Ordinary Things: Poems from a Walk in Early Spring

by Ralph Fletcher, Walter Lyon Krudop (Illustrator)

A collection of poems recall the sights and feelings experienced on a springtime walk--from home, through the woods, and back again.

Genres: Poetry

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading a book of poems! I really liked the simplistic writing style Fletcher uses and the sketches are a nice addition. Can't wait to read some more poetry!

[Noel Storey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet and simple. Like taking a walk through the woods with the author.

[RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt nostalgic reading this collection of poems. Great for kids and adults! I have warm fuzzies thinking about the joys of small wonders seen on a walk in early spring. Inspires me to write poems!

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ralph Fletcher is a master of metaphor, ace of alliteration, and prince of poetric expression.

Love poem writing:

Time to leave my desk
and leave the house,
pulling the door behind.

I walk the way I write
starting out all creaky,
sort of stumbling along,
looking for a rhythm.

Each footstep is like a word
as it meets the blank page
followed by a pause
efore the next one:
step, step, word...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book with poems where Ralph Fletcher shares those small things appreciated and small thoughts noted about a walk in the woods. It includes the beginning of the walk, "step, step, word..." different kinds of litter, fossils, clouds, and nests filled with chirps/raining down like confetti bits. It's going to be a good one to share.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for inferring

great writing mentor for kids to write about the small things in life

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice small book of poems that kids can understand and use as mentor texts.