CRAFT STUDIO: MY HEART FILLS WITH HAPPINESS BY MONIQUE GRAY SMITH
What I Was Reading:
Monique Gray Smith wrote the picture book My Heart Fills With Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families and to encourage readers to reflect on the moments in life that bring them joy. This beautiful book, with illustrations by Julie Flett, is written in both Plains Cree and English, with the words on each page printed in both languages in some versions.
My Heart Fills With Happiness
My heart fills with happiness when…
I see the face of someone I love
I smell bannock baking in the oven
I sing
My heart fills with happiness when…
I feel the sun dancing on my cheeks
I walk barefoot on the grass
I dance
My heart fills with happiness when…
I hold the hand of someone I love
I listen to stories
I drum
What fills YOUR heart with happiness?
You can also view and listen to the author read the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBCNFMzvyl4
What Moves I Notice the Writer Making:
- There are three stanzas, each with four lines
- Each stanza begins with the same repeated line
- The second line of each of the stanzas follows a similar rhythm with nine syllables
- The second, third, and fourth lines all begin with “I”
- Each stanza ends with two words and a total of two syllables
- The last line invites readers to reflect and write their own poem
Possibilities for Writers:
- Writing their own poem about what makes them happy
- Trying out rhythms that are similar throughout the poem
- Translating their poem into another language
- Illustrating their poem
- Sharing their poem with others and maybe even children at a nearby school