Module 2: Book Review 5-Multicultural Poetry

 Bookjoy Wordjoy

Bibliography

Mora, P. & Colon, R. (2018) Bookjoy Wordjoy. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781620142868

Summary

Come and truly immerse yourself with the joy and wonders of Bookjoy Wordjoy by Pat Mora.  Share in the fun with the collection of poems that Mora has compiled together to make reading and writing enjoyable for all ages.  Engage in the adventures with characters from the story at grandma and grandpa’s house, the library, and a stroll through the woods with Mama.  Practice a little Spanish such as ¡Vámos! and ¡Olé! or choose to read the poem Dueto de jazz in Spanish too.  Do all these things while also taking in the beautifully drawn illustrations by Raul Colon that will for sure bring smiling faces to all who read this book. 

Analysis

In this beautifully illustrated book with Mora’s collection of poems that celebrate reading, writing, and wordplay, readers are truly inspired and motivated to try poetry on their own.  The book includes a variety of poems of different themes from nature, childhood, the world around us, and many more, that is sure to resonate with any reader.  Several of her poems can have emotional impacts like Happy Visits and Our Cottage in the Woods that provide a sense of comfort and happiness to the reader. 

This book also shines light onto the Hispanic culture through the mural-like illustrations and Spanish used throughout the story.  Colon’s use of watercolors and colored pencils in his pictures create captivating images and make it seem as if the pictures dance right off the pages. 

Bookjoy Wordjoy has plenty of magic through its poems and illustrations and will sure inspire creativity in readers of all ages.  It celebrates and engages people from different cultures and adds joy to reading, writing and wordplay.

Excerpt

Wordjoy

W hy do I like to rhyme,
O pen a special story,
R epeat my favorite words,
D iscover what I can write?
J uggling round, singing sounds,
O yes! It’s música I hear,
Y ear after wordjoy year.

Use

This acrostic poem can be used at any grade level, beginning with as young as first grade.  Children at that age can write an acrostic poem with their name, using words that describe them; a perfect opportunity to teach the term adjective, a part of speech. It can be used with older grades, where students would choose a topic of their choice and create sentences about the focus word of the poem and allow students to present them if they wish.