For the Love of Literacy

  As soon as the text is opened, readers embark on a captivating journey through Hawaii and it's beautiful culture. With it's stunning hand-painted illustrations and delightful rhyming poetry, "Aloha Everything" transports readers through the colorful and breathtaking islands that hold so much history and meaning to it's people. George and Waite weave stunning hand-painted illustrations and language that is innovative, blending 25 Hawaiian words seamlessly into the English text, offering a unique experience for children and adults alike.  Through lyrical verses and vivid imagery, the authors masterfully convey the significance of aloha, inviting readers to delve deeper into the connections between language, culture, and traditions. Additionally, the authors have included a helpful pronunciation guide and glossary, at the end, further enriching the reading experience, providing valuable insights into the language and heritage of Hawaii.  Teachers can use this text ...

The classical song,  The Carnival of the Animals, has been recognized for years for it's playful melodies, humor, rhythm and cadence. Prelutsky and    GrandPré, have artfully crafted a poetic anthology that brings the silly habits of animals to life. "Poetry draws young readers into listening. Students pay attention to poetry because it plays with the sounds of language; uses interesting, intriguing words; deals with fascinating topics" (Galda, 2017).  Children love animals. The content of these verses are interesting and can easily be understood by children. The use of  rhyming, alliteration, repetition, and word choice enhances the meaning behind the musicality and poetry.   As children are introduced to this musical classic, so too are they to the art of mixed-media illustrations. The way   GrandPré artistically illustrates the birds made of music notes and the donkeys hee-haws cracking the night sky is exquisite.  The language and carefu...

 Girls Like Me is a poetic narrative that delves into the challenging world of teenage life through the eyes of a 15 year old girl. "The story is constructed through the arrangement and accumulation of emotions and events presented in individual poems through the first-person voice of [Shay Summer] (Galda, 2017). Through the artful use of verse, figurative language, word repetition, and varied structure (more white space, variety of text size, etc.) StVil captures Shay's inner turmoil and insecurities as she navigations the complexities of losing a parent, body image struggles, bullying and more.  This novel in verse captures the feelings that so many can relate to. Through it's lyrical lens, StVil offers a fresh perspective on teenage life and all of the emotions that come with it.  Teachers can use this text: as a mentor text for writing launch conversations about difficult teenage topics book club anchor text independent reading novel in verse ------- Author: Lola Stv...

When I Wrap My Hair, is a lyrical masterpiece that offers an intense outpouring of emotion and connection that any reader can feel. Grant's rhythmic word choice and use of metaphors combined with  Mohammed's creative use of curved lines and textures/ colors that resemble head covers often seen used among African woman,  helps create a beautiful poetic experience for young readers. The traditional act of hair wrapping is clearly celebrated and this tradition that spans generations is positively portrayed. The rich word choice and vivid illustrations work together to "enhance and extend the [joyful] feelings established by the text (Galda, 2017).  Teachers can use this text to: introduce and make connections to African cultures showcase how illustrators convey meaning and feelings using a variety of colors, lines, shapes, and other design elements teach figurative language introduce poetry launch discussions about family and cultural traditions ------- Author: Shauntay Gran...