TAP DANCING ON THE ROOF

TAP DANCING ON THE ROOF

Sijo (Poems) by Linda Sue Park

Pictures by Istvan Banyai

Image credit: www.lindasuepark.com

Bibliography

Park, Linda Sue. 2007. Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). New York: Clarion Books. 

ISBN 9780618234837

Critical Analysis and Review

This is a unique collection of 28 poems written by Linda Sue Park.  Each poem is written in the Sijo form, which is an ancient form of Korean poetry.  The first page titled "About Sijo" explains that this form includes three lines with 14-16 syllables each.  The poems in this collection are written about a variety of topics, but each follows the sijo style.  In sijo, the first line introduces the theme, the second line develops the theme, and the third line is the closure but also has a twist.  Some of the sijo in this book are "divided into six shorter lines" due to space restrictions of the page.

Many of Park's poems are humorous and employ wordplay.  In "Tide Line," the metaphor that the ocean "redecorated the beach" as the tide came in is a delightful image.  The imagery in "October" creates a strong visual as the "wind rearranges the leaves" and "then it plays tag with a plastic bag".  The sijo have a twist or pun in the third line, so it is fun to decipher what it is in each poem.  In "Vanishing Act," the sun shines on a child's snowman family and the twist is the that he predicts that tomorrow he will "find three carrots on the ground."  The cleverness of Park's words, in just 44-46 syllables, is enjoyable to read.  

Each poem is illustrated with digitally produced line drawings and few colors.  Banyai's cartoon-like style may be familiar to those that have read his popular wordless picture books Zoom and Re-zoom. The pale, mostly black and white drawings allow the poem to stand out on the page.  Some of the drawings are playful, but others are almost surreal.

Even if one is not familiar with sijo as a form, the author's note and historical background sections provide plenty of information about the Korean style.  Park also offers a list of tips to help readers that are inspired to write their own sijo.  

Spotlight Poem

BEDTIME SNACKS

by Linda Sue Park

Good: Cookies and one glass of milk

for two dunkers -- me and my dad.

Better: Popcorn, a video,

and sleeping bags stuffed with friends.

Best: Blanket pulled up over my head--

book, flashlight, and chocolate bar.

I chose this poem because it is an excellent example of a sijo as it clearly introduces the topic of a snack at bedtime in lines 1 and 2.  Then, it builds to an even better bedtime snack in lines 3 and 4.  Then, it concludes in lines 5 and 6 with the author's favorite bedtime snack.  I think the twist in this poem is the unexpected chocolate bar.  

I would introduce this poem to children by asking if they have ever had a bedtime snack.  We would discuss different snack items that they have had before.  I would use the "Good, Better, Best" model to challenge students to write their own sijo using this poem as a mentor text.  Even if students did not get the syllable requirements exactly correct, I think they would enjoy trying to come up with a twist at the end, which Park deems the most difficult part of writing sijo.