Silverstien, Shel. Falling Up: Poems and Drawings. New York, N.Y. : HarperCollins, 1996.
Plot: A collection of poems and illustrations by Shel Silverstien. Much of Silverstien's work echoes the common hopes, fears, and daily lives of its readers. It then promptly switches tones to the comedic, ironic, or unexpected in a natural, but still surprising, manner. Such poems include the tale of a haunted house, the punishment of a boy who took a nap, and the day a student replaced his teachers. To complement the poems, Silverstien includes hand-drawn illustrations, which often add to the poems themselves, particularly in the case of a rogue eel, track team coach, and greeting-eager monster.
Genre: Collections, Poetry
Reading Level: Grades 4-8
Similar Titles: Where the Sidewalk Ends, Fearless Fernie, The Frog Wore Red Suspenders
Personal Thoughts: A poetry book for a non-poetry reader. Many of the poems follow more conventional styles of literature, such as songs, ballads, stories, and jokes, so readers new to poems may find them more accessible than traditional collections. Additionally, the poems focus on real fantasies, fears, and experiences of the readers, while making the entire situation funnier through twist endings and comedic illustrations. Overall, the book reflects the best aspects of Silverstien's style.
No comments:
Post a Comment