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POETRY

Written by Dina Anastasio • Illustrated by Len Epstein

My PlacesA Reading A–Z Poetry Book

Word Count: 806 My Places

Written by Dina AnastasioIllustrated by Len Epstein

My Places

My PlacesA Reading A–Z Poetry Book© Learning A–ZWritten by Dina AnastasioIllustrated by Len Epstein

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Table of Contents

My Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

My House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

My Neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

My Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

My State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

My Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

My Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

My World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

My Room

When I close my door and I’m all by myself,I look at the things that I put on my shelf .A flashlight sits there, by a bowl that I made .Sometimes I use it when I am afraid .My favorite book is on top of the pile .I take it down every once in a while .

Under my bed is a box filled with toys .There’s a plane and a game, and a car that makes noise .And way at the bottom there’s one robot shoe .The other got lost since the robot was new .

This is my room . There are things everywhere .There’s a ball in the corner, and a coat on the chair .But the thing I love best is up there on my bed .It’s my big fat dog Charlie . He sleeps by my head .

My Places • Poetry

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My House

There are places and spaces all over my house .There’s a bed for my cat and a hole for the mouse .There are rooms where we sleep and a room where we eat .One room is quite messy . Another’s quite neat .But there’s one little place that belongs just to me .There’s no other spot that I’d rather be .Deep in the closet, way in the back,I hung up a sheet and made sure it was black . Now everyone thinks the black sheet is a wall .They think there is nothing behind it at all .But there is! There’s a space where I love to be .My big fat dog Charlie likes to hide there with me .

My Places • Poetry

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My Neighborhood

Close to my home there’s a playground and park .I play there with friends until it gets dark .There’s a store that sells ice cream, and a shop that sells toys .There’s a restaurant with people who make lots of noise .My neighborhood’s special, and I’ll tell you why .I ride down the block, and my neighbors say, “Hi .”

My Places • Poetry

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My Town

My town’s in between, not too big, not too small . The main street has stores and one building that’s tall . There’s a school where I go, and another nearby .My sister goes there . When I’m big, so will I .It’s one of those towns with all kinds of places .We have mansions and farms and shacks and green spaces .But what makes it special are the people I meet,When I’m skating or skipping or crossing the street .The butcher, the teacher, the mayor’s new wife . I know everyone . I’ve lived here all my life .

My Places • Poetry

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My State

Some states are cold . Some states are hot .Some states are both, but my state is not .The trees don’t grow frosty . Icy winds rarely blow .I’ve never built forts that are made out of snow .I don’t own warm boots . I’ve never worn skis . I’ve never had ice skates . Our rivers don’t freeze .

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I’ve never seen seals . I’ve never heard moose .Geese fly here in winter, so I’ve seen a goose .I can’t see my breath when it blows from my mouth .Can you guess where I live?Is it the North or the South?

My Country

I live in America . It’s a big part of me .I’m glad I live here . There is so much to see .There are oceans to swim in, and mountains to climb .There are cities to visit if you have the time .My country has farms and beautiful lakes .Out in the desert you’ll see burrows and snakes .

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There are fifty states here . My friend lives in Maine .Some day I’ll see countries like England or Spain .I’d like to see Mexico . It’s not far from me .And Greece is a country that I’d like to see .When I’m bigger I think that I’ll pack up and roam .But for now I’ll enjoy this place I call home .

My Planet

I live on Earth . The weather’s just right .Not too close or too far from the sun’s red hot light .Mercury’s next to the sun’s scorching glare .It’s too hot for people . I couldn’t live there .Neptune’s the farthest . It’s made up of air .It’s too cold for people . I couldn’t live there . But the sunlight on Earth is just right for a tree . It grows perfect willows, and maples, and me .

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My World

My world’s full of places . There’s a house and a town,A room and a neighborhood with trees all around .I live in these places . I’m part of them all .Planets and houses, some are big, some are small .But there’s more to my world . There’s the people I know .There’s my sister and brother and the places we go .There’s my father and mother and the friends at my school .There’s TV and the movies and the town swimming pool .This is my world . It grows every day .It just keeps on changing, in every which way .

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Write a poem about your favorite place .

My Places • Poetry