Happy Book Birthday to In the Middle of the Night by Laura Purdie Salas!
I met Laura a few years ago at NCTE and have followed her ever since. She is gentle, kind, and generous, everything a children’s poet should be. I am inspired by her every week on her blog. On Thursdays she posts an image with an invitation to write a 15 words or less poem. It’s a great space to show up in each week to read other poems and interact with the children’s poetry online community.
Laura is also a pretty awesome presenter. In November, 2018, we presented together on a panel at NCTE, Writing Poetry in the Wild. Here’s a link to the slides.
In her presentation, Laura encouraged us to look around and write about what we see. Well, that’s not exactly what she did to write this latest book. In the Middle of the Night requires more than just observation; it requires an imagination. The poems are all written in the point of view of some object doing something during the night.
Twenty-six poems share the wild adventures that toys, food, and other household objects have at night while you sleep. Everything from stuffed animals to clothing to writing utensils comes to life under the cover of night. An overdue library book searches for the perfect place to hide. A paper clip skydives with a tissue parachute. A fruit snack unrolls to create a tricky racetrack for toy cars. Come sneak away for some moonlit adventures!
In my class, I wanted my students to experience this fun idea and Laura’s poetry. From the Table of Contents, my students selected a few poems they wanted to hear. I always start with “What do you notice?” They noticed that the poems were written in first person (Cha-Ching! for that concept), and I reminded them that they are called mask poems. They noticed rhyming and rhythm patterns. With a little more prodding, they found alliteration and imagery.
In addition to working on close reading skills with poetry, we stretched our writing muscles. We used this activity sheet from Laura to write our own poems.
Laura has a Padlet for contributors’ poems here. We placed links on the Padlet to our Kidblog site. If you have a minute, stop by and place comments for my kids.
Click here to go to Laura’s web page.
Monday, 3/11 Mile High Reading
Tuesday, 3/12 Reflections on the Teche
Wednesday, 3/13 Poetrepository
Thursday, 3/14 Check It Out
Friday, 3/15 Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme
Sunday, 3/17 Great Kid Books
Monday, 3/18 Simply 7 Interview/Jena Benton blog
Tuesday, 3/19 My Juicy Little Universe
Wednesday, 3/20 Live Your Poem
Thursday, 3/21 Reading to the Core
Friday, 3/22 KidLit Frenzy
Oh, my goodness! Such wonderful poems!
Margaret: That break from the “p”s with the blueberry-scent is perfect–so evocative!
Jayden: Hahaha–the cell phone’s perfect revenge–pictures while asleep. Love it!
Karson: I love that you tapped into a fear of sponge. It also resonated with me because I’m writing about a loon chick right now who is afraid to get in the water, but then realizes she can swim!
Breighlynn: Great relationship between bubble bath and toothpaste!
Daniel: Your toothbrush is evil–hehehehehe!
Margaret: I especially love that soul of midnight in your beautiful jewelry box poem.
Thanks, you guys! These are fabulous!
Laura is such an inspiration, and so are you, Margaret! I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this book and so enjoyed your sneak peek. Thanks! I’m off to check out your students’ poetry now.
Molly, I hope you’ll do a night poem! Thanks for your kind words:>)
Oh this book! I saw her preview of it a few days ago on her blog and quickly emailed my public library asking if they will acquire it. Such a fun concept! Your poems were fun to read too!
Thank you, Dani! I so appreciate your requesting it at your library! Hope you enjoy it!
Oh my, I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. I met Laura at my first NCTE in 2014. And at my second NCTE in 2018, I attended that wonderful Poetry in the Wild presentation. Love the connections we make through blogging and now I’m off to see if my library has the book.
Hi Ramona! Will you be at NCTE this year? (I am not 100%, but hopefully a couple of the proposals I’m on will get accepted!) Thanks for requesting this at your library! I hope you enjoy it:>)
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[…] High Reading: With Dylan Teut, I discuss my writing process and where I find ideas Reflections on the Teche: Margaret Simon shares some beautiful and vengeful night poems written by her and her students A […]