Member Reviews
Eating my Words by Brian P. Cleary is a collection of fun, lively poems in a variety of formats. Side notes explain the format used to create the poem and also note the different rhyme schemes used. This could be a useful book for a school poetry unit. Whether the reader is an aspiring poet or someone just looking for a quick read, they will be sure to enjoy Eating My Words.
I really enjoyed reading and flipping through this book. I would definitely recommend this for a poetry lesson for any teachers that I may come and I would use this for poetry month. The one issue that I ran into was having the poetry layout lessons at the end. I think having the lesson at the beginning then showing some examples would be more beneficial for kids trying to learn about poetry. Overall, very fun though.
Brian P. Clearly's "Eating My Words" is a deliciously inventive collection of culinary-inspired poetry that tantalizes the taste buds and nourishes the soul. Through a blend of mouthwatering imagery, witty wordplay, and heartfelt reflections, Clearly invites readers on a culinary journey like no other, where every poem is a delectable dish waiting to be savored.
One of the most delightful aspects of "Eating My Words" is its creative approach to blending the worlds of food and poetry. Clearly's love for both subjects shines through in every line, as he expertly weaves together descriptions of flavors, textures, and aromas with the rhythm and cadence of verse. The result is a collection that is as satisfying to the literary palate as it is to the culinary palate.
Each poem in "Eating My Words" is a miniature masterpiece, capturing the essence of a particular dish or culinary experience with precision and flair. From the comforting embrace of a bowl of soup to the exotic allure of a spice market, Clearly's evocative imagery transports readers to kitchens, restaurants, and markets around the world, inviting them to experience the joys of food in all its forms.
While the focus of "Eating My Words" is undeniably on food, Clearly also uses his poems to explore deeper themes of memory, identity, and connection. Through his lyrical explorations of food and its cultural significance, Clearly reminds readers of the power of food to evoke memories, forge bonds, and nourish the soul.
One minor critique of "Eating My Words" is that some readers may find the culinary references to be a bit esoteric at times. While Clearly's passion for food is evident throughout the collection, there are moments where readers unfamiliar with certain dishes or ingredients may feel a bit lost. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise delightful feast for the senses.
In conclusion, "Eating My Words" by Brian P. Clearly is a mouthwatering celebration of food, poetry, and the joy of indulging in both. With its inventive blend of culinary imagery, witty wordplay, and heartfelt reflections, it is a collection that will leave readers hungry for more. Bon appétit!
This is my new favorite modern poetry book because it made me laugh out loud multiple times. The wordplay is clever, the rhymes are on point, and there is a wide variety of styles, all with clear explanations. The other thing I really loved about this book is that it made me want to stop reading so I could go ahead and write some poetry of my own!! Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this fantastic poetry collection, and I'll be coming back to it after I read some more books by this author.
A fabulous anthology of poetry that is both amusing and informative. Readers young and old are treated to a collection of silly poems all featuring a variety of literary elements and written in different styles. With hundreds of poems to pick from, there is sure to be a poem that will hook young readers and writers. If your child is starting to learn about poetry or you want to teach some elements and styles of poetry, this makes a great reference and teaching tool. Fun for all ages and a valuable addition to any personal, classroom, or school library.
Eating My Words was an adorable poetry book. The way the book is. more than JUST poems and includes explanations about different poetry types, rhyme schemes, and is slightly interactive (in the way an episode of a children's show is.) Definitely a must read for littles, fun for story time and learning while not calling it learning.
Fun word-play poems in many many forms! Included with each poem or set of poems are rhyme scheme labels as well as a short explanation of the poetic form, or related vocabulary. This collection provides great examples for students to imitate and learn poetic forms as well as different types of descriptive and figurative language use. Simplistic in nature making it perfect for very young students, but the puns and other word-play make it appropriate for middle grades as well.
The poems were awesome and quite enjoyable. Having the rhyme scheme below every poem was confusing at first and then it became a distraction. I appreciated the description of the type of poem but didn't enjoy the placement in the middle of the poetry or the way the descriptions were repeated throughout the book. This kept pulling me out of the enjoyment and engagement with the poems themselves. I would have appreciated the information more at the beginning or end of the example poems. I would suggest using it as a chapter introduction or an appendix at the back so students and teachers can access information if desired but doesn't prevent students engagement with the material overall. I would rate this book as a 3 star overall because of the great poetry.
This is a very cool way of introducing poetry to kids. The poems are all about subjects that are easy for kids to grasp - like making jokes, cleaning up room , balloons and so on. The rhyme scheme is fun to guess like a puzzle. The explanations made my 8 year old recall and search for her poetry book from class. I learned about a new poem style called "naani" where poets are giving people permission to write on any subject they feel about if none of the rhymes or rules of poetry make it accessible to them. The illustrations are fun too. Imagine a piano marching.. full of laughter..
Read this with my 7 year old and we both rated it 4 stars. The poems are interesting and funny, the illustrations are very well done, and I really appreciated the descriptions of the different poem types with lots of examples for each. It seemed a bit repetitive - like some of the definitions for haiku, acrostic, etc, were given more than once - but this may have been a formatting glitch with the version I read.
In any case, this is a great educational resource while also being very engaging and entertaining. It would be a great way to introduce a poetry unit for 2nd to 5th graders. I really appreciated that some lesser known poem forms were included with information about the history and origin of the format. I do wish there was a little more of this.