Friday, January 29, 2016

Poetry Friday



Poetry Friday is hosted today by Reading to the Core.

My selection is "African Acrostics: A Word In Edgeways" by Avis Harley with illustrations by Deborah Noyes.

 

Harley invites readers to decode the hidden messages that appear in her eighteen animal-themed poems and learn a bit about the natural world while Noyes awes viewers with stunning photography.  Of course you will find lions, elephants, giraffes, and hippopotamuses but this celebration of African wildlife also has some surprises. Kudus, bonobos, cape buffalo, bat-eared foxes, African wildcats, and hornbills find a place among the more familiar crocodiles and ostriches.

 

One of my favorite poems is titled Moody Guy. This rhino-inspired work begins:

Boulders for shoulders

Elegant horn --

A pointed reminder of the

Unicorn,

Thick leg-pillars bruising tawny

Yellow grass.

 

Do you see the beginning of the message? When the first letter of each word is read vertically, the complete poems says Beauty In The Beast.


Following the poetry, Harley provides information about acrostics and encourages readers to invent some of their own. Additional information about each of the featured animals is offered for further reading.


A note from Noyes completes the book with a look at the life of a wild-life photographer and a discussion of where the photos were taken.


Consider this book as an inspiration for student poetry and for cross-curriculum connections.

2 comments:

jan godown annino said...

"Moody Guy" took my breath away. And for it also to be an acrostic means I'm reading the work of a mighty fine poet.
Appreciations for the tip off to this one, Janet.

J.G. Annino/ Bookseedstudio
https://bookseedstudio.wordpress.com/

p.s. I think this is my 1st visit to your site/blog world so, I'm happy to land here via Poetry Friday & Reading to the Core.

Catherine said...

This looks and sounds like a wonderful book. I love "Elegant horn --
A pointed reminder of the/Unicorn." Thanks for sharing, Janet!

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