Five Treasures to be Found in Novels in Verse

By Marci Whitehurst Novels in verse are a hybrid form of storytelling. Novels in verse combine a complete narrative with the structure of poetry, bringing depth and richness to the beauty of stories.  Here are five treasures you’ll find in a novel in verse:  POETRY!  This treasure is obvious on every page of a novel in verse. Each page is a poem. The majority are free verse poems, meaning these poems don’t follow a particular meter, form, or rhythm. The poems can stand alone, but when each page of poetry is read from beginning to end, it weaves a full narrative to make a complete story. Check out this example from our own Rebecca J. Gomez’s forthcoming novel in verse:  Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published We call this car, Sandra’s white clunky car, a marshmallow with wheels. It’s riddled with dings and dents, and the rear driver’s side window is stuck stubbornly up and the tear in the vinyl seat pinches if you sit just wrong while wearing shorts

Summer Challenge Week One: ICE CREAM!


We are kicking off the Summer Challenge with an ice cream party. Your challenge? To read and discuss books about ice cream or other frozen treats, then have some festive frozen fun! 

Remember to share about your experience on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #RDDSummerChallenge. We'd love to know what books you're reading and the fun you're sharing together. 

Recommended titles

Scoop the Ice Cream Truck (Sky Pony, 2018) written and illustrated by Patricia Keeler

Should I Share my Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book (Hyperion Books for Children, 2011) written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Wemberly’s Iceream Star (Greenwillow Books, 2003) written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Enjoy! 

Comments

Mindy Baker said…
This is one challenge I might have to do multiple times!! Yummy!
Rebecca Gomez said…
Once for every day of the week?