School Poetry
First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems
by Marilyn Singer and Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
Bibliography
Singer, Marilyn. 2008. First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems. Ill. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
ISBN: 9781402741456
Book Review
Marilyn Singer shares a variety of school related poems which are spoken in the voices of several school aged children who are adequately named to represent different multicultural backgrounds. Children will be drawn in immediately to the catchy title regarding a food fight because kids love anything related to a food fight, or as it is appropriately described in one poem titled, “Indoor Storm.” The collection of school poems also offers a variety of poetic styles with poems written in quatrain, blank verse, and haiku. The colorful illustrations equally offer a special appeal with a blend of bright and bold colors and the minute details whimsically displayed throughout each page. These comical pictures enhance the hilarious and wacky nature of Singer’s poems. Singer and Yoshikawa continually complement each other throughout to set the perfect tone for each poem.
The following poem is sure to be a favorite of any child or educator in a school related atmosphere. “Where the Custodian Can Go,” is not only comical and truthful in nature, but the illustrations for both parts of these poems are hilarious. Each page shows the different restroom doors that are intricately described through colorful visuals with perfumed wafting out of the girls' room, and something else wafting out of the boys‘ room. One can only guess what is wafting out of the boys‘ room. Poor Mr. Monticello!
Where the Custodian Can Go
By Cory & Marisol
Cory-
Behind that door
There are giggles and chatter,
Water running, the smell of perfume.
Behind that door
There’s a whole lot of trouble-
If I peeked in, I would meet my DOOM.
‘Cause Mr. Monticello
With his mop and broom
Is the only guy allowed inside
That freaky girls’ restroom.
Marisol-
Behind that door
There are snorts and clatter,
Water flooding, the occasional
BOOM.
Behind that door
There are boys causing trouble-
They don’t go there to chat or groom.
Poor Mr. Monticello
With his mop and broom.
What messes has he found
In the wacky boys’ restroom?
Extensions
This book is perfect for teachers and librarians to share at the beginning of a new school year to break “the first day of school jitters” usually experienced on that big day.
Have children partner together to write poems that are familiar to the custodian poem above and some other poems Singer shares in her book. For instance, “For Beans” is a two part poem written by “twin sisters” that describe their joy and dismay of growing a bean plant. One has unusual and enormous success, while the other experiences complete failure at having a “green thumb.” Each part is also presented in different color text to separate the two versions.
Children will also enjoy taking turns reading the two part poems presented in this book.
Enjoy other books of school poetry:
The Bug in Teacher’s Coffee and Other School Poems by Kally Dakos -
ISBN: 0060279400
Oh, Grow Up! Poems to Help You Survive Parents, Chores, Schools, and Other Afflictions by Florence Parry Heide - ISBN: 0531087719
Put Your Eyes Up Here, and Other School Poems by Kalli Dakos - ISBN: 0689811179
School Fever by Brod Bagert - ISBN: 9780803732018
Teacher’s Night Before Halloween by Steven L. Layne - ISBN: 9781589805859
What a Day it Was at School by Jack Prelutsky - ISBN: 9780060823364
Image Source: Amazon.com