Hailstones and Halibut Bones

Hailstones and Halibut Bones | Poetry | Mary O'Neill | No Awards | ages 8-12 |

From cover to cover, this book has absolutely gorgeous illustrations as if made by watercolors. In this book, the writer goes over the colors of the spectrum in a different way using words and familiar items we know. What Is Purple? What Is Gold? What Is Blue?- Asters are purple... Gold is the sunshine... Blue is the quiet sea... We learn a variety of colors, where we see them, and when we feel them. Very poetic and moving collection of poems about colors of this world.

I really love this poem and immediately thought of ways I can use this book in the classroom. I can see myself using this book as an educator in a kindergarten classroom as we learn about colors. I believe the appropriate grade level for this book ranges from as early as kindergarten to sixth grade. The reason why I believe it would be helpful in the kindergarten classroom is because at this age, they are learning about colors which this book talks about twelve! In the kindergarten-2nd grade classroom, I'd have the students draw things that is associated with a specific color. For example, a red apple, black car, pink shirt, etc. For students in 3rd-6th grade, the students will follow the template provided by the author and swap some of the words with their own. The author wrote "Blue is the quiet sea," students can write "Blue is the spring sky" or other similar poetry assignments. They can choose one color instead of doing multiple, and follow the poem scheme to write their own.