Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. 2010. DARK EMPEROR & OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT. Ill. by Rick Allen. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780547152288

Plot Summary

In this engaging informational poetry collection, the author reveals the beauty of the nocturnal world through 12 poems that include descriptions of various animals and plants that play important roles in our environment after the sun sets at the end of each day.  Each poem celebrates the wonderful yet mysterious qualities the world seems to have after dark, and is accompanied by detailed illustrations that capture the shadowy colors of nighttime.  The reader discovers the types of activities animals partake in when the rest of the world is asleep, including raccoons, snails, moths, great horned owls, spiders, baby porcupines, crickets, and tree bats.  Written from the point of view of the animals and plants who come alive at night while the rest of the world sleeps, the poems found within this collection are breathtaking in their simplicity.  The reader is taken on a journey through an entire night, from just after dusk and the beginning of the night to the start of a brand new day as the moon loses its radiance to the power of the sun.  Although the creatures that come out at night will always be somewhat mysterious, this book of poems helps readers view the night as a little less frightening.

Critical Analysis

With an incredibly appealing organization and design scheme, the collection of poems found within Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night are each paired with related information that contains true facts about plants and animals.  The glossary found in the back of the book is an especially helpful resource for children when interpreting the expository information that is associated with each poem.  Many of the poems contain a lyrical quality that is best expressed when read aloud.  The natural rhythm and rhymes found within the poems creates a literary experience that is simply mesmerizing when reading or listening to them.  Readers of all ages will be captivated by the language of the poems, as the sensory words create vivid mental images of the nighttime creatures and their habitats. A particularly stunning example of the use of language is found in the poem "Oak After Dark" - "As nighttime rustles at my knee / I stand in silent gravity / and quietly continue chores / of feeding leaves and sealing pores...I stretch my roots into the hill / and slowly, slowly, drink my fill."  The dark beauty of the night is effectively captured while the reader's emotional response to the poetry will range anywhere from curiosity to admiration to awe as they discover new details about the fascinating nocturnal world.

Awards

• Newbery Honor Book
• Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book
• Cybils Poetry Award Finalist
• NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
• Horn Book Fanfare
• Bulletin Blue Ribbon
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
• NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book

Review Excerpts

“From the opening poem, 'To all of you who crawl and creep, / who buzz and chirp and hoot and peep, / who wake at dusk and throw off sleep: / Welcome to the night,' Sidman celebrates the world that comes alive after dark.” – Horn Book (starred review)

“This new volume teams a dozen Sidman poems about nocturnally active organisms from raccoons to snails to mushrooms with the work of artist Allen, who offers a sequence of gouache-tinted linocut prints follows the night from sunset's crepuscular tones into the dark of small hours and through until dawn, with the moon moving across the sky overhead.” – Bulletin (starred review)

"This picture book combines lyrical poetry and compelling art with science concepts." - Booklist (starred review)

"Spiders offer advice, porcupettes pirouette, and the moon laments the dawn, all illuminated by debut talent Allen's detailed yet moody prints, which encapsulate the mysteries and magic of the midnight hours." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Connections

Joyce Sidman has posted suggestions for Reading, Writing, and Science extension activities that complement this poetry collection on her website in the form of the following Dark Emperor Reader's Guide.


While listening to Joyce Sidman read aloud some of the poems from this collection, children can close their eyes and imagine the creatures and plants she describes.  They can sketch their mental images, and then compare them to the illustrations that are actually found in the book.


This collection of poems can be used in conjunction with a unit of study on nocturnal animals and their habitats in Science.  Children can work in groups to research different biomes and identify the various types of nocturnal animals that live within their biome.

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2004. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES.  New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 1416907882

Plot Summary

Ruby Milliken is not unlike any other fifteen year old girl - she is obsessed with boys, loves spending time with her best friend Lizzie, enjoys talking on the phone and writing emails.  But unlike the typical fifteen year old girl, Ruby's mother dies and leaves her alone, forcing her to move three thousand miles away from the only home she's ever known so that she can move in with her father, who just so happens to be a famous Hollywood actor Ruby's never even met.  This novel in verse begins with Ruby's flight across the country as she leaves all that is familiar and heads toward an uncertain future she is dreading.  As Ruby becomes acclimated to the new lifestyle she leads in L.A., she continues to work through the grief she feels from her mother's death by periodically sending her mom emails about her new life.  Despite the troubled beginning to their relationship, Ruby gradually begins to piece together clues from her past that lead her to an understanding of the type of caring and thoughtful man her father truly is.  Along the way, Ruby realizes that change is a necessary part of life, learns about the power of forgiveness, and discovers that opening her heart to those that love her is the only way a person can ever truly experience happiness.

Critical Analysis

The humorous and painfully realistic writing style of Sonya Sones is sure to be a hit among young adult readers everywhere.  She does an exceptional job of capturing the melodramatic tendencies of Ruby's personality - not only as a teenager, but also as a young woman who recently lost her mother and has discovered just how precious life actually is.  The language of this engaging verse novel is exquisite, with fresh and unusual ways to express normal objects and events.  For example, in the poem "I Didn't Want to Get on This Plane," Ruby describes walking off the plane after arriving in L.A. for the first time - "I force myself to step through / the gaping steel jaw of the doorway, / and inch down the corridor of doom, / balancing on the tight rope / of dirty gray carpet / painfully aware that every step I take / is leading me / closer and closer / to the sperm donor himself."  The natural rhythm found within the verses makes this an appealing book for young adult readers because it is easy to read.  Despite the fact that this novel in verse does not contain any pictures, the mental images that the reader encounters while reading are often surprising and strikingly detailed.  The emotional influence this book will have on readers is compelling and may, at times, seem overwhelming - especially for those readers who can relate to the deeply personal experience of losing one's parent.  Although this novel in verse is most appropriate for older children in middle school or high school, adults will find themselves enjoying this novel as well.  One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies is far from a "hideous" book - rather, it allows the reader a glimpse of a young girl's journey of discovery as she loses everything she knows before finding something new.

Awards

• Tennessee Volunteer State Teen Read Award (2006)
• Iowa Golden Apple Teen Read Award (2006)
• Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2005-2006)
• New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award (2005-2006)
• South Carolina Mustang Book Award (2005)
• 2004 Cuffie Award from Publisher's Weekly for the Best Book Title of the Year
• International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2006)
• 2005 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association
• 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association
• 2004 Honor Book by the Society of School Librarians International
• Kliatt Editor's Choice: Best of 2004 Hardcover Fiction
• Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Teen Book List (2004)
• New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (2005)
• Top Ten Summer Read by Girl's Life Magazine (2004)

Review Excerpts

“A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.” – Booklist (starred review)

“This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry.  It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness...Ruby's story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable.” – School Library Journal (starred review)

"Short steam-of-consciousness free-verse poems make up most of the narrative, by turns bathing readers in Ruby's emotions and treating them to very sharp, very funny observations about L.A." - Kirkus Reviews 

"It is true that the mother dies, but this hilarious and painfully real novel in verse and letters is anything but hideous...Sones's sparse, carefully chosen prose is the star here, conveying Ruby's conflicts of home, friendship, and family in a sympathetic, thoroughly believable manner." - VOYA

"Sonya Sones is one of the leading practitioners of the novel in verse for young adult readers, and readers will enjoy this new book every bit as much as her previous novel, What My Mother Doesn't Know, a huge hit with teens.  Ruby's voice is pitch-perfect, with all of the humor, high spirits, melodrama, and wisecracking typical of a smart teenager plopped down in an unwanted situation." - Bookpage

Connections

In this verse novel, the reader is introduced to a variety of characters.  Although the story is told from Ruby's point of view, characters such as Whip Logan, Aunt Duffy, Lizzie, and Ray all play significant parts in this story.  An extension activity after reading this novel could involve having students write about Ruby's life from the point of view of one of these important supporting characters.  After all students have had a chance to write from another point of view, allow them to share their writing with others to see if they are able to identify which character's point of view their story is written from.

Meet Danitra Brown

Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 1994. MEET DANITRA BROWN. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688120733

Plot Summary

In this touching poetry collection about a cherished friendship, the reader is introduced to Danitra Brown through her best friend Zuri Jackson's eyes.  Zuri is the narrator of these poems, and she allows the reader an intimate glimpse into her friendship with "the most splendiferous girl in town."  Danitra's fearless attitude and her ability to feel comfortable in her own skin prove that she is wise beyond her years, and Zuri's admiration and respect for her good friend Danitra resonate throughout the thirteen poems in this book.  These two girls show a genuine understanding of the true meaning of friendship - through how they comfort each other during times of distress, forgive each other when promises are broken, and believe in each other more than they believe in themselves.  When a new girl moves in down the street, Zuri immediately knows which person she should meet - after all, there is no one quite like her special friend, Danitra Brown.

Critical Analysis

Nikki Grimes is an accomplished and widely recognized poet who has written countless children's poetry books, so it comes as no surprise to the reader that Meet Danitra Brown is a charming book of poems that perfectly captures the comfort of a special friendship.  The emotional impact of these poems is powerful, as every reader has most likely experienced the type of connection that Danitra and Zuri have.  Through the use of carefully chosen rhymes, the author creates a rhythmical arrangement of verses that sounds as lively and spirited as the main characters' friendship when read aloud.  The language used throughout the poems is purposeful in portraying cultural authenticity for these African American young women.  Poems entitled "Coke-Bottle Brown" and "Sweet Blackberry" both describe the cruel insults that each girl must learn how to handle when taunted about the color of their skin.  The vivid imagery that Nikki Grimes creates through her use of language will encourage children to read these poems more than once.  In the poem "Sweet Blackberry," the image of Zuri's sorrow is made strikingly real through the lines "I never cry, but inside there's a hurting place. / I make sure no one sees it on my face."  The distress that Zuri experiences when she inadvertently shares one of Danitra's secrets is conveyed beautifully in the poem "The Secret" - "Danitra's scared of pigeons. I promised not to tell, / then I opened my big mouth and out the secret fell. / I tried to shove it right back in, though it was much too late."  This book of poetry flawlessly captures two ordinary girls and their extraordinary friendship.

Awards

• ALA Notable Book
• Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
• ABA-CBC Backlist Title
• 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• 1996-97 Sequoyah Children's Book Award Masterlist
• 1996-97 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Nominee
• 1997-98 Pennyslvania Young Readers' Choice Master List

Review Excerpts

“In a series of poems, an African-American girl sings the praises of her best friend and their special relationship...Grimes's poetry has a very deliberate rhyme scheme, but it also smoothly describes a number of vignettes and links them with consistent themes and characterizations.  Issues of race, feminism, and family structure are delicately incorporated, and successfully build an emotional connection for the reader.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The poignant text and lovely pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments of friendship with universal appeal.” – School Library Journal

"In a lively cycle of 13 poems by the author of Something On My Mind (1978), Zuri Jackson celebrates her vibrant best friend Danitra: 'the most splendiferous girl in town'...Danitra shares work, play, and confidences with equal verve, knows how to defuse a mean tease or comfort a friend, and loves to wear purple...The joyous portrayal will appeal to a broad age range." - Kirkus Reviews

Connections

The fact that the main characters in this book of poetry are two best friends that bring out the best in each other makes this the perfect book to explore the theme of friendship with students and help children build skills in social awareness.  After reading the poem "Coke-Bottle Brown", the teacher can lead a discussion about Danitra's non-violent behavior when others say cruel things to her about the color of her skin.  Allow students to discuss why they think Danitra and Zuri do the right thing by walking away from the boys who are taunting them.  Another activity this particular poem lends itself to is allowing students to write about a time when they felt upset from being teased or insulted.  They can describe the details of the incident, along with their feelings and the type of action they took as they write their story.  Encourage students to include whether they wish they had responded differently - and if they do wish they had responded differently, in what way would they have responded?


After reading this touching collection of poems, students can share the qualities and character traits that make their friends truly wonderful.  Once everyone has had a chance to share, students can write a short poem about one of their special friends - just as Zuri did when writing her poems about Danitra.