Bibliography
Janeczko, Paul B. 2014. Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763648428
Critical Analysis
The first think that struck me about this book was the organization. The table of contents clearly separates the poems by the seasons of the year, beginning with spring. However, once you delve into the book, the poems just fade into each other and the separation of seasons is not quite so apparent. The first time I read through the book, I missed the names of the seasons because they were such a part of the illustrations that they did not stand out. They create a subtle shift just as each season quietly fades into the next.
The poems is this book come from a variety of authors, therefore the style of each is different. The commonality among them all is that, as the subtitle foretells, each poem is very short. Some poems use rhyme while others are set apart by the way the words are placed on the page. I noticed the use of the cinquain format in several of the poems. The illustrations area a great compliment to the poems. They reflect the meaning and emotion of each poem without closing the door on the imagination and further exploration of the poetry. Each poem helps to bring the seasons to life.
The poems is this book come from a variety of authors, therefore the style of each is different. The commonality among them all is that, as the subtitle foretells, each poem is very short. Some poems use rhyme while others are set apart by the way the words are placed on the page. I noticed the use of the cinquain format in several of the poems. The illustrations area a great compliment to the poems. They reflect the meaning and emotion of each poem without closing the door on the imagination and further exploration of the poetry. Each poem helps to bring the seasons to life.
Example
This would be a collection to use at a variety of levels. I think it could be taught and enjoyed in a kindergarten classroom as easily as in a high school class. The language is clear enough for a young child to understand and explore, but the deeper messages and imagery could be fun to study for older students. This would be a great book to use in a science classroom to illustrate the changing of the seasons, moon phases and a variety of other concepts about the natural world.
Emily Dickinson's poem The Moon was but a Chin of Gold would be great to study the moon and its phases. It could also lead into a great lesson about what the moon looks like in its different phases.
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago -
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below -
This would be a collection to use at a variety of levels. I think it could be taught and enjoyed in a kindergarten classroom as easily as in a high school class. The language is clear enough for a young child to understand and explore, but the deeper messages and imagery could be fun to study for older students. This would be a great book to use in a science classroom to illustrate the changing of the seasons, moon phases and a variety of other concepts about the natural world.
Emily Dickinson's poem The Moon was but a Chin of Gold would be great to study the moon and its phases. It could also lead into a great lesson about what the moon looks like in its different phases.
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago -
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below -
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