(1) Poetry Lesson 4
(2) Poetry Lesson 4
“Earthworm,” “Dart Frog,” and “Man” from Curious
Creatures by Barry Louis Polisar
A review from Publishers Weekly of Barry Louis
Polisar’s Curious Creatures can help us understand his
inspiration. The reviewer says,
Like all writers, poets get their ideas from
something or someone who inspired them to
write. Sometimes poets get their inspiration
externally, or from the world around them or
internally from feelings they have in their heart.
If we can recognize where the poet’s inspiration
came from, it can help us better understand
what the poet is saying to us when we read the
poem.
“A menagerie of mostly unsung animals should please
young poetry lovers. Animal lovers will welcome the
irreverent but informative verse.”
The reviewer explains that young students should love
Barry’s irreverent and funny poems. Not only are the
poems funny, they are also “informative,” which means
they share information. As we read a few of the
poems, we will try to discover where his inspiration
came from. This will help us as readers to figure out
his meaning or message to us with a lot more clarity.
(3) Poetry Lesson 4
(4) Poetry Lesson 4
As I read Barry’s poem “Earthworm,” think about
where he could have gotten his idea for this
poem.
It seems like Barry wants to make us laugh as we
read this poem, but he also shares some
information about an animal that doesn’t get
much attention. Has Barry changed your mind
about how you feel about earthworms? How?
Why?
Display the illustration and then read the poem slowly
and carefully.
Where could Barry have come up with this idea
to write a poem about an earthworm?
Allow students time to share their responses.
Allow students to discuss Polisar’s possible inspiration.
Students should notice that Polisar is both teaching
information and also making them laugh through his
humorous tone.
I wonder if Barry was inspired to write this poem
to help us learn about these creatures as well as
make us think twice about the way we look at
them. Let’s read another poem and see what
we think about his inspiration.
(5) Poetry Lesson 4
Display and read aloud the poem “Dart Frog,” which
uses humor, both in words and illustrations, to teach
readers about a very dangerous animal. Ask students
to discuss Polisar’s possible inspiration with a partner
and then with the class.
What do you think Barry wanted us to learn
from this poem? Let’s take a look at another
part of Barry’s book that is not written in poetic
form.
Share the last page of the page of the book with
students and read a few extra facts with them. Discuss
why Polisar might have decided to include this
information in a book of silly poems about curious
creatures.
(6) Poetry Lesson 4
There is one more poem to read as we start to
solidify our thoughts on Barry’s inspiration for
writing this collection.
Display and read aloud “Man” to students and point
out how this poem is very different, both in its words
and tone and in the illustrations.
This poem seems to be inspired by the fact that
Barry feels pretty strongly that man is harming
animals and their habitats. How can you tell that
Barry feels this way? What do you think
Barry’s message is to us?
Allow students to share their ideas.