't find that one on the internet. Hmmmm. Anyway, each picture tells its own story. How to wash your socks (jump in a mud puddle). How to be brave (go down a big slide). How to get a good night's sleep (sleep on a bed that looks like something from Princess and the Pea). Some are whimsical, some are serious, all are absolutely perfect. You have got to find this book!

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE

Julie Fogliano

 Julie Fogliano is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book poets. I loved "and then it's spring" and her newest book "if you want to see a whale," is just as perfect. Both books have featured the gentle  art of Erin Stead, who won the Caldecott for Sick Day for Amos McGee. 

if you want to see a whale, you will need to know what not to look at.

Pink roses, pelicans, possible pirates…

If you want to see a whale you have to keep your eyes on the sea and wait…

and wait…and wait… 

 YOO HOO LADYBUG

 Classic Mem Fox! Only a little text 

but every single word is absolutely perfect. 

"Yoo-hoo, Ladybug!

Where are you?

There you are…

Afloat in the bath

with duck and giraffe."  

Kids will also love hunting for the ladybug in Laura Ljungkvist's bright collage like illustrations. Each page contains basically the same objects in a different context and arrangement. 

  

STRIPES OF ALL TYPES

Susan Stockdale

Toting a shell
Twisting on sand
Sprawled in a lair
and sprinting on land.

A safari of striped animals for the younger set. One or two lines of text and a striped animal  on each page. A two-page spread at the end shares a little information about the animals.  Kids are also sure to love the "Can you find these stripes?" invitation on the last two pages.

WHEN YOUR PORCUPINE FEELS PRICKLY 
Kathy DeZarn Beynette

"Shark"
If you make a rude remark
I hope it won't be to your shark.
Don't say, "That's a stupid sweater,"
Or "I like sharks but whales are better.
Keep your shark relations happy.
Rudeness makes us all feel snappy.

Short and silly poems about lots of different animals.


Leave your links in the comments!

The Poetry Friday Roundup is here.