Suggested Classroom Reading

Suggested Classroom Reading  High School Level  -   The Spoken Word Revolution (slam, hip hop & the poetry of a new generation) –      by Mark Eleveid & Marc Smith - Comes with a CD -          Poetry Like Bread - An anthology of poetry from diverse cultures (Curbstone Press) -    The Business of Fancydancing:  Stories and Poems - Sherman Alexie -          The Rose That Grew From Concrete – Tupac Shakur Some language -          The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry – Alan Kaufman Some language -          This Same Sky - A collection of poems from around the world - Naomi Shihab Nye (Simon & Schuster) -          The Space Between Our Footsteps - Poems and paintings from the Middle East - Naomi Shihab Nye (Simon & Schuster) -          Beyond The Frontier- African American Poetry for the 21st Century (Black Classic Press) -          Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices - Walter Dean Myers brings Harlem to life for readers. A complexity of experiences comes through vividly in the varying poetic styles.  -    Paint Me Like I Am Anthology – Nikki Giovanni -          Poems by Adolescents and Adults – James Brewbaker -          Full Circle - Elizabeth Thomas (Hanover Press) -          From the Front of the Classroom – Elizabeth Thomas (Antrim House Books)  Anything by Nikki Giovanni, Marie Howe, Luis Rodriquez, Li-Young Lee, Sherman Alexie, Lucille Clifton, Mark Doty, Martin Espada, Claribel Alegria, Ernesto Cardinal, Daisy Zamora, Mary Oliver, Naomi Shihab-Nye, Coleman Barks, Kim Addonizzio  Middle School Level  -          Love That Dog – Sharon Creech -   Hate That Cat - Sharon Creech -   Living Voices: Multicultural Poetry in the Middle School Classroom - Jaime R. Wood -          The Earth is Painted Green/A Garden of Poems About Our Planet – Barbara Brenner -    A Maze Me:  Poems for Girls – Naomi Shihab Nye -    Habibi – Naomi Shihab Nye -          This Same Sky - A collection of poems from around the world - Naomi Shihab Nye (Simon & Schuster) -          The Space Between Our Footsteps - Poems and paintings from the Middle East - Naomi Shihab Nye (Simon & Schuster) -          Paint Me Like I Am Anthology – Nikki Giovanni -          The Dream Keeper and Other Poems - Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney A collection of poems, very accessible to young readers. Poems are divided into sections by general theme. Each poem is illustrated with a black and white etching. -          Visiting Langston - Willie Perdomo and illustrated by Bryn Collier A poetic text describing a girl's visit to the house where Langston Hughes lived.   -          Love to Langston - Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie A series of poems written in the voice of Langston and based on experiences in his life. Includes notes that explain biographical information related to each poem.   -          Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices - Walter Dean Myers brings Harlem to life for readers. A complexity of experiences comes through vividly in the varying poetic styles.    -          Jump Back, Honey Poems - Paul Laurence Dunbar and illustrations by various artists -          Full Circle - Elizabeth Thomas (Hanover Press) -          From the Front of the Classroom – Elizabeth Thomas (Antrim House Books) -          If Only Red Could Talk – Elizabeth Thomas A creative journey for young writers and teachers, as well as a writing journal  -      CD's from Smithsonian Folkways at www.folkways.si.edu - Langston Hughes reading his poetry. Selections include "The Voice of Langston Hughes" and "The Dreamkeeper and Other Poems". Elementary School Level  -          Love That Dog – Sharon Creech (upper elementary) -    Hate That Cat - Sharon Creech (upper elementary) -    Habibi – Naomi Shihab Nye (upper elementary) -          The Earth is Painted Green/A Garden of Poems About Our Planet – Barbara Brenner -          Skipping Stones Magazine - A place where children from many ethnicities share their writing and art. -          In the Space of the Sky - Richard Lewis, Illustrated by Debra Frasier A picture book focusing on wonder about the natural world. Most pages have fewer than twenty words. -          The Dream Keeper and Other Poems - Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney - A collection of poems, very accessible to young readers. Poems are divided into sections by general theme. Each poem is illustrated with a black and white etching. -          Visiting Langston - Willie Perdomo and illustrated by Bryn Collier A poetic text describing a girl's visit to the house where Langston Hughes lived.   -          Love to Langston - Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie A series of poems written in the voice of Langston and based on experiences in his life. Includes notes that explain biographical information related to each poem.   -          Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices - Walter Dean Myers brings Harlem to life for readers. A complexity of experiences comes through vividly in the varying poetic styles.    -          Jump Back, Honey Poems - Paul Laurence Dunbar and illustrations by various artists -          If Only Red Could Talk – Elizabeth Thomas A creative journey for young writers and teachers, as well as a writing journal -          CD's from Smithsonian Folkways at www.folkways.si.edu Langston Hughes reading his poetry. Selections include "The Voice of Langston Hughes" and "The Dreamkeeper and Other Poems".

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