Noisy Poems for a Busy Day
What’s inside...
From sunup to sweet dreams, this collection of Robert Heidbreder's lively short poems follows young children throughout their day, celebrating all of the seemingly small, but potentially special, moments they experience. To name just a few, there are poems about hugging a dog and climbing a tree, getting dressed and playing tag. Each one of the thirty poems is easy to remember, rhythmic and action-filled, and each reflects a child's-eye view of both the activity and how it makes them feel. For example, on teeth brushing: 'Bristle-thistle. Toothy rub. Chompers get a sun-up scrub. Smile!' Or going to bed: 'Slip-in slide. Pillow pile. Stuffies near. Day-done smile. Ahhhhh!' Most of the poems are written and illustrated on their own page, with a few poems covering two-page spreads. Lori Joy Smith's simple artwork, in pleasing colors and filled with playful children, is cheerful, fresh and contemporary, and will have enormous appeal to young children. This book would be a natural fit for National Poetry Month in April. But the poems are so happy and engaging, they could easily begin any day in the classroom as a delightful read-aloud, or even as a tool for dramatizations. The fun rhymes are sure to get young minds engaged in the wonderful world of words, making them excited about language, reading and poetry. And emphasizing the importance of the regular routines of their days, starting and ending in bed, offers the potential for beginning to understand their place in their families and the larger community around them.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What was your favorite noisy moment in the book and why?
How do you think the characters felt during the loud and quiet moments?
Can you think of a day that was as busy as the one in the book? What happened?
Which poem made you laugh the most, and what was funny about it?
If you could add a sound to the book, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
To spark meaningful conversations, connect the noisy and busy scenarios from the book to real-life events your child has experienced. Encourage your child to describe their feelings during noisy or quiet moments, mirroring the characters in the book. Highlight the rhythmic and playful use of language, prompting your child to come up with their own funny, noisy moment. These discussions can enhance your child's understanding of the narrative and its themes, while also developing their expressive skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Appreciating daily routines
Explanation: The poems in 'Noisy Poems for a Busy Day' celebrate ordinary moments throughout a day, from the bustle of morning to the quiet of night.
Real-World Application: By recognizing and finding joy in routine activities, children can develop a positive outlook on their everyday life and establish healthy, constructive habits.
Example Lesson: Expressing creativity through sounds and words
Explanation: The playful, onomatopoeic language throughout the book encourages children to experiment with sounds and language.
Real-World Application: Children can enhance their verbal and auditory skills by mimicking noises, creating their own sound-based stories, or engaging in rhyming games.
Example Lesson: Understanding the rhythm and pace of language
Explanation: The rhythmic structure of the poems mirrors the ebb and flow of a typical day, providing a dynamic way to understand the pacing in storytelling and spoken words.
Real-World Application: This understanding can help children better grasp the flow of conversations, improving their listening and speaking abilities in social and educational settings.
Example Lesson: Developing focus and attention
Explanation: Each poem captures a specific moment or feeling, requiring readers to concentrate and tune into the details described.
Real-World Application: This focus can translate into improved concentration skills during other daily activities such as studying, following instructions, or completing tasks.