Poetry Friday - Celebrating Emily Dickinson's poetry

On this day in 1830 Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Emily would grow up to become a reclusive lady who rarely left the home where she was born and where she grew up. In her room Emily wrote poetry that was often dark, and that was very unique. Though she refused to share much of her poetry with the world during her lifetime, she did save the poems she wrote, which her sister had published after Emily's death.

For today's Poetry Friday I have a book for you that contains seven of Emily Dickinson's most famous poems. If you interested in this very unique woman, you might want to take a look at the TTLG Emily Dickinson feature page as well. Here you will find reviews of three titles, all of which look at Emily Dickinson's life in interesting ways.

My letter to the world and other poems

Emily Dickinson

Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Poetry

Kids Can Press, 2008, 978-1-55453-103-5

   Many readers find Emily Dickinson’s poems a challenge to read. Her tendency to choose dark subjects, and her unconventional use of language and punctuation make her poems demanding. One has to think and ponder her words to find their meaning, but the poems are more than worth the effort. In this beautiful book, readers will find seven of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poems.

   In one of the poems Emily gives us a picture of hope, which “is the thing with feathers - / That perches in the soul - / And sings the tune without the words - / And never stops – at all.” In another, she takes a ride in a carriage with Death and sees the world in a new way. In yet another poem Emily Dickinson says “I’m nobody! Who are you?” We, her readers, are invited to be nobodies too. Is this an invitation that we would accept if we could?

   Throughout this book, Isabelle Arsenault’s haunting multimedia illustrations provide the perfect backdrop for Emily Dickinson’s poems. 

Tiger Tales is hosting a Christmas Book Giveaway

Announcing our Christmas Book Give-away! Our collection includes two classic tales: T'was the Night Before Christmas and Jingle Bells, and three original tales: The Very Snowy Christmas, I've seen Santa, and Shhh!

There are three easy ways to enter our Christmas Book Give-Away:
1) Comment on our blog. Tell us your favorite Christmas (or holiday) story.
2) Like us or comment on our facebook page. Include a favorite holiday story and we will enter you twice!
3)Retweet our announcement on twitter. Add your favorite holiday story and we will enter you twice!

Hurry! You only have one week for this give-away. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 15 (enter before midnight on December 14). The winner must reside in the US and have a US shipping address.

Bookish Calendar - The birthday of two queens

Mary Queen of Scots

On the 8th of December 1542 Mary, the daughter of King James V of Scotland, was born. Just a few days after her birth, Mary's father died and the infant Mary became the Scottish queen regnant. Nine months later she was crowned queen, but she did not become the acting queen until many years later. At the tender age of five Mary was sent to France where she was educated and groomed to become the future queen of France. When she was sixteen she was married to the Dauphin Francis, and for a short time Mary was queen of France. Then her husband died and Mary returned to Scotland to take her rightful place as the queen. Unfortunately it was not a role that she understood, and her rule was complicated by political and personal problems that brought about her downfall. Young readers can learn about this fascinating woman by reading the books reviewed on the TTLG Mary Queen of Scots page. 

Queen Kristina of Sweden

On December 8th 1626, princess Kristina of Sweden was born. Kristina was a very unusual woman, who created quite a stir when she decided to live her life as she chose, rather than live her life as she was supposed to do. Carolyn Meyer has written a wonderful book about this ruler in her book Kristina: The Girl King, Sweden 1638.

Bookish Calendar - On this day in 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese fighter planes

USS California sinking on December 7th, 1941

Early on Sunday December 7th, 1941 Japanese fighters attacked targets on the island of Oahu. The fighters chose as many 'high value targets' as they could, and ended up sinking and damaging numerous ships and planes. 2, 386 Americans were killed and 1,139 were wounded.

This event made a huge impression on Americans, and many books have been written about that fateful day, including some excellent titles for young readers. On the TTLG Attack on Pearl Harbor feature page you will find reviews of several titles, both fiction and nonfiction, that tell the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor very well.

Poetry Friday - A review of Poems for the very young

On this bright and cold Poetry Friday I have a collection of poems that were selected by Michael Rosen, a well known British poet.

Poems for the very young

Selected by Michael Rosen

Illustrated by Bob Graham

Poetry

For ages 3 to 6

Houghton Mifflin, 2004, 0-7534-5816-0

   Little children love to listen to rhythmic music and speech. Even when they don’t know what all the words they hear mean, they are drawn to sounds that go up and down, this way and that. Which is why nursery rhymes are so popular with young children.

   For this wonderful book of poetry, Michael Rosen has chosen poems that are perfectly suited to little children. The sing songy rhymes and verses beg to be read aloud, and little children will love the way that so many of the poems are about things that are relevant to them. For example, there is a poem about how a child is fed up with the problems associated with having hair. Who wants to have to deal with “all the fuss” of brushing, drying “curling / And twirling” wayward locks.

   There is a poem about a ticklish doctor, and a grandfather who “likes / a big dinner.” There is a poem about spaghetti, and one about hotdogs. There is a poem that tells you how to make a chocolate milkshake, and what you should do “If you’re no good at cooking.”  

  Then there are the story poems, many of which are delightfully silly and funny. If you haven’t heard the one about Somebody’s grandmother, then you are in for a treat. Then there is the tale about Mabel Murple (whose house was purple), and the story about someone who goes into the woods and gets lost.

   Throughout this book Bob Graham’s charming illustrations provide the perfect backdrop for the poems that cover the pages.