Splish Splash

Joan Bransfield Graham is the author of SPLISH SPLASH, a School Library Journal Best Book and a National Council of Teachers of English Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts. BOOKLIST gave the collection a starred review.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A colorful collection of poems about water and the particular ways children may come in contact with it- from ocean waves; to rain, hail, and dew; to steam and ice. Bold, graphic artwork expands upon the concrete form of the poetry. "Popsicle," for instance, is in the shape of an icy treat being eaten by a smiling mouth. Blue-and-white letters form the vertical low to high lines of what looks like water coming from a "!Sprinkler!" "Steam" is represented by white letters rising from a black pot. Each poem is one or two pages long and in addition to being visual, cries to be read aloud. Graham uses alliteration to indicate a boiling pot-"boil, boiling, bubbling" as well as onomatopoeia in several entries, such as "Babbling Brook." An enjoyable introduction to poetry that will also be a boon to teachers taking a whole-language approach to science units. A fun and useful purchase.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.