Heard, Georgia. This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick, 2002. Print. ISBN: 0763619248.
Heard compiled this picture book anthology of infamous poets and illustrators to create a collection of poems to comfort children. Heard’s focus for the collection was the children that were affected by the Twin Towers disaster on September 11 but is beneficial for anyone, child or adult, dealing with grief and despair. Heard chose effective uplifting poems dealing with emotions of fear and grief but show that there is hope, support, and comfort from others and good things will occur again. These secular poems provide an opportunity for deep thinking and critical discussions through “Porch Talks” for the many children suffering from perplexing emotions and grief. Comfort is conveyed through the theme of hope, happiness, and support from people. The assortment of poets brings various writing forms to this collection which is unified through the theme. Sensory imagery is present in lines such as “Fly like smoke from a chimney. /Fly like the whistle from a train.” Alliteration is found such as “run on ragged…/…rugged rocks.” Onomatopoeia is illustrated with the bee buzzing.
The poem selections provided a vast variation. Many were deeply emotional and touching, as “The Peace of Wild Things,” by Wendell Berry, “Dreams,” by Langston Hughes, "Strengthen the Things that Remain" by Nancy Wood, and Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the thing with feathers," while other were surprising, and some provided no reassurance at all.
The layout was consistent throughout the book. A poem and illustration share a double page with the poem found on the left page while the right page contains the accompanying illustration. Most of the illustrators compliment the poems and provides depth to the messages of hope and comfort through varied median and colors. Brian Karas' illustration of a little girl in a red coat with a white bird on her arm sweetly captures the innocence and sweetness of Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers-.” Peter Sis’ illustration compliments Walt Whitman’s from “Song of the Broad-Axe,” which focuses on endurance, but is very unusual and catchy as it represents Manhattan and the skyline. William Steig’s illustration of a scary, sinister looking boy and an expressionless dog don’t convey the message of I can do anything if you are with me, from Karla Kuskin’s “To You.” The arrangement of the poems takes a child through the grief process and focuses the child on total horribleness, progresses to hope, then ending with new beginnings. The Table of Contents lists the poems with their poets and illustrators. At the end of the book acknowledgement, information about the illustrators, then the dedication is found.
This anthology provides encouragement to “strengthen the things that remain” and to continue on the journey with hope and joy. This is an exceptional collection of poems that remind us that everyone has worth.
Heard compiled this picture book anthology of infamous poets and illustrators to create a collection of poems to comfort children. Heard’s focus for the collection was the children that were affected by the Twin Towers disaster on September 11 but is beneficial for anyone, child or adult, dealing with grief and despair. Heard chose effective uplifting poems dealing with emotions of fear and grief but show that there is hope, support, and comfort from others and good things will occur again. These secular poems provide an opportunity for deep thinking and critical discussions through “Porch Talks” for the many children suffering from perplexing emotions and grief. Comfort is conveyed through the theme of hope, happiness, and support from people. The assortment of poets brings various writing forms to this collection which is unified through the theme. Sensory imagery is present in lines such as “Fly like smoke from a chimney. /Fly like the whistle from a train.” Alliteration is found such as “run on ragged…/…rugged rocks.” Onomatopoeia is illustrated with the bee buzzing.
The poem selections provided a vast variation. Many were deeply emotional and touching, as “The Peace of Wild Things,” by Wendell Berry, “Dreams,” by Langston Hughes, "Strengthen the Things that Remain" by Nancy Wood, and Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the thing with feathers," while other were surprising, and some provided no reassurance at all.
The layout was consistent throughout the book. A poem and illustration share a double page with the poem found on the left page while the right page contains the accompanying illustration. Most of the illustrators compliment the poems and provides depth to the messages of hope and comfort through varied median and colors. Brian Karas' illustration of a little girl in a red coat with a white bird on her arm sweetly captures the innocence and sweetness of Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers-.” Peter Sis’ illustration compliments Walt Whitman’s from “Song of the Broad-Axe,” which focuses on endurance, but is very unusual and catchy as it represents Manhattan and the skyline. William Steig’s illustration of a scary, sinister looking boy and an expressionless dog don’t convey the message of I can do anything if you are with me, from Karla Kuskin’s “To You.” The arrangement of the poems takes a child through the grief process and focuses the child on total horribleness, progresses to hope, then ending with new beginnings. The Table of Contents lists the poems with their poets and illustrators. At the end of the book acknowledgement, information about the illustrators, then the dedication is found.
This anthology provides encouragement to “strengthen the things that remain” and to continue on the journey with hope and joy. This is an exceptional collection of poems that remind us that everyone has worth.
Poem for Library Lesson:
“Life is mostly froth and bubble”
by A.L. Gordon
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone;
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.
Activity:
After reading the poem once and showing the illustration ask the students, what did you like about the poem? Give them time to think. Allow students to answer questions. Read the poem a second time. Allow more students to answer the questions. Facilitate a “Porch Talk” use the following questions:
“What were you thinking as I read the poem? Do you have a favorite part?
Do you like the ending?
The way it begins?”
Did the poem make your heart beat faster? Why or why not? (Heard, 49)”
Divide the students in predetermined groups of three or four. The groups determine what is (are) important in their lives and write a poem to share with the class. The poem should tell the audience something about the important item(s) in their lives.
Heard, Georgia. 1989. FOR THE GOOD OF THE EARTH AND SUN; TEACHING POETRY. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. ISBN 043508495X.
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