JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES
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| Photo Retrieved from Amazon.com |
Fleischman, Paul. JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES. Ill. by Eric Beddows. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1998. ISBN 9780060218539
B. CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REVIEW
Paul Fleischman presents a collection of fourteen poems written especially for performance. In the note, he provides directions on how these poems are to be performed for two readers. He suggests that each reader reads either the right side or left side, and which lines they read together or solo. These poems are based on insects such as grasshoppers, cicadas, honeybees, and house crickets. The poems bring these insects to life, as readers perform insect action through words. The poems take on a lyrical effect, as the two readers join together in reading parts of the poems. In Book Lice, Fleischman uses rhyming, and references works found in the average library. He incorporates sensory imagery as he describes the dusty bookshelves in the library where the book lice live. He also incorporates personification, as the insects honeymoon, read, and meet each other in this humorous perspective of book bugs. All of his poems in this collection are well-thought, and his play on words make these poems a very enjoyable activity. He offers a wide range of moods, including funny and sad. In Chrysalis Diary, the author takes us through the journey from a caterpillar to a butterfly, and provides a unique perspective on this insect’s emotional transformation.
Young readers will enjoy reading these duet poems. Repeated readings will be needed, as it takes practice to synchronize correctly. Any of the poems in this collection are great for poetry performances, poetry jams and poetry competitions. As this book incorporates insects, this would be a wonderful addition to a science unit on insects. In addition, these poems provide a wonderful opportunity for enhancing vocabulary, reading fluency, and prosody.
The book begins with a note from the author on how the book should be read between two readers. A table of contents is also included. The illustrations are a fantastic addition to this collection. They provide a visual for the reader, and create a light and fun feeling about the book. In Honeybees, illustrator Eric Beddows draws a honeybee in a feminine-like manner, and sits her upon a fancy lounge chair. The reader can infer that this is an illustration of the queen bee, and this is confirmed after reading the poem. All of the illustrations provide a refreshing take on these creepy critters, and make the topic much more approachable for those who fear the creatures.
Paul Fleischman is an author of other titles, such as I AM PHOENIX: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, THE BIRTHDAY TREE, AND GRAVEN IMAGES. JOYFUL NOISE was the winner of the John Newbery Medal in 1989.
C. HIGHLIGHT POEM AND POETRY ACTIVITY
Excerpt from Honeybees:
(The right side is to be read by one reader, the left by the other. Lines that are aligned should be read in unison).
Being a bee Being a bee
Is a joy.
Is a pain.
I’m a queen.
I’m a worker
I’ll gladly explain. I’ll gladly explain.
Upon rising, I’m fed
By my royal attendants,
I’m up at dawn, guarding
The hives narrow entrance
I’m bathed
Then I take out
The hives morning trash
Then I’m groomed.
Then put in an hour
Making wax,
Without two minutes’ time
To sit still and relax.
Two students will be assigned to read Honeybees together. As part of the preparation, they should have multiple opportunities to practice reading the poem together. For the performance, these students should bring props that are representative of a queen (crown, cape, fancy clothes, etc.) . They will also need to use physical movements, or pantomime, to act out what the queen is doing. Students should attempt to bring out the humor and ironic elements of the poem through their reading and physical movements.
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