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Pick. If you are wondering what concrete poems are,
simply put, they are a whole lot of inventive fun. These highly
visual poems express themselves not only through their text, but
also through a playful arrangement of words, spaces, and typefaces
on the page. This book features 30 delightful, kid-friendly
concrete poems with the added fun of illustrations by Chris
Raschka for each.
Some of the poems take on the overall shape of the subject,
such as the one entitled Eskimo Pie, which is shaped like
the ice cream treat, and Swan and Shadow, with its text
taking the form of a swan and its reflection in the water. Our
favorite is one called Tennis Anyone? that requires the
reader to move their head from one page to the next--back and
forth--with the effect similar to that of watching a tennis game.
Very clever! In another poem, entitled A Weak Poem, the
lines droop to express the poem's overall weakness (from eating
too much junk food and going to bed too late).
This highly original collection of visual poems will delight
readers from approximately ages 8 and up. The book may inspire
them to create their own--it seems to me that concrete poems may
come more naturally to kids than to adults. The book is fun to
share with kids--it can be revealing and stimulating to discuss
the meaning behind each poem. Be aware that many kids younger than
8 may not grasp the whole concept.
Written by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. The
book is available in a hardcover edition that retails for approximately
$15.99 US.