Poem Literature

Summary of the book 

The poem A House is A House for Me, discusses several things considered houses for animals, people (different cultures), and things (teabags, jelly, etc.). The poem shows that what one considers a house for them may not be what another would consider a house for them. Such as a coop is home for chickens. However, the barn is home to a cow. Regardless of what each animal, person, or thing may consider home, the book poem reminds us that Earth is home for all of us. 

Evaluate Genre/ Illustrations

The poem A House is A House for Me completes the checklist for quality poetry. Poetry is known for introducing new vocabulary to those who read it, and that is just what was presented in the poem A House is A House for Me. The illustrations displayed the different forms of housing that different cultures consider a house, along with different houses, animals, and things considered a house. Children reading the poem can match the new vocabulary with a visual picture of what each house would look like. Even though new vocabulary is introduced in the poem, children (readers) will be able to understand. The Illustration for A House is A Home by Betty Fraser, an illustrator, and freelance illustrator.

Motivational Activities 

After reading this book, include an activity where the children can match the houses mentioned in the poem with what they call home. A motivational activity could be asking questions about what lives in different houses, such as what lives in a coop. Alternatively, reverse it, and ask where chickens live. Asking these questions is an excellent way for the children to become formalized with the new vocabulary words and learn about the different kinds of houses. Another activity is discussing the rhyming in the books and what words rhymed and having the children write a short poem using rhyming words. 

Personal comments/ Author background information

This poem was a great way to educate children about the homes of different things and introduce them to new vocabulary words. The poem was easy to follow; the illustration did a fantastic job visually showing the houses of different things to help connect the children with what the house would look like. I recommend using this poem in the classroom; it shows that houses are made up of different things; however, each house is a home for something. The poem A House Is a Home for Me was written by MaryAnn Hoberman and Illustrated by Betty Fraser. Hoberman was well known for her work with children's poetry. Hoberman has taught literature and rights throughout the country and co-founded a children's theatre group called "The Pocket People". Hoberman was named the Second US Children Poet Laureate; she served from 2008-2011 (Wikipedia,2023). Hoberman has written several children's poems Miss Mary Mack, Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, The Llama Who Had No Pajamas, along with several others, and published her first children's book in 1957 called All My Shoes Come in Twos (Wikipedia, 2023).

 

 

References

Hoberman, M. A., & Fraser, B. (1982). A House is a house for me. Puffin Books.

(2023, July 13). Mary Ann Hoberman - Wikipedia. En. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_Hoberman