Illustrator: Trina Schart Hyman (bibliography)
Comments:
John Updike uses significant details, onomatopoeia, metaphor, and more to capture the essence of each month. However, the months of the year are defined solely through American culture. While these poems can be used to introduce ELL students to American culture and customs, The Children's Calendar can spark discussion about cultural differences in any classroom.
Updikes poems can also be used in comparison to Japanese haiku. Both emphasize seasonal settings and express their unique scenes with only a handful of words. Updike utilizes a consistent structure of 4 syllables per line and 4 lines per stanza. Lower and upper elementary students can write their own haikus or stanzas on a certain aspect characteristic of a month or season.
Copyright: 2002
Age/grade level: Ages 6-10
Format: Picture Book
Genre: Poetry and Verse
Multicultural/International: Each month is defined by the culture, pastimes, and holidays of the United States, but it features a racial range of American families.
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book. John Updike is also a Pulitzer Prize winning writer.
Location: Lookybook
Rating: * * *
No comments:
Post a Comment