I love the idea of this book, but the execution is confusing. The style and wording of the tanka poems seems geared toward an older middle grade/young adult audience, but the format of the book itself is much younger. The font is large and juvenile, and the art is wonderful, but the book itself is smaller than a picture book, so it isn't properly showcased. The individual elements are great, but they don't combine seamlessly.

This is a challenge to write briefly about this book of poetry. There is a beautiful intro poem by Tony Medina that encompasses the thirteen ways, after several pieces of literature like the poem by Wallace Stevens, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird". and Raymond R. Patterson's poetry collection, "Twenty-six Ways of Looking at a Black Man." A further explanation is found in the notes at the back. And there are thirteen tankas by Medina, to me, defying the stereotypes, giving glimpses of t...

This will be great for those who are looking for a little more color in their poetry collection.

My favorite part of this book is the title--I love the idea. The short poems didn't grab me, although I liked the illustrations by various artists. I had not heard of tanka poetry: 5-7-5 like haiku + 7-7.

A Lee Bennett Hopkins honors book, collection of "tanka poems" offers a unique form and perspective on young African American boys. Arguably, one of the most powerful parts of the whole collection is the first poem, "Thirteen Ways: An Introduction" which very movingly and powerfully presents the depth, variety and humanity of black boys. In a world where there seems to a constant struggle to remind others that "black lives matter," Medina paints reality where black boys not only matter but thriv...

Thirteen tanka accompany thirteen portraits, each by a different artist. This was worth a slow re-read.

The author features 13 artists using 13 tankas. Tanka, a Japanese poem, in which the first and third lines have 5 syllables, and the other seven, making 31 syllables in all and presenting a story or a mood.

Drawing inspiration from Wallace Stevens's classic "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Bird" and Raymond Patterson's collection of poetry, Twenty-Six Ways of Looking at a Black Man," this poetry collection features 13 poems written in tanka form, all celebrating life in different ways. From the pride in one's offspring in "Anacostia Angel" to the frustration working hard for a living in a dead-end job in "One-Way Ticket" to always being late for the school bus in "Athlete's Broke Bus Blues," re...

This is a beautiful book that I think readers can enjoy as much for the artwork as the poems--and the poems are both beautiful and accessible.I had never heard of the tanka form of poetry before reading this, so I enjoyed poet Tony Medina's explanation of it in the notes. Each of the 13 poems is illustrated by a different artist. Medina mentioned that the poems were based on photographs, so I think they were written first, then illustrated, but I would love to know more about the process of how

First published in a slightly different form [under the tile "Anacostia Suite (13 Ways of Looking at a Blac Boy) in Revise the Psalm: Work Celebrating the Writing of Gwendolyn Brooks, Curbside Splendor, 2017)] and subsequently in the Rumpus, it is the illustrations that really bring this to life.Medina opens this collection with an introductory free verse poem about Black boys, then goes into this collection of tanka (5-7-5-7-7) poems, each featuring a different boy. The poems beg to be read alo...

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy, A Kirkus Review Best Middle School Poetry Book of 2018, along with many other awards, tells stories and experiences of Black boys through 13 different perspective poems. These poems are presented in tanka form which is a poem with 31 syllables, usually with 5 lines in 5/7/5/7/7 syllable format. This anthology presents a very moving and in-depth look at Black boys and the richness and variety of their experiences. In addition, the illustrations with each p...

I honestly think my favorite kind of book is an anthology of illustrated poetry with multiple artists contributing. I could’ve spent a lot of time just falling into these illustrations—each one different in its depiction of the poems and style of art—but I don’t want to keep this book from others to enjoy. I didn’t realize until I read the end notes that the poems are all tankas, and I think that form coupled with the knowledge that they were born out of photographs really works for the conceit

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy is a breathtaking collection of illustrations set to Medina's tanka-style poetry. After a longer introductory poem, each shorter tanka poem is accompanied by one of thirteen unique African-American artists visual representations of black boys, girls, and community. With an excerpt for each artist accompanying the poems, the background for why each artists illustrated for the poem as they did can be read to younger audiences, although the poems themselves a...

"Black boys are three dimensions of beautyBlack boys go to churchRide buses, go to schoolSit on stoops, fly kites, shoot hoopsBlack boys like to sit in their quietAnd think about thingsBlack boys are made of flesh-Not clayBlack boys have bones and bloodAnd feelingsBlack boys have minds that thrive with ideasLike bees around a hiveBlack boys are alive with wonder and possibilityWith hopes and dreams."

Tony Medina writes 13 tanka poems that depict various aspects and snippets of Black boys. The introductory poem (not a tanka poem), is detailed, refreshing, and fun as it encompasses various types of Black boys. This poem acknowledges Black boys who love sports, care for their moms, "emulate their dads", and "Black boys [who] study the stars". I appreciated this poem the most because it shows Black boys cannot be homogenized into this one notion or understanding. Instead, it speaks to how Black

This book sheds so much light on a controversial topic of today. So many people STILL manage to look at young black men with contempt and have no hope for their futures. This is a sickening modern world view and needs squashed for sure. I think that this is not only a good book to introduce to maybe 4th or 5th grade students, but that it could be read up until even older middle school and high school grades. It would be a great topic of conversation anywhere and would really get students thinkin...

This poem is fantastic because it gives a way of looking at things in an everyday style. I think this poem would be great in a school setting because it shows these young men and how they are determined, loving, caring, and good people. I think this is especially important to have in classrooms for students to look up to. I love how it breaks down stereotypes and allows people to see others for who they really are. This will be a must have for my future classroom!

I LOVE the artwork in this book! How creative to have 13 different artists in one book. The story is beautifully written as well. This book reinforces the beauty, power, and strength of black boys. These types of books are so important and you don’t often come across them in children’s libraries in schools. Working in inner city schools, this is a book I will definitely read to my boys because it is so important for them to see their worth. This book was colorful and unique and I loved it!

Some of this art is just lovely, and really captures the emotion of the poems - which also capture what it means to grow up in a culture that judges children based on the way they look when they shouldn't be judged at all, but rather given an opportunity to realize their value as individuals, and explore how their gifts can be used to be successful and contribute to their communities as they grow. Many of the poems are situations and feelings many children and adults will recognize - a grandmoth...

This book is a collection of poems that illustrates many sides of an African American boy's experiences in life and how to combat the images that people normally perceive of them stereotypically. This is a great book for upper elementary because although there isn't a lot of words per page, it isn't a chronological narrative and has advanced literary devices. I would have this book in the classroom as an encouraged independent read.