Preview of What The Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

I’ve been feeling glum. At first I thought it was because I’m not getting unpacked and settled into my office and house as quickly as I had hoped; after weeks and weeks I’m still staring at a punch list that’s long and messy and not complete and nearly every day some worker or another is at my house to paint, hammer, or saw something. I realize that these things are temporary and that if these are my “problems,” I don’t really have problems. My gloominess is something more: Patriot’s Day, better known as 9/11, was this week. 

It's a day that makes me pause and consider. It's a day that makes me sad. I wasn’t necessarily looking to shake this emotion; somehow feeling low this week seemed okay. Despite that, I received a small lift, in just the right way. Earlier this week Joyce Sidman posted that her book trailer for What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings is now available. I clicked on it. I watched, read, listened. I felt a little better. 

Maybe others have been feeling this same way, so today I’m sharing a bit of info on Joyce and Pamela’s book along with a link to this beautiful tiny movie that unexpectedly lifted my spirits.

From the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt website:

What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings is a collection of poems to provide comfort, courage, and humor at difficult or daunting moments in life. It conjures forth laments, spells, invocations, chants, blessings, promises, songs, and charms. Here are pleas on how to repair a friendship, wishes to transform one’s life or to slow down time, charms to face the shame of a disapproving crowd, invocations to ask for forgiveness, to understand the mysteries of happiness, and to bravely face a dark and different world. These words help us remember or grieve; they bolster courage and guard against evil; they help us celebrate and give thanks. This elegant gift book also includes a red ribbon for readers to mark their favorite poems.

Poet extraordinaire Joyce Sidman won the Newbery Honor Medal for Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night and continues to write poetry for children that has been called "fresh," "inspiring," and "accessible" to her young audience. She is intrigued by the idea of "words of power"—chants and charms that were once believed to have real influence in everyday life. Caldecott Honor-winning Pamela Zagarenski's beautiful art captures a world of emotion and the essence of Sidman's words.

Here is a link to the book trailer on Joyce Sidman's Website.

These are the words that the young voice is reading. I think the poem might be called Blessings on the downtrodden:

Should you think we are strangers,

I will prove we are not

Should you think you know me,

I will surprise you

Should misfortune bind your wings,

I will fly before you to find us shelter

Should your armor crack,

I will hold the pieces steady

Should the crowd turn against you,

I will turn against the crowd

Should hate mask your true face,

I will look into your eyes and read your story there.

Oh, what a nice message for an aching heart. And from what I can see, the delicate illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski compliment the text so well. And that young voice and the guitar strum…it all lifted the cloud of gloom and made me a little bit happier. The book arrives on October 8 and promises to provide comfort...this week, with this tiny book trailer, it already has. 

Thanks, Joyce, Pamela, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt!

~~~~~

Poetry Friday this week is at: Teach Mentor Texts 

For Verse Day, Gabrielle has a discount on pre-orders of her forthcoming verse novel: Audacious at Versenovels.com

9.13.2013

Comments

[jama]

Thanks so much for sharing about Joyce's new book -- it's probably the one poetry book I'm most anxious to read this Fall!

Sorry to hear about the low feelings and struggle to get settled. Reading good poetry offers such great solace.

Reply: Hi Jama - you're welcome. I'm pretty excited about Joyce's new book, too.

Thanks for stopping by and for your well wishes. I'm definitely feeling better than I was. You're right; reading good poetry is a great elixir.

[Michelle Heidenrich Barnes]

Yes, this does sound like a comforting book and one to look forward to. You certainly can't go wrong with Joyce Sidman! I'm glad the trailer helped lift that cloud of gloom.