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Sidewalk Chalk
At every corner, down every block, a city percolates with people at work and play: girls jumping double Dutch, the shoeshine man polishing a pair of wing tips, boys heading toward the basketball court. Each neighborhood is filled with unique characters (the beautician, the barber, the short-order cook) and places (the storefront churches, the outdoor market, the park pool) - all as familiar as family. Carole Boston Weatherford pays tribute to these sights and sounds of urban life in twenty fresh and rhythmic poems. In quiet moments and lively street scenes, her work captures the excitement and diversity found in these places that have "no trees / to climb" but where people young and old still "reach for the stars." Dimitrea Tokunbo's vivid illustrations are sure to delight.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2001
45 people want to read
About the author
Carole Boston Weatherford
106 books420 followersCarole Boston Weatherford is a children's book author and poet who mines the past for family stories, traditions, and struggles. A number of CAROLE's books tell the stories of African-American historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens, and Billie Holiday. Other books recount historical events such as the Greensboro Sit-ins and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. CAROLE's books have received a wide variety of awards, including a Caldecott Honour for “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom”.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 5, 2016
Sidewalk Chalk is a great book that gives a glimpse of city life through bubbly poems. Each page holds a poem or two about a different aspect of the city. For example, on page 10 there poem is called Eat At Moe's and the poem helps you vividly imagine that you are inside a restaurant with all sorts of smells and sounds going on around you. Each poem captures the pace and energy of urban life. The poems range in topic from barbershops to swimming in the pool.
I would use this book to accompany two lessons in my classroom. I could use it to teach about rhyme scheme (AABB or ABAB, etc). Many of the poems in this book follow different rhyme schemes. I could use this book to start the conversation about rhyming. I would say something like "This poem also rhymes but it seems different from the last one we read." And then we could examine the different kinds of rhyme scheme and how to determine which scheme each poem in the book is. I could also use it to examine culture. We could address the culture of big cities, or even of African Americans since that is the race of the little girl who seems to be the narrator of the book. We could look at aspects inside the poems as indicators of these cultures and pick out words that represent each of the cultures. I could do a follow up activity by having the students write a poem about their culture/ town or city and use a rhyme scheme we just learned.
This book was a wow book for me because the poems were so fun and engaging. You could feel like you were in the place that the author was describing in each poem. The poems also do a great job of representing big city life and the African American culture. This would be a great way to teach about these cultures to students that are unfamiliar with them! I also think the engaging manor and fun language of the poems make it exciting to learn about poems!
I would use this book to accompany two lessons in my classroom. I could use it to teach about rhyme scheme (AABB or ABAB, etc). Many of the poems in this book follow different rhyme schemes. I could use this book to start the conversation about rhyming. I would say something like "This poem also rhymes but it seems different from the last one we read." And then we could examine the different kinds of rhyme scheme and how to determine which scheme each poem in the book is. I could also use it to examine culture. We could address the culture of big cities, or even of African Americans since that is the race of the little girl who seems to be the narrator of the book. We could look at aspects inside the poems as indicators of these cultures and pick out words that represent each of the cultures. I could do a follow up activity by having the students write a poem about their culture/ town or city and use a rhyme scheme we just learned.
This book was a wow book for me because the poems were so fun and engaging. You could feel like you were in the place that the author was describing in each poem. The poems also do a great job of representing big city life and the African American culture. This would be a great way to teach about these cultures to students that are unfamiliar with them! I also think the engaging manor and fun language of the poems make it exciting to learn about poems!
October 18, 2020
Carole Boston Weatherford creates vivid poems pertaining to life in the city. Which city? We aren't told, but it is illustrated as a big city like New York, Chicago, or somewhere where skyscrapers exist. She thoughtfully addresses places like beauty shops, church, the street corner, and much more. The illustrations match the story being told in the particular poem and represent many different cultures and people.
This book is a great way to introduce multicultural cities and areas like it to students who do not live in a place with a lot of ethnic diversity or around a big city. It can introduce children to different places from where they live if they are from a rural area. It can also be used as part of a poetry block or unit lesson plan. With the diversity found within this book, there are many ways that it can be incorporated within a classroom. From poetry study to creative writing lessons, Carole Boston Weatherford herself can also be studied as an African American author within the classroom who is very diverse in her works. She often writes about unknown people or events in history that many people do not know about, becoming the voice of the miss or underrepresented within American and African American history.
This book is a great way to introduce multicultural cities and areas like it to students who do not live in a place with a lot of ethnic diversity or around a big city. It can introduce children to different places from where they live if they are from a rural area. It can also be used as part of a poetry block or unit lesson plan. With the diversity found within this book, there are many ways that it can be incorporated within a classroom. From poetry study to creative writing lessons, Carole Boston Weatherford herself can also be studied as an African American author within the classroom who is very diverse in her works. She often writes about unknown people or events in history that many people do not know about, becoming the voice of the miss or underrepresented within American and African American history.
March 12, 2019
Awards: None
Age ranges: 3-5
Summary: Weatherford has published a great selection of poems that encapsulate the art and the happenings of an urban setting. The topics range to the laundromat to the church choir. With each poem is a colorful illustration that animates the scene even more.
Review: I really enjoy this selection of rhymes because it is aimed towards an older set of children. By showing that you can write a fun and rhythmic poem about the street corner or a math test, kids can become inspired to write their own poems about their daily lives.
Class uses: This book has tons of opportunity for children to discuss their habits at home and with their families. The poetry is aimed towards describing the senses, something that a younger child can relate to, especially if their home setting is similar to the one depicted in the collection.
Age ranges: 3-5
Summary: Weatherford has published a great selection of poems that encapsulate the art and the happenings of an urban setting. The topics range to the laundromat to the church choir. With each poem is a colorful illustration that animates the scene even more.
Review: I really enjoy this selection of rhymes because it is aimed towards an older set of children. By showing that you can write a fun and rhythmic poem about the street corner or a math test, kids can become inspired to write their own poems about their daily lives.
Class uses: This book has tons of opportunity for children to discuss their habits at home and with their families. The poetry is aimed towards describing the senses, something that a younger child can relate to, especially if their home setting is similar to the one depicted in the collection.
May 1, 2019
I loved reading this book that includes poems about the city. I think it is a great book for teachers to use when talking about community and when talking about the city. For those who teach upstate, it is a great way to get children thinking about different places around them (the city) and for those who teach in the city it is a fun way to get children to relate their lives to reading poetry. Beautiful, colorful drawings cover each page and tell you what the poem will be about before you even start reading it, giving children an opportunity to look for their interests inside the book. Each poem covers a different topic relating to the city with its own unique rhyme scheme, teaching children about the ending sounds of words that rhyme.
April 19, 2018
1. No awards
2. 2nd-7th grade
3. This is a collection of poems that are based on the city and what happens inside of it like restaurants, the laundromat, the carwash, church, the people, and more. It is based around the life of a little girl who lives in the city.
4. I like this book because it is based around the life of an African American girl and it’s about things that occur in everyday life, like doing laundry, going to the carwash, going to school, going to church, etc.
5. This book can be used for lessons with poetry, maybe the students can make their own poetry about where they live and what they do in their cities.
2. 2nd-7th grade
3. This is a collection of poems that are based on the city and what happens inside of it like restaurants, the laundromat, the carwash, church, the people, and more. It is based around the life of a little girl who lives in the city.
4. I like this book because it is based around the life of an African American girl and it’s about things that occur in everyday life, like doing laundry, going to the carwash, going to school, going to church, etc.
5. This book can be used for lessons with poetry, maybe the students can make their own poetry about where they live and what they do in their cities.
December 8, 2018
Awards the book has received (if any): n/a
Appropriate grade level(s): 2nd-6th
Original summary: This poem compilation focuses on the sights, sounds, and buzz of urban life.
Original review: I really like how simple the text looks on the page, this makes it easier for young children to digest. The illustrations are unique and interesting!
1-2 possible in-class uses:
1) Poetry unit to inspire students to look around them and write.
2) Can be used when discussing diverse neighborhoods and backgrounds.
Appropriate grade level(s): 2nd-6th
Original summary: This poem compilation focuses on the sights, sounds, and buzz of urban life.
Original review: I really like how simple the text looks on the page, this makes it easier for young children to digest. The illustrations are unique and interesting!
1-2 possible in-class uses:
1) Poetry unit to inspire students to look around them and write.
2) Can be used when discussing diverse neighborhoods and backgrounds.
December 5, 2018
Good collection of poems and art.
February 25, 2015
Personal Reaction:
This book is full of short and charming narrative poems and some of the formats of the poems were created by the author. I really appreciated the diversity in this book. There is people of all races, ages, and physical abilities in many different settings and scenarios.
Purpose:
I would keep a book like this in my classroom library. But I would also read this aloud to kids in grades 1-6. This would be a good book to read when studying urban, suburban and rural areas. This book is specifically set in an urban area. I would ask the kids where they think the setting of this book is after reading a few poems and looking at the pictures.
I would also read this book when we are doing a unit on poetry. I think poems like the ones in this book are important because they don't all rhyme. Most kids think that all poems need to rhyme, and this will prove that is not true.
This book is full of short and charming narrative poems and some of the formats of the poems were created by the author. I really appreciated the diversity in this book. There is people of all races, ages, and physical abilities in many different settings and scenarios.
Purpose:
I would keep a book like this in my classroom library. But I would also read this aloud to kids in grades 1-6. This would be a good book to read when studying urban, suburban and rural areas. This book is specifically set in an urban area. I would ask the kids where they think the setting of this book is after reading a few poems and looking at the pictures.
I would also read this book when we are doing a unit on poetry. I think poems like the ones in this book are important because they don't all rhyme. Most kids think that all poems need to rhyme, and this will prove that is not true.
October 24, 2016
Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo
Carole Boston Weatherford is an award winning author but this book doesn’t seem to have any awards.
Grade: 2-7 or Age 8-12
Sidewalk Chalk is an anthology of poems about growing up in the city. There are drawings on every page that go along with the poem on the page.
Sidewalk Chalk shows a ton of diversity in the pictures on the pages. Diversity is seen through different skin colors, some disabilities among other things. The poems tell he reader what life is like in the city.
This book could be used to learn about new places. Students who do not live in a city could read it to learn how depending on where you live different activities happen. It could also be used as a precursor to another activity. Students who live anywhere (in a city or rural area) could write about things they do/ see.
Carole Boston Weatherford is an award winning author but this book doesn’t seem to have any awards.
Grade: 2-7 or Age 8-12
Sidewalk Chalk is an anthology of poems about growing up in the city. There are drawings on every page that go along with the poem on the page.
Sidewalk Chalk shows a ton of diversity in the pictures on the pages. Diversity is seen through different skin colors, some disabilities among other things. The poems tell he reader what life is like in the city.
This book could be used to learn about new places. Students who do not live in a city could read it to learn how depending on where you live different activities happen. It could also be used as a precursor to another activity. Students who live anywhere (in a city or rural area) could write about things they do/ see.
May 1, 2011
I saw the author at the Enoch Pratt Library as part of a Maryland Association of School Librarians event. A fabulous speaker! I totally recommend her as an option for school visits -- engaging, interesting, great at connecting with an audience. She also has a broad body of work that she can tailor for both K-3 and 4-5 audiences.
Sidewalk Chalk is based on Weatherford's memories of her childhood. A charming and fun book, kids will love her poems. Eat at Moe's includes one of my favorite lines: "Lake trout wears a cornmeal coat."
The book includes a lot of diversity. People of many races are depicted in the artwork and poems about church are included. Urban children especially will make great personal connections to the poems and the pictures.
Sidewalk Chalk is based on Weatherford's memories of her childhood. A charming and fun book, kids will love her poems. Eat at Moe's includes one of my favorite lines: "Lake trout wears a cornmeal coat."
The book includes a lot of diversity. People of many races are depicted in the artwork and poems about church are included. Urban children especially will make great personal connections to the poems and the pictures.
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October 13, 2011Why this book?: To add depth to library collection
Genre: Memoir, Poetry
Theme/Keywords: Poetry, City Life
Special Features: Book contains poems--not all rhyme (examples of different kinds of poems).
Characteristics of quality: Author's memories about growing up in the city and the things should would do daily.
Gender of primary character: Female
Race/ethnicity of primary character: African-American
Cultural considerations: About growing up in the city--need familiarity with city life
Language considerations: About growing up in the city--need familiarity with city life
Open Ended Question: (Would have to ask at the end of each poem). Have you ever done something like her? Have you ever felt like her?
Genre: Memoir, Poetry
Theme/Keywords: Poetry, City Life
Special Features: Book contains poems--not all rhyme (examples of different kinds of poems).
Characteristics of quality: Author's memories about growing up in the city and the things should would do daily.
Gender of primary character: Female
Race/ethnicity of primary character: African-American
Cultural considerations: About growing up in the city--need familiarity with city life
Language considerations: About growing up in the city--need familiarity with city life
Open Ended Question: (Would have to ask at the end of each poem). Have you ever done something like her? Have you ever felt like her?
February 26, 2015
Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed the diversity in this poetry book. No two poems were the same. They were all about different races, places, events, all different kinds of things that brought a new perspective to the poem.
Purpose: I think this is a great poetry book for all ages to read. It could be read just for fun, or incorporated into a lesson. In the book, there are many different settings. The poems talk about different places around town, or their home. So this could be poems incorporated into a lesson when identifying different parts of a city, and what makes up a town. Students would be able to learn about different types of poems from this book. Not all of the poems rhyme, so the students would have the opportunity to identify what a free verse poem is like.
Purpose: I think this is a great poetry book for all ages to read. It could be read just for fun, or incorporated into a lesson. In the book, there are many different settings. The poems talk about different places around town, or their home. So this could be poems incorporated into a lesson when identifying different parts of a city, and what makes up a town. Students would be able to learn about different types of poems from this book. Not all of the poems rhyme, so the students would have the opportunity to identify what a free verse poem is like.
February 25, 2015
Personal reaction: I really liked how although all of these poems are different, they all tie together and talk about a city. I like how there seems to be such a sense of community among the people because that is something I value very strongly.
Purpose: I think this collection of poems would be good to read aloud to 1st to 3rd graders. These poems would show students how community is important and necessary to be able to develop appropriately. These poems are also set in more of an urban setting, which would be a great type of school to read them in because students might be able to relate to the topics, such as going to church and singing in the choir like in one of the last poems.
Purpose: I think this collection of poems would be good to read aloud to 1st to 3rd graders. These poems would show students how community is important and necessary to be able to develop appropriately. These poems are also set in more of an urban setting, which would be a great type of school to read them in because students might be able to relate to the topics, such as going to church and singing in the choir like in one of the last poems.
December 22, 2008
Nice art, but I've seen better by this artist. Some things really pop, but other bits are just okay. Brilliant color. Personality really comes through in several illustrations of individuals. The same with the poetry-- some pops, some is just okay. Occasional lines just don't flow. I liked the poetry better when I heard my dad reading it aloud to the boys than when I read it myself, whether silently or aloud.
September 26, 2011
This is a good poem book to use during a lesson on poems. This is expecially good to use since it gives examples of more than just rhyming poems. Most of the time students think a poem has to rhyme to be a poem, this book will show them otherwise.
November 3, 2014
This is a wonderful book of poems based that uses the urban environment as a backdrop. The pictures are colorful and poems are rich with all aspects of urban life. It's a celebration of urban life through poetry that anyone can connect with.
January 9, 2011
Excellent poems
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews