Review by Christi De Leon
a.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hoberman, Mary Ann. Very Short Tall Tales to Read Together.
Ill. by Michael Emberley. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2014. ISBN 9780316183296
b.
SUMMARY & CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This poetic collection tells
stories of American folklore heroes through 15 selections. These characters
include Davy Crockett, Johnny Appleseed, Annie Oakley, and many more. The book
is written to be read in two voices.
This book is full of poetic
elements such as rhymes, alliteration, and repetition to tell stories of
folklore legends. These techniques make reading this book fun. The layout
encourages interaction with others. The text is color coded making the process
easier for each reader to know which part is theirs to read. The text is also
arranged in a way that shows the separation into each voice. Each poem closes
with a phrase such as, “I’ll read to you, you’ll read to me.” In addition to
making reading an enjoyable experience, these poems help familiarize readers
with different folk heroes. These tales are an important component of American
literature, and they lend themselves to valuable learning experiences.
The illustrations consist of
pencil, watercolor, and dry pastel. These amusing illustrations complement the
text in an entertaining way. This book contains many access features that
enhance the collection as well. First, the Table of Contents makes each
individual tale more accessible. The Author’s Note provides information about
tall tales and how these rhyming stories are meant to be read along with
others. The first poem introduces readers to tall tales in an engaging way, and
the last poem creatively wraps up the book. Overall, introducing this book is a
great way to invite readers to participate in a form of poetry performance,
reading in two voices, expanding their linguistic abilities and listening
comprehension.
c.
POEM TO SPOTLIGHT & SHARE
Excerpt from “Davy Crockett”
I’ve Davy
Crockett, frontier king,
A man who can do
anything.
My story starts
right at my birth:
A comet carried me
to Earth.
It hit a hill in Tennessee
And Guess what
happened? Out came me!
That’s quite a story, if it’s
true.
Now let me hear what you can do.
This excerpt is only the
beginning of the poem Davy Crockett, which is rather long. However, just in
this small piece, there is evidence of upbeat rhyming, clever word choice, alternating voices, color coding, and a suitable layout. The content exemplifies
a tall tale in which information is either exaggerated or not true.
Nonetheless, this story starts off in a way that is sure to keep the attention
of the readers and listeners.
Considering that students may have limited experience with reading poetry aloud along with another person, this poem could be first introduced through modeling by two educators. Inviting students to participate would follow. Many of these poems, such as “Davy Crockett," would be ideal for integrating into corresponding social studies lessons. For instance, “Davy Crockett” could be shared in two voices or chorally as part of a lesson about the Alamo.
Considering that students may have limited experience with reading poetry aloud along with another person, this poem could be first introduced through modeling by two educators. Inviting students to participate would follow. Many of these poems, such as “Davy Crockett," would be ideal for integrating into corresponding social studies lessons. For instance, “Davy Crockett” could be shared in two voices or chorally as part of a lesson about the Alamo.
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