Author: Takayo Noda
Title: Dear World
Illustrator: Takayo Noda
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Year: 2003
Genre: Poem
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Transitional
Interest Level: Elementary
Topics: Colors, seasons, repetition, alliteration, senses, beauty of the world
Summary: This book is about a child's discoveries in the world. Through repetition and alliteration, Takayo Noda writes about a child's questioning of how food grows on trees, why flowers smell, why the leaves change color in the fall, and how the earth is so beautiful? This is a great poem for children to read because they can relate to the questions being asked in the poem. The water color paints and pastel colors brighten the illustrations in the poem, making the poem more appealing to children.
Extension Activity: Have children draw picture of their own favorite discovery in the world- It can be anything from the dirt in the ground to the big fluffy clouds in the blue sky. Water color paints would be provided. Kids would also be assigned to write their own poem that goes along with their illustrations.
