Book Review: Messing Around on the Monkey Bars: and Other School Poems for Two Voices by Betsy Franco

Bibliographic Citation:

Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763631741.

Book Review:

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars: And Other School Poems for Two Voices is a great introduction for poetry with two voices. Franco does a great job explaining the purpose of this book and the directions for each poem. The directions are very straight forward and simple, which helps the younger students to read this independently. Before the author's note, there is a table of contents for the book. This book consists of 19 poems, all of which are school related. At the end of the book, Franco supplies the reader with several other "adventurous" ways to read the poems in the book. This is a great alternative for students who want to continue to enjoy the poems and try them out in new/fun ways.

All of the poems are based on events that happen in a school setting. The topics vary from new kids at school to library class to homework blues. All of these poems relate to students and will be sure to make them giggle. Franco does a great job adding humor to her poetry and creating a instant connection that will keep students interest. The two voice poem concept is very new to students, and they will be excited to get to read these poems with their friends or in class. Franco's poetry have a great rhythm to them and they are rhyming poetry. The poems will roll off the students tongues with it's simple wording and smooth flow. Jessie Hartland's illustrations are fun and inviting. The illustrations are very basic and almost resemble student like drawings. Children will enjoy seeing the colorful illustrations and appreciate the fact that they are not "perfect" drawings, instead they are more realistic of what a school age child would create.

I think that Messing Around on the Monkey Bars: And Other School Poems for Two Voices will be a hit among children and teachers. It's a fun way to introduce poetry and get students involved. There are not many poetry for two voices books available, but this book definitely helps make up for the lack of books in this genre.

Spotlight Poem:

Jump Rope Jingle

Come on in.
I'll jump with you.
It's double fun
to jump with two.

Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump,
slap the ground.

Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.

Jump, jump,
A, B,
C.

Jump, jump,
1, 2
3.

Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet!

Activity:

As I was reading this poem, memories started flooding back to me of all the jump rope chants we would do in elementary school. I then started thinking about how this poem would be a fun way to introduce poetry, with movement! After reading the poem as a class, students can create their own jump rope poems in partners. Once the poem is finalized, the partners can choreograph a jump rope routine or hand slap routine to the poem. The kids can also trade off saying the lines from the poem so that multiple people can join in on the poem when it is read.