Science Verse

Title: Science Verse

Written by: Jon Scieszka

Illustrated by: Lane Smith

Themes: Science, Poetry, Humor,

Published by: Viking, the Penguin Group, 2004, fiction.

I read this book in class for the first time on Thursday and I absolutely LOVE, LOVE< LOVE IT!!! By the way did I tell you that I LOVE THIS BOOK!

On the first two pages it starts out: “ON Wednesday in Science class, Mr. Newton says, “You know, if you listen closely enough, you can hear the poetry of science in everything.” I listen closely. On Thursday, I start hearing the poetry. In fact, I start hearing everything as a science poem. Mr. Newton has Zapped me with a curse of SCIENCE VERSE.” This page just sucked me right in and I couldn't put this book down.

On the third page the poems start with:

“Evolution-

Glory, glory, evolution.

 Darwin found us a solution.

 Your mama is that shape,

and your knuckles always scrape…

’Cause Grandpa was an ape.”

From the book jacket:

HAVE you ever stopped to smell the roses? HAVE you ever paused to listen

to the poetry of science in everything? Here’s the story of one kid who did. Too bad for him. It turned everything into science poetry. Roses are red. Violets are blue. The science Verse curse Will drive you nuts too. ONLY the creators of this book could make science and poetry so much fun.

Why I love it: Yes, It’s Jon Scieszka’s humor but its famous poems from Longfellow and Edgar Allen Poe made into a science parody that really turn me on to science. The little ditty above is just a taste. Jon turns body parts into gory soup with a poem off of Lewis Carroll that is sure to please the most boyish boy teaming with testosterone. He plays with the poem of Hiawatha turning it into the cellular structure. It’s just so darn clever. The book can even turn the most nonacademic student (or that is what they think) into one who appreciates poems and science and even history. I know that it changed my outlook on Science/Poetry.

What a great way to get students interested in Science without having to take out a boring textbook. They will hear these poems and will start singing and quoting them right before your eyes. Again a great tool for learning and exciting students.