You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman (Module 5, Book 1)

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Review by Elaine Alexander

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hoberman, Mary Ann., and Michael Emberley. You Read to Me, Ill Read to You / Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together (in Which Wolves Are Tamed, Trolls Are Transformed, and Peas Triumphant). New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2004. ISBN: 0316146110

SUMMARY
This book of poems features new spins on classic fairy tale characters. Each poem is told in two voices to make for a shared reading reading experience that is both unique and engaging. The book is part of a series, with this title focusing on familiar fairy tales, such as the Princess and the Pea, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood. Although, the appeal of this collection is that it takes each classic story and rewrites it with a different ending, one that is much more fair and balanced. For example, the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk gets a chance to point out the unfairness of how his golden goose and magic harp were stolen by Jack. Each fairy tale character is given an opportunity to have their side of the story told in a back and forth exchange that is meant to be shared between two readers. The conversational tone of the book reads better when the classic stories are known to the readers, but the selection of tales chosen are highly recognizable favorites.

ANALYSIS

Tucked between an introduction that explains the way to read and approach the book and an ending that suggests further reading, this appealing book of poetry features a selection of rhymes that is perfect for ages 4-8 to read aloud. Whether it is an adult/child pair, or perhaps taking turns in a classroom setting, this book of poems has a clever use of alliteration and rhyme and is meant to be read and shared aloud.

This collection of fairy tale poems uses rhyming text, but the real draw and appeal is the fact that it is segmented into separate parts that can be read by two different narrators. In addition, there are some parts that are meant for both readers to read in tandem, making for a unique shared experience that is more like a mini-play. The text is color coded and placed on the page in a specific order. Orange text to the left for one speaking part, pink on the right for the second speaking part, and blue in the middle for text that is meant for readers to recite in unison. The language is playful and fun, mixing the parts of the stories that we know with the rewritten concepts, such as the indignant pea from The Princess and the Pea who explains that the princess isn't the only one who suffered in the bed overnight, as the pea could not rest when the princess's movements "the whole night through/squished and squashed" (Hoberman 8) resulting in a flattened pea. When the princess tries to dismiss the pea's complaints, that silly pea insists that "peas have feelings/just like you" (Hoberman 9). The result of the conversational dialog is that the pea gets its chance to tell its side of that fateful night and the princess gets the humbling she needs, as well as chance to rectify the original wrong. The last frame of illustration shows the pair snuggling into bed with a book and the happy refrain: "You read to me./I'll read to you." (Hoberman 9)

The illustrations for the book are peppered throughout the conversational poems and fully support the text, such as the argumentative scenes between Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf who is trying to deny what's happened to Grandma at his hands. The drawings add to the text by showing Little Red's skeptical face, Cinderella's jealous step-sister's admitting their sabotage, or even the Big Bad Wolf sweating it out in a pot of hot water, his penalty for pig-eating misdeeds. The combination of the language and the colorful artwork lend a sense of humor to Hoberman's creative plot twists in the poems. While some fairy tales can lean a bit toward darker endings, this collection is light-hearted with a dash of modern sensibilities as characters work out endings that are more harmonious to both sides.

The author's note at the beginning of the book discusses her inspiration for the book series, which came about through her work with the Literacy Volunteers of America. The message is heartfelt, striking an important point on the necessity of promoting literacy and the value of listening to one another (Hoberman 4). Readers who pick up this book, will certainly be encouraged to do both!


Use & Highlight Poem
For the spotlight poem, I would chose Little Red Riding Hood and have students perform it to show poetry in action! You could also assign different poems in the book to groups and allow them to perform the poems in front of the class or do a quick reading to help build up their reading skills!