Birds on a Wire
One of the things I always try to do with my anthologies and with my writing
is try something different with each project. After Pat and I put our silliness
on display in Wing Nuts, we decided to try a renga, a
traditional form of Japanese poetry that is not well known in the West. Because
the renga is a linked poem that is written by a number of poets,
it was a perfect form for Pat and me. We loved the back-and-forth experience
of writing this book. If you have checked out the sample pages of Birds
on a Wire, you can imagine how thrilled we were with the illustrations
by Gary Lippincott. They are breathtaking. If you’d like to see more
of Gary’s work, drop in for a visit at his website: http://www.garylippincott.com.
The Buzz. . .
Best New Books for the Classroom - Book Links
Parents’ Choice Approved - Parents’ Choice Foundation
Best Children’s Books of the Year – Bank Street College of Education
Teachers’ Choice – International Reading Association
"Lewis and Janeczko, both accomplished youth poets, prove just how compelling this form can be, switching voices gracefully and leaping from concrete imagery that works in concert with the artwork to verses that carry more abstract ideas that will fire imaginations . . . This lovely picture book is an impeccable synthesis of text and image . . . that demands and rewards multiple readings, viewings, and contemplations."
— Booklist (starred review)
"Birds on a Wire is a lovely meditative portrait of the ordinary people, pets and places in a small American town, written as a series of spare lyrical poems. [Lewis and Janeczko] do a beautiful job with the call-and-response nature of this form, bringing to life their fictional community with a true eye for details."
— 2008 Parents' Choice Award Winner
"This book would be a good introduction to poetic forms. There are opportunities for student learning activities and teacher/media specialist collaboration. Recommended."
— Library Media Connection
"This lovely book will inspire readers to [try to write their own linked poem]. Birds on a Wire is more contemplative that this team’s Wing Nuts: Screwy Haiku. It shows the versatility of the authors and is a fine addition to most collections."
— School Library Journal
