MOD 3: New Poetry

Bibliographic Data

Beynette, Kathy Dezarn. 2014. When I Am Not Myself. Pomegranate. ISBN: 9780764966736

Summary

Beynette muses through poetry the emotions and thoughts we have by drawing comparisons to animal lives and idioms.

Critical Analysis

Layout

This book does not include a table of contents, page numbers, or titles for individual poems. Each poem highlights an animal, with some repeating (the dog and the bear). They are in no particular order or grouping. Illustrations depict the entitled animal, but it is not always reflective of the poem. The pictures are also hard to see from a distance because of their dull colors and indefinite outlines. The arrangement of the poems is nearly consistent except for the poem about the crow (it has a longer format) and the final poem (which is designed to reinforce the title). Most poems are spread over two-pages, but some are on only one page next to another poem. There is an author’s note is at the end, but it sounds more like an advertisement instead of information about the animals or the author’s artistic process.

Poetic Elements

The meaning of the title refers to the times we act a little different. In those moments Beynette asserts that we are like these animals. Readers are to humor Beynette by relating to these animal characters. The characters are not animals as they appear in the wild, but anthropomorphic animals that are human-like. Each poem uses metaphor to draw comparison. It is more clever than emotional.

Appeal

Most poems are rhyming in an A-B-C-B rhyme scheme which will be appealing for those children able to recognize rhyming words. Though humorous not all the wit is at the level of a child, nor does it reference a child’s experience. For example in one poem a polar bear goes to Miami when they get old. A child may not know that Miami is a popular retirement location. They might not know much about what retirement is.

The animals that appear in this collection are ones familiar to children. They are not specific species; one simply a bear, the most specific one is a poodle. Many children take interest in animals so this aspect is appealing. An instructor could pair a poem or two to a story or lesson about a particular animal. Using this poetry can be an opportunity to reinforce known animal facts, but it does not delve into specifics. It works better when providing an animal’s perspective. In the hound poem we see the benefit to being low to the ground.

Linguistically, some poems expose children to idioms. This collection would be a good place to start exploration of animal idioms through group discussion, and maybe even art projects.

Some poems could help young readers to develop interpreting subtly. Much is left unsaid leaving readers smirking. In the poem about the turkey, you could help those who may not notice at first by asking why a turkey would want to be forgotten in November.

Overall Quality

Poems are nearly consistent. They all rhyme and have original artwork depicting animals. The publisher Pomegranate is a company known for artistic gifts, not just books. This collection is in line with the company’s other products because it has a strong artistic element. The publisher’s artistic mission is fulfilled, but the literary element leaves something to be desired. These poems do not offer a deep interpretation of identity. It is not a collection of animal poems that teaches us scientific facts. It is a whimsical collection of clever poems. It comes off more like a gift book than a work of literature.

The illustrations are not consistent. There are two types of illustrations: ones that appear to be drafts of the poems and art, and touched up illustrations that do not have written words. As I said before some art depicts what is happening in the poem while other art just displays the animal subject.

Final Analysis

I would not recommend this book to read aloud because it is small and the pictures are difficult to discern. Other titles do a better job of integrating animal knowledge, like those by Joyce Sidman. It seems like this book of poems is better suited to be a whimsical gift book for an adult.

Featured Poem

When I’m an anteater

Just guess what I eat!

I put sugar on them

To make them taste sweet.

Poem Connections

I would use this poem within a storytime about the five senses. After reading aloud two times I would ask the group the obvious question, “what did the anteater eat?” Then the children can write their own versions of this poem by changing the food item, the sense (taste, feel, hear, etc), and the adjective.

I would put (food item) on them

To make them (sense) (adjective).

Naturally I would invite children to illustrate their likely humorous poems. This could easily be a fill in worksheet with space for a drawing.