Customer Reviews

The Magnetic Poetry Book of Poetry

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've loved magnetic poetry since I discovered it (until then I was cutting words out of magazines) and some of the best poems I've written and read have been made this way. I wonder if this is why poetry has made a comeback just when it seemed to most people to be an archaic literary form. I can imagine millions of people hovering at their refrigerators combining and recombining raw language into unheard of forms, sending their poems up the tree of wires until they emerge as ripe soul-apples in a book like this.

This is probably the best way to introduce yourself to the art; and if you already love poetry, it may surprise you by introducing you to some of the best short poems you've ever seen. An excellent argument for the universal nature of creativity, smashing the stereotype of poetry as an elitist preoccupation abstracted from real life.

It also occurs to me that having the magnets on a refrigerator is a clever way of using reinforcement (see Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor) to encourage creativity and self-expression. Forget losing weight, get the magnets :) Guaranteed to increase creativity and literacy, your kids need this (although it may spoil them for the sterility of factory schooling)--Do not allow your children to attend a school where there is no magnetic poetry.

Buy this book or you will be cursed with the accumulated whispers of aborted poems lodging in your brain.

I first stumbled across this book in the bookstore where I worked. Already being a fan of magnetic poetry, I planned to get it. Then later, in the children's section, I saw the book of magnetic poetry for kids. I got it instead. It costs more, but there is a bigger magnetic surface to work with. Both kits are worth the money spent on them.

The bulk of the book is other people's poetry divided up into sections by themes and is well-presented. The last part of the book includes games you can play with magnetic poetry (if you have a full set!). The most interesting part (in my opinion) is a quick overview of the different types of poetry and poetry jargon - written in a simple, non-English teacher type of way.

I love the whole magnetic poetry idea, but this book left me wanting more. It comes with a magnet-friendly cover and some words to get you started (but not enough). The authors are quick to point this out, stating that you will need to get a full set of magnetic poetry words in order to be to create something meaningful. Also the magnet friendly cover is very small, so I ended up using my fridge. That was the only slightly disappointing feature.

The collection of poems is really quite good. There are thought provokers written by six year olds, and tear jerkers by sixty year olds. I would suggest this book to those who could use a little push in the poetry department, it gets you started in the right direction. The lessons in the back of the book remind us of elemantary English class so long ago, and the included words are truly addicting!!

Listed in the "maxims" area of the book, the above words described an incredible time in my life where I not only discovered who I was, I literally "designed" a new me.

One I loved, independent, strong, and most important HAPPY once again.
When I put those words on a metal partition in a mall in Minneapolis, MN I never expected to see them again. I guess the deep meaning and power of the moment was to be shared with others through this awesome book.

Much later a package came in the mail with a copy of the book, a press release, T-Shirt and order form for reduced priced copies. The authors put together an awesome collection of the best poetic and thought-provoking works I've ever seen. And what's more, they were from REAL people like you and me, illustrating the power of magnetic poetry to inspire us to produce well-thought, memorable, and meaningful art.

They not only included the words we used, they kept the exact shape of the magnets we used to build the words. It's one of the most creative uses and stimulating aspects of magnetic poetry, that you can combine letters words and thoughts to create something entirely different. Try it, "design yourselves" -rkrii
Bob Ruby II
bobrubyii.ning.com

I have several of these poetry magnet kits. Some are meant for adults, while others are geared toward kids. I have used them in the classroom with great success. Kids who normally wouldn't write poetry find manipulating the words into a poem much more fun. I have older versions of the Original Edition, The Artist Edtion, as well as the Kid's Kit.

The Magnetic Poetry Book of Poetry, has the magnets PLUS sample poems, poetic terminology and poetic formats, such as haiku or cinquain.

You'll refer to the book once, play with the words forever.

i really like the poem on page 215 about the flood in grand forks. it was interesting to write while i was stranded in a strange city 300 miles away from my flood torn home