Bibliography
Sidman, Joyce, and Michelle Berg. 2006. Meow ruff.
Plot Summary
This concrete poetry picture book by Joyce Sidman is a simple story, but has some valuable lessons in it. The cat in this story is abandoned at the same time the dog escapes from his home. Of course, the dog pursues the cat; all the while – through each page – clouds are getting bigger and darker. Just as the anticipated fight starts, so does the storm. This forces the natural enemies to seek shelter in the same place. They fall asleep only to be awakened by the irritating crows once the storm has passed. They team up to chase the crows solidifying their friendship. Finally, the dog’s owner finds his dog and his dog’s new friend leaving the reader with the hope of a new home for the cat when the human carries the cat in his arms.
Critical Analysis
The concrete poetry in this story adds so much detail and fun. As the back of the book says in the picture of the grass, “Concrete poetry is poetry that makes pictures out of letters and words.” Even the cement, house, car, clouds, trees, and shelter describe the story in a unique way as words make up each object. The clouds on one page that are made up of full, round, mostly white letters that say, “large white steamy bread loaves rising in the sun’s bright heat, a billowing batch of cumulus.” This story’s small details, like its numbered lady bugs or the hail stones that are made up of, “ice," add to the overall enjoyment of the story.
The graphics in this book, by designer Michelle Berg, are simple and fun, but so appealing. The bright colors really draw the eye to each subject throughout the story. The well chosen fonts are so clever in this story. The tree trunk is made of a solid, thick font, while the clouds are made up of fat and round ones, just like a cloud. Even the “A” in the anthill sticks up above the ground just like an anthill does.
This is a story that any age will enjoy, but especially young ones with the bright colors and the almost puzzle like way the words make up objects throughout the story. This story also deals with some very real issues like friendship and pet abandonment, which can help children explore those issues.
Review Excerpts
Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books – “This title is rife with possibilities for art, reading, or language curricula, and it could serve as an early introduction to concrete poetry for readers not yet ready for Janeczko's A Poke in the I.”
The Horn Book – “Looking for the poetry hidden in the visual imagery is the most obvious appeal of this beautiful, innovative book; other pleasures include the splendid flood of onomatopoeia and the stunning design.”
School Library Journal – “The adjective-loaded unrhyrned verse is actually a series of descriptive phrases that have been compressed and arranged to create elements of the artwork.”
Connections
Lead a discussion with students about friendship and a time when a past enemy has become a friend.
For a language arts/art connection have children draw animals or objects and have the children put words in them that describe the subject. See where this writing leads!
Lead a discussion with older children about pet abandonment and responsibility.
Other concrete poetry books for children:
Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. 2001. A poke in the I.
Lewis, J. Patrick, and Lisa Desimini. 1998. Doodle dandies poems that take shape.
Grandits, John. 2004. Technically, it's not my fault concrete poems.
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