Writing Poetry

Did you know that everyone has poet potential? We just need to tap into the freedom that comes from writing down our thoughts, memories, and feelings. Of course, there are a few things we can do to give shape and structure to our poems. This book is a self-instructional introduction to poetry for an older child or adult, but it could be used well with younger children with adult supervision. It defines 14 poetic elements in easy-to-understand terms. Building step-by-step, this book begins with metaphors and similes, then moves on to skills such as personification, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, rhyme, meter, tone, synesthesia, and symbolism. Each term has a chapter dedicated to them. The term is clearly defined and then illustrated by many poems (written by the author's former students) which provide ample examples (a little rhyme there). Then the chapter includes worksheets, exercises, and writing suggestions to get those creative juices flowing as your children practice the skills in their own poetry. The author, Shelley Tucker, has clearly written this book in such a way that beginning poets can easily understand and apply the principles to their writing. The exercises and concepts are also relevant to experienced poets who want to improve their poetry. Poetry - taught in a way that unleashes the poet inside! 144 pages, pb. - Jess