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Bibliography
Salas, Laura Purdie. (2011). Bookspeak! : poems about books. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-547-22300-1
Review
In this whimsical collection of 21 original poems, books gain their own voice and “speak” to the reader. Josee Bisaillon’s fanciful collage illustrations utilizing a variety of art mediums and text styles colorfully and playfully incorporate Salas’ book-related poems producing a unified piece on each spread. Each poem delves into a book related theme ranging from book characters, plot, and conflict to beginnings, middles, and endings to book adventures at the bookstore after dark, books on vacations, and books living under beds. Some poems even wax “instructive” playfully focusing on book care and the publishing process. Salas’ poems of various styles give books a tongue-in-cheek voice as seen in the poem “Cliffhanger” which asks “Is this the end?/This breath my last? Please, author, write a sequel fast!” just before the words like the waggish dog in the picture spill over the proverbial edge. Teachers, librarians, and book lovers of all ages will enjoy reading poems straight from the “mouth” of a book.
Reviews
Publisher’s Weekly
Booklist
School Library Journal
Sample poem
Conflicted
I’m trouble.
I’m misery,
problems
unplanned.
I’m an earthquake,
an illness,
a ransom
demand.
My characters
hate me.
They don’t think
I’m grand.
But without me
their plots
would be dreary
and bland.
Connections
(For middle to high school)
After reading "Conflicted" and a few other selected poems from "Bookspeak", discuss some of the literary illusions in the book and focus specifically on parody. As “Bookspeak” does not cover e-format books, engage students with a viewing and ensuing discussion of parody as seen in the humorous on-line version of “Good Night i-Pad” by Ann Droyd at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouOwpYQqic
After exploring the literary element voice and reading samples from "Bookspeak," invite students to create a voice for one of THEIR favorite books and compose at least one poem BY their book of choice.
