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Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City
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Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1989058 in Books
- Published on: 2001-08
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 32 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Carol Boston Weatherford observes the urban scene through the eyes of a child in Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City, illus. by Dimitrea Tokunbo, a collection of 20 original works. On the street where "dreams take root/ in concrete" readers watch "As little girls jump double Dutch,/ [and] beaded braids swirl and click." Tokunbo's realistic illustrations in thick colorful outlines depict all the landmarks that define a neighborhood, from the Laundromat to the barbershop to the stained glass windows of the church and its gospel choirs on Sunday.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Gr 3-5-The joys of living in a city from a child's point of view are jubilantly expressed in this very readable collection. The opening poem, "On the Corner," captures the activity of the people in the neighborhood-the shoeshine man who "pops a cloth," "little girls jump double Dutch," "Brothers with time on their hands/croon in three-part harmony," boys shoot hoops. It also suggests the caring bond that these neighbors share as "a lady/toting a shopping bag tells me,/`Be careful crossing the street, honey.'" Weatherford's words paint vibrant pictures of thriving businesses: Moe's restaurant, where the food is "Crispy, crunchy, golden brown"; Lou's Barbershop, where "I feel as if I'm a prince on a throne"; and the lively city market where the scent of cookies calls "in a language known to every child/above the buzz of crowded aisles." There are also poems about friendship and family that children, no matter where they live, can identify with: an elderly aunt's picture-covered mantel, parents dancing and having fun with their children, and good buddies cooling off in the city pool and sharing ice cream. Every selection is set into one of Tokunbo's remarkable textured watercolor paintings that reflect the diversity and richness of a big-city neighborhood. The animated faces of children fully engaged in the wide variety of activities bring the poetry to life. This partnership of word and illustration works well and belongs in most collections.
Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. Weatherford's 20 original poems about the pace and energy of city life cover topics such as haircuts at the local barbershop, a meal at a greasy spoon, swimming in a pool, and eating chocolate ice-cream cones with friends. The overall tone of the collection is upbeat and positive, and Tokunbo's art shows a city free of litter and washed in rainbow colors. Members of this diverse urban community don't mind the overcrowding, and they appreciate each other: "I'm thankful for / this tiny space-- / a room to grow / in love and grace." Poems range in length from 5 lines to 23, and each poem is accompanied by a full-page (in some cases, a double-page) illustration. A text-and-art tribute to the city that will inspire today's young urban dwellers: "My dreams take root / in concrete, / and my branches / lift the sky." Kathy Broderick
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Customer Reviews
From the author
The poems in Sidewalk Chalk are inspired by my childhood growing up in Baltimore -- memories of Lexington market, Saturday car-washing, the ice cream truck, park pool, and a close-knit community. My favorite poem in the collection, "Where I Live," extends hope to inner city children.
