Module 5: Joyce Sidman Poetry Book

 

Round

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. (2017). Round. Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780544387614

 

Summary

This book is a single poem illustrated into a children’s picture book.  Round details many things in our world that have a round shape.  Most of the items mentioned can be found in nature and make the reader contemplate what other things in our world around us are round.  There is not a table of contents for this book, but the author includes a section at the back of the book called “Why are so many things in nature round?” that allows the reader to learn more.  This section explains a little more about why things are round and how that shape is important.  The illustrations used throughout the poem are vibrant and help the reader or listener to connect the text to the world.  The poem is not broken down consistently with a specific number of lines on a page, but in conjunction with the illustrations and what they show in relation to the text.

 

Analysis

This poem set into picture book format is a great book for lower elementary school students. It introduces them to poetry, but since it is in picture book format they may not even realize it is poetry.  The colorful and detailed pictures that accompany the poem text keeps the reader or listener engaged and interested in what the next round thing in the poem could be. 

There is not any rhyming contained in this poem, but the repetition of the word “round” throughout the poem keeps the reader focused on the purpose of the poem.  The poet uses descriptive language to help the reader visualize the round things in nature without directly stating what the items are.  For example, she says, “I love how water can be round, gathered in beads of silver…” instead of saying raindrops are round.  This is a great way to show students how to describe items in a creative way.

The poet uses the illustrations to help students to recognize what she is describing and will lead students to make their own connections to the world around them and other items in the world that are round.  This would make for a great group discussion after the read aloud.  Students could also share items in the world that are other shapes besides round.

Poem Excerpt

I love how water can be round,

gathered in beads of silver…

or falling in wet splats,

leaving circles of ripples behind.

 

Activity

I immediately felt this poem book would be great for lower elementary students to help the teacher read as well as act out movements throughout.  I would start by reading the book all the way through and then the second time through asking students to say the word “round” when I pause as I get to it in the story.  I would also like to have students show “round” with their arms above their head in a circle to add movement to the poem.  This would be a great way to get younger students excited about poetry and show them how interactive it can be.