KRLemmons African American Poetry, Education, Resources

April is Poetry Month! Poem of the Day: Won’t You Celebrate With Me by Lucille Clifton

April is Poetry Month! Each day this month I will post a poem written by a person of color.  Today’s poem, by Lucille Clifton, comes from the Poetry Foundation.  This link also includes educator’s resources: discussion questions, writing ideas, and teacher tips.

Won’t You Celebrate With Me by Lucille Clifton: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/poem/181377

KRLemmons African American Authors, African American History, African American Literature, African American Poetry, Children's literature

Giving Thanks Always: Two Children’s Thanksgiving Books

Everyday that I wake up I give thanks.  As a person who is grateful to wake up this morning, and as a school librarian, I’m sharing two books that talk about thanks and Thanksgiving from different perspectives.  These books may be found in your local library and/or can be purchased at Amazon.com

Thanks A Million by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. Publisher: Greenwillow Books. 2006.  ISBN-10: 068817292X; ISBN-13: 978-0688172923. 32 pages. Ages 5 and up.

Review from School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 4–Sixteen thoughtful poems about being thankful for everyday things. Grimes uses a variety of forms that include haiku, a riddle, and a rebus in selections that speak directly to the experiences of young children. In Lunch Box Love Notes, a big sister sometimes resents having to watch out for her baby brother, but a note left in her lunch box by her mother thanking her for taking such good care of Ray makes it worthwhile. Dear Teacher closes, Signed, David/who only hates math/½ as much/as he used to. A Lesson from the Deaf simply and eloquently describes saying thank you in sign language. Cabreras acrylic illustrations are distinctive, folksy, and effective. The art for Mystery is particularly effective, showcasing 42 children of different ethnicities in small, rectangular portraits. A lovely book for reflection and discussion.–Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

A Strawbeater’s Thanksgiving by Irene Smalls, illustrated by Melodye Benson Rosales. Publisher: Little Brown & Co. 1998.  ISBN-10: 0316798665; ISBN-13: 978-0316798662.  32 pages. Ages 7 and up.

Review from School Library Journal:

Grade 2-5-In this tale based on slave narratives, Smalls presents little-known traditions and unfamiliar figures of speech. At the annual corn-shucking party, seven-year-old Jess longs to be the “strawbeater” who, according to the author’s note, “stands behind a fiddler, reaches around his left shoulder, and beats on the strings while the fiddle is being played, in the manner of a snare drum.” He must wrestle Nathaniel, a bigger boy, for the honor, and when he is chosen for his tenacity rather than his brawn, the festivities begin. There is dancing, singing, good-natured competition, and plenty of food. The story line is somewhat stilted and would require some historical background to be fully appreciated. Rosales’s vibrant, full-color oil paintings carry the emotion and spirit of the day. The bright, bold reds and browns add a sense of power and strength. This is not as satisfying as Patricia and Fredrick McKissack’s Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters (Scholastic, 1994), but it helps to fill out the life stories of slaves and presents an interesting glimpse of a harvest celebration of the period.
Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Lesson Plans, Resources

April 30 Poet of the Day: Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks, a prolific and award winning poet is April 30 Poet of the Day, the last “official” day of Poetry month.  Read about this fascinating poet here:

Poets.Org: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/gwendolyn-brooks, https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poems/45683

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/gwendolyn-brooks

Modern American Poetry: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/brooks/brooks.htm

Library of Congress Online Resources: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/brooks/

Illinois Poet Laureate: http://www.illinois.gov/poetlaureate/pages/brooks.aspx

Voices from the Gap: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/brooks.php

Lesson Plans from ReadWriteThink: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/many-years-later-responding-1030.html, from Shmoop: http://www.shmoop.com/we-real-cool/, http://www.shmoop.com/bean-eaters/, from EDSITEment: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/impact-poems-line-breaks-enjambment-and-gwendolyn-brooks-we-real-cool

KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Resources

April 29 Poet of the Day: Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones)

Amiri Baraka, formerly known as Leroi Jones, is April 20 Poet of the Day.  He was a prolific writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism.  Read about him here:

Poets.Org: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/445

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/amiri-baraka

Modern American Poetry: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/baraka/bio.htm

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2014/01/10/261379770/fresh-air-remembers-activist-poet-amiri-baraka

YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR5pdz2uGFc, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1-2S7baPUU

KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Lesson Plans, Resources

April 28 Poet of the Day: Nikki Giovanni

April 28 Poet of the day is Nikki Giovanni.  Read about this award winning prolific poet here:

Poets.Org: http://www.nikki-giovanni.com/, http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19505

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/nikki-giovanni

AfroPoets.Net: http://www.afropoets.net/nikkigiovanni.html

Voices From the Gap: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/giovanniNikki.php

PBS Interview with Tavis Smiley: http://video.pbs.org/video/2365125112/,earlier interview with Bill Moyers: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02132009/watch2.html

MSNBC Interview with Melissa Harris-Perry: http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/poet-nikki-giovanni-visits-nerdland

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/29/241605794/poet-nikki-giovanni-on-the-darker-side-of-her-life

Lesson Plan from ReadWriteThink: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/childhood-remembrances-life-intersect-271.html?tab=1#tabs, http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/entering-history-nikki-giovanni-963.html

KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Resources

April 27 Poet of the Day: Cornelius Eady

Cornelius Eady, author of eight poetry books, and co-founder of Cave Canem, a summer workshop/retreat for African American poets, is April 27 Poet of the day.  Read about this fascinating poet here:

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2008/05/05/90184195/a-poets-hardheaded-reflection-on-life

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere/uwm/eady.html

Poets.org: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15244,

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/cornelius-eady

Cave Canem: http://www.cavecanempoets.org/

Interview about Cave Canem: http://www.pw.org/content/qampa_eady_sees_cave_canem_success

 

KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Resources

April 26 Poet of the Day: Jayne Cortez

Jayne Cortez is April 26 Poet of the Day.  A poet and performance artist, Jayne was born on May 10, 1934.  Read more about this revolutionary poet here:

Additional resources about Jayne Cortez:

Poets.Org: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/464

Modern American Poetry: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/cortez/poetry.htm

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/jayne-cortez

West African Research Association: http://www.bu.edu/wara/warc-black-history-2013-cortez/

The Project for Innovative Poetry (PIP) Blog: http://pippoetry.blogspot.com/2013/01/jayne-cortez.html

5 Points Where Poetry Meets Jazz NPR: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2014/04/11/301435058/5-points-where-poetry-meets-jazz

YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-moyZ7Rld2w, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h0qYZTXaiI, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPQcFI1s1qE

KRLemmons African American Biography, African American Poetry, Lesson Plans, Resources

April 24 Poet of the Day: Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton is April 24 Poet of the Day.  Poet, Educator and Author of the Everett Anderson children’s books series, Lucille Clifton was born on June 27, 1936 in Depew, New York.  Read about this prolific writer here:

Additional resources about Lucille Clifton:

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere/clifton.html

NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124113507

Shmoop Lesson Plan on “Homage to My Hips”: http://www.shmoop.com/homage-hips/ May have to register in order to access all resources.

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/lucille-clifton

Voices From the Gap: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/cliftonLucille.php

Poets & Writers Interview: http://www.pw.org/content/no_ordinary_woman_lucille_clifton

Modern American Poetry: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/clifton/clifton.htm

YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPr6EOggzm0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEVdSYqyk2Y