Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme

A Parent's Choice Gold Award Winner!

"Poetry becomes interactive in this attractive picture-book anthology, put together by the popular Prelutsky.. A well conceived package that will be especially useful in classrooms." - Booklist.

“Prelutsky has invented a method he calls ‘poemstarts’ to help children get started in writing poetry. He provides several introductory lines of a simple poem and then offers some open-ended suggestions for its completion. In this thematically organized collection, Prelutsky offers ten poemstarts on different popular themes, complemented by three short poems on the same subject by different authors. . . . Though the volume’s intent is as a springboard to writing poetry, the thoughtful selections and So’s winning watercolors make this a successful poetry collection even without the writing prompts.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred.

 TEACHING IDEAS

PREPARING FOR POETRY MONTH

•Make your classroom poetry-friendly. Hang poster boards with poems written on them from the ceiling, on the bulletin board, and off the side of your desk.
•Here’s a great one to start with:

A POEM IS A LITTLE PATH
A poem is a little path
That leads you through the trees.
It takes you to the cliffs and shores
To anywhere you please.
Follow it and trust your way
With mind and heart as one,
And when the journey’s over,
You’ll find you’ve just begun.
–Charles Ghigna from The 20th-Century Children’s Poetry Treasury
Illustrations © 1997, 1999 Meilo So.
© 1992 by Charles Ghigna

•Get ready to immerse your students in poetry! Work with the school librarian to gather as many poetry books as you can to share with your budding poets.