Plot Summary
This is based on the William Carlos Williams poem of apology entitled, This Is Just To Say. The book is compilation of poems, part of a fictional assignment for a fictional sixth grade class at a fictional school by a fictional teacher, but the poems are real and revealing. With each poem, a new experience, there is the warmth of friendship, the hilarity or boys, the sweetness of first love, and the heart-wrenching sadness of rejection. Through them all there is an insight into the hearts of children, an uncloaking of their innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Personal Reaction
When I first read this book i thought it was a compilation of poems by an actual sixth-grade class. I enjoyed this book so much! It is in turns sweet and funny, but always entertaining.
Memorable Literary Element
What stands out to me about the book is the ruse. I completely fell for it and laughed at myself when I realized it. That was such fun! It reminds me of the book The Princess Bride by William Goldman, and I won't say anymore than that, in case you haven't read it.
Illustrations
The artwork gives the impression that these sixth-grade poets illustrated their own poetry. It is the perfect compliment to the concept of the book.
This is based on the William Carlos Williams poem of apology entitled, This Is Just To Say. The book is compilation of poems, part of a fictional assignment for a fictional sixth grade class at a fictional school by a fictional teacher, but the poems are real and revealing. With each poem, a new experience, there is the warmth of friendship, the hilarity or boys, the sweetness of first love, and the heart-wrenching sadness of rejection. Through them all there is an insight into the hearts of children, an uncloaking of their innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Personal Reaction
When I first read this book i thought it was a compilation of poems by an actual sixth-grade class. I enjoyed this book so much! It is in turns sweet and funny, but always entertaining.
Memorable Literary Element
What stands out to me about the book is the ruse. I completely fell for it and laughed at myself when I realized it. That was such fun! It reminds me of the book The Princess Bride by William Goldman, and I won't say anymore than that, in case you haven't read it.
Illustrations
The artwork gives the impression that these sixth-grade poets illustrated their own poetry. It is the perfect compliment to the concept of the book.
Reviews/Awards
Booklist, 2007 -- For a poetry unit, a fictional sixth-grade class writes “sorry” poems. They like their poems so much they decide to put them together into a book and then add a second section with responses from the recipients of the “sorry” poems. The result is a captivating anthology of short poems in various styles touching on different aspects of life. Some poems are humorous, some are sad; some poets are deeply sorry, some aren’t; and some kids are forgiven, while others are not. Topics include such things as rough play in dodgeball, stealing brownies, breaking a cherished item, and the death of a pet. The quirky illustrations, created with a variety of media, collage, and computer graphics, give a lighthearted feel to the anthology. The fictional authors of the poems are featured in various activities relating to the subject of the poems and provide a very pleasant balance to the text. Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they’ll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses. — Randall Enos
Booklist, 2007 -- For a poetry unit, a fictional sixth-grade class writes “sorry” poems. They like their poems so much they decide to put them together into a book and then add a second section with responses from the recipients of the “sorry” poems. The result is a captivating anthology of short poems in various styles touching on different aspects of life. Some poems are humorous, some are sad; some poets are deeply sorry, some aren’t; and some kids are forgiven, while others are not. Topics include such things as rough play in dodgeball, stealing brownies, breaking a cherished item, and the death of a pet. The quirky illustrations, created with a variety of media, collage, and computer graphics, give a lighthearted feel to the anthology. The fictional authors of the poems are featured in various activities relating to the subject of the poems and provide a very pleasant balance to the text. Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they’ll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses. — Randall Enos
Promotion Ideas
Allow students to think of something that they would like to apologize for and then write their own poem of apology in the format of the W.C. Williams poem that started it all or the poems in the book. These poems can be written or typed but should ultimately end up on a single page with clipart that compliments the theme of their poem. The student creations should then end up in a display.
Allow students to think of something that they would like to apologize for and then write their own poem of apology in the format of the W.C. Williams poem that started it all or the poems in the book. These poems can be written or typed but should ultimately end up on a single page with clipart that compliments the theme of their poem. The student creations should then end up in a display.