Updike, J. (1999). A
child’s calendar. New York: Holiday House.
A Child’s Calendar, is considered a specialized poetry book because the
poems included are all written by one author and are focused around the theme
of a child’s life in the different weather and changes that occur in the twelve
months. Elements such as weather, clothing, plant and animal life, and activities
are discussed.
In each of the twelve poems included the
second and fourth line in each stanza has end
rhyme. The rhyme in each poem can also be classified as exact rhyme because the ending sounds
match. An example of the exact end rhyme included throughout the book can be
found in the first two stanzas of the poem October.
The month is amber,
Gold, and brown.
Blue Ghosts of smoke
Float Through the town,
Great V’s of geese
Honk overhead,
And maples turn
A fiery red.
The
author, John Updike, also uses the poetic element of personification in a few of the monthly poems to give elements of
nature human qualities. This first stanza of the poem November, gives human
emotions to the maple trees.
The stripped and
shapely
Maple grieves
The loss of her
Departed leaves.
This
book is best suited for young children and would be a terrific way to introduce
a new month during calendar math meetings in Kindergarten up through third
grade. Each poem discusses the weather that is typical for that month, and
could be used to jump start a discussion on what kind of temperatures and precipitation
students will be likely to observe and/or record during the coming days.
Next Generation
Science Standards:
3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to
describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather
conditions to describe patterns over time.
Big Questions to Ask:
·
How does the climate in the book compare and
contrast with the climate in the area in which you live?
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