Margaret Wise Brown was a children's author of much acclaim in the early to mid twentieth century. Best know for her beloved children's book Goodnight Moon she died tragically in her forties at the height of her career.
I've loved her writing since I first read one of her books many years ago. She has such a unique storytelling style; poetic without being overly attuned to rhyme, in a voice that is both lilting and hypnotic.
One of my favourite books she wrote is called The Friendly Book. We have a lovely hardcover version of this Big Little Golden Book which was reissued in 2012 with illustrations done by the wonderful children's illustrator Garth Williams. The Friendly Book is comprised of a series of poems describing the world such as I Like Trains which contains an ode to trains.
When our youngest child was in grade one, I did a writing workshop for her class based on The Friendly Book. The kids loved the book and had so much fun writing their own whimsical poems.
Here is my I Like Roads poem which I wrote back then for my kids in the style of The Friendly Book by Margaret Wise Brown. I've included several specific references to Charlottetown area roadways to make it fun for the reader. It is with obvious acknowledgements to classic children's author Margaret Wise Brown's The Friendly Book that I have written this poem.
I LIKE ROADS
Big roads, little roads
Dirt roads, paved roads
Long roads, short roads
I LIKE ROADS
The road on the way to your best friend’s house
Roads that are so small they’re just for a mouse
The road to the ice cream store
The road up the hill
Roads that are busy
Roads that are still
I LIKE ROADS
Roads that go round-a-bout
All over town
Roads that I’m lost on
Roads where I’m found
Roads I go slowly on
Roads I go fast
The road that you’re driving on
The road you drove past
I LIKE ROADS
A road with two tunnels
Just under its skin
Roads that lead out
Roads that lead in
Roads that are winding
A road long and flat
Roads that are bumpy
A road on a mat
I LIKE ROADS
A road with a fountain
Where we like to stop
And splash in the summer
By the cafes and shops
Road to the library
Road to your school
Road to the doctors
Roads are so cool
Same roads for the workers
Same roads for the boss
Little kids hold big hands
Whenever they cross
I LIKE ROADS
Roads that lead far away
Roads that stay near
A road for our bicycles
The road you’re on here
Roads that go up
Roads that go down
Roads take you all over
Our little-big town
Roads let you wander
Roads let you roam
But the best road of all
Is the road that leads home
I LIKE ROADS
by Jill MacCormack
On this strange and momentous day, when under advisement by the phenomenal Dr. Heather Morrison, Chief Public Health Officer for PEI, the PEI government released its ease back plan for Islanders I share this poem as a nod to the fact that many will soon be back on Island roads again, driving around trying to find a new normal. On this journey together may we proceed with an abundance of caring and caution.
Wishing you wellness!
Jill
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