This is a fabulous book for introducing poetry into children's' lives. The book is full of fun and creative poems that use exciting imagery. This book is a collection of simple yet whimsical poetry that is perfect for first time poetry readers. The poems are about interesting things for kids such as giants wanting 100 pancakes for breakfast. ( )

Light verse, with a strong cadence, easy to memorize. They sing like jump-rope or ball-bounce chants. They don't have the resonance of 'real' poems, but they do have a spark that makes them an ideal introduction for pre-school children. Slightly older children could enjoy the verses, too, if they were used with an activity such as art or drama. ( )

"It fell in the City". This poem will light up the childs imagination, the green garbage cans turning white, the Red fire hydrants turning white,all the black rooftops, turning white, so whats happening here? I see them shouting enthusiastically---WINTER!!!! The children will love this and this will encourage them to play with colours and more detailed descriptions in their writing

It fell in the city,
It fell through the night,
And the black rooftops
All turned white.Red fire hydrants
All turned white.
Blue police cars
All turned white.Green garbage cans
All turned white.
Gray sidewalks
All turned white.Yellow NO PARKING signs
All turned white
When it fell in the city
All through the night.

This is a great poem, not only because it is full of rich imagery, it is also a great poem to help students make links between colors and objects. It can also serve as a great way of giving children a means of understanding and applying color as an adjective in their own writing and conversations. You could also get children to write similar poems using color as well. ( )

Summary: The book of poems Blackberry Ink by Eve Merriam is a collection of short, simple, and fun poems. One in particular is about what a giant wants for breakfast, 100 pancakes and not one less. Another is a cute poem about what is in a child's pocket. The poem goes on to list many objects and insects that could in the pocket of a child, such as, a whistle, a stamp, or a toad.

Personal Reaction: This is a fun book of poems. Although they are short and sweet, young students would love these poems read to them. This would also be a good book for first time poetry readers.

Classroom Extension: 1) Have students take turns reading a poem aloud in class and point out which words rhyme with each other. 2) After reading some of the poems have each student write a poem of their own.