I Like Being Me

 

     I Like Being Me, written by Judy Lalli and photography by Douglas L. Mason-Fry is an enchanting book of poems for children of all ages. Lalli collaborated a book that is filled with poems that could help build confidence and awareness to young readers. The poems in her book are an excellent tool for educating students on getting along, appreciation of others, helping one another, sharing, positive attitude, and just being happy with yourself. She collaborated with photographer Douglas L. Mason-Fry to include photographs of actual students that attend the school she works at, which makes it more realistic.

 

     I Like Being Me, would be classified in the poetry/verse genre because it is clearly full of a variety of different poems. This poetry book could be used in all different types of classrooms. Prior to reading this book to my class I would discuss different types of poetry, sonnets and verses to ensure my students understand what makes something a poem. As a class I would have students read aloud different poems and we would discuss them in class. Questions I would ask would include:

• What was your favorite poem and why?
• What did you learn fro your favorite poem?
• What type of poem is your favorite and why?

     A great motivational activity I would include with the lesson is having my students create two poems. For their first poem I would have my students create a poem that discussed respect and what it means to them. For their second poem I would let them write about whatever they wanted. Another activity I would have my students do is pick their favorite poem and draw a picture that would associate with it.

 

     I Like Being Me, is a great book to have in any classroom. There are so many poems that students could relate to making them more interested in reading them. Judy Lalli is not only an author of children's poetry, but is also a  teacher as well. She gets her inspiration; as well as, critique from her students. Similar works include:

• Poetry All Kids Should Know by Emily Dickenson
• The Hope Flower by A.J Cosmo

References

 

Lalli, Judy. (2007). I Like Being Me. Free Spirit Publishing.

 

Galda, C. &. (2011). Literature and the Child Seventh Edition . Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing .