I’m sure many of you share my anxiety about the upcoming election. I admit to obsessively checking polls and waking up in the middle of the night, worrying about the election’s outcome and fearing for the state of our democracy (and our climate, our health, our children’s future…) My vote has been cast for weeks, I’ve mailed my last stack of get-out-the-vote postcards, and I’m holding onto hope that a blue wave rushes through the country.
And since I’m dreaming blue, I thought it would be a good time to share Marjorie Maddox’s delightful new poetry book, I’m Feeling Blue, Too! How can you cure the “down-in-the dumps, life-full-of bumps, bad-news blues?” This book turns the blues into a guessing-game and a fun exploration of all things blue.
By reading the poems and searching for clues in the illustrations, a reader or listener solves the riddle on each page and takes a journey of blue through a day. It’s blueberries that “pop into your mouth like a morning parade of pancakes, syrup, muffins.” The search outside for blue uncovers sky, water, an alphabet of blue petals and more. A tube of blue paint turns into a canvas for a child’s imagination, from moles and mountains to “the universe waiting for you to paint.”
Here’s one of my favorite spreads:
There’s been a flock of bluebirds in our yard for the past few days, so I was particularly enthralled by this “flutter of wings.” I can imagine a young child’s delight in guessing the subject of each poem. An older kid might enjoy the challenge of creating some blue riddle poems of their own. And since I am an older kid, I was inspired to write my own blue riddle. Can you guess the answer?
Crimson leaves drift through it,
Threatening clouds undo it,
Gusty rains shampoo it,
Golden rays imbue it.
–©Buffy Silverman
Thanks to Resource Publications for letting me preview I’m Feeling Blue, Too! I hope you’ll check it out. And please visit Teacher Dance where Linda Baie is hosting a pre-Halloween party and this week’s Poetry Friday.
Not sure if my first comment “took,” so I’m pasting here again just in case.
What a beautiful bluebird spread. I LOVE your riddle poem, Buffy, but I knew already that you are an expert when it comes to writing them. I did think of the sky, but I wonder if your poem would also describe a lake that reflects the sky? Like the one where you live? Maybe it’s a stretch, but it works in my loosey-goosey imagination. 🙂
What a beautiful bluebird spread. I LOVE your riddle poem, Buffy, but I knew already that you are an expert when it comes to writing them. I did think of the sky, but I wonder if your poem would also describe a lake that reflects the sky? Like the one where you live? Maybe it’s a stretch, but it works in my loosey-goosey imagination. 🙂
Buffy, I love your sky blue poem, and this book looks awesome. I just added it to my tbr list. YOu know I love me a good riddle poem!
I didn’t know it without reading the comments and seeing sky, and then, yes of course it was sky! They are both lovely, and I’m looking forward to reading this entire collection.
I didn’t come to me quickly, but when I cheated and saw that it was the sky, I said, Of course! It’s a good riddle, Buffy. Nice post about Marjorie Maddox’s book. I hope we can chase away the blues this week.
Go BLUE!
With you, my friend. And all this blueness made me think of Jama – I see she found the post! True-blue Kudos to Marjorie on this new book! :0) And, okay, I must confess – I look at everything upside-down or sideways, evidently. I read your riddle poem and pictured a river…. with leaves drifting by and then being pummeled into a froth and then reflecting the sky’s magic light!
Thanks so much, Robin! Here’s to blue!
Wonderful riddle poem, Buffy. The illustrations and poetry paired in ‘I’m Feeling Blue, Too’ are so attractive. I cannot imagine any kid not picking it up in a library or book shop. I need to get a copy and read some blue poetry. I’ve been thinking BLUE a lot lately.
That would be terrific! 🙂
Ding, ding, ding! The sky is correct, and you win the prize for the first guess Dianne. Your prize is a beautiful blue wave. I hope.
A sky poem riddle that is filled with sunshine and “Gusty rains shampoo it,” I enjoyed your book review and descriptive riddle poem, Buffy.
Thanks, Carol!
Lovely! This book looks like one I’d love.
Yes, I think you would enjoy it Ruth!
My anxiety is high as well, but I believe the blue wave/tsunami is coming to the ballot box next week.
I love riddle poems and your image of the sky* being “shampooed by gusty rains” makes me smile. Thanks for highlighting Maddox’s book. 🙂
*I’m hoping I’m right in my guess.
Your guess is correct. Let’s hear it for a tsunami.
Thanks for your wonderful review and original blue poem. I’m definitely with you on the anxiety about the election outcome. Haven’t slept well in YEARS. I love that bluebird poem and art — one of my faves in the book. 🙂
Ha–we should form a 2 am club, Jama!
Hi riddler, Buffy! This is clever & sends me high up with the birds and clouds. Appreciations & hugs.
Thank you, Jan!
Thank you for this beautiful poem – the sky says so much as it changes. And thank you also for reminding me that I am not the only one with fears and what-ifs taking over my thoughts. Let’s hope the country is soon colored blue with compassion and care.
Rose, thank you. And, yes, compassion and care!
Yep, we could certainly use an infusion of compassion and care.
Lovely book. Lovely poem. Thank you for sharing both. We had bluebirds yesterday too. They were eating the tiny crabapples on our ornamental tree.
I agree! Love Buffy’s poem and love that it was inspired by the book!
Cool to see bluebirds eat crabapples. Ours were picking up bugs (I assume) from the ground and flitting through the trees.
Much appreciated, Ann. 🙂 Blue has always been my favorite color.
Your own blue riddle, awesome sky, so celebrated here in Colorado & when it became smoky, we all worried, because it told us very well what was happening! I’ve read others share this beautiful book, Buffy, but I really want to own it now! Yes, I’m worried, too. I worked at the bookstore today & several of us talked about the restless sleep, the weird dreams. Thanks for a beautiful post!
Oh, thank you, Linda! I hope you enjoy it!
We’re fortunate in Michigan not to usually worry about smoky skies. I think we have a pandemic of weird dreams.
The sky??
Nice poem. I’ll feel really blue, dark blue if Biden doesn’t win!!
Hi Buffy,
I love the line “gusty rains shampoo it” !!!
I’ll never see skies quite the same now.
I always enjoy your posts.
Best,
Annie
Thanks, Annie–so nice to hear from you!