Philip Hawthorn

This book is a collection of 92 poems by several authors chosen by Philip Hawthorn. This book includes several older poems as well as new ones for a great variety of poetry for any child to make a connection. The subjects range from animals, weather, people, and beyond.

This is a really cute book filled with bright, cheery illustrations. This book held my attention because of the different writing styles and subject matter. My favorite poem was, "There was an Old Woman." It's a funny poem and I think younger students would also like it.

There is so much I could do with this book in a classroom. I could have a unit on older nursery rhymes and use "Peter Piper" along with other poems. We could use poetry in this book to discuss different seasons and weather. Then, the students can write their own poem about their favorite season. During Halloween, I could use "Witches' Chant from MacBeth" and "The Hairy Toe." In an older class, "Witches' Chant" could also be used to expose students to MacBeth. There are also several poems that can be used to discuss marine life. Students could also use "Haiku" as an example to write their own.… (meer)

It's Wiggy Pig's birthday, and the guests come one at a time to be counted. The characters include a wide variety of animals, from pigs and mice, to dinosaurs and dragons. The plot starts out as the problem that Wiggy Pig is by himself on his birthday, and grows as more and more people show up for his party. It is set in Wiggy Pig's house, but no specific time or place is established. The illustrations build the theme by constantly providing opportunities to count objects in the background and party guests on each page. The style is poetic and simple, and keeps the story light and happy.… (meer)