Poetry + Nonfiction= Friday's Find by Kathy Halsey

Thursday found me back at my library pursuing poetry for RhyPiBoMo month. My find was a poetry book for the older set - say 4th grade-8th grade - that combines poetry of all genres along with nonfiction. May I present to you Cousins of Clouds: Elephant Poems by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy.

There's lots to like in this 2011 picture book:

1. It pairs interesting facts about elephants in "torn paper" sidebars with poems that illuminate the factual info. 
2. It's an engaging concept that keeps the typical, dry nonfiction animal presentation kids usually see fresh. 
3. Poetry genres include free verse, haiku, rhymes, letters, sonnet, and concrete poetry, forms middle grade students usually study. 
4. Poetry enthusiasts will recognize a parody on William Carlos Williams famous poem "This Is Just to Say" in which an animal trainer apologizes for lacing elephant treat with medicine. This poem could be a mentor text for middle grade students asked to write their own "apology poem."
5. Finally, middle schoolers are often asked to do animal reports which usually end up as a copy/paste of sources used. (As a school librarian I've seen these assignments way too often!) How refreshing to offer this text as a model for the "new" 21st century animal report as it combines language arts, critical thinking and creativity all in one assignment!

Share some poetry love and leave us GROGgers a comment on your fav poetry collection that has multiple curricular uses!