A Fresh Look at The Road Not Taken

First lines of many poems are highly recognizable. In some cases, several stanzas or the entire poem can be recited by heart. That's likely true for one of Robert Frost's most well known poems: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN. You can hear Frost recite it by clicking HERE (preceded  by an ad you can skip).

Memorization and recitation of poems have been shown to benefit the literacy, fluency, and learning of young people. Check this interview and notes. My unscientific opinion is that this is true for anyone, any age. 

Familius Books, 2019

Whether you know this particular poem or not, I urge you to take a close and reflective look at THE ROAD NOT TAKEN: Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood. The author, of course, is Robert Frost, and not a single word has been changed from the original poem. The publisher's note reveals that Frost originally wrote this poem as a joke about indecisiveness, but it has become a quiet anthem to self-determination, reflection, and appreciation for the journey itself. IN this picture book, illustrations created by Vivian Mineker lift the poem from the ear and offer a story for the heart that explore these expanded interpretations.

Line by line and page by page, the choices of daily life lead the young boy through many stages of human growth, each becoming a step toward the next until a boy becomes a man, a man becomes a partner, a couple raise a family, and so on. The fluid, rounded art is vibrant but subtle, wrapping the reader in both comfort and encouraging mindfulness. 

I've loved this poem since first reading it in my youth. The layered illustration approach and line-by-line unrolling of life revealed a deeper appreciation than I had previously enjoyed, despite years of rereading, reciting, and reflecting on this poem. 

I suspect it will do the same for you.

Young people will enjoy the book for its colorful appeal, for the visual narrative, and for the familiarity of scenes like collecting leaves, walking with a dog, etc. The book format also provides a tool for memorization, for recitation, and even for choral reading. 

I hope you'll give this a close look and consider using it with every age.

On a further note:

Graduation season is upon us. This title will make a remarkably suitable gift. Another title I've recommended (and gifted) ever since it first released is Wherever You Go, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.

Miller's book came to mind while I was reading THE ROAD NOT TAKEN for several reasons. The illustration styles are quite different, but both use rounded, flowing forms and  sweeping movement to propel the text forward. Both have a lyrical optimism and convey trust for the characters' choices. Both suit the immediacy of the moment and scenes, but offer a long view that fosters confidence and joy in each moment of the unfolding days and years. 

In the same way, either (or both!) will be treasured as gifts in during the time of celebration, but will intensify in meaning and relevance with each passing year.

Everyone Can... Succeed... Again and Again

SCREEN-FREE WEEK, April 29-May 5, found me curtailing (but not eliminating) my own screen time, which leads me to re-post last week's feature on picture books for graduates, augmented with one additional title. After all, it is still graduation season, and books like these can become legacy keepsakes, lasting long after a gift card is spent. Don't get me wrong, a gift card might rise above a picture book on wish lists, but still, give these some thought.

Graduation season is upon us: from kindergarten paper diplomas and cupcakes to high school to stadium-filling university events with President Obama or Ellen Degeneres delivering the commencement address. Each is a landmark, honoring significant accomplishments and  the transition to a new life phase. Reaching that transition involves investments of time, energy, learning, and courage, equipping the graduate with the skills and experience to face the prospects of new challenges ahead.

Fiewel and Friends, 2009

Graduation marks a significant conclusion, but also the beginning of a never-ending cycle of challenges. That's why I recommend PEEP: A Little Book About Taking a Leap, by Marie Van Lieshout. Young or old, readers are launched on a dramatic story arc when Mother Hen warns, "PEEP, don't fall behind." Waylaid by distractions, worry, frustration, loneliness, and a sense of defeat, PEEP resorts to a plea for help. His eventual success is all his own, though, and generates pride and praise. He barely sighs "I did it!" before  he finds himself steps away from the next challenge.

Does this trajectory remind you of any graduates you know?
I've also shared this book at the end of a school year as my classes celebrate hard won-successes and face the prospect of the next grade with a mix of excitement and a sprinkling of anxiety. 

Schwartz & Wade, 2013

Which brings me to this April release, EVERYONE CAN LEARN TO RIDE A BICYCLE, written and illustrated by two-time Caldecott winner, Chris Raschka. Raschka's vivid, loose illustrations and straightforward second-person voice engage the reader as a partner in the experiences and reactions of this small child. We share her goal, her exuberance, and her frustration, determination, and ultimate success.

Raschka's minimal text combines with major energy and emotional content. Expressions and actions tell more than words. This is a must-have for novice bikers, and a parable of sorts for recent graduates or others embarking on new life challenges. The parenthetical last line is the take-away: (And now you'll never forget.) This new title has earned starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and School LIbrary Journal.

Random House Books for Young Readers,  1990

Another title that often makes its way into the hands of graduates of every age is the rolicking OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO, by Dr. Seuss. (<< Don't miss this website!)  It is similar to Raschka's title in its suggestion that we should embrace adventure, challenge, and learning goals for ourselves, whatever might lie ahead. In fact, rather than bemoan the wobbles and bumpy roads, these actually make the process richer and the ultimate successes more satisfying. The struggle itself constitutes the bulk of our lives, allowing us to arrive at these landmark moments as masters of our own accomplishments.
Take a look at the trailer for this classic.

Whether the graduate you know is matriculating from preschool into "real" kindergarten, taking exams early to allow rehearsal time for high school ceremonies, or transitioning to a career in engineering (Way to go, Brandon!), these picture books have the power to reflect their own lives. And don't be surprised when their parents find themselves in there, too, reliving their own transitions and crossing fingers that the bumps, wobbles, and gloomies faced by their offspring are survivable and strengthening.

I'll be back next week with a brand-spanking new post, and I'd love to hear your thoughts about these and other "just right" books for graduates, as well as your experiences in sharing picture books with older readers. Any other suggestions for end-of year titles for classroom use?