(Credit)
Janeczko, Paul B., Very Best (almost) Friends.
Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 1999.
ISBN: 0-7686-0475-5
Very Best (almost) Friends is a VERY relatable
book. Though it is dated, it touches on subjects that children and young adults
are so familiar with. This book is a collection of poetry by multiple authors.
Each poem gives a creative twist on the highs and lows of friendship. I really
like the topic Janeczko covers with this collection and I also find the mixture
of the moods of the different poems a nice adjustment… they keep the reader
interested and constantly relating to the topic. I found it interesting that
the friends mentioned in these poems were all different types of friends, young
children and adults, children and other children, etc.
The illustrations are very unique! They are water
colored line drawings. Even the scenery on each page keeps with the theme. The
illustrations do not impede or distract from the poetry which I like. Many
times we lose sight of what the poem is talking about because its drowning in
colorful and beautiful illustrations. Davenier did a perfect job of finding
that perfect, non-overwhelming spot and created some fantastic illustrations.
Janeczko’s topic of friendship in this book is so
relatable that I could see using some of these poems for students or children
to create journal entries with, especially with work on personal narrative. I
feel that these poems would help students jump start on an experience they may
have had with their friends!
Example Poem
Teased
Sometimes
when I’m teased
I don’t cry,
I go away.
When I come back
my brother and his friends
are doing something else.
I remember.
They forget.
-- Richard J. Margolis
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