MENTOR TEXT REFERRAL: LYRICAL BOOKS BY JULIE FOGLIANO

Ask Mr Google for the "definition of a lyrical book" and you will not get a definitive answer. The top results on my search turned up phrases like: song-like, poetic, deeply evocative, beautifully full of emotion, effective use of poetic techniques

To the above, I say YES,YES, and YES! A well-written lyrical book contains all of these.

Two of my favorite lyrical books were written by Julie Fogliano. She is a former kindergarten teacher and an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author. Her picture books include a poetry collection and picture books that are rhyming and lyrical.

For me, two of her lyrical picture books stand out as stellar examples of how to incorporate the musicality of meter with occasions of rhyme and clever use of poetic devices. This combination results in these two books that emotionally connect with the reader and are so very satisfying to read.

WHEN'S MY BIRTHDAY, illustrated by Christian Robinson, was published by Neal Porter Books,  The theme is a child's anticipation of their birthday. Let's take a look at techniques that Julie Fogliano uses in this lyrical book.

​Meter
Nearly all of the lines in this book consistently alternate stressed and unstressed syllables, which adds to its musicality.

​Questions and repetition
By using questions and repetition, the author perfectly captures the spirit of a child who is SO EXCITED for their big day! Here is a passage from the middle of the book:

​i'd like some wishes on my birthday.
i'd like some kisses on my birthday.
i'd like some berries on my birthday
and tiny sandwiches with soup.

The repetition is a poetic device called anaphora. In this case it emphasizes the child's barely-containable excitement. The last line here stops the reader one beat short of the established rhythm, which allows for a pause and breath before launching into the next burst of comments from the birthday child.

(Notice also the assonance of the vowels in "wishes" and "kisses", as well as the alliteration of B in berries/birthday and S in sandwiches and soup. More poetic devices!)
​
Altering line length
The last lines in the book are shorter than the preceding ones, which quickens the pace - the final push before the satisfying ending. They are infused with giddiness:

​it's the daytime!
here's my birthday!
happy happy!
hee! hee! hee!
time for cakey
wakey wakey  

             [page turn --------------->]
​​              happy happy day to me!

Another terrific lyrical book by Julie Fogliano employs the same poetic techniques. A HOUSE THAT ONCE WAS is illustrated by Lane Smith and published by Roaring Brook Press.
Let's look at the opening stanza:

Deep in the woods
is a house
just a house
that once was
but now isn't 
a home.

Can you feel the meter? The first word is a stressed syllable that is followed by two unstressed syllables. This pattern generally continues through the book.

Anaphora is used in this book as well. On this page, notice the repetition of "A window that...".
Throughout the book, you will also find the repetition of a pair of words-- "once" and "now"-- that toggles the reader between the past and present.

After the children climb through this window into the abandoned house, they pause to wonder about the previous owners. The author uses a series of questions to draw the reader into their imagining.

Julie Fogliano uses more rhyme in this book than the birthday book. When the children in the book are finished with their imagining, they depart:

So back through the window
we climb as we wonder.
Back down the path that is tangled with thorns.
Back to the house where our dinner is waiting.
Back to the home that is cozy and warm.

​(The rhyme here is a near rhyme ("thorns/warm"). An occasional use of near rhyme can work when it follows many pages of exact rhyme.)

The book ends by circling back to the original opening, contrasting the coziness of the children's home with the abandoned one they had found. This contrast stirs up emotions of both comfort and loss or sadness.

If you are interested in writing lyrical picture books, study books by authors like Julie Fogliano to see how they use meter, rhyme, and poetic devices. Rhyme Doctor Eileen Meyer has also been explaining poetic devices in a series of Poetry Prescription posts here on the HOUSE CALLS blog. Click here to read the post about anaphora.

​Happy writing!
Patricia Toht