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This Is a Poem That Heals Fish
"Exuding magic and unbridled creativity on every page, this is a book with the potential to heal more than just fish."—Publishers Weekly
"An enchantingly abstract invitation to ponder poetry."—Kirkus Reviews
"A great book for any age! At this very moment, it feels like one of the best books I've ever bought!"—A Year of Reading blog
"An enchantingly abstract invitation to ponder poetry."—Kirkus Reviews
"A great book for any age! At this very moment, it feels like one of the best books I've ever bought!"—A Year of Reading blog
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2005
517 people want to read
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September 1, 2022
4/2/18: A reread for National Poetry Month.
Original review, with some editing, begun 10/1/17:
You're probably going to think this is just a joke, but read on. This is a complete coincidence but I picked up this book from the library as my 14-year-old goldfish Emperor Palpatine is dying a slow and dignified death, supported every step of the way by 9-year-old companion Anakin. The last two years the Emperor has been periodically floating upside down (which I discovered is a weird adaptive strategy and not necessarily a quick precursor to The End; in other words, actual "belly up" does not necessarily mean metaphorical "belly up"). The last three days, though, The Emperor has been unable to even get off the goldfish tank bottom. So. . . we have once a day lifted him up and sort of hand fed him, and this isn't all, if your mouth has already formed a smirk. We actually (there are kids in the house here) created a water wheelchair for him out of corks and pipe cleaners so he can float near the top for a short period of time (until he wriggles out of the weird contraption).
Heard enough? Too ridiculous? It's not a dog or a cat, you say! But, I retort, have you ever owned a goldfish for 14 years?! And watched two goldfish for 9 years become intimate mates, to the point where, in these last days, Anakin sleeps at the bottom near The Emperor?! Too pathetic and trivial to mention, or is it sweet? You choose. I have made my choice, sob.
So we needed this book, clearly, and we read it to him (The fish, yes! Have you been listening?! Palpatine's his name, and don't forget it!). And we will read it to him at his funeral, which could be any day now.
Update, 10/6/17: Emperor Palpatine died this afternoon, finally, after a long and excruciating several last days. RIP!
So, on to the book in question: Isn't this a fine title for a book?! And perfect for our life situation, as books can sometimes be? This is a book about poetry and fish for all ages. I think the poetic insights and images are wonderful, though maybe very little ones might not appreciate it so much. Simeon is a poet, dramatist, and novelist who has won an Antonin Artaud Prize, which to me indicates the surreal/absurd/abstract, which you do get a bit of in the book (but absurdity would appeal to a family that builds a water wheelchair for a fish, so consider the source here).
And so what is the situation (in the book)? Well, we have a dying fish that needs healing. And Arthur needs to save him. Mom says give him a poem! None in the cupboard, none under the bed, so let's ask around the neighborhood about how to make a poem yourself:
Lolo: "A poem is when you are in love and you have the sky in your mouth."
Mrs. Round, the baker says, "I know one, and it is hot like bread. When you eat it, a little is always left over."
Mahmoud, who lived in the desert, says, "A poem is when you hear the heartbeat of a stone."
I want to copy the whole book of these phrases for you, which in their totality makes up the sweet poem to heal the fish, a poem so much more interesting and sophisticated than the average picture book verse for kids. Oh, and I don't disrespect anyone's grief about anyone's human or non-human connections. This one can help kids, in particular, on that score. And me, I guess. Bye, Emperor!
I like it very much, and I love Olivier Tallec's colorful illustrations, including fish alphabet endpapers, wow!
Here, updated 4/2/17, is Maria Popova's wonderful Brainpickings essay, just out today, that shows you much of the book:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/03...
Original review, with some editing, begun 10/1/17:
You're probably going to think this is just a joke, but read on. This is a complete coincidence but I picked up this book from the library as my 14-year-old goldfish Emperor Palpatine is dying a slow and dignified death, supported every step of the way by 9-year-old companion Anakin. The last two years the Emperor has been periodically floating upside down (which I discovered is a weird adaptive strategy and not necessarily a quick precursor to The End; in other words, actual "belly up" does not necessarily mean metaphorical "belly up"). The last three days, though, The Emperor has been unable to even get off the goldfish tank bottom. So. . . we have once a day lifted him up and sort of hand fed him, and this isn't all, if your mouth has already formed a smirk. We actually (there are kids in the house here) created a water wheelchair for him out of corks and pipe cleaners so he can float near the top for a short period of time (until he wriggles out of the weird contraption).
Heard enough? Too ridiculous? It's not a dog or a cat, you say! But, I retort, have you ever owned a goldfish for 14 years?! And watched two goldfish for 9 years become intimate mates, to the point where, in these last days, Anakin sleeps at the bottom near The Emperor?! Too pathetic and trivial to mention, or is it sweet? You choose. I have made my choice, sob.
So we needed this book, clearly, and we read it to him (The fish, yes! Have you been listening?! Palpatine's his name, and don't forget it!). And we will read it to him at his funeral, which could be any day now.
Update, 10/6/17: Emperor Palpatine died this afternoon, finally, after a long and excruciating several last days. RIP!
So, on to the book in question: Isn't this a fine title for a book?! And perfect for our life situation, as books can sometimes be? This is a book about poetry and fish for all ages. I think the poetic insights and images are wonderful, though maybe very little ones might not appreciate it so much. Simeon is a poet, dramatist, and novelist who has won an Antonin Artaud Prize, which to me indicates the surreal/absurd/abstract, which you do get a bit of in the book (but absurdity would appeal to a family that builds a water wheelchair for a fish, so consider the source here).
And so what is the situation (in the book)? Well, we have a dying fish that needs healing. And Arthur needs to save him. Mom says give him a poem! None in the cupboard, none under the bed, so let's ask around the neighborhood about how to make a poem yourself:
Lolo: "A poem is when you are in love and you have the sky in your mouth."
Mrs. Round, the baker says, "I know one, and it is hot like bread. When you eat it, a little is always left over."
Mahmoud, who lived in the desert, says, "A poem is when you hear the heartbeat of a stone."
I want to copy the whole book of these phrases for you, which in their totality makes up the sweet poem to heal the fish, a poem so much more interesting and sophisticated than the average picture book verse for kids. Oh, and I don't disrespect anyone's grief about anyone's human or non-human connections. This one can help kids, in particular, on that score. And me, I guess. Bye, Emperor!
I like it very much, and I love Olivier Tallec's colorful illustrations, including fish alphabet endpapers, wow!
Here, updated 4/2/17, is Maria Popova's wonderful Brainpickings essay, just out today, that shows you much of the book:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/03...
Read
November 10, 2018My boys enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They loved looking at the pictures and asked to read it several times.
To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
October 4, 2017
This is a gentle celebration of poetry with very beautiful illustrations.
February 22, 2018
I great way to introduce the concept of poetry to kids! Very original!
January 17, 2019
Το «Να ένα ποίημα που γιατρεύει τα ψάρια» δίνει με τον πιο απλό, αλλά συνάμα λυρικό τρόπο την απάντηση στο ερώτημα του πρωταγωνιστή. Ένα ερώτημα που ακούγεται πολύ συχνά, όχι μόνο από τα στόματα παιδιών, αλλά και ενηλίκων. Αυτό το λογοτεχνικό είδος, η ποίηση, είναι παρεξηγημένο, καθώς θεωρείται ένα από τα πιο δύσκολα και σίγουρα ένα από αυτά που δεν απαντώνται συχνά σε παιδικά βιβλία. Είναι όμως και το μοναδικό που μέσα από την απλότητα της φόρμας του, τις λιγοστές του λέξεις, τη μουσικοτητά τους και την τοποθέτησή τους πάνω στο χαρτί που μπορεί να ερεθίσει τον εγκέφαλο και αυτός με τη σειρά του να δημιουργήσει τις πιο θαυμαστές εικόνες, να προκαλέσει τα πιο έντονα συναισθήματα.
Περισσότερα εδώ: http://kokkinialepou.gr/na-ena-poiima...
Περισσότερα εδώ: http://kokkinialepou.gr/na-ena-poiima...
June 23, 2015
Each February or March we have a big poetry unit in my classroom. So, checked this book out. I have to say, I completely hated it. Just hated it.
This is what the reviews say:
"Exuding magic and unbridled creativity on every page, this is a book with the potential to heal more than just fish."—Publishers Weekly
"An enchantingly abstract invitation to ponder poetry."—Kirkus Reviews
I say:
There is creativity and then there's "What-the-heck?"!
There is abstract and then there's "HUNH???"
My students hated this book as much as I did.
This is what the reviews say:
"Exuding magic and unbridled creativity on every page, this is a book with the potential to heal more than just fish."—Publishers Weekly
"An enchantingly abstract invitation to ponder poetry."—Kirkus Reviews
I say:
There is creativity and then there's "What-the-heck?"!
There is abstract and then there's "HUNH???"
My students hated this book as much as I did.
Read
March 18, 2012When Arthur worries that his fish will die of boredom, his mother suggests he give him a poem. But what is a poem? The answer is... this book. Pure poetry.
April 9, 2019
My all-time favorite picture book! It is in a category of its own. And very healing, although I am not a fish....
May 4, 2019
A gorgeous picture book. A delight to enjoy reading to yourself and to little ones.
"A poem is when words beat their wings,
It is a song sung in a cage."
"A poem is when words beat their wings,
It is a song sung in a cage."
May 22, 2021
Being deeply philosophical and poetic, it heals people, too. :-) Ten stars!
May 3, 2018
Such a simple story yet it had me absolutely transfixed and yelling "That's exactly it!" and "That's so beautiful!". Thank you Jean-Pierre for explaining what a poem is and what it can be!
March 31, 2018
This is a children's book in which a young boy is trying to find a poem to heal his fish. He asks many different people and objects about a poem to try and heal his fish and everyone gives him a different answer for what a poem is. The boy doubts he knows or can create a poem all on his own. In the end he learns that by asking questions and exploring the world around him, he's taken bits and pieces of what he's learned and he's made them his own poem.
I thought this book was great for instilling in readers the idea that everyone has a poem inside him/her. Just because your poem may not be up to the standard that you feel constitutes a poem, it doesn't make it any less of a poem.
It's also a strong idea that poems are just our distillation of the world around us. A take on the idea that art imitates life and that each artist sees life in their unique way. This is a great message for kids as they sometimes feel they have to have someone else's perspective in order to feel grown up. Ironically, once we do grow up we learn that having our own perspective and embracing our uniqueness is what makes us truly "grown up".
In my classroom, I would use this book to introduce my unit on poetry. Even though I teach high school, I think this book is great not only for the message but the way in which it develops the message. We forget sometimes that we all like a good story and that just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't appreciate a good kids book. Plus teenagers are still partly kids and tapping into their more child-like nature and challenging them to think like adults is a great way for them to feel affirmed and challenged all at the same time.
I thought this book was great for instilling in readers the idea that everyone has a poem inside him/her. Just because your poem may not be up to the standard that you feel constitutes a poem, it doesn't make it any less of a poem.
It's also a strong idea that poems are just our distillation of the world around us. A take on the idea that art imitates life and that each artist sees life in their unique way. This is a great message for kids as they sometimes feel they have to have someone else's perspective in order to feel grown up. Ironically, once we do grow up we learn that having our own perspective and embracing our uniqueness is what makes us truly "grown up".
In my classroom, I would use this book to introduce my unit on poetry. Even though I teach high school, I think this book is great not only for the message but the way in which it develops the message. We forget sometimes that we all like a good story and that just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't appreciate a good kids book. Plus teenagers are still partly kids and tapping into their more child-like nature and challenging them to think like adults is a great way for them to feel affirmed and challenged all at the same time.
February 19, 2018
A poem
is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth.
It is hot like fresh bread,
when you eat it,
a little is always left over.
A poem
is when you hear
the heartbeat of a stone,
when words beat their wings.
It is a song sung in a cage.
A poem
is words turned upside down
and suddenly!
the world is new.
is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth.
It is hot like fresh bread,
when you eat it,
a little is always left over.
A poem
is when you hear
the heartbeat of a stone,
when words beat their wings.
It is a song sung in a cage.
A poem
is words turned upside down
and suddenly!
the world is new.
June 3, 2016
"Lolo knows everything, laughs all the time, and is always in love."
July 28, 2018
This is a children's book in which a young boy is trying to find a poem to heal his fish. He asks many different people and objects about a poem to try and heal his fish and everyone gives him a different answer for what a poem is. The boy doubts he knows or can create a poem all on his own. In the end he learns that by asking questions and exploring the world around him, he's taken bits and pieces of what he's learned and he's made them his own poem.
I thought this book was great for instilling in readers the idea that everyone has a poem inside him/her. Just because your poem may not be up to the standard that you feel constitutes a poem, it doesn't make it any less of a poem.
It's also a strong idea that poems are just our distillation of the world around us. A take on the idea that art imitates life and that each artist sees life in their unique way. This is a great message for kids as they sometimes feel they have to have someone else's perspective in order to feel grown up. Ironically, once we do grow up we learn that having our own perspective and embracing our uniqueness is what makes us truly "grown up".
In my classroom, I would use this book to introduce my unit on poetry. Even though I teach high school, I think this book is great not only for the message but the way in which it develops the message. We forget sometimes that we all like a good story and that just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't appreciate a good kids book. Plus teenagers are still partly kids and tapping into their more child-like nature and challenging them to think like adults is a great way for them to feel affirmed and challenged all at the same time.
I thought this book was great for instilling in readers the idea that everyone has a poem inside him/her. Just because your poem may not be up to the standard that you feel constitutes a poem, it doesn't make it any less of a poem.
It's also a strong idea that poems are just our distillation of the world around us. A take on the idea that art imitates life and that each artist sees life in their unique way. This is a great message for kids as they sometimes feel they have to have someone else's perspective in order to feel grown up. Ironically, once we do grow up we learn that having our own perspective and embracing our uniqueness is what makes us truly "grown up".
In my classroom, I would use this book to introduce my unit on poetry. Even though I teach high school, I think this book is great not only for the message but the way in which it develops the message. We forget sometimes that we all like a good story and that just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't appreciate a good kids book. Plus teenagers are still partly kids and tapping into their more child-like nature and challenging them to think like adults is a great way for them to feel affirmed and challenged all at the same time.
May 31, 2019
تمرض "ليون" سمكة الصبي آرثر، فتنصحه والدته بأن يهديها قصيدةً لتتعافى. ولما كان آرثر لا يعرف ما تعني القصائد، فقد بحث عنها في كل مكان ولكن دون جدوى، فيقرر أن يسأل عنها لولو صاحب دكان الدراجات الهوائية، والسيدة راوند الخبّازة، والمزارع محمود، وطائر الكناري المحبوس في قفص، وجده وجدته. فيخبره كل واحدٍ منهم ما تعنيه القصيدة بالنسبة له:
-القصيدة هي حين تكون عاشقًا وتكون السماء في فمك
-القصيدة ساخنةٌ كالخبز الطازج، حين تأكله، يبقى القليل منه دائمًا
-القصيدة هي حين تسمع دقات قلب حجر
-القصيدة هي حين تخفق الكلمات أجنحتها. هي أغنيةٌ تُغنى في قفص.
-حين ترتدي سترتك القديمة بالمقلوب، فتقول أنها أصبحت جديدة، القصيدة تقلب الكلمات رأسًا على عقب، وفجأة، يصبح العالم جديدًا
-القصيدة هي ما يصنع الشعراء حتى حين لا يدرك الشعراء أنفسهم ذلك.
غارقًا في حيرته، يقرر آرثر أن يصنع من كل تلك الاجابات قصيدةً خاصةً به، ليلقيها على سمكته المريضة ليون، وبعد أن يفعل، تفتح ليون عينيها وتتحدث معه لأول مرة في حياتها لتخبره بأنها هي أيضًا شاعرة وأن قصيدتها هي صمتها.
ما أجمل الشعراء حين يكتبون للأطفال فيخبرونهم أن القصائد ممكنة، وأن الشعر ممكن جدًا.. بكلماتهم القليلة والبسيطة التي يعرفونها، ورؤيتهم وتصوراتهم وتجاربهم الخاصة، لأن الشعر في نهاية الأمر انعكاس للتجربة والحياة، وأن هناك دائمًا قصيدة في قلب "كل" واحدٍ منا حتى وإن كانت صمته وحين نطلقها للعالم تكون شفاء.
-القصيدة هي حين تكون عاشقًا وتكون السماء في فمك
-القصيدة ساخنةٌ كالخبز الطازج، حين تأكله، يبقى القليل منه دائمًا
-القصيدة هي حين تسمع دقات قلب حجر
-القصيدة هي حين تخفق الكلمات أجنحتها. هي أغنيةٌ تُغنى في قفص.
-حين ترتدي سترتك القديمة بالمقلوب، فتقول أنها أصبحت جديدة، القصيدة تقلب الكلمات رأسًا على عقب، وفجأة، يصبح العالم جديدًا
-القصيدة هي ما يصنع الشعراء حتى حين لا يدرك الشعراء أنفسهم ذلك.
غارقًا في حيرته، يقرر آرثر أن يصنع من كل تلك الاجابات قصيدةً خاصةً به، ليلقيها على سمكته المريضة ليون، وبعد أن يفعل، تفتح ليون عينيها وتتحدث معه لأول مرة في حياتها لتخبره بأنها هي أيضًا شاعرة وأن قصيدتها هي صمتها.
ما أجمل الشعراء حين يكتبون للأطفال فيخبرونهم أن القصائد ممكنة، وأن الشعر ممكن جدًا.. بكلماتهم القليلة والبسيطة التي يعرفونها، ورؤيتهم وتصوراتهم وتجاربهم الخاصة، لأن الشعر في نهاية الأمر انعكاس للتجربة والحياة، وأن هناك دائمًا قصيدة في قلب "كل" واحدٍ منا حتى وإن كانت صمته وحين نطلقها للعالم تكون شفاء.
December 21, 2024
Δε ξέρω για σας, αλλά για μένα ποίημα είναι να κυνηγάς με το ποδήλατο της ανιψιάς σου το ηλιοβασίλεμα ως στην άκρη του χωριού μήνα Αύγουστο.
Ποίημα είναι η παρέα του γκιόνη το σούρουπο, την ώρα που κατεβαίνεις ένα φαράγγι.
Ποίημα είναι η αδερφή σου, όταν σου βάζει patches στα μάτια σου που είναι κουρασμένα.
Το ποίημα, ένα αιώνιο μυστήριο σε μικρά και μεγάλα παιδιά. Παρεξηγημένο, συχνά παραμελημένο επειδή ακούγεται σαν κάτι τάχα δύσκολο και περίπλοκο.
Το βιβλίο «Να ένα ποίημα που γιατρεύει ψάρια» απαντά στο τι είναι ποίημα απλά και όμορφα.
Ο Άρθουρ για να γιατρέψει το άρρωστο ψάρι του που πάσχει από βαρεμάρα πρέπει να του πει ένα ποίημα. Ψάχνει την απάντηση γύρω του.
Για την φουρνάρισσα το ποίημα είναι ζεστό και σαν το τρως πάντα κάτι μένει. Για την γιαγιά ποίημα είναι κάτι σαν το παλιό πουλόβερ που το φοράς από την ανάποδη και γίνεται καινούριο- σαν τις λέξεις που τις αναποδογυρίζεις και φτιάχνουν άλλους κόσμους.
Ένα βιβλίο ποίημα που πείθει θαρρώ και τους «αντιποιητικούς» πως το ποίημα είναι γύρω σου. Αρκεί να κάνεις χώρο για λίγο συναίσθημα. Αρκεί να μη βιάζεσαι. Αρκεί να παρατηρείς.
Ποίημα είναι η παρέα του γκιόνη το σούρουπο, την ώρα που κατεβαίνεις ένα φαράγγι.
Ποίημα είναι η αδερφή σου, όταν σου βάζει patches στα μάτια σου που είναι κουρασμένα.
Το ποίημα, ένα αιώνιο μυστήριο σε μικρά και μεγάλα παιδιά. Παρεξηγημένο, συχνά παραμελημένο επειδή ακούγεται σαν κάτι τάχα δύσκολο και περίπλοκο.
Το βιβλίο «Να ένα ποίημα που γιατρεύει ψάρια» απαντά στο τι είναι ποίημα απλά και όμορφα.
Ο Άρθουρ για να γιατρέψει το άρρωστο ψάρι του που πάσχει από βαρεμάρα πρέπει να του πει ένα ποίημα. Ψάχνει την απάντηση γύρω του.
Για την φουρνάρισσα το ποίημα είναι ζεστό και σαν το τρως πάντα κάτι μένει. Για την γιαγιά ποίημα είναι κάτι σαν το παλιό πουλόβερ που το φοράς από την ανάποδη και γίνεται καινούριο- σαν τις λέξεις που τις αναποδογυρίζεις και φτιάχνουν άλλους κόσμους.
Ένα βιβλίο ποίημα που πείθει θαρρώ και τους «αντιποιητικούς» πως το ποίημα είναι γύρω σου. Αρκεί να κάνεις χώρο για λίγο συναίσθημα. Αρκεί να μη βιάζεσαι. Αρκεί να παρατηρείς.
April 11, 2018
Delightful, beautiful, sweet, funny, and special !
Love it so much I’m going to read it tomorrow as another way to celebrate poetry month with my crew. This would be a great gift / the best family favorite ..
**4/11/18 Update!
Did this as a read aloud today and the 3rd graders loved it! They said it was “funny, weird, different, nice..” We then all started poems “A poem is...” just like the many characters in the book. We sat at our desks and wrote while music played and when the music stopped, we rotated to someone else’s poem! They ended up creating some pretty interesting poems together (some lovely.. some surprisingly dark? And some hilarious, or course!). They had a blast looking at them together, it was tough to move on from the excitement and end the school day! Love this book even more after today.
Love it so much I’m going to read it tomorrow as another way to celebrate poetry month with my crew. This would be a great gift / the best family favorite ..
**4/11/18 Update!
Did this as a read aloud today and the 3rd graders loved it! They said it was “funny, weird, different, nice..” We then all started poems “A poem is...” just like the many characters in the book. We sat at our desks and wrote while music played and when the music stopped, we rotated to someone else’s poem! They ended up creating some pretty interesting poems together (some lovely.. some surprisingly dark? And some hilarious, or course!). They had a blast looking at them together, it was tough to move on from the excitement and end the school day! Love this book even more after today.
January 23, 2019
Το «Να ένα ποίημα που γιατρεύει τα ψάρια» δίνει με τον πιο απλό, αλλά συνάμα λυρικό τρόπο την απάντηση στο ερώτημα του πρωταγωνιστή. Ένα ερώτημα που ακούγεται πολύ συχνά, όχι μόνο από τα στόματα παιδιών, αλλά και ενηλίκων. Αυτό το λογοτεχνικό είδος, η ποίηση, είναι παρεξηγημένο, καθώς θεωρείται ένα από τα πιο δύσκολα και σίγουρα ένα από αυτά που δεν απαντώνται συχνά σε παιδικά βιβλία. Είναι όμως και το μοναδικό που μέσα από την απλότητα της φόρμας του, τις λιγοστές του λέξεις, τη μουσικοτητά τους και την τοποθέτησή τους πάνω στο χαρτί που μπορεί να ερεθίσει τον εγκέφαλο και αυτός με τη σειρά του να δημιουργήσει τις πιο θαυμαστές εικόνες, να προκαλέσει τα πιο έντονα συναισθήματα.
Περισσότερα εδώ--> http://kokkinialepou.gr/na-ena-poiima...
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September 22, 2019
Oh, how I love this book! Poetry is mysterious, enchanting, confounding, off-putting, life-saving. It's all here, in this exquisitely illustrated, beautifully written book.
I am not a poet. I have written less than 20 in my 73 years, but I have felt the magic. Poetry that is intentionally abstruse makes me crazy. Mary Oliver invited us into her world. So did William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, and so many others.
I remember a 20-year-old poet who was proud that I, in my mid-forties, had NO idea what his poems meant. I also remember William Stafford, whose poems, when he read them in a Seattle book store, crawled inside my heart.
This book crawls inside my heart, and I hope it will yours.
I am not a poet. I have written less than 20 in my 73 years, but I have felt the magic. Poetry that is intentionally abstruse makes me crazy. Mary Oliver invited us into her world. So did William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, and so many others.
I remember a 20-year-old poet who was proud that I, in my mid-forties, had NO idea what his poems meant. I also remember William Stafford, whose poems, when he read them in a Seattle book store, crawled inside my heart.
This book crawls inside my heart, and I hope it will yours.
December 23, 2017
A boy is afraid his fish is going to be bored to death, so asks his mom what he should do. She tells him to write the fish a poem. Unsure what that is, the boy then goes around to his friends and family asking them what poems are.
I really hope this is a translation as it's okay and the imagination for the illustrations is definitely there, but I lost any style or rhythm in the words, so it didn't feel like the poetry I like.
No content issues.
October 23, 2025
"A poem, Arthur, is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth."--
This book is poetic and next level beautiful, the idea of introducing poetry to kids with gorgeous, gorgoeus illustrations inside it... As an adult and poetry enjoyer i really loved it, really glad that i found this book. Wish more and more people would read this too. The book is great for soothing, calming and healing time
This book is poetic and next level beautiful, the idea of introducing poetry to kids with gorgeous, gorgoeus illustrations inside it... As an adult and poetry enjoyer i really loved it, really glad that i found this book. Wish more and more people would read this too. The book is great for soothing, calming and healing time
Read
March 21, 2017Simeon, Jean-Pierre. This is a Poem that Heals Fish. Illus. by Joy Sorman. Enchanted Lion Books, 2007. Print.
This book, with its celebration of the creation of poetry and how a poem can mean something different to every person, would be a wonderful supplement to a poetry unit in an elementary school classroom. As they journey with Arthur to ask everyone he knows what a poem is, children are encouraged to realize that poetry is found all around them and that they can incorporate any ideas that they want into a poem The book may also appeal to those students who are a bit more reluctant to give poetry a chance. Arthur is initially perplexed at the idea of a poem being something that could heal his beloved fish; just like how some students may only come to an appreciate of poetry after reading and discussing it for a while, it takes Arthur listening to the opinions of the people in his life before he comes to understand poetry's power and even its healing capabilities.
This book, with its celebration of the creation of poetry and how a poem can mean something different to every person, would be a wonderful supplement to a poetry unit in an elementary school classroom. As they journey with Arthur to ask everyone he knows what a poem is, children are encouraged to realize that poetry is found all around them and that they can incorporate any ideas that they want into a poem The book may also appeal to those students who are a bit more reluctant to give poetry a chance. Arthur is initially perplexed at the idea of a poem being something that could heal his beloved fish; just like how some students may only come to an appreciate of poetry after reading and discussing it for a while, it takes Arthur listening to the opinions of the people in his life before he comes to understand poetry's power and even its healing capabilities.
August 3, 2019
What is poetry? That is what the main character asks of those around him. He then creates a poem that incorporates all the ideas. This book would be perfect to read as students are pondering what makes a poem a poem.
December 4, 2020
This has instantly been added to my list of favorite children's books, alongside Goodnight Moon, If I Ran the Zoo, & Where the Wild Things Are. I bought it for Xmas for a young person I know, now have to get a copy for myself. I Love It!!
July 13, 2021
How do you describe poetry? I know you can talk about the rhythms and rhymes and meters and whatnot. This a fun, imaginative introduction to what I will call the heart of poetry. The illustrations are bright and add to the interest and fun.
July 31, 2017
Great book for a poetry unit or for use with word choice lessons.
August 11, 2017
I'd love to see what a class of students could pull from this book. For me, "a little is always left over."
September 8, 2017
Absolutely gorgeous and a truly lovely piece. Perfect for anyone.
Unique feature: Minimalist art style.
Genre: Poetry (Real genre: Oh hey, poetry)
Unique feature: Minimalist art style.
Genre: Poetry (Real genre: Oh hey, poetry)
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