Worth, Valerie. All the small poems and fourteen more. Illus. Natalie Babbitt. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1994. Print. ISBN 9780374302115.
Adding to the Small Poems series the poems appear in the order of the four earlier books: small poems, more small poems, still more small poems, and small poems again with an additional fourteen poems to compose free verse poems in All the small poems and fourteen more, written by Worth. The poems are listed in the Table of Contents in presentation order. The one hundred and thirteen poems are short poems with titles that focus on everyday items and makes them shimmer through the point of view of what a child actually sees or wants to see, such as earthworms, rags, garbage, an amoeba, telephone poles, or a skunk. She compares, observes, and contemplates these ordinary fun and familiar concrete topics as the reader must think to determine a possible underlying abstract message conveyed in each poem, which makes the reader reflect from different points of view. Worth communicates the words and the words visually by making them fit the form and the forms fit the topic of the poems, such as the lawnmower goes back and forth. She also uses sensory imagery to appeal to hearing, taste, smell, touch, and sight, as in “caterpillar” where the reader experiences the feet rippling, pouncing and pattering as the caterpillar walks. The length of lines, repetition, and rhythm variation are used to communicate with the reader as well as figurative language. Occasionally she uses similes and metaphors to increase the height of the poem and to surprise the reader such as in “safety pin” the safety pin is like a shrimp with its “surprised eye.”
Adding to the Small Poems series the poems appear in the order of the four earlier books: small poems, more small poems, still more small poems, and small poems again with an additional fourteen poems to compose free verse poems in All the small poems and fourteen more, written by Worth. The poems are listed in the Table of Contents in presentation order. The one hundred and thirteen poems are short poems with titles that focus on everyday items and makes them shimmer through the point of view of what a child actually sees or wants to see, such as earthworms, rags, garbage, an amoeba, telephone poles, or a skunk. She compares, observes, and contemplates these ordinary fun and familiar concrete topics as the reader must think to determine a possible underlying abstract message conveyed in each poem, which makes the reader reflect from different points of view. Worth communicates the words and the words visually by making them fit the form and the forms fit the topic of the poems, such as the lawnmower goes back and forth. She also uses sensory imagery to appeal to hearing, taste, smell, touch, and sight, as in “caterpillar” where the reader experiences the feet rippling, pouncing and pattering as the caterpillar walks. The length of lines, repetition, and rhythm variation are used to communicate with the reader as well as figurative language. Occasionally she uses similes and metaphors to increase the height of the poem and to surprise the reader such as in “safety pin” the safety pin is like a shrimp with its “surprised eye.”
Babbitt illustrates each poem with a black ink sketch picture that complements the depth and simplicity reflected in the poem. The illustrations emphasizes Worth’s word choices making them pop to the reader. “tractor” contains consonance and assonance and with a rhyme and finishing with a simile.
This is a wonderful book with beautiful short, simple, and deep poems and illustrations that appeal and sing to the audience – children. The reader should linger through as they read the poems out loud.
Library Lesson:
“chairs”
Chairs
Seem
To
Sit
Down
On
Themselves, almost as if
They were people,
Some fat, some thin;
Settled comfortably
On their own seats,
Some even stretch out their arms
To
Rest.
Activity:
This is one of my favorite poems in this book. What message do you think the poet is telling us in this poem? Allow students to think and respond. To me, “chairs” is a poem that tells about life. There is a wonderful illustration that goes along with the poem too. Show and discuss the illustration that accompanies the poem. How does the illustration support the poem’s message? Allow students to think and respond. To me, the chair is like a person. Worth really makes us think when we read her poems. The poems are short but they have a lot of meaning. She makes our imaginations work! Now use your imagination. I want everyone to write a short poem about a subject – gum. Do what Worth did in her poems – use your comparative, contemplation, and observation skills. Also, illustrate a picture that compliments your work, as Babbit did. To help you observe a piece of gum I have a piece for each of you. You may use all your senses to experience the gum. After class, all gum is disposed of in the trash as they leave. I display everyone’s poem and illustration on the wall under a giant cut out of a piece of gum.
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