Carver: a Life in Poems MODULE 4- BIOGRAPHICAL POETRY

Marilyn Nelson.2001. Carver, a Life in Poems. Asheville. Front Street. ISBN 1-886910-53-7. 

Carver, a Life in Poems is written by Marilyn Nelson.  In this book George Washington Carver’s life is presented.  Nelson puts these poems in chronological order of Carver’s life.  Most of the poems are written about the accomplishments of George Washington Carver. 

The poems are written in free verse form.  These poems are not simple verses they are written for intermediate readers.  They are complex verses discussing Carver's feelings throughout his life.  The poems are accompanied by photographs of Carver, his family, and friends.  The photos are very old fashion looking and are all in black and white.  There is a brief description of each photo by it explaining what the picture contains. This book does more than just tell the biography of George Washing Carver’s life, it shows readers the powerful presence of his life and the impact that he made during it.  Carver was mostly known for his agricultural work as a botanist. However, in this book you learn that he was so much more.  Carver was also a painter, musician, and a teacher/researcher at Tuskegee Institute during Booker T. Washington’s tenure. Carver also was dedicated to improving the lives of others; he especially helped the poor black farmers in the South. 

I would not say that this book is practically appealing to young readers and it does not have the quality to hold their attention.  Children will more than likely read this book for a class room assignment. Children will not be able to relate to experiences in this book.  The time period that Carver lived in was completely different than today.  Children might enjoy reading about the difficult life style but will not relate. With that being said children will extend and enrich both their insight and knowledge with reading this book.  They will gain a lot of knowledge about George Washington Carver and his life accomplishments.

Overall the poems were of good quality and told an important story.  Students will gain good knowledge of this amazing man through reading this book.  This may not be a book that children will select themselves but with the help of a teacher or librarian's encouragement children will find the book to be a very good experience.

The poem that I have selected to share with you is titled Drifter.  This is just one poem that gives readers some idea of Carver's life.  All the poems stand alone but when put together they create a chronological story of George Washington Carvers life. 

Drifter

Something says find out

why rain falls, what makes corn proud

and squash so humble, the questions

call like a train whistle so at fourteen,

fifteen, eighteen, nineteen still on half-fare,

over the receding landscapes the perceiving self

stares back from the darkening window.

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience:  Ages 12 and up

Before reading:  Before reading the poem Drifter I would have a discussion with the children about who George Washington Carver is and what accomplishments he made in his life. 

During reading:  I would read the poem slowly so they can truly appreciate the poem and understand what the poem is saying to the reader. 

Reread the poem: I would then discuss the poem with the children and ask them what they think it means.  I would write subjects on the board that they share.  I would divide them up into small groups and have them do research behind who George Washington Carver is and some of his accomplishments.  Each group would then share some piece of information that they learned about Carver.   

After reading: After reading them a sample of this book I would give each child their own copy of Carver and as an assignment everyone would read the book.  After they have completed reading the book each child would write a short review containing a summary on the book and their opinion of the book stating if they liked it or not. 

Animal Poems of the Iguazú: poems/ MODULE 4 SCIENCE POETRY

Francisco X. Alarcón; illustrations, Maya Christina Gonzalez.2008. Animal poems of the Iguazú: poems. San Francisco, Calif.: Children's Book Press ISBN 978-0-89239-225-4. 

Animal Poems of the Iguazú is written by Francisco X. Alarcón and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.  This is a bilingual book presenting poems in both Spanish and English. This book is made up of 26 short English and Spanish poems, readers will learn about 18 different animals in the South American rainforest as they read through the book.  Animals such as the monkey, toucan, parrot, jaguar, and turtle are written about.

These poems are written in free verse format using simple words for younger children. Each poem is on a page going diagonally, horizontally, or vertically, all depending on the illustrations.  The English and Spanish versions are printed next to each other.  The book is introduced with information about the IguaD waterfalls and resources that are listed for more information about saving the rain forests.   

These poems hold a lot of emotional impact for children.  For younger children they can learn about these wonderful animals that most of us do not get to see very often, if at all.  For older children they can realize the importance of saving the rain forest and learn ways that they can help protect these animals. Children love animals and they always enjoy reading about them.  This book will appeal to children due to the topic content as well as the illustrations. 

These poems will extend and enrich children’s knowledge on these animals.  Not only are they learning about the animals in the rainforest but they are also reading different languages and may become familiar with a language that they were previously not familiar with before.        

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.  Every page has bright vibrant colors that are bold and eye catching with each turn of the page.  The colors really depict the theme of the tropical rainforest. 

There were so many wonderful poems in this book that I recommend that everyone finds the chance to read this book.  The poem that I am going to share with you is titled Jaguar. 

Jaguar  

some say

I’m now almost

extinct in this park

but the people

who say this

don’t know

that by smelling

the orchids

in the trees

they’re sensing

the fragrance

of my chops

that by hearing

the rumbling

of the waterfalls

they’re listening

to my ancestors’

great roar

that by observing

the constellations

of the night sky

they’re gazing

at the star spots

on my fur

that I am and

always will be

the wild

untamed

living spirit

of the jungle

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience:  Ages 7-13

Before reading: Before I read the poem, Jaguar, I would ask the children if they know how important the rainforest is and if they can name any animals that might live there in the rainforest.  I would talk to them about endangered animals and why they are becoming endangered. 

During reading:  I would read the poem slowly so they can truly appreciate the poem and the meaning behind it with the endangered jaguar. 

Reread the poem: I would then discuss the poem with them and have the class do research behind Iguazú National Parks which is in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.  They could look up ways they could help the forest and animals that live there.  I would have them find out the endangered animals that live there.   

After reading:   I would have the children create a list of all the ways that they can help protect the rainforest and the animals.  They can draw pictures of their favorite animals and write a short poem about that animal from what they learned while doing their research.