I Am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices

by Paul Fleischman, Ken Nutt (Illustrations)

At first light the finches
are flitting about the trees Flittering
fluttering
flit
purple finches
flit
Fluttering
flittering
fly
painted finches
fly. In this companion volume to Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices , the winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal, Paul Fleischman celebrates the sound, the sense, the essence of birds. Written to be spoken aloud by two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous, these poems perfectly capture the beauty of birds in their singing, soaring, and rejoicing.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Animals, Birds, Nature

64 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.

Reviews

[Jackie B. - Death by Tsundoku · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Am Phoenix is a collection of 15 poems about and from the perspective of different species of birds. Fleischman's writing is incredibly evocative, depicting the sounds and temperaments of each species. Some poems make use of alliteration, others are lyrical and serious, yet more are silly. It's obviously a collection for children as the vocabulary is quite simple. But that doesn't make the poems simple to inject. Written for two voices, the structure is such that it provides a unique challenge to those who are both reciting the poems and trying to read the text on the page.

[Mohsin Maqbool · Rating 4 out of 5]

PAUL Fleischman’s I Am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices is a collection of poems designed for reading aloud by two voices. It comprises 15 poems. Each poem is about a different species of birds.
Even though the book is meant for children, especially school-going ones, adults are bound to enjoy it as much – like I did. Ken Nutt’s full-page black and white drawings facing each poem combine the poems aura, enjoyment and loving observation.
The first poem titled Dawn is about finches and is full of alliteration:
“At first light the finches are flittering about the trees
Flittering
Fluttering.”
The facing page shows a solitary finch sitting on a window sill.
On reading The Wandering Albatross, I was immediately reminded of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. As to why you have got to read both the poems. If I tell you, then it would be like letting the cat out of the bag.
The first sketch on the following page shows a high-flying albatross. The second shows a ship sailing on a serene sea on a sunny day with an albatross flying right above it high up in the sky. The last sketch shows the ship being tossed and turned in stormy waters.
The Passenger Pigeon has a melancholic tale to tell. I am reproducing it in full for you to enjoy and also to raise your interest in picking up a copy of the book.

The Passenger Pigeon

We were counted not in thousands nor millions
But in billions.
We were numerous as the stars in the heavens
As grains of sand at the sea
As the buffalo on the plains.
When we burst into flight
We so filled the sky
That the sun was darkened
And day became dusk.
Humblers of the sun we were!
The world inconceivable without us.
Yet it’s 1914,
And here I am alone
Caged in the Cincinatti Zoo,
The last of the Passenger Pigeons.

The Actor has an ironic story to narrate.

The Actor

I seem
A shrike
I ape
The gull
I sing just like the cardinal.
I mimic coots
I mirror crows.
I imitate the orioles
I copy wrens.
I echo owls
I know by heart
The catbird’s calls.
But all of that is simply sham
For a mockingbird is
What I am.

There are ironic poems; there are ones that tell you stories – both fact and fiction, and then there are some melancholic ones which are bound to move you to tears.
The book has a beautiful cover of a flying albatross rising from the ashes. The background is orange. Again the stupendous sketch has been drawn by Mr Nutt. The cover sketch is also reproduced inside with the poem on the phoenix.
Do read the book. You can also gift it to a younger sibling or to anybody who loves reading poems about birds, and, of course, to anyone who loves drama and is into drawing.

[Candance Doerr-Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jimmy and I read these two-voice poems together, out loud on New Year’s Day. It was an enjoyable attuning experience to try to synchronize ourselves as we read our parts simultaneously, the “flittering, fluttering, flits” of alliteration filling our mouths with vibrations.

I recommend reading the poems out loud with some you feel comfortable with, so that you can laugh at yourself when you make mistakes or lose your rhythm. We enjoyed the experience. I may do the same with Joyful Noise.

New (1)
This year (2021) in addition to reading at least 50 books, I want 80% of the books to be used, borrowed, checked out from library, etc. Being more mindful of the environmental impact of books and consumerism, I want to be more resourceful and creative in how I source my books. This just adds more pleasure to the hunt. :)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than “Joyful Noise.”

[Eliza Fitzgerald]

These would go perfectly with a bird nature study

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of how much I enjoyed Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices, so I wanted to see this companion volume about birds.

Unfortunately, I could see why the other one won the Newbery whereas this one didn't stand out as much.

The poems were good, but the execution didn't fit the themes of the poems in the same way that those in the other book did.

I just went to look up when these were written, and it turns out this one came a few years before Joyful Noise. That makes sense; these poems felt more like the prototype for the technique that the author perfected in Joyful Noise.

That's not to say that they weren't fun or interesting, though. I particularly liked the rhythm and theme in the poem "Doves of Dodona," about oracular doves in ancient Greece. Other poems were about birds both real (some extinct) and mythical (like "The Phoenix").

Incidentally, the phrase I Am Phoenix really reminds me of X-Men .

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot believe that nobody has set these to music. Although. Simply spoken, the poems themselves are music enough.

And I love the illustrations!

Brilliant.


Favourites:
Morning
The Actor
The Common Egret
Dusk

++++++++++++++++++
edit 6 September 2023: I just read Paul Fleischman's poems for two voices: "Joyful Noise", illustrated by the same artist, but under the name 'Eric Beddows'.

[I]n 1986, [Ken] Nutt began to sign his picture-book art with the name "Eric Beddows". The use of this name, which is an amalgam of Nutt’s middle name (Eric) and his mother’s family name (Beddows), provides him with a public way to separate his work as an illustrator from his work in fine art. - Library and Archives of Canada | Eric Beddows, (https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301...)

"I am Phoenix" was published in 1985.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to have find this and the previous poetry book by the same author from my local library. They are gems to listen to/be part of reading them out loud. As part of the title and an note before diving into the poems, Paul Fleischman wrote it is best to read the poems as a duo/listen to the audiobook that has many narrators.
The first collection, Joyful Noise is a collection for many creatures in the world and I am Phoenix is a collection of variety of birds. I enjoyed both, but I liked the written imagery more with I am Phoenix. Both poetry collections has nice illustrations.

Joyful Noise ★✩★✩
I am Phoenix ★✩★✩★

[BookChampions · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the back of the book calls *I Am Phoenix* the companion to his far superior *Joyful Noise*, these poems were actually published three years BEFORE. While I had a lot of fun reading these "poems for two voices" with my 2nd grader (there were a lot of challenging words to read and he did so great!), these bird poems don't have the playful meter and rhyme and humor as the bug collection. I'm still grateful books like this existed--such a wildly new genre for its time.

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and more on Books and Ladders!

The audiobook was short but AMAZING. Well done with the overlapping voices, tones, and poems that really added a dimension to the poems that you wouldn't get without this.

I really enjoyed this!

Like my reviews? Buy me a Ko-Fi!

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would be very curious and delightful over how a two person aloud reading of these poems would sound like and very nice bit of poetry writing all revolving around the poet's interpretation of the nature of specific bird species including one mythic species. Think my favorite is the Phoenix lamenting and boasting about the nature of being immortal.

[Elska Bee]

The audiobook is an ethereal and relaxing experience. The poems are very well performed by multiple narrators (two per poem). The poems themselves are simple but evocative and capture a surprising amount of emotion for poems from the perspective of birds. I really enjoyed the poems The Actor, The Phoenix, and The Passenger Pigeon in particular.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Am Phoenix uses the same creative format as this author's Joyful Noise, this time celebrating the world of birds. I would say it feels slightly less cohesive than Joyful Noise did, but will still appeal to the same audience. I experienced this in audiobook format, which worked fine, but if I come across a print version at some point, I'd be interested in checking out that too.

[Shaun M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful collection of poetry from Paul Fleischman that works as something of a companion to his book "Joyful Noise." Like the poems in that collection, these are meant to be read aloud by two voices, creating the whirling, swirling sound of bird song. Gorgeously written and illustrated.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Joyful Noise, but still a lot of fun.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful and silly lyrical tribute to birds is the perfect anecdote to times when life seems way too serious. Highly recommended for knocking you out of a dark place.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book of poems. I wish I could hear the poems being spoken in two voices. The imagery is just beautiful.

[Annburnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry for two. A great book of poems by a great author.

[Be Storie]

bird

[JL Salty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read over the course of two weeks to curate collection for 7th grade poetry project.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A second volume of poems for two voices. Intriguing - sometimes really quite brilliant. Always fun.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bonus on the audio recording of Joyful Noise, this was a fun surprise with beautiful use of language.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, but not as good as Joyful Noise

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find it as clever as Joyful Noise, although birdsong is a natural fit with this performance poetry.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems about Birds it is good!

[Chaitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preferred the poems in this collection to the later Newbery winning one. The audiobook is great, but I've bought the hardcopy of this book to try and read it together with my son.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Aloud - 10 yrs +
Independent Reader - 14 yrs +

Worldview - Universally Acceptable

Review

This delightful poetry book follows in the footsteps of Paul Fleishman’s earlier book Joyful Noise. The poems are written to be read by two people at times in unison, at others times taking turns.

Each poem is a brief and manageable length so that children should have no problem polishing the poem and being able to read it fluidly within one week. The vocabulary included is simple and easy to read, but the skill and reading level required to read in unison and follow both ones own part as well as their fellow reader creates a unique reading challenge for students. The need for proper rhythm, meter and both effective elocution and enunciation in order to preform these poems make the books a ready made educator’s dream poetry and elocution curriculum. Together the two books have almost the perfect number of entries to use one each week of the school year, with a few weeks to spare.

In this book each poem is about a bird, either real or fantastical. When well read they are incredibly beautiful and fun. The black and white art work, which depicts the birds from each poem pairs perfectly enhancing the text and adding another level of enjoyment.


Teacher Application

14 years may seem extreme as an age to choose to use this book as an independent reader, however with only one reader one must use their imagination to create the interesting theatricality of this resource. There is nothing inappropriate, but this book is not meant to be read independently. If one wished to introduce their child to this style of poetry and was unable to read it with them, or find them a partner it would be far better to have them listen to the audio version, than attempt to read it alone unless the reader has had an extensive background in poetry and possibly music too.
It is also important to note it is not ideal for an adult alone to read it aloud to a child, so it would be best if the child is of an age that they can read one portion of the poem.


There is an audio book in which both books are performed. It takes very little time to listen to, but will make it easier to read these together with your students if you have heard correctly preformed prior to attempting it on your own. It works well to sign the audio book out of the library to listen to in advance. It would not be advised however to use the audio book with your students unless there is no other choice as the great benefit of this style of poetry is the skill level required and challenge presented in reading in unison/rhythm aloud together.

Ideally each reader could independently familiarize themselves with the new poem early in the week and read it aloud together several times later in the week until it can be said fluently. If you had two students each could take one part of the poem.


Contents:

Dawn
Morning
The Wandering Albatross
The Actor
The Watchers
The Passenger Pigeon
The Common Egret
The Phoenix
Warblers
The Cormorant's Tale
Sparrows
Doves of Dodona
Dusk
Whip-poor-will
Owls


Parental Warning
N/A

[Diana Pettis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with Xavier tonight and he told me it was hard to follow because the author has two voices reading each poem. It was hard to keep his focus on what the message of the poems were. Then I went online to get the guided reading level which their is not one. All it said that the grade level equivalent was 5.5. I think to read this with groups of kids they would need lots of exposure to poetry.

[Lisa Rathbun]

I liked this better than "Joyful Noise" because I like birds better than bugs! I remember reading this together with my sister years ago; sometimes the lines are in unison, sometimes they alternate, sometimes they conflict, but all together each poem captures the feel of the different birds. Wonderful!!!

[Nielson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poem: "Dawn" pg.3. These poems are meant to be read together with a child side by side so sometimes you will both be reading the same or different words at the same time. I think this gives a more of a flighty, birdy feel which is neat. However, it has the potential to be confusing.