1.       Bibliography:

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2018. Phrases of the Moon:  Lunar Poems.  Ill. by Jori van der Linde.  Mankato:  Creative Editions.  ISBN  1568463111 

             

2.       Plot Summary:

Established children’s poet J. Patrick Lewis explores the wonderment of the Earth’s satellite through a succinct, elegant, jovial collection of poems about the moon and a smattering of diverse moon myths retold in poetic form.  Readers are entranced by verses that highlight the moon’s majesty--wildly distant, with varying forms.  Lewis plays with historical and cross-cultural names, and harnesses children’s curiosity regarding how long a trip to the moon would take…in the family car (“Make sure you pack plenty of outer space food.”)!  Further poems about an odd witch, a twilight sandcastle, a nocturnal cow, and constellations aplenty intrigue the reader and bring the moon’s brilliance into the spotlight.  Poems about the climate of the moon and a clever lunar letter reconfiguration poem nicely round out this astronomically creative collection of poems.  Then, Lewis embarks upon the poetic retelling of the moon myths, taking the reader on a magical night adventure through five ethereal pieces that reveal the moon’s prominence in the hearts of all people worldwide.  Lewis includes “Moon Facts” at the end of this lunar collection, which will indeed be a welcome bestowing of facts and tidbits about our glorious, glowing moon.

3.       Critical Analysis:

Students, particularly in grades 3-5, will be equally drawn to Lewis’s poetic works and van der Linde’s magical illustrations.  The painterly, whimsical, vivid depictions across each page evoke the contrast of the bright, white moon and the dark, black night.   The illustrations transport the reader down winding, colorful roads that perfectly echo the playful, surprising style of the poet.  Found among the illustrations are carefully-placed treasures, such as the outline of the castle made by the water in the illustration for “A Sandcastle Is.”  Each illustration, like the poems themselves, is equally mesmerizing and emblematic of authentic genius in craft. 

Lewis’s collection of lunar poetry often showcases ABAB format, as though echoing the reliable, expected rhythm of the moon’s cycles, traveling beautifully through the days and nights of our lives.  Including the historical and cross-cultural elements of lunar study and significance in “Names of the Moon:  A Found Poem” and the section of Moon Myths—from Australia, Africa, Tibet, Japan, and Germany—strongly portrays the sustaining significance of the moon in the experience of being human, throughout time and among all peoples.

Lewis’s imagery is agile and succinct in its style; yet, he completely conveys the mystery and beauty of the moon within each included piece.  His unexpected sense of humor in his poetry is well-incorporated, as in “Hanging Lamp:”  “Mrs. Moon is a lamp--/She’s a heavy-watt champ--/As a full or a half or a crescent.” This surprising levity will be appreciated by children and adults as they experience and enjoy this enthralling collection of poems.

4.        Review Excerpt(s):

From School Library Journal:  “This is a short, eclectic mix of inspirational tales and poems that could offer many curriculum connections among mythology, poetry, and creative writing.”

From Canadian Review of Materials:  “Carefully crafted, the beautiful poems will teach children how to read to a rhythmic beat, will tech them the beauty of precisely-chosen words that create vivid images, and how to realize the breadth and depth of a simple subject.”

                           

5.        Connections:

Students could complete an illustrated moon log for each day of the moon cycle by sketching the appearance of the moon each evening.  During this moon study, Lewis’s moon poems could be read and discussed each day as part of the science lesson.

Students could be instructed to write their own poems on the topic of the moon as a creative writing/English connection.

Students could also read, enjoy, and discuss Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon, ISBN:  0064430170

Children could listen to Meredith Willson’s song, ”I see the Moon and the Moon Sees Me,” discussing and comparing the lyrical composition to Lewis’s “Full Moon” poem.

The poems in Lewis’s lunar collection could be used to teach 3^rd-5^th grade English/creative writing students about the use of rhythm in poetry, as well as numerous other poetic conventions.