Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School

Salas, Laura Purdie. 2009. Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School. Ill. by Steven Salerno. New York: Clarion Books.  ISBN 9780618914883

(Image obtained from amazon.com)

Summary

Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School is a single author, school-related anthology of 18 poems aimed towards children in kindergarten through third grade.  Each of the poems isolates a particular issue found within school (such as being the new student, Picture Day, recess, lunch, studying, and assignments) which brings out the animal in each student. 

Quality and Appeal

Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School proves to be a succinct introductory anthology into the world of poetry.  The poetry found page by page combines numerous types of poetic devices including a variety of stanzas, change in meter, imagery, and symbolism.  The most prominent concept found nestled in the pages of Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School, stands to be that of metaphor.  Each poem likens daily happenings to those similar to the animals.  For instance, the activity outside of the school grounds prior to beginning of class is likened to that of buzzing bumblebees.  The rumblings of stomachs in anticipation for lunch are likened to the roar of a bear.  Illustrations are bold and expressive.  The children found on each page begin morphing into each animal they are being allegorized to, tying the texts to the images and inserting the audience into each setting. The overall tone remains light and humorous despite shouldering concepts with serious undertones such as anxiety, bullying, self-consciousness, and academic proficiency.  

In addition to establishing the basics of poetry, the content found within this anthology is appealing to children as it speaks to the trials and tribulations that each student has been preview to at one point their lives.  Most students can relate to every poem in this book, creating a sense of unity in the classroom. 

Awards, Mentions and/or Honors

Nominated for the Minnesota Book Awards in 2010

Honor Book for Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in 2010

Spotlight Poem

Nesting

I’m one quiet fox.

My desk is my den,

with quizzes, smooth rocks, and

a note from a friend.

I tuck deep inside

the hollowed-out wood

to make me feel safe when I’m

not understood.

This poem can be shared with students as an introduction to attitudes and behaviors in the school setting.  Overall, the key element here is respecting each other.  Students will be invited to clean out their desk and select a personal belonging found in their desk to share with others in a “show and tell” setting. 

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