Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems
on Goodreads (746)
What’s inside...
A 15-year-old girl named Jessie voices both common and unique teenage concerns in a hilarious collection of poems. She shares her thoughts on trying new makeup, playing sports and instruments, and dealing with her younger brother. Jessie's creativity shines as she designs her own clothes and writes poetry to her cat. Known for her strong opinions, Jessie's humorous and sarcastic perspective on high school life is showcased through concrete poetry, using words, ideas, type, and design to create visual patterns. The poems are playful, inventive, and full of surprises, enhanced by a layout and graphics that amplify the humor.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
10-12
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What feelings does the shape of the poems evoke as you read them?
How does the author use different visual forms to express the emotions of the characters?
Which poem stands out to you the most and why?
Can you think of creative ways you would shape a poem about your day?
How do the colors and fonts used in the poems affect your understanding or enjoyment of them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to visualize the emotions conveyed in the poems by asking them to draw what they feel while reading.
Discuss the variety of poem shapes and explore together how each shape relates to the content of the poem.
Create a fun activity by picking a poem from the book and having your child rearrange it into a different shape to see how it changes their perception of the poem.
After reading, ask your child to write their own concrete poem about a topic they're passionate about, using different shapes and colors.
Use the themes from the book to talk about everyday situations your child might relate to, enhancing their empathetic understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Self-expression
Explanation: Through the unique visual format of concrete poems, the book allows the protagonist, Jessie, to express her thoughts and feelings vividly.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to express their own emotions and thoughts more creatively and confidently, whether in writing or other forms of communication.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Jessie shares experiences and emotions that are relatable, illustrating different perspectives throughout the book.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to understand and share feelings with others, fostering a sense of empathy and social awareness.
Example Lesson: Independence
Explanation: The protagonist navigates various everyday challenges, showing resilience and independence.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to tackle their own problems and make decisions independently, boosting their confidence and self-reliance.
Example Lesson: Importance of Perspective
Explanation: Poems in the book present situations from unique visual angles and formats, teaching children that perspective can change perception.
Real-World Application: Children learn to look at situations from different viewpoints, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Creativity in Communication
Explanation: The use of concrete poetry demonstrates an innovative way of combining words and visual elements to convey messages.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to experiment with different modes of communication and enhances their artistic and linguistic abilities.