Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

daniel-finds-a-poem

Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer is breathtakingly beautiful and deceptively simple.

“Daniel knows all the rocks, trees, and animals in the park.” So when he sees a poster advertising “Poetry in the Park” he sets out to ask his park friends, ‘what is poetry’?

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He soon learns that poetry is different for each animal.

For the squirrel, “Poetry is when crisp leaves crunch.”

For the chipmunk, “Poetry is a home with many windows in an old stone wall.”

For the turtle it “…is sun-warmed sand.”

For the cricket, “Singing at twilight when the day is done.”

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Daniel collects such snippets from the animals and creatures surrounding him until in the end he has created his own poem.

What a beautiful notion that we all have poetry inside us. And that for each of us it is something different.

The collage illustrations are breathtaking in their intricacy, color, and composition. Micha Archer takes us down low and crouched over for a real kid’s-eye perspective.

Wouldn’t this be a terrific classroom tool to spark children’s ideas about what poetry is to them? And writing and illustrating their own poems? Perhaps even using collage to do so?

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This is a stunning book and I thoroughly enjoyed considering what would poetry be to me?

What would it be to you?

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Thank you!

And thanks to children’s librarian extraordinaire Sara Glenn for this wonderful recomendation!

 

Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Jennifer is the illustrator and author of several acclaimed picture books. Most recently is Always by My Side, 'A Stuffie Story', which she wrote and illustrated. She also is both the author and illustrator of Playing Possum, and Blue Ethel. Jennifer illustrated Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winner Linda Sue Park. As well as, Sometimes You Fly, by Newbery medalist, Katherine Applegate. She illustrated Yaks Yak, Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor's Secret, What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford, by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz.

34 Comments:

  1. This is fabulous! Thanks for sharing this, Jennifer. I will check this out and may use it in an upcoming classroom visit.

  2. Beautiful book! Yes, it WOULD be a terrific classroom tool. I’m already imagining the artwork. Going to share this post with teachers I know. Thanks, Jennifer!

  3. Oh! I gotta see this! Sounds (and looks) beautiful.

  4. Can’t wait to see this one! Thanks!!!

  5. Oh my!! This looks wonderful! Very excited to find this one!

  6. Oh my, that spiderweb–gorgeous! I’ve been meaning to pick up this book, so thanks for giving me a glimpse of what I’ve been missing. It looks lovely!

  7. A story about creating poetry that is poetry. How wonderful and the illustrations look incredible.

  8. Lindsay Hanson Metcalf

    I love that this books makes poetry accessible. I can’t wait to check it out.

  9. What a delightful book! The reflective story and illustrations remind me of some of Leo Lionni’s books.

  10. What a great way to define a difficult to pin down word. It means so many things to so many people (animals).

  11. What a gift! Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing this must-read! What a beautiful way to introduce poetry!

  12. Wow, thank you Jennifer for your beautiful written review. I am so glad Daniel found you. Our little ambassador of Poetry!
    Micha

  13. I really like the idea behind this story. And the pictures look beautiful.

  14. I, too, loved this book. I enjoyed the art as much as the words. The two support each other beautifully.

  15. Wow! What a wonderful and creative book. I can’t wait to see it. Brilliant!

  16. Lovely idea — poetry within each of us.

  17. I must get my hands on a copy of this lovely book. I look forward to sharing this book with my students.

  18. Just placed a hold on my library’s copy.

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