
Monday, November 23, 2009
Party for a Poetry Man

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thanksgiving Poetry
Giving Thanks
Author Unknown
Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
From Thanksgiving
by Ivy O. Eastwick
Thank you
for all my hands can hold-
apples red,
and melons gold,
yellow corn
both ripe and sweet,
peas and beans
so good to eat!
You can read the rest of the poem here.

Click here to read my review of Nancy White Carlstrom’s book of poems Thanksgiving Day at Our House.
You may also want to check out this other Wild Rose Reader post: THANKSGIVING: Book Lists, Book Reviews, Resources, & Crafts.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
THANKSGIVING: Book Lists, Book Reviews, Resources, & Crafts
- From the New York Public Library: Thanksgiving Books
- From Kaboose.com: Thanksgiving Books
- From Apples 4 the Teacher: Thanksgiving Books for Kids
- From Oyate: Recommended Books about Thanksgiving and "Books to Avoid"
- From ESSL (Education & Social Science Library) Children’s Literature Blog: ThanksgivingBooks for Children
- From The Holiday Zone: Recommended Books for Thanksgiving
- From Reading Rockets: Ten Books for Thanksgiving
- From Reading Rockets: Let’s Give Thanks
- From Scholastic: Thanksgiving Recommended Books
- From Through the Magic Door: Thanksgiving Picture Books & Books for Independent Readers (2008)
- From Children’s Literature: Celebrate Thanksgiving (2009)
- From Children’s Literature: Celebrate Thanksgiving (2008)
- Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Review: Thanksgiving
- From Infosoup.org: Thanksgiving Books for Children (2007)
Reviews of Thanksgiving Books from Wild Rose Reader
- Thanksgiving Books, Part I: Reviews of Jonathan London’s Giving Thanks, Diane Goode’s Thanksgiving Is Here!, and Debby Atwell’s The Thanksgiving Door.
- Thanksgiving Books, Part II: Review of Lisa Wheeler Turk and Runt, a hilarious picture book about two turkey siblings.
- Thanksgiving Poetry: Review of Nancy White Carlstrom’s poetry book Thanksgiving Day at Our House.
- In November: What Do You Do with a Book Like This?: Includes a review of Cynthia Rylant’s book In November and a suggestion for writing a collaborative prose poem with elementary students.
Thanksgiving Resources for Teachers and Parents
- From Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving
- From Scholastic: Thanksgiving Web Quest
- From Enchanted Learning: Thanksgiving K-3 Theme Page
- From Enchanted Learning: Thanksgiving Printable Books
- From My Craft Book: Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
- From DLTK: Fall Leaf Turkey
- From DLTK: Online Thanksgiving Jigsaw Puzzle
- From Kidzone: Online Horn of Plenty Jigsaw Puzzle
- From Kaboose.com: Craft Stick Turkey Greeter
- From Kaboose.com: Framed Handprint Turkey
- From Amazing Moms: Harvest Necklace
One More Resource
- From Rethinking Schools Online (Autumn, 2009)—Rethinking Thanksgiving: Myths and Misgivings

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
Written by Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by Greg Shed
Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2000
This historical fiction picture book is excellent for reading aloud in the elementary grades. Bruchac narrates the story in the voice of Squanto (Tisquantum), a Patuxet Indian. The book opens with Squanto telling about his capture by Captain Thomas Hunt who took him and other Patuxets to Spain to be sold as slaves in 1614, how Spanish friars set Squanto free and helped him to get to England, and Squanto’s return to America in 1619 when he found that his people had been devastated by a disease. In the rest of the book, we learn about Squanto’s building a friendship with the Pokanokets and Nemaskets; Samoset, a Pemaquid Indian; the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower; and the relationship between Squanto and the English that helped the settlers at Plimoth make it through their first year in the New World. The book includes an author’s note and a glossary.

Meanwhile, Mr. Macy is concerned because his salesclerks are frowning instead of acting festive before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He thinks the salesclerks are depressing the customers. He’s trying to figure out a solution to this problem. That’s when Milly approaches Mr. Macy and explains her idea. She tells him how she thinks “Macy’s could bring a little bit of everyone’s home to America.” Mr. Macy is receptive to Milly’s suggestion that the store sponsor a celebration that will remind the homesick employees of their holidays back home. The following day the store posts a sign advertising its Christmas parade. Word spreads quickly.
On Thanksgiving Day, Milly, her father, and all the other Macy’s workers dress up in costumes and march in the holiday parade. They all enjoy singing and strolling down the street—just as they had done in the old country.
This is a highly fictionalized account of the origin of the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade--but it's an entertaining story. Shana Corey includes an Author’s Note with background information on the parade—including the fact that it missed only three holidays. It was canceled from 1942-1944 because of World War II.
Click here to view some of the interior illustrations from the book.
From Scholastic—Teacher Activity Guide: Milly and the Macy’s Parade
Thanksgiving
Traditional
Orchards have shared their treasures,
by Rowena Bastin Bennett
Thanksgiving Day I like to see
Our cook perform her witchery.
She turns a pumpkin into pie
As easily as you or I
Can wave a hand or wink an eye.
She takes leftover bread and muffin
And changes them to turkey stuffin’.
You can read the rest of the poem here.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Small Graces November Auction Is On!!!
Bid on eBay and support the FCB
Here's how it works: Every month a small (5x5 inch), unpublished, original painting will be auctioned on eBay with 100% of the proceeds to support the FCB's author/illustrator visits and residencies in urban schools. Each painting will illustrate a bit of wisdom, a proverb, a "small Grace."
This month's painting (above), painted in gouache on watercolor paper, is on auction beginning today, Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20. To bid on this painting, click here for the eBay link. For those who find original art from children's books beyond their budget, this is a great way to buy affordable art! Please spread the word and bid!
Grace Lin is the author and illustrator of more than a dozen picture books, including The Ugly Vegetables and Dim Sum for Everyone! Grace's critically acclaimed children's novels include The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat. Read more about Grace and her work here.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
My Personal Poetry News

I’m an incoming member of the NCTE Poetry Committee. I didn’t want to announce it until it was official.
Click here to find out who the other incoming members are.
This is our charge: To recommend on a regular basis every two years a living American poet to the NCTE Executive Committee for the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in recognition of his or her aggregate work; to sustain the collection of poetry books of award winners, past and future, in the University of Minnesota, Kerlan Collection; to recognize and foster excellence in children's poetry by encouraging its publication; and to explore ways to acquaint teachers and children with poetry through such means as publications, programs, and displays.
More NCTE Poetry Award Information
- NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
- 2009 NCTE Poetry Award Winner
- 2009 NCTE Convention Session A.18: Poetry Party! Celebrating 2009 NCTE Poetry Award Recipient Lee Bennett Hopkins
I'll be heading down to Philadelphia for the NCTE Convention next week. Let me know if you're planning to attend the convention. Leave me a note in the comments.
Friday, November 13, 2009
POETRY FRIDAY: Double Dactyls

I wrote three double dactyls for that Poetry Stretch, which I posted here—at Blue Rose Girls.
For Poetry Friday this week, I revised one of those double dactyls—and I wrote a few more. All of the double dactyls I’m posting today are about characters from children’s books and fairy tales.
Higgeldy piggeldy
Charlotte Cavatica,
Writer and weaver,
Spun tales for her friend,
Wilbur, the runt pig
She nurtured and cherished.
That spider was loyal
And true to the end.
Higgeldy piggeldy
Vegan Pete Rabbit
Pilfered some lettuce
And carrots and kale.
Mister McGregor
Chased after that bunny
But Peter escaped
By the fluff of his tail.
Higgeldy piggeldy
Poor Sleeping Beauty
Slumbered for decades
Because of a spell.
Prince Charming knelt down and
Kissed the prone princess.
They married. They’re happy.
There’s no more to tell.
Higgeldy piggeldy
Sad Cinderella
Sat in the ashes
Bemoaning her fate.
Godmother fairy
Said: “Honey, don’t blubber.
My magic will score you
A rich, handsome mate.”
Higgeldy piggeldy
Beauty was grossed out
Watching the ugly Beast
Gnoshing raw boar.
“God,” she said, “can’t you please
Masticate quietly!
Dining with you is
A distasteful chore.”
I have three new posts at Political Verses this week: Driving Drunk: A Short Poem about Mary Strey; A Dead Rabbit Toss Competition Poem; and Making the Grade.
At Blue Rose Girls, I have some light verse by Arthur Guiterman.
Gregory K. of GottaBook has the Poetry Friday Roundup here: The Lament of Thursday the 12th (a poem) and the Poetry Friday Roundup!
