Poetry

My Man Blue
Grimes, N. (1999). My man blue. (J. Lagarrigue, illus.) New York: Puffin Books.

The story of a fatherless boy named Damon is told through poetry. Damon moves with his mother and meets a man, he calls Blue, who used to be his mother’s friend. Blue lost his own son to the streets so Blue befriends Damon. He plays with him at the park, saves him from an accident, teaches him not to punch girls, and about violence on the streets. Damon is inspired to grow up and be strong just like Blue.

Genre: Poetry, Realistic fiction
Type of Book: Picture Book
Interest level: 3-6 Reading level: 5.6
Awards: NCTE Award-winning poet

Where I Live
Spinelli, E. (2007). Where I live. (M. Phelan, Illus.). New York: Penguin Group.

The young girl in the book loves poetry and astronomy. She enjoys playing scrabble and sharing her diary with her best friend Rose. Her father loses his job and her and her family have to move six hours away to live with her Grandpa Joe. She dislikes her new house and when she attends a poetry seminar she feels like she is home again only to say good-bye. At her new house she begins looking for things to write about in her poetry notebook. One day while writing poetry she meets a boy named Sam that also likes astronomy and they become friends. The story of how she moves and makes new friends is told through free verse poetry and illustrated with simple black and white illustrations complement the poem on each page.

Genre: Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Type of Book: Chapter book
Interest level: 3-6 Reading level: 3.0
Awards: Bluebonnet award nominee, 2009