Five Treasures to be Found in Novels in Verse

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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
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YOU'RE THE HUGS TO MY KISSES Review and Story Time Activity

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by Laura Sassi

You’re the Hugs to my Kisses (Zonderkidz, 2022), written by Barbara Herndon with illustrations by Diane Ewen, is an engaging choice for Valentine’s Day or any time of year. Full of clever rhymes that celebrate the joy of loving others and embracing the special connections loved ones share, Barbara’s bouncy text is a delight to read. Diane Ewan’s illustrations stand out for their colorful and diverse cast of people of all ages enjoying each others’ company in various ways.

Read: You’re the Hugs to my Kisses by Barbara Herndon and Diane Ewen

Discuss: 
  • What made this book fun to read?
  • What was your favorite “you’re the ______ to my _____” description?  Why was it your favorite?
  • Who are some special people in your life?
  • How would you describe them using the “you’re the ______ to my _____” format?

Do: Make your own “You’re the  _____ to my ______” postcards!

You will need: 

sturdy paper cut to postcard size (4”x6”)
markers, crayons
address of special person for mailing
postcard stamp

Instructions:
  1. Inspired by the story, brainstorm a batch of your own “you’re the ____ to my ____” descriptions. Ex: “You’re the sparkle to my lights”, “You’re the salsa to my tacos”, “”You’re the frosting to my cake” etc.
  2. Taking a blank postcard, write the one that best matches your special person on one side of the card. Then illustrate it using markers or crayons.
  3. On the other side, write a short note telling your special person why they are special to you. 
  4. Address the card. Then add a stamp and pop it in the mail!






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