Poetry Friday: Celebrating Kids’ Poetry

Jan 08, 2010

My brother and family gave Catherine a 25th Anniversary Edition of Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Catherine went straight for the CD that goes with the book, and instantly fell in love with the poems. Yesterday, she asked to take the book with her to school. [Mom smiling]. She carried it to the bus stop and read “Sick” while we waited for her bus to come. [beaming Mom] Then, after school, she came barreling in the door …

Mom, Guess what?! Mrs. D. asked me to read a poem to the W-H-O-L-E class! I read “Sick”! Mrs. Dasked to keep the book so she could read more of it. Isn’t that awesome?

[Mom dancing a jig!] So in honor of my poetry-loving daughter, I thought I’d share “Sick” … the irony of the poem and going to school just adds to my giggles about the whole thing!

“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more–that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?

To read the rest of the poem, head over to poets.org.

Tricia Stohr-Hunt has today’s awesome Poetry Friday roundup at the Miss Rumphius Effect!

7 responses to “Poetry Friday: Celebrating Kids’ Poetry”

  3. Oh, I love this story (another mom beaming here, reading it). Last night I was reading Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry to my 8 year old in the bath and she was loving it. Thanks for sharing this great story!

  4. I love that poem! I get excited when I recognize something my US book blogging buddies discuss.

    Poetry in the bath sounds good too!

  5. Thanks Mary Ann and Susan – It is a fun poem. I love the idea of reading in the bath … I’ll have to remember that as “incentive” to relax. I know I like reading in the tub (hence: Reading Tub!). My S-i-L commented about the book and this poem on my Facebook page. So glad she got to see that C is enjoying it!

  6. I love to read Shel’s poetry, used his work a lot when teaching sixth grade and always carry his poetry with me when visiting schools now. My great nieces love listening to the CD, they can’t quite read the poems by themselves yet so they have told their mothers “If Aunt Carol isn’t here we listen to the CD.” So delighted your SIL got to read about your daughter enjoying this book in this way!

  7. I love your daughter’s enthusiasm for poetry! It makes me smile–I too, love poetry, but have never heard of poets.org! I’m glad I found it and your blog as well.

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