Poetry Friday: Paul Fleischman's "Joyful Noise"

Last summer I liked Joyce Sidman's 2005 book, Song of the Water Boatman, with its fun poems about ponds and nature as well as vivid woodblock-print illustrations by Beckie Prange.

Published in 1988, Paul Fleischman's Joyful Noise also contains a poem about the water boatmen bugs. Who knew they were a popular subject for children's poetry? Not me. Fleischman's book about insects consists of poems for two voices; in fact, it won the Newbery Medal.

The poems are gently humorous, whimsical, and full of a rich vocabulary. The small, subtle black and white illustrations were made in pencil by Eric Beddows. In many ways Joyful Noise is a quiet book that doesn't need to call attention to itself with gussied-up graphics. I sense an inherent trust in the readers to discover the poems' pleasures for themselves.

Joyful Noise is for older children, aged nine to twelve, but if two grown-ups read these works to 5-8 year olds, I bet the kids would appreciate them. I may have to send a copy of "Chrysalis Diary" to Junior's teacher; his third-grade class is currently studying butterflies. Oh, and how could I forget? There's even a poem about book lice.

I've chosen Fleischman's "Water Boatmen" as today's Poetry Friday selection. I found the poem at the HarperCollins site, so click on the link to read it.

Whimsy Books rounds up the participants in Poetry Friday. I give props to our friend Ms. L. for recommending Joyful Noise. Incidentally, author Laura Purdie Salas wrote about Joyful Noise today, too. Love that Poetry Friday synchronicity!

Comments

[TadMack]

This is one of the first books of poetry that I purchased for myself outside of school anthologies. Since it was allegedly for children, it made it easier to not admit to myself I was buying poetry!!!

I adore the Book lice poem. And now I must go and say happy things over at Laura's site!

[cloudscome]

I would love to hear this one read aloud!

[Susan Thomsen]

Oh, that's neat, TadMack. It's a lovely book, isn't it?

Me, too, Cloudscome. I think the poems would be great as staged readings for fifth graders.

[Mrs. G.]

Love, love, love this book. I have used it for so many years in creative writing classes of all ages. It definitely deserves a mention. Thanks.

[Liz in Ink]

I don't know this book -- or rather, I didn't -- and now I'm really, really happy I do...

[Susan T.]

Liz, I think you'll like it. I really wanted to read it aloud with someone. Jr. was game for that a little but not much.

[Maya]

I am currently in a play using some of the poems from this book. IT IS SO COOL! I am in seventh grade and at first I thought it was weird, but I love the one called the moth serenade, with the porch light!!!!! Love this book!

[Susan T.]

Maya, I loved it, too. I can see how it would work well in theater! Thanks for stopping by.

[liza folds]

will someone send me these lyrics

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

You can get the entire poems in the book, which is available in many libraries.