Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem [Hardcover]

Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Author), David Frampton (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

On a sweltering summer day in Brooklyn, the local firemen spray a group of bored city kids with cool water from their hoses. In the water-drenched moments that follow, the children make the most of this unexpected treat. Lawrence Ferlinghettis poem comes alive with charming and exuberant woodcuts by David Frampton, creating an adventure that readers of all ages will enjoy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–Frampton's exuberant pictures match well with an equally vivacious poem. A few introductory pages set the scene, showing a bit of what life was like in New York City long ago, including such novelties as doctors making house calls and children lying on the floor listening to the radio. Then, a short poem by the beat icon Lawrence Ferlinghetti appears, an account of that summer in Brooklyn/when they closed off the street/one hot day/and the/FIREMEN/turned on their hoses…. A joyous gathering then takes place, with kids running out and practically flying into the air on the cold streams of water. Or is the narrator's memory helped along by a healthy imagination? How many youngsters were really there? Did it just seem like a big party, or was it really just the one boy and his friend Molly sailing paper boats in the water that's spilled into the gutter? Frampton's signature woodcuts are wonderful, balancing cool and warm colors, and also managing to look both blocky and fluid at the same time. An artistic tribute by an obvious fan of the poet.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In his poem "Fortune," Lawrence Ferlinghetti recalls a hot summer day in Brooklyn when the fire department closed off the street and turned on the hoses for the neighborhood children. With the others, young Lawrence and his friend Molly frolicked in the cool water until the firefighters returned to their pinochle game. A brief opening introduces Ferlinghetti and the setting, but the poem is the centerpiece, with an appended page adding biographical information. Frampton's graceful woodcuts exude the excitement and joy of the moment. The swirling brightness of the water contrasts sharply with the brown, gold, and sienna shades of the neighborhood. The illustrations take some artistic liberties with Ferlinghetti's words, as only the narrator appears to play in his birthday suit. Still, this is a sweet evocation of a time and place and a reminder that simple pleasures and routine days can also be the subjects of poetry. Linda Perkins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers; Library Binding edition (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802852904
• ISBN-13: 978-0802852908
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple tale of summer fun, suitable for beginning readers., February 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem (Hardcover)

Illustrated with striking woodcuts by author David Frampton, "Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem" is a children's picturebook about a sweltering summer day in historic Brooklyn. When the local firemen spray a group of bored city kids with cool water from their fire hoses, the children enthusiastically make the most of the moment, splashing about in their birthday suits. A simple tale of summer fun, suitable for beginning readers.

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS BOOK!, January 11, 2007

By 

Katie L. Costello - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem (Hardcover)

This book is awesome! I am a HUGE fan of the Beat Generation, and this was a breath of fresh air! I loved it! Love the wood cuts, love the wording...love the images you have in your mind. Best book I bought in 2006!