Happy Tuesday everyone!
In celebration of Julia
Burgos centennial birthday, this week’s book is The Poet Upstairs by
Judith Ortiz Cofer, illustrated by Oscar Ortiz.
What happens when you
get sick and are stuck in bed? For a little girl named Juliana, it is the
beginning of an encounter that transforms her world. Missing her first day of
school due to a fever, Juliana watches as a new woman moves into the apartment
upstairs. She wonders who it is and discovers the woman is a poet. Through her
dreams Juliana slowly imagines places far away and learns with the help of the
poet how to use words to help transport her and others to these beautiful
landscapes. The illustrations by Oscar Ortiz capture a quality in these scenes,
paintings reflecting a dream-like state adding to the already rich descriptive
narrative. In “The Poet Upstairs” Judith Ortiz Cofer not only has
written a story that shows children the power of words but also helps them use
their imagination, all the while highlighting the impact positive role modeling
interactions with adults can have on children. While the poet in this story
leaves eventually, we the readers as well as Juliana are left with a tapestry
of images and words that open the endless possibilities of adventures and
landscapes yet to be visited.
Think this is a great
book?
Make sure to keep an eye for it and other great finds in our children’s
section.
- Galia, School Programs Coordinator
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