Nonfiction Poetry to Enhance Everyday Instruction

I can't believe April is almost here! That means so many things as spring draws near. One of the things about April is that our school year starts to wind down a bit. Testing begins, but we can also focus on the lighter side of school too. I love that poetry month falls in April because we take advantage of some of the down time and just enjoy some great poetry. This week I bring TWO books that feature nonfiction poetry and a glimpse into main idea.

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Two of our Virginia Readers' Choice books are poems that give us great insight into some nonfiction. These books both offer two different types of nonfiction and allow students to find the main idea. The books Animal Ark by Kwame Alexander and A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney are both great examples of how poetry can be beautiful and meaningful.

Animal Ark

Kwame Alexander has teamed up with National Geographic for a beautiful book all about animals that are endangered, Animal Ark. Written as a poem, the book tells the reader about endangered animals and the adaptations they have to survive. When reading the book aloud, you can just hear Kwame Alexander reading it out loud to you. If you've ever heard him speak, you will completely understand!

I took the opportunity to use this book to work on main idea with my students. I read through the book and showed the group the gorgeous pictures. After reading the book, we listed the adaptations of the animals and came up with the main idea for the book.

A Poem for Peter

In A Poem for Peter, Andrea Davis Pinkney tells the story of Ezra Jack Keats and how he came up with the story The Snowy Day. This intriguing biography helps readers see how Ezra Jack Keats's life ended up the way it did. Even I found it to be intriguing. All of his books take on a life of something he understands.

Both of these books help children see something in the world and understand more about our world. I love that they are both poems and tell the reader more in a fun way.

I will be back after my spring break with another Book Talk Thursday book. On April 6, you don't want to miss a fun blog hop and giveaway with my blogging friends at The Reading Crew! Come back then for more fun and exciting times!