Singing with Elephants, the novel in Verse by Margarita Engle

Hey everyone, it’s been a while! I just started reading and annotating an amazing book called Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle. It’s a novel written in verse, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it!

The story follows an 11-year-old Cuban-American girl named Oriol who lives in Santa Barbara. She has the incredible opportunity to meet a poet named Gabriela Mistral, who even won a Nobel Prize! Can you imagine? As Oriol becomes friends with Mistral, she learns to write poetry and discover its power, especially when it comes to helping others. (And just like many of you and me, she is bilingual!)

In the book, Oriol is determined to save a baby elephant from mistreatment. Through her beautiful poems, she finds her voice and learns how to stand up for both animals and herself. The story emphasizes the significance of friendship, the feeling of belonging, and the challenges of being an immigrant. Plus, it shows us how art can create real change and make a difference in the world! Can you relate to that?

Singing with Elephants is not only about saving animals; it’s also about finding courage and believing in yourself. I truly think everyone should read it and join Oriol on her heartfelt journey!

Other poetry books

I also want to share some poetry discoveries in this post about Kwame Alexander’s books. Last year, I really enjoyed Odder by Katherine Applegate — a novel in verse about a playful sea otter.

Literary devices

In Singing with Elephants, I’d like to explore some interesting literary devices. Do you know about personification, onomatopoeia, metaphor, repetition, and alliteration? I bet you do! This book showcases all of these devices beautifully. If you take a moment to read the lovely words, which even include some Spanish, you’ll immerse yourself in the magical world of poetry. It’s such a delightful experience! So, I encourage you to read it!

… wishing, wishing, wishing

to belong

to be brave …

Dara out!