“If
I had but two loaves of bread,
I
would sell one and buy hyacinths,
for
they would feed my soul.”
~Mohammad
We need beauty in our lives. I am attracted to the beauty of
words and images in a picture book. You’ve been there. You read a phrase, stop,
and read the words again. Or stare at a picture on the page that makes you
smile.
When that happens, I use these books as mentor texts. I end
up purchasing “these books that feed my soul”. Here are a few of my favorites.
The moon follows a little boy home and stays in his back
yard. The pictures glow.
“From Dad’s
shoulders, I brushed the moon with my fingertips.”
“Morning had missed us. In darkness, the town awoke...”
“Hushed they shuffled
through slush and dozed off at stoplights.”
“ Then I started a yawn that swayed up the block…and
followed me home.”
“The tide came in, smooth and thin, and settled underneath
our moon.”
Notice all the soft sounds matching the mood of the story.
In 1861, three escaped slaves made their way to a Union held
fort and were granted protection.
“May moon gleams bright as Colonel’s buttons. Three slip out
unseen.”
”Weathered skiff bobs in rustling rushes.”
“Oars dip, no sound, silver ripples. Steal away now, away.”
“Glinting waves slap rotting wood. Whispers, low and
shivery.”
“And still they come, in patches and tatters.”
“ Tears rain down and shouts rise up…”
The free verse story uses many poetic devices.
Three toy friends suit up for the first snowfall. The most practical toy, Plastic (red rubber
ball) changes her outlook to a more poetic viewpoint. The story and pictures
are charming and humorous.
“A snowflake is a tiny ballerina, says StingRay.
“No, it’s just really tiny frozen water,” says Plastic. “I
read that too.”
A sunset: “It’s strawberry syrup pouring over the world to
make it sweet before nightfall,” explains StringRay.
“I’m a strawberry –syrup sun in the snow!” cries Plastic.
The ending is perfect. “And yes, the world is sweet.”
This book starts with beauty in the end papers and is filled
with quotes from Helen Keller throughout the book. The watercolor pictures
match the vibrancy of the words.
When Annie Sullivan pumped water into Helen’s hand and
spelled W-A-T-E-R, the quote from Helen is “That living word awakened my soul,
gave it light, hope, joy, and set it free.”
“Annie took Helen walking in the forest, jumping in the
salty ocean…sailing in a boat.” Helen’s
quote for the page, ”Our little boat swirled in the billows, only to be driven
down with angry howl and hiss. Our hearts beat fast.”
The story focuses on what Helen could do.
Here is your
challenge.
Start a special notebook to collect beautiful words and
phrases.
Add sketches, magazine/catalogue pictures, and photos.
Share with us the beauty of your favorite picture books that
feed your soul.
Janie Reinart has worn many
hats--educator, author, theater major, professional puppeteer, interactive musical storyteller, a clown hat in a hospital’s gentle
clowning ministry, and a poet's beret at an inner city school helping
children find their voice. She lives in Ohio with her husband. She's
always up for a game, hopscotch, or dress-up. Ask her
thirteen grandchildren.
What to do With a Box, by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban
