Poetry-Review 3

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 2006. THANKS A MILLION. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera. New York: Greenwillow Books-Harper Collins Publishers, Inc. ISBN 068817292X

2.PLOT SUMMARY
Author Nikki Grimes has compiled a collection of 16 poems that relate the expression of gratitude. The thankful thoughts expressed are for a variety of events customary of children’s lives: teacher appreciation, neighborly gratitude, true friendship, and family love. The speakers are distinct, but they are all non-adults and from multiple cultures. Through one poem, for example, a child relates feelings of worry about being a new kid in the lunchroom, and then relief as another boy seeks out his friendship.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This collection of poems delivers a feel of gratitude in children of all cultures. The illustrations provide images of children of distinct cultures to exemplify that the feeling is a common element for everyone “Rich or poor”. The collection includes a variety of poetry forms for the experience of the participant such as a riddle from which the previous quote was extracted. One poem, “Even the Trees” is an example of a haiku, following a pattern of 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 syllables in the last as described of this form in our textbook. This short poem provides personification in giving a tree human characteristics: “Trees, arms raised in praise,”.
Another poem, “Dear Author”, is written in free verse narrative. It is a letter written through the voice of a young girl whose father died the year before. The initial tone of the letter is melancholic as the speaker discloses that “Somebody threw a switch and turned me off. I couldn’t breathe. Or cry.” The use of figurative language relays an image of darkness and sorrow. It then progresses into one of gratefulness as the young girl tells about the positive effects a book had on her and as she was able to identify with one of the characters, Lotus, who “was also drowning deep inside”. The meaning to this poem is directly expressed: Thanks to an author who took the time to write a novel with characters and elements that readers could easily identify with, someone was saved from sorrow. The worth of books is exemplified. The language used throughout this poem is primarily literal although readers do have to understand the abstractness in “leaked sadness everywhere” and “drowning deep inside”. These phrases might be difficult to understand by very young readers.

4.REVIEW (EXCERPTS)
School Library Journal: “The art for Mystery is particularly effective, showcasing 42 children of different ethnicities in small, rectangular portraits. A lovely book for reflection and discussion.”

Booklist-“Children struggling to articulate gratitude will find numerous ways to draw upon this--some may memorize or copy out favorite poems to pass along, while others will be inspired to pen their own tender words.”

5.CONNECTIONS
-Read aloud during the month of November, when being thankful is greatly emphasized.
-Multicultural inclusion to classroom library.
-Write a poem to celebrate gratefulness.
-Think of a time when a story or poem has affected you delivering: sadness, laughter, relief, etc.