Author: John Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: 2004
Genre: Poetry—One Author
Reading Level: 4th-5th Grade
Brief Overview: This book uses the rhythm of well-known poems to discuss various topics of scientific interest such as dinosaurs, the food chain, and the water cycle, among others. The end papers of the book hold to the scientific theme of the story by consisting of the Periodic Table. The final page of the book is an “Observations and Conclusions” page which gives credit to where the author borrowed the rhyme and rhythm of each poem from. Some of the poems Scieszka borrowed from include Poe and Longfellow. This reference gives students the opportunity to explore more poems with a similar rhyme, pattern, rhythm, or beat as some of the poems featured in this book.
Integrated Activity: Students will choose a scientific topic they are interested in, such as those discussed in the book (life cycles, viruses, dinosaurs, etc.) and will conduct research using print and web-based sources to learn more about the topic. Students will write their own poems about the topic of their choice, supporting their statements with the research they conducted. Students will cite their sources at the end of their work. Students will then dramatize their original works for the class and will remain an actively engaged member of the audience as other presenters perform.
Reviewer’s Name and Affiliation: Erica Hicks, Valdosta State University
