Neighborhood Odes

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In this short book of poems Gary Soto paints a picture of a Mexican neighborhood. Each poem is filled with imagery, bringing the reader straight into the neighborhood. The poems are about things like the snacks that children like to eat, what mothers are doing while the children are playing, and how wedding ceremonies go. Some of the poems are illustrated with large, page filling black pictures, showing the reader what is in the poem.

This is a book where children of this culture can see themselves in the poems. This book depicts daily life in the Hispanic culture, such as a mother rolling out tortillas, children sneaking Chicharrones for a quick salty snack, and descriptions of folk tales told to children. Readers that are unfamiliar with this culture can see the markers within this book and begin to recognize what is important to this culture and what makes this culture unique.

An activity that could go along with this book could be for students to write poems about their neighborhood and/or culture. Then they could share their poems with the class and share about their cultures with the class. When all the children have shared their poems the poems could be put together into a book so that the students can look back at their work and the work of their classmates and gain some understanding of their peer's cultures.

This book was reviewed by School Library Journal, an excerpt of the review follows:

Through Soto's keen eyes, they see, and will be convinced, that there is poetry in everything. The odes celebrate weddings, the anticipation of fireworks, pets, grandparents, tortillas, and the library. Although Soto is dealing with a Chicano neighborhood, the poetry has a universal appeal. A minor drawback is that the Spanish words are not translated on the page, but in a glossary; to consult it interrupts the reading. Still, children will surely recognize the joy, love, fear, excitement, and adventure Soto brings to life. Black-and-white illustrations blend well with the astute verbal imagery. Each selection is an expression of joy and wonder at life's daily pleasures and mysteries. --Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Citation: 

Soto, G. (1992). NEIGHBORHOOD ODES. Ill. by David Diaz. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc.