Joyce Sidman is the author of many books of poetry for children. In Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry, a cat is lost and meets a neighborhood dog on the loose. They are caught in a rain storm and the result is a story of friendship. The book is similar to a play in that different characters have different thoughts and lines that add to the entire story. Because of this, the book can be read as a single poem or the reader can follow one character, such as the crow or the clouds. Either way, this is a fabulous book. Concrete poetry allows the writer to play with shapes and placement of the words, and Sidman makes use of every possible surface to tell the story. I can see this book being an example that leads into a language arts or art project. This is a great book that shows poetry in a different format.
Grade Level: 4-5
Genre: Poetry & Verse
Format: Picture Story Book
Content:
Poetry & Verse
Animal Stories