Elympics

Kennedy, X.J. 1999. Elympics. Ill. by Graham Percy. New York: Philomel Books.  ISBN 978399232497

(Image obtained from amazon.com)

Summary

Elympics is a compilation of thirteen poems about the Olympic games aimed towards children in preschool through fifth grade.  Each poem follows a particular Olympic game which is being played by elephants.   

Quality and Appeal

The poetry contained in Elympics serves as an introduction to single-form poetry.  Kennedy balances rhyming in quatrain through the depiction of summer and winter Olympic games.  While the meter is successful in developing a reading routine, it sometimes feels forced in an effort to remain structured in the repetitive form.  The illustrations, completed in crayon and ink, extend the meaning and action of the poetry as the book progresses.  Personally, I felt that the drawings superseded the poetry in this book.  Without the illustrations, some of the poetry would feel flat and monochromatic. 

Although certainly not my favorite in the genre, Elympics is fun and thematic through the presentation of competition, sportsmanship, symbolism, and tradition which may be just enough to keep children engaged. 

Spotlight Poem

Medal Winner

O day of triumph! Here’s Trumpette

Collecting her reward,

The brightest medal athletes get,

A gold one on a cord.

Now all her cares seem far away,

Those long hard months of trying ---

Whoever through she’d see this day?

She’s on the brink of crying

With joy.  Her name will live in fame,

For elephant don’t forget.

Gold medals glitter, but a name

That lives is brighter yet.

Educators can utilize any of the poetry in Elympics to begin a lesson on the Olympics and connections to other similar national games (such as the Scottish Highland Games, Ancient Greece, and the Gladiators of Rome).  To solidify concepts learned, children can act out a particular movement and have other students describe it in written form.  This will extend the connection between descriptive words and action. 

Books like Elympics

Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester

Olympig! by Victoria Jamieson

G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet by Brad Herzog