Book Cover Image:
Book Summary: Several poems, told from the perspective
of different dogs, is what you will find in Once
I Ate a Pie. With every turn of the
page, readers will find a new dog, and a new poem. Each dog tells a short synopsis about
themselves and their thoughts about others around them. None of the poems in this book rhyme, and all
are told in first person perspective. Also
notable, is the fact that these poems contain a variety of fonts. Sizes and shapes of word are change for
emphasis. This book provides a view into
the mind of the dog while also introducing free verse poetry.
APA Reference of
Book:
MacLachlan, P. and Charest, E. M. (2006). Once I ate a
pie. New York, NY. Joanna Cotler Books.
Impressions: Once I Ate a Pie certainly provides
young readers with a new view of poetry.
Designed for the elementary aged reader, this book differs from the
common rhyming poetry children are used to reading. By using dogs to write/tell the poems, MacLachlan
and Charest have done a good job of finding something young children will enjoy
and relate to. By using humor and common
dog traits, such as eating human food, playing with human items, napping on
couches, etc, readers will definitely enjoy hearing from each dog’s
perspective.
By not using rhyming words or rhythm in this book,
MacLachlan and Charest are introducing readers to a very different kind of
poetry. This may not appeal to all
readers as they may enjoy the more common beat and pattern found in a rhyming
poem. However, this book would also be a
great example of poetry that does not rhyme and could be used for teaching this
in a classroom setting.
Professional
Review:
School Library Journal
-
PreS-Gr 3 -Free-verse poems about 14 individual dogs
sprawl across oversize spreads accompanied by large oil illustrations. The
poems and paintings together delightfully capture each distinct personality in
few words and with broad strokes of the brush. The fonts change often and
reflect the poet's words-rising and falling, sometimes in bold type, growing
larger and smaller and dancing over the pages. The format allows for plenty of
white space, emphasizing the postures and personalities of the pups and helping
the playful fonts to stand out. The overall result is an entertaining visit
with some very appealing canines, and a book that perhaps could serve as an
inspiration in the classroom for young poets trying to describe their own pets.
One wishes that the breeds were listed somewhere, but all in all, this title is
still a real treat.
Source: Constantinides, J. (2006). Once I ate a pie.[Review of the book
Once I ate a pie
by P. MacLachlan and E. M. Charest]. School Library Journal: The
Book Review. 114. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2052/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=256569
Found Through: UNT Library Database – LexisNexis Academic
Library Uses: This
would be a wonderful book to use when discussing free verse poetry. Read the book as a class and discuss what the
differences are in free verse poetry.
Ask students what they notice and what makes this type of poetry
unique. Then provide students with paper
to write their own free verse poem. Have
them model their poem after what they have seen in the story. They can tell their poem from the perspective
of any animal. Students should be encouraged
to use different fonts and font sizes.
Once they are finished students can use watercolor paint to create a
picture of their animal, similar to the paintings used for the illustrations in
the story.
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