On Hand: A lyrical picture book, such as The Night Is Singing by Jacqueline Davies (2006), and the text from a favorite page written on chart paper or prepared to project on a screen or whiteboard.

Mini-Lesson: After reading the picture book from beginning to end, show students the text from a page or two. Read the pages aloud and invite students to tap the rhythm using their hands or feet.

            Then ask them to make observations about the print. This is an open-ended exercise, so validate all responses. Students might notice the following:

·         Some words rhyme.

·         Some sentences are long: "The house is singing lullabies." And some sentences are short: "Up you go." There are even one word sentences: "Sleepy?"

·         There are dashes between some words: "tell-the-timing," "streak-and-fly." (Let students know that authors often like to create a string of words, like a beaded necklace.)

·         Jacqueline Davies sometimes begins her stanzas with an action word: "Hear the hissing," or "Watch them go."

Encourage students to create works that flow like the words on these pages.

Extension: Suggest that students try tapping the rhythm of their own work. Do they like the way it sounds? What changes might they make?