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Neighborhood Odes
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Twenty-one poems about growing up in a Hispanic neighborhood, highlighting the delights in everyday items, such as sprinklers, the park, the library and pomegranates.
80 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1992
8 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Gary Soto
138 books247 followersGary Soto is the author of eleven poetry collections for adults, most notably New and Selected Poems, a 1995 finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Award. His poems have appeared in many literary magazines, including Ploughshares, Michigan Quarterly, Poetry International, and Poetry, which has honored him with the Bess Hokin Prize and the Levinson Award and by featuring him in the interview series Poets in Person. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. For ITVS, he produced the film “The Pool Party,” which received the 1993 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Film Excellence. In 1997, because of his advocacy for reading, he was featured as NBC’s Person-of-the-Week. In 1999, he received the Literature Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Author-Illustrator Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association, and the PEN Center West Book Award for Petty Crimes. He divides his time between Berkeley, California and his hometown of Fresno.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 13, 2021
Gary Soto is an exceptional poet: he is deep without condescension - honest in the way a favorite uncle is when he 'tells tales' of the good old days. This collection of free verse looks at a neighborhood through the eyes of children - yet it takes the form of odes - a deeply original concept. Found much here that brought back memories I had forgotten. Highest recommendation.
February 9, 2008
This book contains a collection of poems that depict life in a Hispanic neighborhood. There are Spanish words throughout the books, with an index in the back to translate.
Even though some of the poems may seem silly ['Ode to Pork Rinds'] they are truly heartwarming and give the reader a great sampling of the neighborhood.
Even though some of the poems may seem silly ['Ode to Pork Rinds'] they are truly heartwarming and give the reader a great sampling of the neighborhood.
March 23, 2015
Gary Soto's Neighborhood Odes offers a glimpse into life in a Mexican-American community. His odes breathe life into the seemingly mundane and illustrate how anything can be fodder for poetry. The poems are written primarily in English, with a few Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout. An index in the back allows readers to follow along. While some of the odes sound silly on the surface (particularly the odes to tennis shoes, pork rinds, and snow cones), they each focus on an specific element of a Mexican-American community to describe universal emotions. I loved reading Soto's musings about his neighborhood and childhood, because it prompted me to reflect on the elements of my neighborhood that make home home. My favorites were Ode to Weddings and Ode to La Tortilla.
Teacher could use Neighborhood Odes to highlight the fact that poetry does not have to be serious, stuffy, and rhyming; it can be about anything and written in any form. Teacher should be mindful that the style and flow of Soto's odes may initially pose some challenges to students. Though Neighborhood Odes describes life in a Mexican-American community, the emotions invoked in the poems are ones that every students can relate to. This book could be used to prompt students to reflect upon the various facets of their community and to craft poems based upon these. I would recommend this book for use in a 3-5 grade classroom.
Teacher could use Neighborhood Odes to highlight the fact that poetry does not have to be serious, stuffy, and rhyming; it can be about anything and written in any form. Teacher should be mindful that the style and flow of Soto's odes may initially pose some challenges to students. Though Neighborhood Odes describes life in a Mexican-American community, the emotions invoked in the poems are ones that every students can relate to. This book could be used to prompt students to reflect upon the various facets of their community and to craft poems based upon these. I would recommend this book for use in a 3-5 grade classroom.
April 22, 2019
In the book, Soto writes poems about growing up in a poor, Hispanic neighborhood as a child. He explains how he enjoyed small things like playing in sprinklers and going to birthday parties. The book helps spark memories in the mind of the reader of their own childhood. Some of the things Soto writes about are often overlooked in everyday life when truly they are the basis of our childhoods.
The author uses imagery to promote vivid, detailed memories. Imagery helps him to create a setting for each poem/story. He often uses rhythm to make the poem more interesting to read. He uses repetition to implant an idea in the reader's head.
I enjoyed this book, because I was able to relate to some of the poems. I understood how happy some of the simple things he writes about make children. I liked the way that the author uses his poems to paint a picture and set the scene. He helps the reader to gain understanding of his childhood creatively through poetry.
The author uses imagery to promote vivid, detailed memories. Imagery helps him to create a setting for each poem/story. He often uses rhythm to make the poem more interesting to read. He uses repetition to implant an idea in the reader's head.
I enjoyed this book, because I was able to relate to some of the poems. I understood how happy some of the simple things he writes about make children. I liked the way that the author uses his poems to paint a picture and set the scene. He helps the reader to gain understanding of his childhood creatively through poetry.
December 20, 2016
Neighborhood Odes by Gary Soto is a book of poems that gives a glimpse into the life of a Mexican - American community. One thing I really enjoyed about this book is Soto's amazing description in his poems, it feels like you are right there in the poem. From tortillas, to tennis shoes, there are various topics that are found in these poems. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the works of Gary Soto and is interested in seeing a glimpse of a Mexican -American community.
December 4, 2017
Genre: Poetry
Grade: 4-6
I am a fan of this poetry book! I really like that the poems were about the author's neighboorhood growing up. He uses lots of detail to describes the important things to him. I thought that the poems were personal and well written by Soto. The black and white illustrations were a nice addition to the book.
Grade: 4-6
I am a fan of this poetry book! I really like that the poems were about the author's neighboorhood growing up. He uses lots of detail to describes the important things to him. I thought that the poems were personal and well written by Soto. The black and white illustrations were a nice addition to the book.
March 30, 2019
Accidental sagacity strikes again at the used bookstore. Should I tell them that I got a steal with only paying 5 cents for this collection?
With a poem called Ode to Chicharrones how could anyone pass this up?
Accessible poems for all ages -- you will be transported into a Mexican American neighborhood!
With a poem called Ode to Chicharrones how could anyone pass this up?
Accessible poems for all ages -- you will be transported into a Mexican American neighborhood!
October 27, 2021
I really enjoyed these poems, just a great sense of feeling nostalgic about my own childhood.
October 2, 2007
What a wonderful book. It’s listed as children’s literature, but it’s really touching and beautiful and good for all ages.
The poems are about moments in a child’s life. The setting may be different from where I grew up, but the childlike perspective is delightfully familiar. It’s respectful of kids, I think. The illustrations are terrific, too.
I picked this as one of the 5 poetry books I said I’d read in 2005. Got up on a Sunday morning, made myself a pot of tea, built a fire in the fireplace, turned my wingback chair toward it and read. I am still feeling the positive after-effects of spending a chunk of my morning with Gary Soto.
I’m looking forward to reading some of his other work now.
The poems are about moments in a child’s life. The setting may be different from where I grew up, but the childlike perspective is delightfully familiar. It’s respectful of kids, I think. The illustrations are terrific, too.
I picked this as one of the 5 poetry books I said I’d read in 2005. Got up on a Sunday morning, made myself a pot of tea, built a fire in the fireplace, turned my wingback chair toward it and read. I am still feeling the positive after-effects of spending a chunk of my morning with Gary Soto.
I’m looking forward to reading some of his other work now.
February 16, 2011
Published: 2005, Sandpiper
Age: 9-12
Gary Soto writes 21 poems that are from his life in a Hispanic neighborhood. He takes you to the simple places from his past and you can picture the images as if you were right there. He write odes to things like weddings, pets, tortillas, a library, parks, music, tennis shoes, and grandparents from a Spanish point of view, but anyone could relate to the universal feelings of excitement, love, happiness, and adventure. The black and white woodcut prints by David Diaz compliment the text. It could be read to students to show that you can make poetry out of simple everyday experiences. There were some Spanish words and phrases that were not translated in the poetry and you had to go to the glossary in the back to get the translation.
Age: 9-12
Gary Soto writes 21 poems that are from his life in a Hispanic neighborhood. He takes you to the simple places from his past and you can picture the images as if you were right there. He write odes to things like weddings, pets, tortillas, a library, parks, music, tennis shoes, and grandparents from a Spanish point of view, but anyone could relate to the universal feelings of excitement, love, happiness, and adventure. The black and white woodcut prints by David Diaz compliment the text. It could be read to students to show that you can make poetry out of simple everyday experiences. There were some Spanish words and phrases that were not translated in the poetry and you had to go to the glossary in the back to get the translation.
September 30, 2015
Neighborhood Odes by Gary Soto, illustrated by David Diaz – Poetry – This felt like a novel in verse following life in a Mexican-American neighborhood that’s full of joy, love, simple views of life and more. Just a wonderful book. I took my time reading this one because I wanted to treasure every word. From “Ode to my Library”:
It’s small
With two rooms
Of books, a globe,
That I once
Dropped, some maps
Of the United States and Mexico,
And a fish tank with
A blue fish that
Is always making jeta,
There are tables and chairs,
And a pencil sharpener
On the wall: a crayon is stuck
In it, but I didn’t do it….
It’s small
With two rooms
Of books, a globe,
That I once
Dropped, some maps
Of the United States and Mexico,
And a fish tank with
A blue fish that
Is always making jeta,
There are tables and chairs,
And a pencil sharpener
On the wall: a crayon is stuck
In it, but I didn’t do it….
December 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this collection. Soto wrote exclusively through odes that explore adolescence in a Mexican American community. The imagery in this piece really shines and Soto brought me back to some of those sensory details that stick out in your childhood (like ‘the color of / a face in the porchlight, mentioned in ‘Ode to La Llorona’). Some of my favorites in the book included ‘Ode to Los Raspados,’ ‘Ode to La Tortilla,’ ‘Ode to La Llorona,’ ‘Ode to Mi Parque,’ ‘Ode to Weight Lifting,’ and ‘Ode to Pomegranates.’ This is a good read as an adult, but a great resource for a classroom!
September 4, 2011
This book takes me to my childhood. The neighborhood events, people and culture is similar to my childhood experiences. It's hard for me to write poetry even as a beginner. I want to read different kinds of poetry to get creative and write my own. This book is great for elementary-intermediate students to familiriaze with poetry and to start writing their own. As a teacher I would use this book for poetry lessons.
December 4, 2017
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 6-8
Anyone can relate to this book if they've grown up in a neighborhood or had a childhood. This book talks about Mexican American neighborhood experiences, but it has odes about common childhood experiences, such as ice cream. So I could feel a part of the odes too. A neat aspect of this book is that it includes spanish words, and if you don't happen to know what it means, there is a glossary in the back.
Grades: 6-8
Anyone can relate to this book if they've grown up in a neighborhood or had a childhood. This book talks about Mexican American neighborhood experiences, but it has odes about common childhood experiences, such as ice cream. So I could feel a part of the odes too. A neat aspect of this book is that it includes spanish words, and if you don't happen to know what it means, there is a glossary in the back.
November 2, 2011
In NEIGHBORHOOD ODES by Gary Soto, the style of the poems is what stands out. Gary Soto writes about his childhood memories of growing up in a Mexican-American neighborhood. While the poems are written in English, he sparingly adds Spanish words in order to relate the Mexican-American experience. This vocabulary he use gives his poems a unique style.
February 17, 2014
I am on a journey to find ya poems about coming of age and childhood innocence. Neighborhood Odes hit the spot for childhood innocence.
I grew in Santa Fe, and these poems remind me fondly of the good times.
My favorites are Ode to La Tortilla, Ode to Mi Perrito, Ode to Los Chicharrones, and Ode to Family Photographs.
I grew in Santa Fe, and these poems remind me fondly of the good times.
My favorites are Ode to La Tortilla, Ode to Mi Perrito, Ode to Los Chicharrones, and Ode to Family Photographs.
March 15, 2021
I normally don’t like poetry, but this book was amazing! The culture in it is so rich and fun to read along. Being able to see through the lens of a different culture was so cool and I believe lots of children would agree, but also grow from this book as well.
ATOS: 4.9
DRA: 40
6 Traits: sentence fluency
ATOS: 4.9
DRA: 40
6 Traits: sentence fluency
July 10, 2011
Based on the little that I've read by Gary Soto, his imagery seems at once gentle and vivid. These childhood snapshots of life in California's Central Valley are further proof. There are a lot of food mentions (snow cones, pork rinds, tortillas, chopped veggies), so don't read this while hungry.
February 8, 2009
Deceptively simple, but lyrical, profound, and highly enjoyable - who says poetry has to be obtuse and complicated?
February 24, 2013
Odes to anything you are familiar with. Maybe you will look your favorites shoes in a different way now ;)
June 20, 2013
Poems depicting a childhood in a Mexican-American neighborhood. David Diaz's black and white illustrations (possibly wood prints)capture the spirit of the poems and deliver a flavor of the life.
March 14, 2014
I loved the memories of Soto's boyhood in California through poetry.
December 1, 2014
I learned about this slim volume from a Carol Jago tweet. A few of the odes really stood out, but it was a great collection overall.
February 22, 2018
All elar teachers need this! Gary Soto is the best!
Read
August 22, 2019Lots of poems, for people who enjoy poetry.
November 7, 2017
A young girl named Rachel talks about the daily life in her neighborhood as the reader gets to see what happens in her neighborhood through Rachel's perspective. The book is written in almost poem like writing and covers many different aspects of her neighborhood like the sprinkler, and shoes she sees. For a children picture book, it is a tad on the long side so it wouldn't be a great read aloud to do if you wanted to finish a whole book but if you split it up it could be done. The book is made up of more text than there are illustrations as not every page has an illustration. As for the illustrations themselves, I personally don't really care for them. Diaz's other books seem to contain a lot of color, pattern, design and texture. Whereas his illustrations in this book are all black and white and fall flat as far as texture and dimension go. This is not to say that they are not nice to look at, they are just very different from his typical works.
September 21, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this poetry collection by Soto that is truly a dedication / odes to various places, people, and things you'd find around the neighborhood whether it be the cat or the library, fireworks or tortillas.
It was an easy cadence or message to send for each of them that can inspire others to write their own odes.
It was an easy cadence or message to send for each of them that can inspire others to write their own odes.
April 16, 2019
Genre: poetry
Grades: 3-5
Neighborhood Odes is a pretty good poetry book. It was not one of my most favorites, but overall it could still be used to introduce poetry and Rhythm. You can have children make up their own poem after reading this book.
Grades: 3-5
Neighborhood Odes is a pretty good poetry book. It was not one of my most favorites, but overall it could still be used to introduce poetry and Rhythm. You can have children make up their own poem after reading this book.
March 22, 2022
I loved how easy these poems were to read, even though some of them I didn't fully understand. Wonderful little story-like poems about nostalgia towards childhood!
-SL
-SL
December 8, 2022
Love this book! My only complaint is that it is too short. The poems are nostalgic and capture that fleeting time of youth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews