Customer Reviews

How to Write Poetry (Scholastic Guides)

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For those of us who teach poetry at the elementary level,Janeczko is indispensible -- and this recent release from Scholasticis further proof. Janeczko takes us through the entire writing process, from getting ready to "when your poem is finished", covering rhymed and unrhymed verse and encompassing the myriad of creative forms we've come to expect from this author/poet/teacher. He intersperses his chapters with offset boxes containing writing tips from well-known poets and includes a "Poetcraft" section where he explains in more detail the skills one needs to write. This book includes wonderful examples and an excellent checklist of good poetry books. In addition, it's aesthetically pleasing: the lovely cover, user-friendly format and easy-to-read font make it a real gem! Grab this one!

Any thoughts I might ever have entertained about writing a book on poetry writing were quickly dispelled when I discovered Paul Janeczko's guide. HOW TO WRITE POETRY is the book I hope I would have written on this subject.

First of all, the small format and conversational style invite the reader in. Janeczko begins by suggesting ways for writers to catalog their words and ideas. In addition to notebooks, he recommends the use of a tape recorder when writing notes is not practical. Janeczko also emphasizes the importance of reading. Throughout the book he provides bibliographic lists that provide more information on concepts in each chapter. Yet another list of good poetry anthologies is included at the end of the book.

After a sketch of the writing process, Janeczko describes several specific kinds of poems: acrostic poems, synonym poems, opposite poems, clerihews, list poems, poems of address, persona poems, and narrative poems. Elements especially important in poetry (sound, images, word choice, figurative language, and line breaks) are discussed in a recurring "Poetcraft" feature. Poems by students and by famous poets amply illustrate both the poetic elements and the particular formats. Biographical notes on all poets are included near the end of the book.

Other special recurring features of HOW TO WRITE POETRY include "Writing Tip from a Poet," "Try This" (specific suggestions for writing), and various checklists. In addition to the biographical and bibliographical information mentioned earlier, the book includes an index and a comprehensive, cross-referenced glossary, which even includes examples of various formats.

Although Janeczko maintains that poems must be written for oneself, he also suggests many ways to "publish" finished poems -- from handmade books to cards and posters, to submitting to magazines and contests. He recommends MARKET GUIDE FOR YOUNG WRITERS by Kathy Henderson (Writer's Digest Books, 1996) as an invaluable resource for those interested in submitting for publication.

Even beyond the pertinent subjects Janeczko includes, however, is the manner in which he conveys his information. Having taught English and compiled more than a dozen poetry anthologies, Janeczko is a master who projects wholehearted confidence that young poets can and will succeed.

I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS BOOK FROM MY SON'S READING CLUB @ SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH IT IS DESIGNED WITH THE YOUNGER READER IN MIND, IT IS WRITTEN IN SUCH A SINCERE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, NON-CONDESCENDING MANNER, THAT I TOO CAN BENEFIT. THIS BOOK WILL HELP ME WITH ALL OF MY FUTURE POETRY WRITING.

This book helped me a lot with feeling more confident about writing my own poetry and teaching poetry to my ESOL students. If only more books could be so friendly and clear. A terrific achievement.

i found this book at my library and i loved it so much that i had to buy it!!! i would reccomend this book to anyone who is trying to learn how to write poetry! there is nothing else that i can say about this book , other than IT ROCKS!!!

I found this book a wonderful guide to writing poetry. I wrote most of my poems while reading this book. My friends love it as much as I do - they are all waiting in line to borrow it!!! If you need ideas or advice with your poems you should definately get this book!! Good luck with your writing.

This is a fun and useful book on how to write poetry, written for children by a Children's Poet Laureate. At all times the advice and examples are warm and friendly and encouraging to children (and anybody else reading this book!). Janeczko has a way of focusing on what children are thinking and how they feel and what they observe, and most of his examples touch on their thoughts, feelings, and observations.

The organization of this book is simple and friendly. I like how the author begins with Getting Ready: maybe a very important topic to a child who doesn't know how to get ready to write poetry. From there the author introduces the poetry forms that, to me, seem easiest for children to write: namely, acrostic poems, synonym poems, and opposites poems. This book has five chapters, each consisting of very short segments. The fourth chapter is titled "Writing Free Verse Poems," and it introduces word choice, poems of direct address, figurative language, and persona poems, among others.

A very worthwhile purchase for anybody who works with children and poetry.

This guide is short and effective. I was inspired enough to start a journal. The book covers several basic forms of poetry, making them accessible. Now I can make poetry!

This is the best book on teaching poetry I have found.It is short and to the point.Fast delivery as well.
Heather.R.

This is THE book to start with at any age if you don't know much about poetry. Other books can be overwhelming. This book, if you do the exercises, is a nice simple step at approaching the subject. It makes poetry available to everyone. You can tell the writer loves poetry and loves teaching. I will look to this author for more. My students will love this approach to poetry.