Daisy's Big Night

February 1, 2014
Back for a third outing, grade-schooler Daisy, a serious collector of words, discovers the joy of poetry. Daisy is thrilled to be invited by a neighbor to a poetry party. Not yet a poet herself, she brings along her lists of favorite words. The other poets--all adults--warmly welcome her and help her to see that her word lists are already poetic. With that encouragement, she begins writing her own poems in a few different forms. Daisy is also concerned about what kind of project she can put together for an end-of-school-year showcase. As she grows more comfortable with poetry, she realizes she can create the perfect display, although her project--a "word cafe" where she shares her favorites along with some poetry--seems a trifle elaborate for her age. Although Daisy encounters very little strife and few challenges, her enthusiasm and Feder's gentle storytelling provide a pleasant combination. Mitchell's black-and-white illustrations, one or two to each brief chapter, feature round-eyed people with circular cheek highlights, simple yet appealingly cheerful. Pages are uncluttered, with largish font generously leaded, and she utilizes a manageable vocabulary for those recently transitioned to chapter books. Pair this quiet charmer with Eileen Spinelli's slightly more challenging, free verse Where I Live, illustrated by Matt Phelan (2007), for an even broader exploration of poetry. (Fiction. 6-9)

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March 15, 2014
Grades 3-5 Daisy loves many things, but highest among them is her love of words. When her neighbor invites her to a poetry party, Daisy is nervous at first because she doesn't know much about poetry, but after hearing many different poems, Daisy learns that her word lists might be their own type of poetry. Her newfound success with poetry inspires her to create a unique project for her school's student showcase, and when it's done, it not only wows her friends and family but also makes the perfect going-away gift for her teacher. Readers will become invested in Daisy's growing love for poetry and words. This fascination with language (and Daisy's appended word list) makes for a book that will inspire readers to look at words differently, and perhaps edge them toward writing poetry themselves. For more fun with words and poetry, pair this with Mary Amato's Edgar Allan's Official Crime Investigation Notebook (2010).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)