Splish Splash - Softcover

Joan Bransfield Graham, a former teacher, has published poetry for children and adults. She grew up in New Jersey on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Steve Scott was born and grew up in Ithaca, New York. After an early career in banking, he returned to school for graphic design. He now works as a designer of children's books.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A colorful collection of poems about water and the particular ways children may come in contact with it- from ocean waves; to rain, hail, and dew; to steam and ice. Bold, graphic artwork expands upon the concrete form of the poetry. "Popsicle," for instance, is in the shape of an icy treat being eaten by a smiling mouth. Blue-and-white letters form the vertical low to high lines of what looks like water coming from a "!Sprinkler!" "Steam" is represented by white letters rising from a black pot. Each poem is one or two pages long and in addition to being visual, cries to be read aloud. Graham uses alliteration to indicate a boiling pot-"boil, boiling, bubbling" as well as onomatopoeia in several entries, such as "Babbling Brook." An enjoyable introduction to poetry that will also be a boon to teachers taking a whole-language approach to science units. A fun and useful purchase.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.