What do you think?
Rate this book
Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems
TRY THIS AT HOME. Poems to inspire young readers. From Eileen Spinelli's many goodbyes to summer at the shore, to Avis Harley's catalog of ways to say hello across the globe, to a close look at the birds and animals outside Valiska Gregory's window in winter…Georgia Heard has collected list poems from contemporary poets. Each list is gathered with a poet's eye – carefully selected details beautifully presented – so that readers see the extraordinary in the ordinary. And so readers are encouraged to be writers. The simplicity of each poem and Georgia Heard's introduction will inspire young poets to write their own.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2008
2 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Heard
42 books37 followersGeorgia Heard is the NCTE 2023 Excellence in Poetry for Children Award Winner which honors an American poet for their aggregate work for children. She is the author of many children’s books including her most recent Welcome to the Wonder House, (co-authored with Rebecca Kai Dotlich), My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness, and Boom! Bellow! Bleat!: Animal Poems for Two Or More Voices.
She received her M.F.A. in poetry writing from Columbia University. She is a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project in New York City. Currently, she visits schools in the United States and around the world teaching writing and poetry. She is the author of Heart Maps: Helping Students Create and Craft Authentic Writing and a new edition of Awakening the Heart.
-from georgiaheard.com
She received her M.F.A. in poetry writing from Columbia University. She is a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project in New York City. Currently, she visits schools in the United States and around the world teaching writing and poetry. She is the author of Heart Maps: Helping Students Create and Craft Authentic Writing and a new edition of Awakening the Heart.
-from georgiaheard.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 27, 2021
What a delightful way to take ordinary, everyday lists and poetically offer them to readers! But, that's just my opinion. Now... for the REAL test - how would children take to these poems?
After reading this book to two separate Grade 2 classes, here are the findings:
1. they would give this book 5 (or infinity!) stars;
2. they liked how you could write rhyming poems from any list you have;
3. they liked the physical layout of the book; as well as some of the poems; and,
4. they liked that although some poems were funny, they also made sense!
Our personal favorites were: "In My Desk", "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil", "Booktime", "Shooting Star" and "Things to Do Today".
And there you have it - 5 stars all around! Now, maybe I will give this a try with my grocery list!?!
After reading this book to two separate Grade 2 classes, here are the findings:
1. they would give this book 5 (or infinity!) stars;
2. they liked how you could write rhyming poems from any list you have;
3. they liked the physical layout of the book; as well as some of the poems; and,
4. they liked that although some poems were funny, they also made sense!
Our personal favorites were: "In My Desk", "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil", "Booktime", "Shooting Star" and "Things to Do Today".
And there you have it - 5 stars all around! Now, maybe I will give this a try with my grocery list!?!
March 2, 2018
My poor kids. They go to school all day, and when they get home, their mother steps out from the shadows like crouching tiger, hidden dragon with the latest book of poetry in her hands. My children are probably the only kids who can claim that their mother has recited O Captain! My Captain! aloud to them, during their baths, in just the last two months.
This week's poetry discovery was Falling Down the Page, which is a book of list poems, probably best for the 8-12 year old crowd. My daughters really enjoyed it. In case you aren't familiar, a list poem is a poem that is written vertically and looks like. . . well, a list.
List poems can be as mundane as finding a way to make your grocery list clever, and as complex as any other intricate poem. The editor of this collection, Georgia Heard, cites Walt Whitman's Song of Myself as one of the more elaborate and famous list poems out there, but the ones she's included in her compilation are more simple and upbeat and well-suited for children.
And, because I am who I am, naturally I gave my two younger children the task of writing their own list poem, after listening to this collection. My 7-year-old immediately feigned a stomachache and headed upstairs, but my almost 10-year-old took on the assignment with surprising gusto. She is a big animal lover, so she has begun a list poem of endangered animals, to bring attention to the problem. She says it will be an epic poem, so it's no where near ready for an audience yet.
This daughter demanded that if she had to write one, then I had to write one, so we sat side by side, writing our poems. Within minutes, I was sniffing back tears, and my daughter looked up at me, appalled. She put her hands on her hips and said, “Mommy, list poems are funny, not sad!”
I disagree. A list poem is a list, but no one assigned an emotion to it. I've got a broken arm and I miss my dad, so my list poem came out like this:
To My Father: 10 Things I Miss About You
Your baritone voice
(you sounded a lot like Johnny Cash).
The way you coughed and became teary eyed
every time you laughed.
The affectionate adjectives
you always added to my name.
The profanities you shouted
at every football game.
Your cheeks, cold to the touch,
every time you stepped out of a car.
The small gifts you stashed in your pockets
for us, when you traveled far.
The attention you paid
to every passing baby, dog or bird.
The way you listened to my stories,
like you adored my every word.
The coziness of you, tucked in to a chair or couch,
so accessible, so very near.
Your uncanny ability
to make the bad guys and the bad thoughts disappear.
This week's poetry discovery was Falling Down the Page, which is a book of list poems, probably best for the 8-12 year old crowd. My daughters really enjoyed it. In case you aren't familiar, a list poem is a poem that is written vertically and looks like. . . well, a list.
List poems can be as mundane as finding a way to make your grocery list clever, and as complex as any other intricate poem. The editor of this collection, Georgia Heard, cites Walt Whitman's Song of Myself as one of the more elaborate and famous list poems out there, but the ones she's included in her compilation are more simple and upbeat and well-suited for children.
And, because I am who I am, naturally I gave my two younger children the task of writing their own list poem, after listening to this collection. My 7-year-old immediately feigned a stomachache and headed upstairs, but my almost 10-year-old took on the assignment with surprising gusto. She is a big animal lover, so she has begun a list poem of endangered animals, to bring attention to the problem. She says it will be an epic poem, so it's no where near ready for an audience yet.
This daughter demanded that if she had to write one, then I had to write one, so we sat side by side, writing our poems. Within minutes, I was sniffing back tears, and my daughter looked up at me, appalled. She put her hands on her hips and said, “Mommy, list poems are funny, not sad!”
I disagree. A list poem is a list, but no one assigned an emotion to it. I've got a broken arm and I miss my dad, so my list poem came out like this:
To My Father: 10 Things I Miss About You
Your baritone voice
(you sounded a lot like Johnny Cash).
The way you coughed and became teary eyed
every time you laughed.
The affectionate adjectives
you always added to my name.
The profanities you shouted
at every football game.
Your cheeks, cold to the touch,
every time you stepped out of a car.
The small gifts you stashed in your pockets
for us, when you traveled far.
The attention you paid
to every passing baby, dog or bird.
The way you listened to my stories,
like you adored my every word.
The coziness of you, tucked in to a chair or couch,
so accessible, so very near.
Your uncanny ability
to make the bad guys and the bad thoughts disappear.
September 13, 2011
If you didn't know what a list poem is before you read this book, you would definitely know by the end. This clever book, which opens the long way, so that the poems go down the page like a list, is filled with many examples of this form of poetry. I discovered that many poems I've read in the past were actually list poems, and I never realized it. My favorites in this book were "Ways to Greet a Friend" by Avis Harley, "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil" by Elaine Magliaro, "Test Day" by Kathi Appelt, "Things to Do When You Are the Sun" by Bobbi Katz, "Shooting Star" by Avis Harley--well, there wasn't really a poem I didn't like! In fact, when I finished reading the book, I was itching to grab a pencil and write a list poem myself. This is a great book to inspire young poets, and a fun read.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
October 27, 2010
Not sure why the tall skinny format was chosen (it's going to get "lost" on the library shelves ... pushed back behind other titles until we notice it and fix it) ... but I do like the list poems.
One by Elaine Magliaro especially. It's called "Things to Do if You Are a Pencil."
One by Elaine Magliaro especially. It's called "Things to Do if You Are a Pencil."
March 22, 2024
Are you searching for a way to make diverse poetry come alive for your students? Falling Down The Page, edited by the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children winner Georgia Heard, is a collection of poems, an anthology. Ranging from the activities of a pencil to a shooting star, this book contains many poems young readers can understand and relate to encouraging them to use their imagination and think outside the box. These poems are perfect for a read-aloud at the start of a lesson, where students could then articulate an oral response to a partner on their reaction to the text. My favorite spread included the poems “In My Hand” and “Show-And-Tell-Rocks” about collecting different rocks and physically holding objects in your hand which would be perfect for student interaction! Another spread I enjoyed contained poems titled “Recipe for Writing an Autumn Poem” and “Why Poetry,” prompting readers to slow down and reflect on their life and the world around them, a beneficial practice for even young children! With so many different poems, your students are sure to love the vertical and horizontal mixed landscape and find a poem just right for them! I loved reading this book!
October 31, 2024
Looking for a book that has won the NCTE award? Check out “Falling Down the Page” by Georgia Heard. I like the layout of pages 22-23 because of the way she wrote words in the shape of a pencil. The layout of page 27 is also cool because the poem is written diagonally across the page. This book is an example of a post-modern picture book with a unique style. What makes this book a post-modern picture book is its informal arrangement, the author speaks to the reader, and the text/illustrations are placed in unique ways. This book is not held like a typical book, instead, you flip the pages from top to bottom instead of side to side. This book features a variety of poetry and themes. It explores many different childhood experiences that children can relate to. These poems encourage children to reflect on their own experiences and emotions. Reading these poems allows the readers to see the world from a new perspective. This is definitely a cool read I would recommend!
October 31, 2024
Falling down the page and falling in love with children’s poetry books! This post-modern picture book uses a unique structure and spread to share a variety of poems from different authors. NCTE 2023 Excellence in Poetry for Children Award Winner Georgia Heard contributed to and edited this collection, helping to engage and inspire young readers and authors. Help your students to fall in love with poetry and writing by using this as a read aloud!
November 1, 2024
I didn't exactly love this poetry book because the content wasn't my style. The theme of the entire revolved around school, and while a few of the poems in the collection I really enjoyed, most of them didn't intrigue me or make me think deeply.
The format of the book itself is very post modern, as the shape/way it opens is different, all of the word placement is strange and unexpected, and the few illustrations included are placed unusually.
The dust jacket on this book is identical to the case cover. The backflap gives a very simple biography about Georgia Heard, because she included her poem, but mainly because she edited the book. The other authors aren't mentioned on the backflap.
The format of the book itself is very post modern, as the shape/way it opens is different, all of the word placement is strange and unexpected, and the few illustrations included are placed unusually.
The dust jacket on this book is identical to the case cover. The backflap gives a very simple biography about Georgia Heard, because she included her poem, but mainly because she edited the book. The other authors aren't mentioned on the backflap.
October 29, 2022
In this unique work of poetry, the pages are filled with different poets writing about day-to-day things that go on at school. Interestingly, this book is not traditional like a modern picture book. The book has to be turned vertically to be able to read the wonderful poetry that lives inside. In a modern picture book we typically read the pages from the left side of the book to the right, but not in this one! However, I do wish there was more illustrations present throughout this unique book just because I feel like visuals bring a new element especially to a poem. Each poem is different from the last which keeps a reader excited to flip the page to see what comes next. In every poem, there is a different rhyme scheme and pattern that displays such a creative way to talk about ordinary things we see every day at school. I would definitely use this book to read a poem each day to my students.
August 16, 2021
12/31 #TheSealeyChallenge
Well, of course I've already read this...many times. How did it not get added to Goodreads until now? Oh, well. Error corrected.
Well, of course I've already read this...many times. How did it not get added to Goodreads until now? Oh, well. Error corrected.
March 22, 2024
Falling Down the Page" is a poetry book that has been recognized and respected for its NCTE award, showing its literary excellence. The style and genre of this poetry book is skillful and sets it apart from others, allowing readers to have a memorable experience. The layout of pages 22 and 23 provide evidence of the author's understanding of the language. The power of the words is inviting the readers to involve themselves. This powerful storytelling is amazing and when read aloud, the poetry comes more to life on these few pages. This book is a demonstration of the author's skillful artistic work and the ability to create a beautiful literary work. I like how the title of the book goes along with how the layout of the book is. I like how when you read the book it looks like the words are falling down the pages.
Read
November 28, 2012I recently read a book called Falling Down the Page, by: Georgia Heard. I liked this book because I was looking for a good, short and sweet poetry book. Within every page is a short cute poem. If you would like to read a poetry book that catches your interest, I recommend this one! My favorite poem in the book would probably be page 24, "Recipe for Writing an Autumn Poem" it's so creative to think like that, because it's kind of like a metaphor, creating an Autumn poem with "ingredients." I thought it was cool and fun to read. I defiantly would not have thought of something like that, she (Georgia) even did amounts, for example; 1 tablespoon of red kite. I enjoyed this book and if you read it too, you won't regret it.
November 4, 2012
These list poems are a lot of fun! Some of the poems combine types and go beyond just a list poem. My favorites for Read alouds are the ones about greetings in other languages and places to read a book. I have assigned students to write their own list poems about English, and I am excited to read what my students wrote. I think list poems are a good place to start with poetry because they are first and foremost lists.
June 25, 2011
This delightful collection of list poems from notable poets like Naomi Shihab Nye, Lee Bennett Hopkins, and Sara Holbrook celebrates list poems. A wonderful text to share with children and use as a mentor text for writing list poems of our own.
May 4, 2021
Falling Down the Page is a book that consist of an array of 45 compelling poems that are beautifully presented. This book is written by several contemporary poets organized like a journal or a diary that would be appealing to an audience between 8 and 12 years old, that give the reader an image of their school year. For example, the book begins with “Good-Byes” to depict that the end of summer vacation is here, along with capturing other school experiences throughout the book. This book of list poems, is short and compact on narrow pages with varied objectives, to arouse your imagination. This book of poems also features repetition of rhymes, of similar sound in words, line, and stanza that’s repeated with consistent structure. In addition, this book of list poem demonstrates metaphors, similes, visual imagery and modern creativity. Some of the poetry displayed are funny, playful and easy for children to understand of everyday life events. I enjoyed this book of poems; the design of the cover was attractive and I give it a 5/5.
March 21, 2024
In search of a unique children’s poetry book? Falling Down the Page, an anthology, edited by Georgia Heard is the perfect one for your children! This book is not your ordinary picture book by any means. Each spread is either horizontal or vertical and the book is oriented to open from the bottom, not the side. My two personal favorite spreads include “Ways to Greet a Friend” and “Tree Song.” The overall theme of the poetry collected for Heard’s book includes simple, everyday items and lists twisted into fun and unique poems. I highly recommend using this poetry book as a quick read aloud in your classroom and inspire students’ creativity!
September 19, 2017
A collection of list poems that more or less have to do with daily life for school children. Some poems are really straightforward ("Show-and-tell Rocks") others quite outside the box ("Things to Do if You Are a Pencil"). Not every one is a poetic masterpiece, but overall it's a fun collection that I believe would really spark kids' creativity. It certainly made me want to pick up a pen and try out some list poems of my own.
November 5, 2024
Falling Down the page by the author Georgia Heard is recognized as an NCTE award winner. This book is such a fun read as it is not a modern picture book. The illustrations are falling down the page which makes it so much fun to read a different style of book. Georgia Heard's poetry comes to life in this book! This would be a great read aloud in your classroom as children will be shocked how the book is read and written by falling down the page!!
September 4, 2019
Simple poetry in a simple form but with such depth - this is a good read for my junior high students who reluctantly read poetry.
September 23, 2020
A fun collection of poems for elementary-aged children. Great for beginning readers
February 8, 2021
Very unique format for a book. But it was wonderful! Poems in list form.
July 5, 2021
What is earth, whale?
A sea where I sing.
(Thank you, J.Patrick Lewis for this surprise.)
Also: Bobbi Katz for "Things To Do If You Are The Sun."
A sea where I sing.
(Thank you, J.Patrick Lewis for this surprise.)
Also: Bobbi Katz for "Things To Do If You Are The Sun."
October 9, 2018
I found this book through my Twitter account. It was promoted by fellow teachers who encourage the study of poetry. Because poetry is one genre that needs more time in my own classroom, I decided to read it. An added bonus for me was the fact that it was a book of “list” poems and I am definitely a “List-Maker!”
This short book is filled with a variety of list poems. Some I found very endearing and inspiring. Others fell a little flat. However, I can see the value of using these in my classroom as examples for my students. I would have liked to have had more upper-level poetry or perhaps more mature topics (for high school students). Overall, though, I enjoyed reading these poems.
This short book is filled with a variety of list poems. Some I found very endearing and inspiring. Others fell a little flat. However, I can see the value of using these in my classroom as examples for my students. I would have liked to have had more upper-level poetry or perhaps more mature topics (for high school students). Overall, though, I enjoyed reading these poems.
May 17, 2018
Copyright - Georgia Heard
Number of Pages - 48
Book Format - Print
Reading Level- Ages 8 and up
Genre - Fiction
Lit Requirement - Themes Poetry Anthologies
Summary: A poem of everyday activities turned into fun.
Response: This collection of poems is a bunch of fun. From the design and page layout to the original poems inside, this book is very creative. The poems inside cover topics that can be part of an everyday life adventure so there’s to be at least one poem every child can relate to!
Number of Pages - 48
Book Format - Print
Reading Level- Ages 8 and up
Genre - Fiction
Lit Requirement - Themes Poetry Anthologies
Summary: A poem of everyday activities turned into fun.
Response: This collection of poems is a bunch of fun. From the design and page layout to the original poems inside, this book is very creative. The poems inside cover topics that can be part of an everyday life adventure so there’s to be at least one poem every child can relate to!
Read
March 19, 2017Wonderfull!!!!!
March 13, 2010
Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems is appropriate for children ages 9-12 and it will most certainly be enjoyed by adults as well, particularly teachers. This title appears on the Book Links 2009 “Lasting Connections” Titles list for Language Arts.
Because this is a book of list poems, the layout of the book is perfect. It is a long slender, vertical book that is bound at the top edge. However, a few of the poems are placed horizontally, which requires the reader to orient accordingly. But that just adds to the experience. Each of the poems, written by various authors, is a list revolving around the theme everyday experiences at school. There are no illustrations, but none are needed—the titles are placed in a creative manner, often reflecting the main idea of the poem. Predominately rhyming in an ABAB pattern, the rhythm of the poems propels the reader through the text, and frequently, the last line of the poem is the most rewarding. My personal favorites were: “Ways to Greet a Friend”, “On the Menu for School Today”, “Clay Play”, “Creativity”, “Things to Do if You are a Pencil”, “Book Time”, “Lost and Finds”, “What is Earth?”, “Spinners”, “Tree Song”, “Chorus of Four Frogs”(which would be great for teaching onomatopoeia), “Under my Bed”, “Shooting Star” and “Things to Do Today”.
This anthology would be a wonderful introduction to poetry and having students write their very own list poems. It certainly opens up the world of word play. I would definitely buy this book for use in the classroom. :)
Because this is a book of list poems, the layout of the book is perfect. It is a long slender, vertical book that is bound at the top edge. However, a few of the poems are placed horizontally, which requires the reader to orient accordingly. But that just adds to the experience. Each of the poems, written by various authors, is a list revolving around the theme everyday experiences at school. There are no illustrations, but none are needed—the titles are placed in a creative manner, often reflecting the main idea of the poem. Predominately rhyming in an ABAB pattern, the rhythm of the poems propels the reader through the text, and frequently, the last line of the poem is the most rewarding. My personal favorites were: “Ways to Greet a Friend”, “On the Menu for School Today”, “Clay Play”, “Creativity”, “Things to Do if You are a Pencil”, “Book Time”, “Lost and Finds”, “What is Earth?”, “Spinners”, “Tree Song”, “Chorus of Four Frogs”(which would be great for teaching onomatopoeia), “Under my Bed”, “Shooting Star” and “Things to Do Today”.
This anthology would be a wonderful introduction to poetry and having students write their very own list poems. It certainly opens up the world of word play. I would definitely buy this book for use in the classroom. :)
July 21, 2021
This book deserves at least six stars on a five star scale. It is absolutely marvelous. I was blessed enough to see Georgia Heard in person at the Missouri Association of Reading Recovery Educators Conference last November. Going in to the session, I was very excited because I love poetry and have long had a poetry focus in my classroom. I thought, "Oh, yeah. I rock the poetry in my classroom." When I left her session, I knew that there was SO MUCH more I could do, and I could hardly wait to get started.
Lesson Connections
One of the first things I added to my classroom was a daily poem. Each morning at the beginning of morning meeting, I read a poem aloud to the class. I began with this excellent book, but we proceeded quickly through several poetry books during the rest of the year. A poem is a powerful way to start your day, let me tell you.
Lesson Connections
One of the first things I added to my classroom was a daily poem. Each morning at the beginning of morning meeting, I read a poem aloud to the class. I began with this excellent book, but we proceeded quickly through several poetry books during the rest of the year. A poem is a powerful way to start your day, let me tell you.
March 20, 2010
Book Links 2009 "Lasting Connections" Title Language Arts
Interest Level: 3rd-6th grade
The selection of poems in this book revolve around what happens during a school year, from the first hellos to goodbyes at the end of the year. The poems are not only about school but the school year as a whole.
This book is like an actual list. It opens vertically which makes it feel like you are reading off a list. The majority of the poems are written this way, but some of them are written horizontally which requires the reader to turn the book.
I think this is a good book to use in the classroom when discussing poetry. It also can be used to encourage students to write poems about what happens during their school year.
Interest Level: 3rd-6th grade
The selection of poems in this book revolve around what happens during a school year, from the first hellos to goodbyes at the end of the year. The poems are not only about school but the school year as a whole.
This book is like an actual list. It opens vertically which makes it feel like you are reading off a list. The majority of the poems are written this way, but some of them are written horizontally which requires the reader to turn the book.
I think this is a good book to use in the classroom when discussing poetry. It also can be used to encourage students to write poems about what happens during their school year.
November 4, 2012
I'll use this book as resource in my high school creative writing class. The intended audience is definitely elementary school students, as many of these poems are cutesy, rhyme-y, and Hallmark-y. Still, I have plenty of students who only seem to like poems that rhyme. Writing a list poem at the start our poetry unit would be a good way to get my students to use concrete images. We could even imitate the rhythm that's in many of these poems. Some of these poems reminded of those Discover "5% cash back" commercials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9FvSy...
Favorite Poems:
Creativity
Words in my Pillow
Test Day
Under my Bed
P.S. The length of most of these poems did not necessitate the weird vertical format of this book--the spine is at the top instead of the side. Weird!
Favorite Poems:
Creativity
Words in my Pillow
Test Day
Under my Bed
P.S. The length of most of these poems did not necessitate the weird vertical format of this book--the spine is at the top instead of the side. Weird!
July 20, 2015
This book of list style poems is edited by Georgia Heard. The poems cover many themes. They are presented in horizontal and vertical layouts. There are recipe poems, poems written with couplets, and stanzas, poems for emphasizing strong nouns, verbs, and adjectives. The illustration is sparse, indeed this book is more about style and structure of poetry. It does show examples of how you could make your title look interesting...curve it, shape it, etc. How about writing a poem to be read from bottom to top?
Practice reading "Chorus of Four Frogs" with four groups of students. Show different font styles and clever presentation of titles. This is a fun, quick-read poetry book that fits anywhere!
Practice reading "Chorus of Four Frogs" with four groups of students. Show different font styles and clever presentation of titles. This is a fun, quick-read poetry book that fits anywhere!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews