Last Sunday night, the subject of #titletalk on Twitter was books that promote resilience in children. Someone posted about KNOCK, KNOCK, a poetry picture book written by Daniel Beaty and illustrated by Bryan Collier (one of my favorites). The book is brand new-- it won't even be released until December 17th.
Immediately, I thought of a conversation my son and I had shared over the weekend. People who have read my blog for a while know that I adopted my boys, who were students at my school, from Denver Human Services when they were seven and nine. They were an answer to prayer. My life has been better because of them. I think their life has been better because of me.
And yet there are things that make me really, really sad. One of those things that makes me saddest is that my boys have never had a dad. We have just sort of had to make do as best as we could. A friend of mine taught the boys how to tie a tie. They learned to shave on You Tube. I paid for Drivers' Ed. We've done ok. And Yet I still think a dad brings a whole different perspectives to kids' lives than a mom does. And my boys have never had a dad.
I googled Daniel Beaty and found him reading the poem aloud. I've listened to it about five times and cried every time. I shared it with a sixth grade teacher, who shared it with her students. It made some of them cry too. Powerful stuff, this poetry…
Robyn Hood Black is hosting Poetry Friday
at Life on the Deckle Edge this week.
at Life on the Deckle Edge this week.
Be sure to visit for lots more powerful words….
11 comments:
Wow. Powerful and heart wrenching. Thanks so much for sharing this -- must see the book.
Hugs to you, Carol, and to your sons. :)
I have goosebumps! Thanks for sharing, for being a real mom, and for inspiring us, Carol!
WOW. This is incredible, Carol! It is amazing how poetry can slice through to the center of an issue. I am so happy that you and your sons found each other!
It's really something, Carol, and to take his words and put them into what I'm sure is a beautiful picture book too-wow. Perhaps that will be helpful to those young boys out there!
I am a huge fan of Bryan Collier's artwork - so I will definitely find this book. Thank you for sharing that beautiful video clip too, Carol. Warm thoughts to you and your sons.
Wow. Thank you for sharing that. It is incredible. I am so glad that you and your boys found one another.
I shared your post and the video on Facebook. I think more people need to see this.
With the power to change the world one little boy and girl at a time...amen to that. And amen to what lies at the very heart of this poem, the injustice of our incarceration system, and the toll it takes. Thank you for sharing this, Carol.
Like the others, I am impressed by the video. Thanks for sharing it (and the book), Carol.
Wow. I can't imagine how the power of the recitation of that poem could be captured in a picture book. But if anyone can do it, Bryan Collier can. So excited that he will be at the Dublin Literacy Conference in February!
I'm so glad you shared this Carol. Thank you. Love to you and your boys.
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