Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Robin Murphy is a reluctant outcast among his high school peers, so much that his last name has become a synonym for “loser”.  However, he does have one thing going for him – his girlfriend Sophie Stein is as much enamoured with him as he is with her.  Their bond is so strong that they cope and endure the taunting and teasing from everyone at school, particularly Sophie’s old friends who have abandoned her once they find out she’s dating the Murphy.

Things begin to take a turn in Robin’s life when he audits an art class at Harvard University, and discovers a social world outside of his high school scene.  The new people in his life make a big impression on him and he begins to push the envelope in terms of relationships. 

Critical Analysis:
Sones’ free verse novel takes a simple story of teenage love (or lust, depending on the viewpoint), and enriches it with a realistic touch.  Teens will identify with the way that the characters emote and express their feelings, and adults will most likely remember they once occupied the same state of mind when they were in high school.  Sones’ provides this touchstone through the use of the short and sparse text, practically a poem on each page, strung together to make an entire story. 

Most of the poetry does not have rhyme or rhythm, but it is chock full of imagery and meaning.  The main characters are frequently portrayed as being bold and fearless – they think of themselves as outlaws – despite the reputations that they gain among their peers. One section that does rhyme furthers this notion: “Here’s the way/Sophie and I play:/we take aim, think of a name, imagine those pins/are teeth or shins/pull back our arm/for maximum harm/then let the ball fly-/and eye for an eye.”  It becomes clear that, like most teens, Sophie and Robin harbor some anger and resentment, but they are able to find some respite in their self-expression, namely by drawing cartoon renderings of their situation.

One thing that is lack in the scope of emotions is guilt.  Robin seemingly gets involved with another girl with very little consideration for Sophie (in comparison to how much angst he feels over dragging her into unpopularity with him).  Then when she finds out, he seems to feign being a “swine” and go through the motions of getting her back.  Perhaps this view is only understood by that of a teenage boy.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Written as a novel in verse, this title is a fast-paced, page-turning romp that gives authentic voice to male youth even when it is painfully truthful.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist Starred review: “Many teens will see themselves, and they’ll cheer when Sophie and Robin thwart the bullies and reclaim their social standing. Like Sones’ other titles, this is a great choice for reluctant and avid readers alike.” -Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

• Although this book can stand alone, read the first novel by Sones, What my mother doesn’t know, which features the same characters.
• Discuss with age-appropriate readers why Sones’ work has been challanged.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Robin Murphy is a reluctant outcast among his high school peers, so much that his last name has become a synonym for “loser”.  However, he does have one thing going for him – his girlfriend Sophie Stein is as much enamoured with him as he is with her.  Their bond is so strong that they cope and endure the taunting and teasing from everyone at school, particularly Sophie’s old friends who have abandoned her once they find out she’s dating the Murphy.

Things begin to take a turn in Robin’s life when he audits an art class at Harvard University, and discovers a social world outside of his high school scene.  The new people in his life make a big impression on him and he begins to push the envelope in terms of relationships. 

Critical Analysis:
Sones’ free verse novel takes a simple story of teenage love (or lust, depending on the viewpoint), and enriches it with a realistic touch.  Teens will identify with the way that the characters emote and express their feelings, and adults will most likely remember they once occupied the same state of mind when they were in high school.  Sones’ provides this touchstone through the use of the short and sparse text, practically a poem on each page, strung together to make an entire story. 

Most of the poetry does not have rhyme or rhythm, but it is chock full of imagery and meaning.  The main characters are frequently portrayed as being bold and fearless – they think of themselves as outlaws – despite the reputations that they gain among their peers. One section that does rhyme furthers this notion: “Here’s the way/Sophie and I play:/we take aim, think of a name, imagine those pins/are teeth or shins/pull back our arm/for maximum harm/then let the ball fly-/and eye for an eye.”  It becomes clear that, like most teens, Sophie and Robin harbor some anger and resentment, but they are able to find some respite in their self-expression, namely by drawing cartoon renderings of their situation.

One thing that is lack in the scope of emotions is guilt.  Robin seemingly gets involved with another girl with very little consideration for Sophie (in comparison to how much angst he feels over dragging her into unpopularity with him).  Then when she finds out, he seems to feign being a “swine” and go through the motions of getting her back.  Perhaps this view is only understood by that of a teenage boy.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Written as a novel in verse, this title is a fast-paced, page-turning romp that gives authentic voice to male youth even when it is painfully truthful.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist Starred review: “Many teens will see themselves, and they’ll cheer when Sophie and Robin thwart the bullies and reclaim their social standing. Like Sones’ other titles, this is a great choice for reluctant and avid readers alike.” -Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

• Although this book can stand alone, read the first novel by Sones, What my mother doesn’t know, which features the same characters.
• Discuss with age-appropriate readers why Sones’ work has been challanged.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
A dog escapes the confines of its house and a cat is seemingly dropped off in the street.  The dog begins a swift pursuit of the cat, who is at first oblivious to being tracked.  The dog eventually catches up to the cat, but suddenly the weather proves to be a more formidable foe.  In an effort to hide from the terrifying thunderstorm, the dog and the cat discover that they might be better suited as friends after all.

Critical Analysis:
Unlike other poetry and illustration techniques, concrete poetry lends more insight and depth to an otherwise simple subject.  Sidman’s Meow Ruff could have been a typical picture book depicting the natural rivalry between a dog and a cat, but by using concrete poetry Sidman is able to incorporate humor and detail into the story that might not otherwise fit into a poem. 

The animals featured in the book are given personification, which is particularly reflected in the reactions between the dog and the cat lamenting their excitement, fear, and moods.  It is important to pay close attention to the illustrations in this book in order to notice some of the other animals and the comments coming from them (such as the little mouse peeking out from its burrow when it senses the dog, and all of the humorous comments from the crows).  The poetry does not feature rhyme or verse, but there is some alliteration and a slight beat to some of the words, which ties the elements together.  Onomatopoeia is also featured, such as the “drip drop” of rain and the snoring and snuggling of the cat and dog.

Illustrator Michelle Berg undoubtedly had to work closely with the author to create the layout of the story. The words are the illustrations and vice versa.  Font size, style and color are used to convey shape, movement, and meaning.  The copyright page explains that all of the illustrations were done with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, which means the computer generated images have a crisp, bold, professional look that is in strong contrast to the popularity of watercolor and other “analog” art used by most children’s book illustrators.  Some shadowing is also used to indicate movement, and transparency is evident in the clouds.  Though some may feel that the use of typography in the illustrations leaves the page cluttered, this is part of the intrigue of concrete poetry, and looking at the text as the whole picture shifts the idea of cluttered into art.

Review Excerpts:
Booklist starred review: “a glimpse of the world as a poet sees it: in images cloaked in words. – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
School Library Journal – “Some of the language is creative, and the beat is catchy, but occasionally the crowded monochromatic text is difficult to read, and many of the pages are cluttered with words and graphics.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Connections:

• Direct children on how to create their own concrete poetry using their favorite illustration technique (markers, crayons, paint, or even computer design).
• Compare this title with other picture books written in concrete poetry:
  • A Poke in the Eye: A collection of concrete poems edited by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka
  • Doodle Dandies: Poems that take shape by J. Patrick Lewis

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Douglas Florian has published several themed poetry collections about mammals, insects, and amphibians, but bow wow meow meow is devoted solely to dogs and cats.  Florian has chosen some of the most popular breeds of canines and felines and constructed short, descriptive rhymes about them.  Most of the animals depicted are common pets, but Florian has also included wild cats like the ocelot, cheetah, and leaopard, etc.   Each poem is accompanied by an illustration also created by Florian, who used watercolors painted on primed brown paper bags.

Critical Analysis:
As a children’s literature poet, Florian tends to focus on rhyming words in his poems.  This feature makes his poetry easy for children to identify and humorous when Florian chooses interesting words to rhyme with each other (as in the poem “The Persian”, he rhymes “version” with “purrrsian”.)   One unique detail that Florian incorporates into his poetry collection is the illustrative use of typography to add visual interest and imagery to the subject.  He adds additional spaces in the word “s t r e t c h”, fills in every letter “o” with black in “The Dalmation”, and curls the sentences into circles in “The Poodles”.

Florian’s interesting watercolor images also add visual enhancement to his poems.  Many of the illustrations are painted with bold, vivid colors, while others remain more monochrome.  Florian uses his illustrations to convey the tone and mood of the subject, which means some images are simple and straightforward, but others are as funny as the poem calls for (as in “The Jaguarundi”, which is depicted as a wild cat wearing underwear.)

Florian makes reading poetry fun for children.  His work is short and simple with a bit of humor, and animal lovers will particularly enjoy his tribute to four-legged friends.

Review Excerpts:
Booklist starred review: “In this winning collection, both clever and silly, Florian again shows how much fun poetry can be.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
School Library Journal: “This is a delightful selection to read aloud to younger children, and it offers older students models of simple poems that really work.” - Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

• Read other poetry collections by Florian such as: in the swim, beast feast, and mammalabilia
• Have children write their own descriptive poems about animals (particularly those who have their own pets), and encourage them to illustrate it.