We the People: Poems

by Bobbi Katz

Book Overview

Listen up.Can you hear America talking?In these sixty-five first-person poems, Americans--some who really lived, some who might have lived--tell it like it is. In the process they illuminate and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688165311
• ISBN13: 9780688165314
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Length: 102 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

First Person Poems

This book describes American history through the actual words of individuals. This unusual approach to teaching early American history provides poetry actually written by people from various time periods throughout American history, such as "Arriving in Virginia" (1607), "A Message for the Settlers" from Chief Wahunsonacock (1615), "A Proper Name for a Person" (1656). Although a relatively small portion of the book is dedicated to the words of early America, the poems give a power and perspective to the time period.

interesting collection of original poems

We the people is an interesting collection of original poems, all written by author Bobbi Katz. What makes this volume unique is the perspective of the poems: each poem is told from the point of view of a historical figure. Not all of the figures are famous, but they do represent the time in which they lived. The poems begin with "The First Americans," and spans time, ending with a poem describing the dawn of the new millenium and its possible impact on the nation's youth. The poems will allow the reader to hear the voices of many individuals, including Mary Stahler, a pioneer woman in 1874 Kansas, and Harriet Tubman, who in 1861 reflects on her work with the Underground Railroad. The poems are accentuated by a timeline and stunning pictures created by illustrator Nina Crews. The illustrations combine actual photographs with a variety of media, such as watercolors and digital images.Although We the people is a worthwhile volume of poetry, it does not have broad YA appeal. A YA with an interest in history of poetry would enjoy this book. Otherwise, the book will be supremely useful to students, from middle school through high school, because it will work in a variety of curricular settings and in the public library. The poems are well suited for performance and can used as supplemental information in history and biography assignments.