Mari in the Margins written by Rebecca J. Gomez and published by Bandersnatch Books is a brand new verse novel that has was just released on May 14, 2024. Because I am friends with the author, I had a chance to preview this book and I think you will love it!

Marivel Jiménez is the main character who feels “in the margins” of a big family and a big world. She is both trying to be noticed but also trying to find time to herself.  Overlooked in her big family and constantly annoyed by her three-year-old sister, poetry and art journaling are her outlets. When she hears about a big poetry context at school, she decides to enter. If you have never tried reading a novel in verse, you will fall in love with this genre and be awed by the poetic abilities of the authors who write this type of book. I think you will relate to this character and her struggle to become who she was meant to be. The book is filled with doodles that the author drew herself.

Purchase Mari in the Margins

About the Author:

Rebecca J. Gomez writes picture books, poetry, and verse novels. Her first five books are fun, active, rhyming stories, four of which she wrote with her friend, Corey Rosen Schwartz. She also has publications on the pages of children’s magazines such as Highlights for Children, Pockets, and Ladybug, and the Fun for Kidz magazines. When she is not writing, she likes to read, play games, and do creative stuff like draw, paint, or crochet. She also loves to hike in the woods with her family. Follow Rebecca at https://gomezwrites.substack.com/ and also check out her website.

Have you ever tried to write poetry with your child? Mari in the Margins will inspire you to write poetry!

Here are a few types of poems to get you started:

Acrostic Poem

Choose a word that you want your poem to be about. Try a word like SWIMMING, or DAISY. Create short phrases for each letter about that word. Here is an example one of my children wrote when they were younger:

Black Out Poem

Take a page of text from an old book or magazine. Start by finding words you love and seeing what they might have in common. Try to create a thought or meaningful sentence. Can you make an interesting poem by blacking out all of the words around the words you selected? You can even make designs or drawings to accompany your poem. Check out these examples by Lauren Crider and Jess Carr.

List Poem

Make a list, but intentionally try to use some type of rhythm or rhyme, or even word play. Be silly or serious! Here is a list poem I wrote about my Spring Break trip to see my son in college.

This weekend we…

Saw the sunrise from a ridge

Hiked to find the falls and bridge

Played putt putt golf, ate apple pie

Watched a film about a spy

Played games and made a Walmart run

Every moment crazy fun

Homeward bound, slow and steady

I know that I…miss you already!

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I hope you try Rebecca’s book Mari in the Margins and I hope that you are also inspired to write some poetry! I’d love to see some examples of the poetry you make!

For activity and craft ideas centered around the theme of poetry check out my Pinterest Board.

For more book recommendations and book extension activity ideas subscribe to Mindy’s mini magazine.

Post submitted by Mindy Baker. Check out her website at www.mindybakerbooks.com

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