Jumping Off Library Shelves by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Illustrated by Jane Manning (Module 1, Book 2; School Stories)

Jumping Off Library Shelves Review by Elaine Alexander

Bibliographic Citation:
Hopkins, Lee Bennett & Manning, J. 2015.Jumping Off Library Shelves: A Book of Poems. Honesdale, PA: WordSong. ISBN: 9781590789247

Poetic Elements:
This anthology of poetry celebrates the library and the magic of reading. The language is playful, comparing the words in the library with crumbs scavenged by mice, with the suggestion that words hold value as a means to nourish the soul. A portion of the book relies on concrete poetry to make circular patterns or mimic waves at sea. There is a sense of adventure in the collection that makes readers connect emotionally to the power of books and libraries to open readers to new ideas and experiences.


Appeal:
This collection of poems has appeal to a younger audience, ages 4-9, particularly because it is paired with imaginative artwork that fuses seamlessly with the powerful words. The experiences spark memories, such as the step of getting a new library card, reading to a friend, or the anticipation of finding a new book that you cannot wait to start. Several of the poems invite the reader to share the magical qualities of the library, as well as the journey young readers experience as they enjoy a new book. The poems garner a sense of anticipation and freedom that would be appealing to children and invite children to visit their own library -- if they are brave enough to dive into the adventure of it all.

Overall Quality:
This collection of poems stirs the reader with a sense of immediacy, that there is something incredibly exciting that they must be a part of. From the beginning line in the first poem, Breakfast Between the Shelves, where "morning pours spoons of sun" (Hopkins 7), the reader gets a sense that as soon as the sun rises, there is a dawn of new day and no time to waste to get to the library and find out what there is to offer. Each poem thereafter builds on this journey, from the library as a place of refuge, where magic and adventure are in the reader's grasp if they possess a library card. The artwork supports this magical imagery, with swirls of stories and waves of letters throughout the pages. Each poem expounds on the idea of the library and reading having both a shared connection, as well as an intimate experience between the words and the reader. The book ends in a mirror image of how it begins, coming back to the first poet, Rebecca Kai Dotlich. The first poem opened the library with a new day, full of anticipation, and the last closes at midnight with tiny mice getting their chance to share in the magic of a story.


The Poets:
Lee Bennett Hopkins selected poems from several prominent, award-winning authors for Children and Teen literature, such as Jane Yolen, Nikki Grimes and J. Patrick Lewis. Hopkins is renown in the field of Children's Literature, not only winning the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children for the body of his work, but he also was distinguished with several awards named after him.

Layout:
The anthology has a table of contents to tag each poem and has beautiful illustrations to support the text. The poems begin with a new dawning day, a trek to the library, a child seizing their library card in a powerful pose, before moving on to images of exploring pages and being matched to the perfect book. There are odes to librarians who bring words to life, poems that honor specific types of books, therapy reading dogs, and cuddling with a loved one to share a story. The end comes full circle, with daylight dying and the library activity being carried out by mice who are enjoying the books.

Spotlight Poem:
I have a soft spot for this poetry collection and for the artwork in the page for Nikki Grimes poem because the artist, Jane Manning, featured the library I work in! There is a fabulous two page spread for the Deep River Public Library on this page and it is perfectly paired with Nikki Grimes' poem. In addition, the poem evokes an image of openness and anticipation that I connect with. You see a young child, racing to the library doors and the reader can easily share the feelings of possibility in the words.
Refuge by Nikki Grimes

My library comes into view.
Almost there!
I sprint the last few yards,
charge up the stone steps, breathless,
and push through the double doors,
smiling at the sweet kingdom of story
invite me in
to rest, to explore --
to dream.


Follow-up Activity:
I would invite children to think about how they feel about their own libraries and the power of a book to transport a reader anywhere. They might share their experiences of visiting the library or perhaps another place that gives them a sense of welcoming in a way captured by the words in the poem. Having access to a public library and to books is a pivotal part of a childhood experience. It is one of the first places that children are truly represented and have free choices in what they pick out to read. Participants can also discuss the significant impact a public library can have.