A Family Guide for Enjoying Poetry
A Family of Poems
by Caroline Kennedy
Paintings by Jon J Muth
About the book:
Inspired by the response to her first collection, The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Caroline has created an anthology for families drawing from the poems her own family cherished. A Family of Poems is the spectacular result: more than one- hundred poems, from five continents, illuminated with sumptuous watercolors by Jon J Muth. This collection offers children and families a single beautiful volume that will spark a love of language and verse that will last a lifetime.
About the guide:
Poetry can be enjoyed in so many ways- for that quiet time just before bed, to snuggle up with on a rainy day, or to read aloud to someone while their hands are busy with chores. Use this guide to spark inquiry or extend the poetry into each day as you explore the lovely anthology of poems collected by Caroline Kennedy, and make poetry a part of your own family’s memories.
Questions to ask your young listener:
Projects and Activities:
Poetry Night:
Host a poetry night for your street, neighborhood, or club. Each child and adult should bring a copy of their favorite poem to share as their ticket to the event.
Take turns reading poems to the whole audience, or create small groups where children can read to each other. Let older children help younger ones with any difficult words.
At another station, have crayons, markers or colored pencils available and have children color the background (or around the edges like a frame) to match the mood of their poem.
In another small group, provide old magazines, advertisements and newspapers where kids can cut out a wide variety of words. Then, using a fresh sheet of paper and a glue- stick they can play with words to create a poem that may (or may not) make sense.
Poetry for Dessert
Do you have a special meal each week? Try including a poem. Each family member takes turns choosing and sharing the poem before the meal begins.
Poem-of-the-week
Post a poem of the week on the refrigerator or on the inside of the front door. Offer a small reward to the child who memorizes it by Sunday.
Poetry cards
Like Caroline and John Kennedy did for their own mother, find a poem to celebrate the birthdays of special loved ones. Illustrate the poem and copy it on special paper. Save in a scrapbook to remember the event.
Poetry scrapbook:
As poems are collected throughout the year, gather them in a box. In December, choose a night to sort the poems in categories where they might fall: seasons, family, animals, etc. Then, using a three ring binder, create a family poetry scrapbook and let young children illustrate the tabs between the sections. This scrapbook will be cherished in your family, just as the Kennedy’s cherish their own.
Poetry Scavenger Hunt:
As a family, brainstorm words from a wide variety of topics. For example, think of words about seasons, holidays, animals, games, toys, family, and colors. Write each one on a small slip of paper and drop them into a special bag, box, or bowl. Each week children take turns choosing one word and everyone should try to find a poem with that word in it. Share the results at a family dinner.
Surprise poems:
Start a new tradition in your neighborhood! Create a surprise poetry greeting to celebrate any holiday. Purchase or recycle a common gift bag that matches the holiday or theme. Then, copy a favorite poem about the season, theme, or holiday and place inside the bag (illustrate it first if you like). Next, add a treat to the bag- small wrapped chocolates, candies or some homemade cookies. Hang the bag on an unsuspecting neighbor’s door. In a note explain that they should add a poem to the bag, replenish the treat and then surprise a new neighbor. Include small ribbons (curling ribbon works well) in the bag so that as a family has the poetry bag they can tie it around their doorknob so everyone knows they’ve already been hit. Share the contents of the poetry bag with a school, library, or nursing home when everyone has contributed to it.
Other terrific poetry books to share:
Over in the Pink House
When Riddles Come Rumbling
In the Spin of Things
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Dance With Me
Swing Around the Sun
Words with Wrinkled Knees
by Barbara Juster Esbensen
Old Elm Speaks
Little Dog
Little Dog and Duncan
Hummingbird Nest
Fold Me a Poem
by Kristine O’Connell George
Meet Danitra Brown
Pocketful of Poems
Steppin’ Out with Grandma Mac
by Nikki Grimes
Brown Angels
Angel to Angel
by Walter Dean Myers
Eureka! Poems About Inventors
Just Us Two: Poems About Animal Dads
Song of the Waterboatman
by Joyce Sidman
Footprints on the Earth
Fireflies at Midnight
Creature Carnival
by Marilyn Singer
www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com
You support this site when you buy Tracie's latest book!
Tha