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Ideas for discussing poems in If I
Could Be A Doughnut
Many poems are verses that simply make children
giggle and can be read aloud for fun. Others have deeper shades of meanings that children
can
relate to and appreciate.
Sample ideas for children to discuss:
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How does the poem make you feel?
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What is the character in the poem feeling?
Happy, sad, rebellious, proud, silly, etc.?
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Why do you think the poet wrote it? What idea
is the poet trying to convey?
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What part of the poem do you like or dislike?
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Does anything surprise you?
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Can you think of another ending for the poem?
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What words do you like the sound of?
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Does a poem's illustration look like what you
expected? How would you change it?
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Do you know a poem, book, song, or movie with
similar ideas?
Poem examples
The Ballad of Bullfrog
Phil (p. 4):
Description: A
bullfrog has a voice that is too shrill, fails out of "froggy
school" and is banished from the pond, but returns to save the other
frogs from a bear by screaming his shrill croaks.
Shirt Brat (p.
28):
Description: A
young boy is upset because his Mom cleaned his favorite shirt, which
he prefers to wear dirty. While reviewing why his Mom wants the
shirt clean, he counters all her arguments and each time ends his
explanation with "babe" until told to stop. However, he cannot
resist one more "babe" comment, but only to himself.
Guitar Player (p.
29)
Description: A
wrangler enters a saloon itching for a fight but is calmed by the
"soft gentle strains of an old lullaby" strummed by an outlaw guitar
player.
Dancing Lion (p.
32)
Description: A
lion who loves to dance and frolic in the African wilds is captured
and brought to a city zoo. He is sad and despondent until he sees a
young boy on a skateboard and starts to copy his moves.
Grumbling Onion
(p. 54)
Description: An
onion is called a "lousy veggie traitor" by the other vegetables
because he does not like other vegetables unless they are mixed
together in a spicy meat pie.
Oxford Blues (p.
80)
Description: A
pair of oxford shoes is mad at its owner because the owner went for
a walk with a pair of "breezy sandals."
Yukon Cactus (p.
110)
Description: Cacti
are planted in the polar region and, despite the environment
threatening that they will be snowed under and frozen out, the cacti
survive. A truce develops leading to midnight sun fiestas and
siestas.
The Cowboy Troll
(p. 112)
Description: A
shy, grotesque troll who is enchanted by music at barn dances is
loved by the girls for his gentleness. When he gets run over by a
buckboard and turns into a "flawless, dime-a-dozen prince," the
girls are no longer interested.
See
Table of Contents
(all 68 poems)
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