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Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems | Paul B Janeczko
62 posts | 28 read | 3 to read
"Sweet's pictures are, in a word, gorgeous. . . . They capture and expand the spirit and sensibility of the verses they illustrate to wonderful effect." -- Booklist (starred review)It only takes a few words, if they're the right words, to create a strong image. Whether listened to in the comfort of a cozy lap or read independently, the thirty-six very short poems in this collection remind readers young and old that a few perfect words and pictures can make the world glow. Selected by acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko and gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, this anthology invites children to sample poems throughout the four seasons.
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quote
bkloppman

All night long
The moonlit sea
tosses white chrysanthemums
to the rocky shore

blurb
bkloppman

Since the poems are so short, this is a great, quick read for early readers and can add a bit of poetry to any school day at any grade. The teacher could read one of these poems as a transition activity during the day to reorient students and get them used to poetry and its structures in a fun and interesting way.

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bkloppman
Pickpick

This collection of poems lives up to its name, providing its readers with short poems all about life, nature, and all the creatures that inhabit the Earth. Easy to read and with a poetic structure, this collection is sure to keep young readers engaged and get them excited about poetry.

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hannahpry

“tearing itself to shreds / On bared-wire fences.”

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hannahpry

Featuring verses for every season from both famous and children's poets, and brought to life with enchanting illustrations by Melissa Sweet, this book is a perfect way to introduce young readers to the joy of poetry.

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hannahpry
Pickpick

“Firefly July“ is a wonderful poetry book for kids that introduces the magic of words through short and sweet verses.

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laurenkiernan

“What is it the wind has lost
that she keeps looking for
under each leaf?“

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laurenkiernan

I would use this book with my students by, again, reading one every couple of days especially as the seasons begin to change or when we are just talking about seasons in general. I think it keeps the students engaged and allows them to think deeper as they explore the figurative language used throughout the poems.

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laurenkiernan
Pickpick

This is a collection of poems that surround the four different seasons how people are living and how life goes on through each season. The poems range from rhyming to just meaningful and thought-provoking which really get you thinking. A lot of them have amazing figurative language and smooth connections that make it easy to read and interpret.

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mcappel

November Night -

“Listen...
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees
And fall.“
- Adelaide Crapsey

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mcappel

This book would be perfect to mix into class, especially as the seasons are changing. It would be fun to read to students to calm them and help them get their minds ready for class.

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mcappel
Pickpick

The book has a section for each of the seasons. Each season has multiple poems to describe it. I chose the poem November Night. The poem described the sounds of leaves crunching crisply in the fall. Reading it, you could hear the sounds it was describing. The poem has a slow patten to help you visualize and hear the leaves it is describing.

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miles.bryant

Sea Trade- Patricia Hubbell
“All night long
The moonlit sea
tosses white chrysanthemums
to the rocky shore.“

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miles.bryant

This is a great collection of poems accompanied by fantastic artwork as well. The poems are mostly short and simple and I found I really enjoyed the ones that used alliteration and repetition. This book would also be great in any grade level classroom as the poems are short enough for beginner readers but some are also more in depth and would be great for connecting with for more developed readers.

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miles.bryant
Pickpick

This is a really nice collection of short and simple poems all about life, nature, and everything around us. I really enjoyed the poem about the “Subway rush hour“ by Langston Hughes. It was simple and used repetition as well.

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GatheringBooks
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Pickpick

#SummerSpecial Day 12: #Firefly July has 36 sparkles divided across the four seasons of the year. I marveled at Janeczko‘s selections and how each one seemed to feed on the other, creating a trail of fleeting, transient beauty that captures a mood, a feeling, the smell of rain. My full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-964

Eggs Stacked! Perfect 👌🏼 9mo
47 likes1 stack add1 comment
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analesemarrison

I really enjoyed the colors and meaning behind these.

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analesemarrison
Pickpick

This book contained detailed and descriptive poems that increased the student's knowledge and allowed them to immerse in the story.

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analesemarrison

“The misty day“

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erinhannahs
Pickpick

This book of poems takes the reader through the different seasons. I feel that children would enjoy listening to these poetic, fun poems. They would help students learn more about the seasons and nature.

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katifurrey
Pickpick

This book is so colorful and fun, I think a lot of children would love all of the color and it teaches children about nature and adventure

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jdowney

A Happy Meeting:
Rain meets dust:
soft, cinnamon kisses.

Quick, noisy courtship,
then marriage:mud.

- Joyce Sidman

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jdowney

This concept of poems focusing on the different seasons is so interesting to me. You could use these poems at different points throughout the year during that specific season. They could be models for a topic to use to creat poems. The illustrations are also beautiful.

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jdowney
Pickpick

This book goes through a year, in poems. It covers each season. The poems within each season highlight different aspects and qualities of that season. The poems are short and easy to read. They follow different poetic patterns and styles.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Very short poems with beautiful art makes this the most accessible poetry collection, i.e. pleasant reading experience, I've yet encountered. The feelings evoked by every poem are enhanced by the accompanying visuals. I sincerely hope there are more such collections out there. I will be looking into what other books my library may have illustrated by Melissa Sweet. FYI: there are a few poems for each season, NOT 356 for each day of the year. 😉

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Robotswithpersonality
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Petition for more poetry collections to be accompanied by art.
Definitely spoiled by previously reading Jason Reynolds&Jason Griffin collabs. 🎨🎭

2 likes1 stack add
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Rachelleleduc
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Pickpick

This P book is a wonderful asset to any classroom. It is a selection of various poems that helps portray to students the beauty that there is in poetry. It reminds students that there is a lot to be said in short poems. It can be a perfect kick off to national poetry month SR. website by the author reveals activities that go along with the poems to successfully implement in a classroom. #ucflae3414sp20

Rachelleleduc Nominated for many awards and won red clover award in 2015-2016. This book is perfect to go along with UDL 2.5 as it ties with working through multiple media. ESOL 46- you can have students do hands on activities that coincide with the poems in the book during poetry month in your classrooms. 4y
DrSpalding What a wonderful anthology! This poet and illustrator are an excellent combination! Nice alignment. 4y
4 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
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My 6 year old and I have been attending a "Parents-to-Kids" literacy workshop at his school for the last 5 weeks. Today was the final day. He got a certificate of completion, all of these wonderful books, and school supplies as well. I'm so grateful. I've also seen a major change in him. Obsessed with screens lately, he lacked patience with reading. Now he's gained a new enthusiasm for it, I don't even have to prompt him to read independently.

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Niaaelizz

“When I was 10, one summer night, the baby stars that leapt among the trees like dimes of light.”

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Niaaelizz

This is a very cute book of poems! I would use it to teach about the seasons. I think it is very suitable for young children!

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Niaaelizz
Mehso-so

This poetry book highlights the season throughout the year. A lot of figurative language is used throughout the book. Collages of illustrations help to depict the seasons and how they change.

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thejessashmore
Pickpick

These illustrations are eye-catching, descriptive, and pop off the page which is great for . children's book. This poem specifically has visual imagery present when it talks about the roots and rain meeting at the flower as well.

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thejessashmore

I would use this book in my future classroom, because these poems are very short and to the point. This is crucial in a classroom, because they have short attention spans and they understand a lot with fewer words. It is also informational and can be used when teaching about flowers and such.

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thejessashmore
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kh972417
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kh972417

I loved how short and sweet each poem was. They were easy to read and I very much enjoyed them. I also liked the idea of having multiple poets featured on a page. This gives the book dimension and depth.

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kh972417
Pickpick

I loved this collection of poems. I liked that the book featured many different authors, and that each poem was short and simple. The illustrations are also very detailed and aesthetically pleasing. I really enjoyed this book.

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jkraynak
Pickpick

(2014) This os a compilation of many short poems. In one of the poems actually called Firefly July, it has 4 lines total. In first line night is rhymed with light in the third line. Then, in the second line leapt is rhymed with kept on the last line. It followed an A B A B pattern. The illustrations are detailed and vibrant, and look child-minded. The language used it the story makes you feel like you‘re using all your senses to read it.

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jkraynak

from the poem Sea Trade: “All night long the rocky shore offers in return...tattered petals.”

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jkraynak
post image

I like the illustration on this page a lot. I like the use of blues and the dark/grey tone. It also interesting how it goes from scene to scene.

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destaneefolden

“A Star is someone else‘s sun.”

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destaneefolden

“Little orange cat,
you prowl
like a small tiger”

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destaneefolden

I personally prefer stories that rhyme but I think this collection of poems is really great! I still wish that they would have rhymed but overall I think it‘s a good classroom pick.

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destaneefolden
Pickpick

This 2014 collection of poems talks through the year in poems. The poems don‘t rhyme but they all have the rhythm that just makes you sway back and forth. This story had a very calm feel and I think it‘s a great classroom pick.

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abbychlosta

“A lead on the doorstep — don‘t even have to pick it up to know the news.”

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abbychlosta

This book was amazing, a good thing to read to kill some time, but also a good resource to pull a poem out when you need it. Super versatile and very interesting.

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abbychlosta
Pickpick

Firefly July is a collection of poems by Paul Janeczko. It was written in 2014. I loved, loved, loved this collection. It touched on every season and lots of different things that fall into those seasons. There was some rhyme but not too much for it to be over powering. All of the poems had a great rhythm as well as the entire book. The wording was so strategic and well thought out and the illustrations made it even better.