A Poem in Your Pocket (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series) - Hardcover

MARGARET McNAMARA is the author of two other titles about Mr. Tiffin's class: The Apple Orchard Riddle, promised to "spark fruitful curriculum discussion" by School Library Journal, and How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?, called "illuminating" by Family Fun magazine. She is also the author of The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot and George Washington's Birthday. Ms. McNamara lives in New York City.
 
G. BRIAN KARAS is the prolific, versatile, and award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? and The Apple Orchard Riddle. He also illustrated Neville by Norton Juster; Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming, which received four starred reviews; Are You Going to Be Good? by Cari Best, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; Home on the Bayou, recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award; and Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming. Visit him at GBrianKaras.com.

Gr 1–3—Elinor is a perfectionist. She loves school and takes her assignments very seriously. For Poetry Month, Mr. Tiffin teaches his class about different kinds of poetry, similes, and metaphors. Anticipating an upcoming author visit by a real poet, students are asked to write a poem and put it in their pocket. Elinor plans to wear her jeans with many pockets so she can have one in every pocket, but her obsession with perfection impedes her creativity. On the day of the visit, the child has not created anything that she considers good enough to share. When the guest asks her to read her poem, Elinor reveals that she "has a poem in the pocket of her mind." When she recites it, her words flow beautifully. This is a great book to share during National Poetry Month. Brief explanations are given for the more common poetry forms and the idea of a "Poem in Your Pocket Day" is inspiring. Pair this book with the works of Shel Silverstein, Paul B. Janeczko, Jack Prelutsky, Douglas Florian, or Robert Louis Stevenson, among others, to make a persuasive unit on the delights of the genre. Colorful illustrations of a busy classroom filled with enthusiastic students and a determined child keep the subject light and humorous. This title shines a light on a subject worthy of discussion.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME