Poetry Comics

Yes, yes, the title is self-explanatory. But what isn’t is how a novella-length graphic book of poetry might be a gateway for a reluctant reader to build the confidence to read longer books. Or an introduction to the wonders of poetry for youngsters unenthusiastic about older, more structured poems.

What’s also not obvious is how lovely the poems were and how author Grant Snider’s quirky illustrations were even better than the poems. Like Shel Silverstein’s books, Poetry Comics will delight more than its target audience of kids.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review.

Really lovely - I thought it was Betsy Bird (Fuse 8) who brought this to my attention but I can't find the blog post. Poetry and comics do go really well together. Each poem is short - just one page or page spread - and the format varies: often nine panels (3x3), sometimes just one, sometimes more. "Hive Mind" is in hexagonal panels, and "Carnival" features a Ferris wheel and has no obvious beginning (but many possible beginnings). The poems are organized seasonally, starting with spring, and some motifs repeat: "How to Write A Poem," "Places to Feel Big/Small." Poems focus on the everyday and are relatable; this would be wonderful for classroom libraries.

"every cloud trying to be something else // except one // proud to be itself" show more -"Cloudspotting"

"Constellation (n) definition: stars in conversation"

"The Rules of Chess"
Pawns move straight forward except to attack.
Rooks move sideways, forward, and back.
Knights travel in an L.
Bishops go diagonal.
Kings move one space but mostly wait around to fall.
And the queen - bold and powerful -
conquers all. show less

First sentence: I want to put down on paper the feeling of fresh possibilities.

Poems told in comic book format. This is a combination I never knew I needed, but now I do know. I want MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE. Love this combination so much.

The book is arranged into the four seasons. It opens with spring.

This one was love at first sight. I enjoyed many of the poems. I did. But I loved the recurring subject. Each of the four seasons contains a poem titled, "How To Write A Poem." (Each one is numbered.)

How To Write a Poem #1
Find a quiet place.
A sharp pencil.
A blank page.
Sit still.
Keep quiet.
Wait.
A poem will rush in to fill the space.

What I can't really convey is how LOVELY the poems are when illustrated in the comic format.

What a great idea! Kids seem to be drawn towards the graphic novel genre, and these are poems and a graphic novel all wrapped into one! Figurative language can be a barrier for kids understanding poetry, since it is abstract when kids often are thinking concretely. The presence of illustrations for every word or phrase really brings the poem to life and seems like an developmentally appropriate scaffold for making poetry accessible for children. Furthermore, the topics seem really engaging (e.g. practicing basketball skills over and over.) I'm definitely going to get a copy of this for the next time we do a poetry unit!

I like seeing Snider's comic work on FB, but this book seems to be aimed squarely at middle schoolers, and specifically at middle school girls. I love seeing the multicultural characters and enjoy many of the outcomes of each strip, but I am not the target audience.

A book that is a poetry book and a comic book? It's too god to be true! This book is divided into four chapters, one for each season. Kids will find lots to relate to in this book - outdoor adventures, feeling stuck when writing, and dreaming about school being over. Fun and thoughtful illustrations add to the enjoyment and deepen the experience of reading this collection of poems.

Beautiful, creative mash-up of poems in graphic novel style. Poems are grouped into the four seasons, exploring topics like friendship, school, imagination, and how to create poetry. The poems are written mostly in free verse but some of them use rhyme or a haiku-like style. The illustrations are put together in comic-style panels. It is the perfect book for students who like comics but don't read or like poetry.