Poems with Lois Letchford (and Matthew) - Ice Cream Stop

1 Dec 2020 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:53

In this brief YouTube segment, author and literacy tutor Lois Letchford introduces herself, referencing her memoir Reversed and her role as a literacy problem‑solver. She then hands the floor to her student, Matthew, who reads Shel Silverstein’s whimsical poem “Ice Cream Stop” from the collection Falling Up. The poem describes a circus train stopping at a 52‑flavour ice‑cream stand, with various animals demanding flavors, culminating in a chaotic feast that leaves the ice‑cream man penniless. The clip serves as a literacy‑focused reading session that showcases poetry appreciation, student participation, and the playful use of language to engage young readers.

Chapters

Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir and literacy problem solver, sharing problems with my student Matthew. Today it is Ice Cream Stop by Shel Silverstein. From Falling Up. Over to you, Matthew.
Hi, Matthew. I'm going to be reading The Ice Cream Stop. The circus train made an ice cream stop at the 52-flavoured ice cream stand. The animals all got off the train and walked right up to the ice cream man. I'll take vanilla! yelled the gorilla. I'll take chocolate! shouted the ocelot. I'll take strawberry! chirped the canary. Rocky Road! croaked the toad. Lemon and lime! growled the lion. Said the ice cream man, till I see no dime, you won't get no ice cream of mine. Then all ran off. Snarled, screeched, and growled, whined and whimpered, hooted and hooted and howled, and gobbled up the whole ice cream stand. All 52 flavors. 53 with the ice cream man. Poor ice cream man. Poor ice cream man.