This is just to say: Poems of apology and forgiveness by Joyce Sidman illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Although the poems can be enjoyed alone, readers will truly understand the magic of this book when they read the poem of apology and the response together.  For the Love of the Book

At first I thought this book was a collection of poems written by school students but then, after quite a long search, I discovered it was all written by Joyce Sidman - she was inspired by a group of fourth grades who she asked to write a sorry poem to her mother. 

"This made me think a lot about apology and forgiveness. What if all these sorry poems were actually sent to the people they were written to? What if all those people wrote back?"

So as the review quote at the start of this post says - it works well to read this book by flipping back and forth. There are 18 apology poems in the first half of this book and 18 responses in part 2.

Of course the first poem just had to be famous one by William Carlos Williams:

There are some big life themes covered in these poems so that is why I think this book will better suit upper primary and lower secondary readers or classrooms. Topics include bullies; rudeness to a teacher; greed; sibling rivalry; peer group pressure; accidents; euthanizing a pet; and possibly even suicide.

I spied this book in a discard pile in a library and when I enquired about it, I discovered it was considered not really appropriate for the younger readers who use this library. I was curious so I borrowed the book and YES this a poetry book but it is as I said, most certainly for readers aged 10+. This book was published in 2007 so it is now out of print but you might find a copy in a school or local library. You could adapt this book into a reader's theatre performance.

The illustrations created by Pamela Zagarenski are sketched beautifully. In many of the pictures there are newspapers that have been clipped that carry the definitions for apologies and forgiveness.  Name that Poem

The poems touch on many topics which will connect with readers of this age including dysfunctional families, hurting other’s feelings, disobeying, death of a pet, steeling, friendship and sports.  Throughout the book, Sidman incorporates various poetry styles including pantoum (Spelling Bomb), concrete (Dodge Ball Crazy), haiku (Haiku for Carmen) and couplet (Brownies – Oops! and A Waste of Heart). Lindsay Reads

Awards

• Claudia Lewis Poetry Award
• Cybils Poetry Award
• Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

I really like the premise of This is just to say. It reminded me of these two books:

The One thing You'd Save

Blurb from author page: The assignment: If you could give someone special in your life a present — just one gift — who would you choose, and what would it be? Discuss. Certain students know their answers right away. A few find their answers more slowly. And while some responses spark lively conversation, others are revealed only in the privacy of journal pages. But all of the choices are as heartfelt as they are unexpected. 

I am now really keen to this book from 2025 by Joyce Sidman and Melissa Sweet:

I have talked about Joyce Sidman previously and also Pamela Zagarenski.

Butterfly eyes

Also check out my post about Beth Krommes and her art

Winter Bees

The Whisper

Meet the illustrator Pamela Zagarenski

 

I’m inspired by words, poetry literature and children. The moon and the sun and the stars and the rocks and moss and trees and the birds and the oceans and the whales and lions and and and alchemy and —- life and all of its awesome mystery.

Children's Book Review

Zola’s Elephant: When Zola moves into the neighbourhood, her new next-door neighbour is too shy to go over and introduce herself. Plus, Zola already has a friend to play with—an elephant! What we imagine is not always true, as the little girl discovers. Luckily, she also discovers that being brave can lead to new friendships—and even richer imaginary worlds.

The Whisper: When a little girl receives a curious book filled only with pictures, a whisper urges her to supply the words she cannot see. As the pages turn, her imagination takes flight and she discovers that the greatest storyteller of all might come from within. Pamela Zagarenski’s debut as an author reminds us that we each bring something different to the same book.

Sleep Like a Tiger: In this magical bedtime story, the lyrical narrative echoes a Runaway Bunny-like cadence: "Does everything in the world go to sleep?" the little girl asks. In sincere and imaginative dialogue between a not-at-all sleepy child and understanding parents, the little girl decides "in a cocoon of sheets, a nest of blankets," she is ready to sleep, warm and strong, just like a tiger.

Henry and Leo: Leo isn’t just a stuffed toy, he is Henry’s best friend and brother. He is as real as a tree, a cloud, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the wind. But when the two are accidentally separated, no one in Henry’s family believes Leo is real enough to find his way home.  

Pamela Zagarenski is an award-winning children's book author and illustrator who lives in Connecticut, USA.  Along with beautiful book she also designs scrumptious greeting cards. 

Take a look at this 2009 interview with Seven Impossible things Before Breakfast where you can see a huge number of examples of Pamela Zagarenski's art. On the Celebrate Picture Books blog you can find book reviews and activities to use with Pamela Zagarenski's books. 

Zagarenski’s mixed-media, edge-to-edge art is richly textured, jewel-toned, and dreamily evocative, with a delicious sense of mystery and enchantment. Geometric swaths of colour are layered and blended to suggest sunlight, moonlight, and shadow, walls and windows among the trees. Henry and Leo Kirkus Review

The artist’s Klee-esque colors and signature symbols—stars, crowns, houses, bees, and more—will provide fertile ground for young readers’ own imaginings. Zola's elephant Kirkus Review