Children's Literature Book Summary Assignment

by Suzanne Rensing

Accepting the assignment from Mrs. Stearns with dread,

Looking at the matrix, thinking how will I get these all read.

Compiling a matrix with codes, columns, and tallies.

Marking off 1, then 10, gee, will I ever get to 60?

All a sudden, my thoughts began to shift and change,

I looked forward to reading the next book - would I select the correct range?

From picture books, stories, biographies, and more.

Learning of authors, I forgot the score.

For what once seemed a monumental task, became a way to sit and relax.

Learning of genres, literary styles, and illustrators, Caldecott winners, Newbery awards, it just got better.

So what began as a project, an insurmountable task for one

made me realize the books you are going to teach can be fun.