Friday, October 02, 2009

Spot the Plot (on Poetry Friday!)

This week in my volunteer librarian hat, I not only read aloud what turns out to be the most challenged book of the last three years - And Tango Makes Three - but also had the pleasure of reading J. Patrick Lewis' Spot the Plot - A Riddle Book of Book Riddles to a slew of appreciative kids.

Spot the Plot is a book of poems each of which is also a riddle. The solution to each riddle is the name of a well-known children's book. Yes, it really is a riddle book of book riddles! The art by Lynn Munsinger helped (and amused) the kids immensely as they tried to solve those riddles. And...

We had a blast: I'd read a poem, count to three, and then all of us would shout out our answers.

And I was always right! The kids were almost all always right, too, but a few made some pretty interesting guesses that led to great conversations. An added bonus.

The poems are a hoot by themselves, but the concept made it a total win. The kids talked about writing their own book riddles! Yes, they wanted to WRITE POETRY!

I was also inspired, and so, for Poetry Friday, I shall share one of my own attempts at a book riddle:

J. Patrick Lewis
Gives us the clue-s.
We read all his poems...
Then name all the tomes.

(All together now. 1, 2, 3: "Spot the Plot!")

Thank you. Thank you. I'm here all week.

You can see a whole bunch more poetry at this week's Poetry Friday roundup hosted over at Kelly Herold's Crossover - where books have no boundaries.

You can also see two poems by J. Patrick Lewis right here at GottaBook: The Poet of the World (his contribution to 30 Poets/30 Days) and A Sixth Grader Sees the Future.

EDIT: J. Patrick Lewis has left two not-in-the-book book riddles in the comments! Be sure to check 'em out.

8 comments:

MaureenHume said...

Wow, Spot the Plot - A Riddle Book of Book Riddles, sounds fantastic. I love poetry and rhyme in any form, but used as an interactive book for kids is just awesome. A very original idea that's a must for my Christmas list.
Maureen Hume. www.thepizzagang.com

Julie said...

So glad you featured this book from the inestimable Mr. Lewis! Both the book and Mr. L are wonderful.

Nandini said...

Spot the Plot sounds fantastic!! And I love your book riddle about the riddle book of book riddles :-)

J Patrick said...

You are a most generous human bean, Greg. I'm tickled to see SPOT THE PLOT on your pages. Thanks ever so much. Here are two more book riddles(the lines/ letters in the first one should tumble down the page:

This tale
b
e
c
o
m
e
s

a

t
r
a
i
l

o
f

c
r
u
m
b
s


Trouble’s coming
Here. Hear?
Hunters shooting—
Blam-blam!
Tearful tale of
Woe. Whoa!
End of Mother
Dear deer.

Kelly Polark said...

Oh, thanks for the fun book rec! And thank you for the extra riddles, J Patrick!! (I know! I know the answers!!;)

Anonymous said...

First riddle:
1-2-3 "Hansel and Gretel!"

Second riddle:
1-2-3 "The Deer Hunter!" um, no, wait, that's a movie. Let me try again.

1-2-3 "Madapple!" YA woe, woods, dead mom, but no hunters...

Never mind. (Greg knows the answer)

Greg Pincus said...

LOL, Denise. You've illustrated exactly how interesting conversations can come from incorrect guesses. (BTW, folks who don't know Denise's new picturebook Once Upon a Twice really oughta check it out).

And I, too, have solved Mr. Lewis's new riddles. The question is whether to reveal? Nah. As host, I shall give others the honors. Thanks for the additional fun!

librarylady said...

Thanks for highlighting this book. I went out and purchased it immediately and then used it as a lesson with my 4th and 5th grade students this week. It was an absolute hit! You were right...I had students clamoring to write their own riddle poems. Next week we are going to publish the poems and post them for the rest of the school to enjoy solving.

I love reading your blog for teaching inspiration!