Beyond the Bookshelf

Poetry Month Reading Guide

Immerse young minds in the enchanting world of poetry with our book bundle, where each verse becomes a gateway to imagination, creativity, and emotional expression. Spark a lifelong love for language and storytelling in young children through the power of poetry, nurturing their empathy, language skills, and appreciation for the beauty of words.

The diversity of our world shines brightly in these three poetry books. Explore different architectural styles, historical figures, dress up options, and poetic forms. Celebrate the beauty of life with beautiful books!

Check out our Beyond the Bookshelf book collections, carefully curated to include diverse themes that meet varied interests and learning requirements. Ignite curiosity and nurture a passion for reading today, bring these titles home today!

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CLI Annual Report 2022 - Regional Impact

Dreaming Up

Christy Hale

Summary

When you make forts and play with blocks, you are designing and building like an architect. In this racially diverse book, children’s creations, famous structures, and poems are all connected by their shape. See how play and imagination are important to architects around the world.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

What is your favorite way to build? What materials do you use?
What shapes do you make? Does that shape remind you of any buildings you see outside your home or school?

Activities to Try

Write about an object in the shape of the object.
Build a structure. Before you clean up, draw a picture of it.
Take photos of buildings you see when you are outside.
What do you notice about their designs?

Your purchase helps CLI support teachers, improve literacy instruction, and create transformative educational experiences.

Get the Poetry Month Bundle

I Am Someone Else

Lee Bennett Hopkins

Summary

There’s nothing better than being yourself. But every once in a while it can be fun to pretend you are someone else. In this book, six children with diverse identities dress up, act out stories, and imagine their own futures.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

How do we know what people with different jobs wear? Maybe we see images in books or on television. Are those images always right? For example, do doctors always wear white coats?

Activities to Try

Pick a favorite poem from the book and find five words that are specific to that character or occupation. “Plunder,” “loot,” and “overboard” are pirate words!
Make a list of things you love to do. Then list things you would like to do in the future.
Go to origamiway.com and learn to make a paper hat.

Your purchase helps CLI support teachers, improve literacy instruction, and create transformative educational experiences.

Get the Poetry Month Bundle

Bravo! Poems about Amazing Hispanics

Margarita Engle

Summary

Meet 18 important Hispanics in this book of lyrical first-person poems. Some of these historical figures are well known and some are not; all of them left a mark on the world. Read about a pilot, a doctor, a librarian, un vaquero and many more.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

In her letter to readers, Margarita Engle says this book is not about the most famous Hispanics. Why do you think she wanted to include people who aren’t famous?

Activities to Try

Draw a timeline. Place each historical figure from this book on the line.
Pick one person from this book and research more about their life.
Write a poem about someone you know who is amazing even if they are not famous.

Get the Poetry Month Bundle

Literacy to Liberation >

Literacy is the very foundation of all learning and the pathway to liberation for every human being. Learn more about our pathway to liberation.

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