Bulion, Leslie. Random Body Parts Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse. Ill. Mike Lowery. Atlanta: Peachtree. 2015.
SUMMARY AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This clever book is filled with engaging poetry about the human body. Bulion has put a twist on several of Shakespeare's selected works and used them as models for her poetry. The first poem, "Riddle Me This" sets the tone for fun, challenging readers to solve "tricky riddle poems." Bulion's witty word choice requires some deciphering to uncover the riddle or hidden meaning in her poetry. Part of the fun of this book is the clever word plays used throughout. Bulion uses a wide range of poetry styles, some will be familiar to children and others might be new. She has included couplets with various rhyme schemes as well as the following: a limerick, sonnet, epigram, haiku, concrete poem, ballad, shape poem, tercets, dactyl and more. This collection of styles is a unique introduction to a wide range of poetic experiences for readers, seldom found in one book.
A different part of the human body is featured in each poem. Readers will laugh and sometimes groan as they solve each riddle. Strong rhythms and rhyme are present in many poems along with some surprising descriptions. Here is a sample from "Lunchtime," it reads "Lumps of lard from fatted swine, / Shellfish innards laced with brine, / spuds unearthed from mud, then fried, / Mucus oozed from deep inside." An example of traditional haiku can be found in "The River of Life." Five haiku poems work together to describe a trip through the blood stream. The variety of style also includes a cinquain. The story of bones in "Firm of Purpose" uses multiple cinquains for a pleasing effect.
The illustrations are a mix of cartoon drawings and photographs. The cartoons add a sense of playfulness to the collection and the photographs add a sense of realism. Both the cartoons and illustrations expand the meanings of each poem and provide and extension to the text. A factual explanation of each body part mentioned is included with every poem, providing scientific information to the reader.
Colorful backgrounds and differing font colors and sizes add visual interest. It is easy to find your way around this book with the helpful table of contents located in the front. A glossary of anatomy terms and a basic diagram of the body are both included in the back of the book for readers seeking more information. The final six pages titled "Poetry Notes" provide a discussion of each poem and describe how each poem is modeled after a famous example written by Shakespeare. Teachers will appreciate this helpful section.
Readers can stretch their poetry experience with the variety of style in this book. Readers can learn scientific facts about the body while experimenting with language. This book would be an excellent choice for science class and poetry class alike.
SPOTLIGHT ON A POEM
"KNOCK, KNOCK! WHO'S THERE?" is an example of a limerick. The strong beat and rhymes are obvious in the poem. I would introduce the poem by inviting the students to listen carefully while it is read aloud and then try to solve the riddle of this poem. I would pause half way through the poem to allow children time to make predictions. Before asking for responses, I would read the entire poem a second time. Finally, I would ask students to write down what they think this poem is about and then finally have them share their responses out loud. I would provide a printed copy of the text and ask students to read it with a partner. During the class discussion, I would encourage students to share how they arrived at their guesses. Line by line, students could decipher the meaning of this poem. They would be encouraged to notice the features that make this poem a limerick. Limericks can be fun and easy for students to create. I would give them time to write their own limericks about a body part.
"KNOCK, KNOCK! WHO'S THERE?"
"You can search for lost words on my tip,
Or reveal hidden thoughts when I slip.
With my muscle-bound shove,
Tasty foods that you love,
Deconstruct on a long downward trip.
I give shape to each word that you use,
And I don't let you drown while you snooze.
All those buds on my top
Tell your brain if the slop
You are chomping is chow you should choose."
EXTENSION
Bulion combines her knowledge of the scientific world with her love of poetry and she has created many engaging poetry books for children. She also writes novels, articles and more. Her website highlights her books and provides background information about her writing. Check out her website at http://www.lesliebulion.com.
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