LSSL 5360: Module 3 -- Poetry


BookSpeak! 
By Laura Purdie Salas



1)    BIBLIOGRAPHY
Salas, L. P., & Bisaillon Josée. (2011). Bookspeak! poems written by and about books. Boston: Clarion Books.  ISBN 9780547223001


2)    PLOT SUMMARY
Salas brings books to life with her individual poet compilation titled BookSpeak.  In her book, she gives a voice to books themselves as they speak to readers, ponder questions, characters plead for their lives and sequels, parts of books explain their purpose, they share their fears, and even their late night shenanigans.  Salas allows the books to share their thoughts and feelings, and takes the reader on a journey through the ins and outs of a book.


3)    CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Salas’ use of fonts, bold, italicized, spaced out words, and size allow her to engage with her intended audience and portray to the reader how the poems should be shared with others.  The poem titled “The Middle’s Lament: A Poem for Three Voices,” is a great example of how she put a lot of thought into how the poem should be read with her careful consideration of how the text was displayed.  Quite a few of her poems have a rhyme scheme, where the second and fourth lines rhyme, and are a technique that she used throughout the book.  In the poem “Picture This” the rhyme scheme is evident, as well as rhythm and beat to read the poem to.  She writes in several poetic styles that include rhyme schemes, free verse, and even one acrostic poem.  Salas uses an extensive vocabulary throughout her poems that is a great tool to enhance student’s learning, and creates vivid images throughout.  All of her poems are happy and upbeat, and make you want to jump right in and read a book!  Bisaillon’s uses a variety of techniques to illustrate the book, such as drawings and collages.  Often the illustrations have a background of words keeping true to theme of books.  With her vivid colors and illustrations she truly brings Salas’ words to life!


4)    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publisher Weekly’s Review: “From the outset, this collection of poems makes its message clear: books are where it’s at. Salas’s polished verse demonstrates a deep love for all aspects of books, from their content to their creators, and she’s not above using a touch of guilt to get her audience invested. Bisaillon’s mixed media illustrations are dizzyingly inventive, their bright colors, sampling of typography, and whimsical details underscoring the idea of the potential that awaits between the covers.”  (Reviewed 10/1/2011)

School Library Journal’s Review:  “Some of these 21 poems are written in rhyme and meter, while others are free verse.  They vary in length from a few to several stanzas, and all are well crafted and clever, covering a variety of aspects of books and reading.”  (Reviewed 12/1/2011)


5)    CONNECTIONS
v This is a great book if you are teaching poetry in a variety of forms and structures, such as rhyme and rhythm, free verse, and acrostic.
v Other similar stories:
Hopkins, Lee Bennett.  I AM THE BOOK  ISBN 9780823421190
Salas, Laura Purdie.  STAMPEDE!: POEMS TO CELEBRATE THE WILD SIDE OF SCHOOL  ISBN 9780618914883
Salas, Laura Purdie.  DO BUSES EAT KIDS?: POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL  ISBN 9781429617468
Dakos, Kalli.  DON’T READ THIS BOOK WHATEVER YOU DO:  MORE POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL  ISBN 9780689821325

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