Poetry Friday: I Am the Book (compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins)

Today is Poetry Friday.  “This Book” is one of my favorite poems from I Am the Book, poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins.   

This Book  (by Avis Harley)

This book is the best—

I woke up to read it

Befoe getting dressed.

This book is so cool—

It’s the first thing I grabbed

When I rushed in from school.

This book is a winner—

I forgot I was hungry.

I almost missed dinner.

This book is just right—

I’m reading by flashlight deep into the night

Deliciously thirsty to see how it ends.

Books are such mind-thrilling

Spine-tingling friends.

The Collection:

Mr. Hopkins has compiled 13 poems, each from a different author, as a celebration of reading.  The poems capture the thrill of reading a good book and the imaginative journey it take us on.  Many of the poems have a structure that is ideal for mimicking.   For instance, the selected poem above can be a springboard for students to write their own “This book is” stanza.   Tom Robert Shields’ poem “I Am the Book” parallels the seasons with the experience of a book.  Children could write a similar comparison or another parallel like to a holiday or an ocean.  Overall, I found I Am the Book a fun collection. 

Check it Out is hosting Poetry Friday this week.  Click on her blog to have the full poetic experience!