Module 14 - Once I Ate a Pie

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, Illustrated by Katy Schneider

Summary - Once I Ate a Pie is a delightfully charming book of poetry written from the perspective of a variety of dogs especially for children. Starting with "Puppy" and moving through a series of dogs with different types, ages, and personalities, these poems help engage children in poetry by offering it to them through a fun and approachable subject matter - dogs!

Impressions - The poems in this books are simple and to the point, and all convey a story about their dog 'author' that children can immediately understand and feel connected to the language. The illustrations are beautiful, lyrical in a similar manner to the poetry, and appropriately detailed so as to draw children in, but not too intricate so as to confuse or detract from the language. The use of differing sizes throughout the text, and the changing placement in straight and wavy lines, in connection with words and phrases that the poems wish to emphasize or where the beat changes help readers to 'hear' the language correctly and keep readers interested and moving. Most of all it is the characters themselves, from Mr. Beefy and his pie eating to Pocket who truly thinks he is HUGE, the dogs and their personalities are the heart of this book and will engage readers of all ages.

Reviews - In the Booklist review of Once I Ate a Pie, Abby Nolan points how the simple poems reflect the simple pleasures in life which they describe and, while told from the perspective of the dogs, are similar to those that the readers themselves enjoy. She enjoys the illustrations, although the palate is not very colorful, as they express "the individuality of each animal", and thinks that the level of the text and the pictures is just right for the intended audience.

Use - This book is a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children, approximately ages 5-10, and has the potential to be a beloved favorite for a child who identifies with any or all of the unique dogs portrayed and who has the ability to hear the music in the simple poems within. Other children will be drawn first to the dog stories and only later realize that they were experiencing a new style of text. This is a great, engaging book which parents and children can enjoy together, and which is also an incredibly useful teaching tool for classes beginning to explore different styles of literature.

(1) Nolan, A. (2006). Once I ate a pie. Booklist, 102(17), 87.