After reading Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers, I immediately added it to my “Where I’m From” unit. It will fit in perfectly with my beginning of the year activities.
Looking Like Me is a celebration in poetry of who we are as individuals. We are brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, dancers, readers, writers, athletes, and so much more. Each of us is so much more than just the sum of our parts. Myers makes this obvious in his lyrical text. I was almost singing/chanting the words as I read it. The message, that we should all celebrate who we are, is powerful. And the text itself is gorgeous at many points. One of my favorites stanzas keeps running through my head.
My words are
sometimes
hurried;
At times they
come out
slow.
At times
they fly like
snowflakes
with
everywhere
to go.
At the beginning of each new school year I get to know my students through “Where I’m From” poems. I think that Looking Like Me will be a great introduction to thinking in terms of who we are. I can already foresee activities where we list who we are. What a great introduction to our new community and to writing!
*Review copy courtesy of publisher
Filed under: picture books, poetry, reviews | Tagged: Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers, where i'm from poems |
The Reading Zone 
What a great idea for s beginning the school year activity! We read excerpts from “Bad Boy” for our unit on memoir, but this book will be an excellent addition to our library of poetry texts.
Thanks for this recommendation; I’m ordering it for my middle school library. We already have Testing the Ice, which I agree is wonderful. I read it aloud to once class who really enjoyed it. Great winter read-aloud.
This sounds great. I will add it to my books to buy list right now!
Sounds like it will be a great add to my library! Thanks! 🙂
Can’t wait to use it next year!!
[…] A celebration in poetry, a praise of who we all are as individuals, and a great book for any child who might need even the slightest little boost to their self esteem. Check out this interview with Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers. […]