Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2003 ; Vermont
Amazing Graces: Prayers and Poems for Children
Compiled by June Cotner
Illustrated by Jan Palmer
Prayers and poems from authors of yesteryear and today are included in this lovely book. Beautifully illustrated with old fashioned (1950s) colored drawings of children at work and play, there are poems for mealtime, bedtime, morning and anytime. The poems are short and just right for memorizing as parents begin to establish family traditions. As the nation looks for comfort in reassuring words, this is the perfect beginning. 2001, Harper Collins, Ages 2 to 5, $12.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0-688-15566-9
Around the Day
Compiled by John Foster
Illustrated by Carol Thompson
From the time they get up in the morning until it is time to go to bed in the evening, the special experiences of a kid's day can be related in one of these poems. To get the day started kids can laugh at "Sammy Somersault," who goes through some very interesting gyrations to get dressed. Then it is off to nursery school for "Action Rhyme Time" and a chance to be a horse jumping a wall or perhaps a hen pecking at straw. After school is out, it is off to the store in "Going Shopping" where a young girl doesn't want to participate in choosing new shoes. During playtime imaginations run wild, as described in "Today I'll Be a Knight." Since this is a British collection, teatime features some really delectable selections, and all too soon it is bedtime. Given the British origin, some words have different meanings and may need to be explained to kids (biscuit equals cookie, vest equals undershirt, squash equals drink, trolley equals supermarket cart/basket). This does not take away from the poems; the pictures provide the context and the text offers an opportunity to expand children's horizons. The forty-five poems are from thirty-five poets. There is a table of contents, index of titles and first lines and an author index to quickly locate a favorite selection. 2001, Oxford, Ages 3 to 6, $16.95 and $8.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Awful Ogre's Awful Day
Jack Prelutsky
A series of eighteen imaginative verses, filled with gruesomely descriptive language, details the day of the ogre as told by himself. The rhythm of the rhymes changes with the subject, from disgusting meals and unusual love-letter to storm and bed-time, complete with reverse nightmares. The grisly, repulsive humor should appeal enormously to most kids; parents and teachers may find some hard to stomach through their laughter. Zelinsky draws the double-page scenes with devilish delight, tinting them with appropriate colors to enhance the graphic impact. Don't miss the borders, like that being torn on the jacket/cover by the ogre and repaired on the title page by tiny workers in hard hats. Many other inventive details are hidden throughout; both poems and illustrations will require many readings for full appreciation. 2001, Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 6 to 12, $15.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-688-07778-1
The Blackbirch Treasury of American Poetry
Edited by Frances Schoonmaker Bolin, Brod Bagert, Jonathan Levin, and Gary D. Schmidt
Illustrations by Steven Arcella, Jim Burke, Chi Chung, et al
"A word is dead/ When it is said,/ Some say./ I say it just/ Begins to live/ That day." Emily Dickinson's words are especially true of poetry, the sounds and rhythms of which often take root in quiet corners of the human heart. This excellent anthology provides a thorough introduction to the works of six well-loved poets¾Dickinson, Frost, Longfellow, Poe, Sandburg and Whitman. Each is showcased in sections with richly detailed biographies to guide the student in understanding how the poets' lives influenced their work. Whitman's wide travels led to his creation of a new kind of poetry; Poe's inner turmoil found expression in his somber tones and topics. Different artists illustrate every section; each medium and style are again a reflection of the poets' individuality. Unfortunately, information meant to be helpful by referring to specific poems lists incorrect page numbers in every case. It is regrettable also that, regardless of their assertions that "Poe would approve of our approach," the editor reworked selected prose into poetic form. Poe's lyrical language could have provided the opportunity for discussion of the prose poem. The book contains a table of contents, an index, and definitions of difficult vocabulary for each poem. 2001, Blackbirch Press, Ages 8 up, $34.95. Reviewer: Stephanie Farrow
ISBN: 1-56711-472-5
Broken Hearts…Healing: Young Poets Speak Out on Divorce
Edited by Tom Worthen, Ph.D.
Collected by a psychologist who used poetic writing to help children deal with the pain of divorce, these 227 pages of often devastating feelings are helpful to parents contemplating divorce and to children who are experiencing it. As the author states, "divorce is a process," not a single event. The feelings contained here are real and help to illustrate the devastating and long-term effects that divorce causes, even under the best of circumstances. There is a note of hope as the author, a divorcee himself, urges parents to use their children as ammunition in this painful event. The book lists an address where additional poems may be sent for future editions. A must-have for libraries, marriage counseling and doctors' offices. 2001, Poet Tree Press, Ages 4 to 12, $26.95 and $14.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 1-58876-150-9
ISBN: 1-58876-151-7
The Burger and the Hot Dog
Jim Aylesworth
Illustrations by Stephen Gammell
Poetry for children is often so dull and uninspiring it is not actively read. This work of poetry is about a subject matter everyone enjoys in some form or other-food. Aylesworth keeps the readers attention with silly food rhymes using beets, ice cream, pizza, cookies, bagels and as the title suggests, hot dogs and hamburgers. Equally attractive are the illustrations of realistic edibles with surrealistic expressions in unrealistic situations. Pizzas trying on shoes. Dancing pickles. Romantic cheese. A vegetable country western band. Cleverly conveyed antics on each page invite readers to find something new at each reading. The final page is an open invitation to create a food poem and provides room for just such a challenge, (Remember not to write in a library book.) While the illustrations are produced from typical media, one unique item is included here-coffee. Perhaps that is the ingredient that adds flavor to this work. "My mother loves her coffee/Not too sweet and not too tart./She says it keeps her going./But not as a work of art!" 2001, Atheneum Books For Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young
ISBN: 0-689-83897-2
Carver: A Life in Poems
Marilyn Nelson
The author chronicles the life story of George Washington Carver in verse, opening with the poem, "Out of 'Slave's Ransom'" wherein Carver is described as a "puny black baby" who was "convulsive with fever" and "shook by the whooping cough." Many of the poems are based upon the accomplishments of George Washington Carver, which were astounding, but others offer insight into the lesser-known aspects of his life. This approach works: to go beyond the usual focus on his extraordinary gifts and appreciate the man who, with grace and faith, made his way out of the depths of poverty, over racial boundaries, and through the walls of ignorance with his gentle, sometimes plodding and always relentless quest for knowledge. His expansive mind was extraordinary, as was his character. "House Ways and Means" illustrates both of these attributes. As Carver extols the benefits of peanuts in testimony before the committee, he tastes one and Rep. Tilson from Connecticut asks, "Do you want a watermelon to go with that?" Unshaken, Carver responds, indicating that if Tilson wants dessert that's fine, but then he calmly continues with his expert testimony. The book is illustrated with historical photos. 2001, Front Street, Ages 12 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 1-886910-53-7
Carver: A Life in Poems
Marilyn Nelson
George Washington Carver comes alive in these poems. Nelson sets the poems in the chronological order of Carver's life. Most of the narrative poems are short yet paint powerful, word-picture descriptions of Carver. Nelson accompanies her poems with photographs of Carver, his family and friends and gives brief descriptions of the important events in his life. By the end of the book, the reader feels as if s/he has walked with Carver through the major events of his life and has shared in his hunger, sadness, joy and accomplishments. The poems alternately bring laughter and tears as they portray the life of this great man. One even forgets that the poems are modern; they seem to have been written by Carver and those who knew him best. This book is a must for any library's poetry collection, regardless of whether the collection is for children, young adults or adults. 2001, Front Street, Ages 9 up, $16.95. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 1-886910-53-7
Cowgirl Poetry
Edited By Virginia Bennett
Tugging at your heart, tickling your funny bone, prompting a tear at the corner of your eye¾cowgirls writing from their hearts will touch you one way or another. This collection of classic and contemporary poems is written by cowgirls from America, Canada and Australia. They cover subjects like a love for horses, the demands of ranch life, the loss of loved ones, the beauty in nature and the fun and satisfaction in a simple life. Each poet has her individual voice and style. The rhythm of Sivell's "The Range Call" is reminiscent of Longfellow's "The Day is Done." Sally Bates sets us straight in "Generic Titles," telling us that "cowboy" is a verb. Linda Bark'karie's playful riding advice begins-"Keep a leg on each side/and your mind in the middle/sit up straight/and try not to fiddle." Children with a love of history, the outdoors or the Old West will enjoy these verses. The only thing that could improve this collection is some brief biographical information about the authors. 2001, Gibbs Smith, Ages 9 to 12, $10.95. Reviewer: Chris Gill
ISBN: 1-58685-016-4
Dear Mother, Dear Daughter: Poems for Young People
Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Illustrations by Gil Ashby
This restrained and stylish hardcover volume of poetry pairs the work of award-winning children's author Jane Yolen and fellow writer Heidi E.Y. Stemple, who is also Yolen's real-life daughter. In seventeen pairs of sensitive verse, the mother/daughter team tackles a variety of adolescent concerns, from the typical (homework, messy rooms, first love and staying up late) to the topical (school violence and bullying). Each pair of poems convincingly presents a bookend of viewpoints: the headstrong, questioning yet uncertain teenager versus the protective, strict yet understanding parent. Although at times the poems falter in their rhythm, the overall effect of them is pleasing and provides a novel format for communication between the generations. Each set of poetry is illustrated with sensitive black-and-white pencil drawings by Gil Ashby, which are infused with the rich body language and facial expression familial to all mothers and their daughters. 2001, Wordsong/Boyds Mill Press, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 1-56397-886-5
Don't Be Afraid, Amanda
Lilian Moore
Illustrations by Kathleen Garry McCord
In this sequel to I'll Meet You at the Cucumbers, Amanda ventures to the country to visit her friend Adam, a pen pal whom she met in person in the first book. She is the city mouse, full of preconceptions about life in the country, "so lonely and so wild." Adam, who had discovered he was a poet when he visited the library in the city, introduces her to the joys of the country both by encouraging her to try new things and by declaiming his poems on the spot. This is a book about expanding one's horizons and taking chances, as Amanda does when she climbs the scarecrow ("But Adam, what a scary idea!") or tries broccoli for the first time. Moore's poems, in the voice of the poet-mouse, are wonderful, witty observations of natural life. McCord's pen-and-ink illustrations appear sparingly to help young readers visualize Adam's world. 2001, Aladdin, Ages 7 to 10, $23.00 and $3.99. Reviewer: Susan Stan
ISBN: 0-689-31725-5
ISBN: 0-689-84497-2
Fairyland: In Art and Poetry
Edited by William Lach
Art by Richard Doyle
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has coupled the 17th century chromolithographs of Richard Doyle with various poetic masters in a collection that will make us all believe in fairies. Exquisite illustrations in botanical settings grace poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, William Shakespeare, John Keats, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and others. Fairies cavorting and atop birds are set to the words of Langston Hughes "Out of the dust of dreams/Fairies weave their garments./ Out of the purple and rose of old memories/ They make rainbow wings." The collection is a glorious chorus of rhymes, free verse, and song ranging over several centuries. The next time you visit "Some One" by Walter de la Mere you will not need to wonder just who came "knocking at my wee, small door...nought there was a-stirring"...why it must have been the wee folk! 2001, Metropolitan Museum of Art/Henry Holt and Company, All Ages, $16.95. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-8050-7006-0
ISBN: 0-87099-995-8
Father, We Thank You
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Illustrated by Mark Graham
American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson lends a note of thanksgiving to Easter and Passover in his poem-prayer Father, We Thank You. Penned over 150 years ago, this lyrical meditation will strike a chord with today's kids grateful, like 19th century children, for the "blue of stream and blue of sky." Mark Graham's beautiful oil paintings personalize the text by depicting a family hiking and enjoying the natural world. 2001, SeaStar, Ages 2 to 8, $15.95 and $15.88.
Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 1-58717-072-8
ISBN: 1-58717-073-6
Father, We Thank You
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Illustrated by Mark Graham
Combining picturesque images with a classic Emerson poem, this award-winning artist paints fifteen scenes of one family's hike through the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Using mainly sky blues and forest greens, each double-page spread appropriately illuminates all twelve of Emerson's "Father, we thank You" stanzas. Each brushstroke waltzes poetically within the illustrations, enhancing text and the voice--one man's appreciation to God--for the environment, its natural beauty and man's part in it. What might have been just a collection of beautiful still-life pictures from another artist is instead, from the mind and heart of Graham, a visual harmony and a balanced operatic movement-with God, the Perfect Maestro; with Earth, as the stage; with Mankind, as the players. This book's writer and artist quietly sing a beautiful duet. It touches the soul and makes the reader want to experience it, over and over again. Thank YOU, Mr. Emerson. And, Bravo! Mr. Graham. 2001, SeaStar Books, Ages 3 up, $15.95 and $15.88. Reviewer: Patricia Timbrook
ISBN: 1-58717-072-8
ISBN: 1-58717-073-6
From Daybreak to Good Night Poems for Children
Carl Sandburg
Illustrations by Lynn Smith-Ary
Children are in for a treat when they have this slight volume of Sandburg's poems read to them. Illustrations are colorful, humorous and life-like in a whimsical sort of way, including the likeness of Carl Sandburg himself. Youngsters will enjoy looking at the pictures many times since the illustrations give a different perspective of children, animals and the outdoors. You feel Sandburg's understanding of and love for children when you read his poems. There are twenty-four pages of illustrations and poems, and as you would expect, "Fog" and "Spring" are included. Other poems are memorable as well, including the unexpected addition of Emily Dickinson's delightful poem, "Bee! I'm expecting you!" 2001, Annick Press, Ages 3 to 8, $19.95 and $7.95. Reviewer: Jennie Jennings DeGenaro
ISBN: 1-55037-681-0
ISBN: 1-55037-680-2
Go!
Daniel Kirk
In this oversized collection of 23 poems/songs about different forms of transportation, bicycles, tricycles, airplanes, buses, rollerblades, skateboards, ice skates, pogo sticks, fire trucks, taxicabs, minivans, police cars, helicopters, motorcycles, ice-cream trucks, trains, subways, submarines, boats and even motorized wheelchairs all get their due. A few of the songs are old favorites, like "The Wheels on the Bus;" the rest are original. As poetry, printed on the page, many of these don't really work¾rhythms are awkward and the lines don't scan (for example, "On the highway, he's an ace. He takes the corners like he's in a Roman chariot race;" "Class suits me just fine, there's lots of stuff I'd like to learn. But I'm a kid with tons of extra energy to burn"). But as songs on the accompanying "free" CD, they prove to be fully singable with a rollicking beat, especially the irresistible "Pogo Stick." The art, varying in style from acrylic to collage and photographed clay sculpture, is extremely fun and eye-catching, well matched with the toe-tapping tunes. 2001, Hyperion, All Ages, $18.99. REVIWER: Claudia Mills
ISBN: 0-7868-0305-3
Good for You! Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times
Stephanie Calmenson
Pictures by Melissa Sweet
These simple, original rhymes are perfect for toddlers. They can play peek-a-boo with colors, identify body parts, learn animal sounds, count with blocks, have a letter parade and much more. The bright watercolor paintings will hold the attention of the youngest readers, but they will probably have the most fun doing the actions in the book. Boys and girls from a variety of ethnic groups are represented, and both genders are pictured doing a variety of activities. This is a comprehensive collection of 24 rhymes so adults can read one or two sections at a time to the younger children. The only drawback is the book is rather large and heavy and the pages not sturdy enough for one and two year olds to "read" on their own. Even so, this is a great resource for parents and for teachers to use in a toddler classroom. 2001, HarperCollins, Ages 1 to 4, $16.95. Reviewer: Cheryl Peterson
ISBN: 0-688-17737-9
Good Morning, Sweetie Pie and Other Poems for Little Children
Cynthia Rylant
Illustrations by Jane Dyer
Magnificent pastel watercolor paintings perfectly complement the gentle poems in this charming picture book about the everyday joys of early childhood. The author presents eight original poems, which capture different aspects of a toddler's day from waking up and playing in the sandbox to going for a ride in the car and taking a bath. Young children will enjoy the lilting language and the beautifully rendered, recognizable images. As an extra bonus, this wonderful collection also includes actual photographs of the children (a.k.a. sweetie pies), who served as the models for Jane Dyer's wonderful artwork. This book will make a great read-aloud selection for bedtime or anytime. 2001, Simon & Schuster, Ages 2 to 5, $16.00.
Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-689-82377-0
Good Mousekeeping and Other Animal Home Poems
J. Patrick Lewis
Art by Lisa Desimini
Where would an animal prefer to live? Lewis' short poems describe some fanciful places and artist Desimini lets her imagination run wild in this picture book. The premise is amusing, but the poems and accompanying art are a bit uneven. Kids will probably get a chuckle out of the porcupine's home and cowbird's ranch on a branch, but may scratch their heads over the bookworm and pig's abodes. It is all silly fun, the bright, imaginative art is arresting, and the cover a true delight. The notes state that the art was created by scanning drawings, paintings, fabrics, photographs and other items to fashion the imaginative three-dimensional scenes. 2001, Anne Schwartz/Atheneum, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-689-83161-7
Gracie Graves and the Kids from Room 402
Betty Paraskevas
Illustrated by Michael Paraskevas
Room 402 is filled with 28 little individuals whose traits are set to poetry. Each student is presented in a drawing and a poem. Gracie Graves is their teacher who's been teaching for thirty years and has never forgotten a name. The book portrays cute kids and fun poetry. It appears that this book could give some great ideas for classrooms across the nation when they are studying rhymes. This mother/son team has created a unique book from memories of their own childhood. 1995, Harcourt Brace and Company, Ages 5 to 12, $15.00, Reviewer: Barbara Youngblood
ISBN: 0-15-200321-5
Grasslands and Deserts
Gail Radley
Illustrations by Jean Sherlock
Grasslands and Deserts seeks to educate children about endangered species as well as inspire them with beautiful poetry and illustrations. The book profiles ten endangered species whose natural habitat is grassland or desert. Each two-page spread features an illustration of the creature, a brief article about the animal's habitat, diet and predators, its endangered status and what has been done to preserve the species. Also included is a poem about the animal, and a "key facts" box, listing its status, scientific name, size, diet and life span. Among the species featured in this volume are the Utah prairie dog, Grevy's Zebra and the mhorr gazelle. A D. H. Lawrence verse is the featured poem for the gazelle. At the end of the book readers will find a glossary, index and list of addresses where readers can write for further information. Also included is a world map with highlighted habitat regions of the featured animals. This book successfully combines art, poetry and interesting factual data. It is also a good introduction to the concept of endangered species and conservation for elementary aged children. It would be a great addition to a school library or classroom. Part of the "Vanishing from" series. 2001, Carolrhoda Books/Lerner, Ages 4 to 8, $22.60 and $6.95. Reviewer: Bethany Miller Cole
ISBN: 1-57505-406-X
ISBN: 1-57505-568-6
Haiku! Gesundheit: An Illustrated Collection of Ridiculous Poetry
Ross Venokur
Illustrated by Kenny Scharf
While sticking strictly to the 5-7-5-syllable arrangement of this ancient Japanese form, Venokur and Scharf turn haiku on its head. Puns, jokes, absurdities and occasional grossness give the reader a snort of laughter while Scharf's black line and watercolor sketches (dedicated to Keith Haring) are contemporary and seemingly effortless. What purpose the names within the poems, appearing in contrasting red, have to do with the text is not made clear, however. While ancient haiku may reveal the poet's joy in a sunset, this collection is just as likely to reveal how it feels to drill three holes in your head and use it for a bowling ball or become a rain cloud and get to spit on a kid you hate. 2001, Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 to 12, $10.00. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-689-84044-6
Have You Been to the Beach Lately?
Ralph Fletcher
Photographs by Andrea Sperling
Anyone who has spent time at the beach will appreciate the charm and magic of these free verse poems. Written from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy who is going to the beach for the first time, the verses capture the wonder of an ocean that "wouldn't keep still even long enough to shake hands." He notices that people are calm and do not always seem to care how they look. The lifeguard perches atop his tower like a bronze god on Mount Olympus, while "a baby struggles out of the water wearing a diaper that must weigh a thousand pounds. The boy enjoys being buried, watching teenage girls, teasing his brother, and talking on his "shell-ular phone." Even a sudden storm does not dampen his spirits and he is able to enjoy a solitary swim as others flee. Feeling content and sleepy on the way home, he notices that the salt water has made his skin "one size too small." Thirty-three beautiful poems will make you feel the wonder of the sea creatures and the majesty of the ocean; and cause you to smile. Lovely black-and-white photographs capture the essence of the poems while revealing the beauty of the beach. 2001, Orchard Books/Scholastic, Ages All, $15.95. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-531-30330-6
Hiawatha and Megissogwon
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Illustrated by Jeffrey Thompson
Perhaps, the poetry is no read as much today as it was many years ago, but The Song of Hiawatha, Paul Revere's Ride and Evangeline often receive new treatment since their publication more than 150 years ago. This except from the longer poem tells of Hiawatha's mighty struggle against the evil trickster Megissogwon. For those familiar with other great poetic stories from Norse and Greek mythology the elements are all there. As Joseph Bruchac notes in his afterword the structure of this poem is bases on the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland. While the poem may not be authentic in origin it does reflect Native American elements and raises an awareness of Native American culture with its stories and traditions. The art is an interesting and complex combination of scratchboard illustration and computer arranged and generated art. At first glance the images look like tinted woodcuts, but they are not, a fact that doesn't make them any the less appealing and interesting. The artist undertook considerable research to get the flavor designs of the artifacts and symbols of Native American groups such as the Objibway/Chippewa peoples and also form Winnebago designs. A picture book that should encourage readers to tackle this and other heroic poems such as the Eddas, Iliad and Odyssey. 2001, National Geographic, Ages 7 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7922-6676-5
Hilary Knight's The Owl and the Pussycat
Edward Lear
Knight places the fanciful poem inside another verbal and visual story, in which young Otto and Polly, attending Professor Comfort's Story and Music Hour, enjoy their adventure at sea, transformed into the title characters until called home for dinner. The jacket introduces the protagonists as they view the professor's magical house; the visual story continues from there, so that each page demands inspection. The gradual transformation of the children is subtly achieved; their adventures in the "land where the bong-tree grows" are deliciously replete with visual metaphors and appealing creatures in deft watercolors. This new edition has added a foldout of the sheet music by Douglas Colby, and notes from Knight and Bernadette Peters, along with concept drawings from Knight's sketchbook. 2001 (orig. 1983), Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8, $17.00.
Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-689-83927-8
I'm Small and Other Verses
Lilian Moore
Illustrations by Jill McElmurry
This collection of eighteen poems moves from windy, rainy and snowy days (and their attendant colds, mittens and snowsuits), to the sunshine of the seaside or a park in summer, to painting, playing with blocks or choosing the scariest mask for Halloween. Whatever the situation, we do not simply observe the child characters, but are plunged with great skill into the moment, so that we experience with them the things they are feeling-both physically and emotionally. Whether a poem is describing a moment of reflection, as in the whimsical "Alone"-"I like the way my fingers feel inside my mitten/Only-/Sometimes I wonder if my thumb doesn't get quite/ Lonely," or the "prickly tickly feeling that goes and comes and goes" before a big sneeze, or the cool, squishy, squashy feel of finger paint, young listeners should identify readily. Jill McElmurry's charming illustrations carefully complement the text, as for example, in the picture accompanying "Snowsuit"-"I'm zippered/up to my chin. /I like my zipper skin. /I like the way it keeps me/IN"-which shows a pink snowsuit-clad, goggles-wearing girl zipping along on a snowboard, her tracks having made a giant Z in the snow behind her. A fine introduction to poetry for the youngest audiences. 2001, Candlewick Press, Ages 4 to 8, $13.99. Reviewer: Barbara Maitland
ISBN: 0-7636-1169-7
I Want Another Little Brother: Poems about Families
Illustrated by Anna Currey
The twenty-six poems in this amusing and diverse collection about family relationships and activities are fun to read aloud to young children. Those old enough to read on their own will enjoy them as well. "Brother" by Mary Ann Hoberman is a particularly clever poem of four stanzas, concluding with, "So I took the little bother/From my mother and my father/And I put the little bother/Of a brother back to bed." The popular song, "The Wheels on the Bus" is included as is the classic "There Was a Little Girl" attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Kids will giggle at "Potty" by Colin McNaughton wherein little Tim is urged not to put the potty on his head because he doesn't "know where it's been." The illustrations of this and the other poems, such as "Salty Sea" by the five-year-old Carl Saville, are apt and lightly humorous. The somewhat British tone does not cause the reader difficulty and even adds to the slightly offbeat flavor of a few of the selections. 2001 (orig. 1999), Puffin/Penguin Putnam, Ages 3 to 8, $5.99. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0-14-056760-7
If You Should Meet a Crocodile
Compiled and illustrated by Anna Currey
TImparting a love of poetry to children is not a hard thing to do. They have a natural affinity for language, spending so much time on mastering it themselves, and they delight in a good rhyme or play on words. This book is a collection of poems about wild animals. Some of the poets are beloved and well known, such as Christina Rossetti, Ogden Nash or W. B. Yeats. There is even a surprising little ditty about tiny fish by D. H. Lawrence. Other verses are anonymous or written by lesser-known poets. All of the poems are fun and are accompanied by pleasing watercolor illustrations, which nicely match their subjects, an important consideration for the 3 to 8-year-old set. Although there are 27 poems in the book, and the book itself is fairly small and easy to hold. There is a table of contents, so you can go back and choose your favorites with ease. The last poem is about Littlemouse, who, after a long night of dancing in a clearing, creeps back to her burrow to sleep. It is surely an invitation for parents to read this book to their little ones before bed¾a very nice idea. 2001 (orig. 1999), Puffin Books, Ages 3 to 8, $5.99.
Reviewer: Nancy Partridge
ISBN: 0-14-056810-7
Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems
Francisco X. Alarcon
Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
If you have never seen an iguana in the snow look again. Joyful sledders in black inner tubes look like the reptiles if they wear clothing purchased on sale at the army surplus. Engaging free verse poems, written in both English and Spanish, dance across delightfully artful pages. The poems celebrate life in California, in San Francisco, and in the barrio. One voice dreams of a special city where people become bridges to each other. The primary theme of the collection is about the winter season when some children can romp in the snow, but it is also a time when the migrant worker's children must return to Mexico. They wave good-bye and ask us to remember them when we take our first bite of the delicious fruit they picked. The poems and colorful paintings are executed with exceptional charm and imagination. Children will enjoy searching for the iguanas hidden in the pictures. Three additional books in the series invite us to taste the joys of the other seasons. 2001, Children's Book Press, Ages 4 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-89239-168-5
Johnny Appleseed
Rosemary Benét and Stephen Vincent Benét
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler
This poem has been a favorite of kids for many years¾it was written in 1933. Schindler has given it new life, however, with his wonderful, colored pencil drawings. Johnny Appleseed, whose real name was John Chapman, did spend his life planting apple seeds and tending the trees throughout Ohio and Indiana. Why he did it, no one knows, but the fruits of his labor stand as a testament to his commitment. Schindler adds plenty of humor in his pictures. He depicts Johnny as a skinny but apparently content old man, eating, pruning and fearlessly wandering the wild Midwest. He wears a pot upon his head, sleeps nestled in a tree and never comes to any harm from man or beast. The pictures are set on a soft light-brown paper with texture that reemphasizes Johnny's affinity with the brown earth that nurtures his seeds. A good selection for elementary story hour and kids will pick up on the humor of the endpapers. A note from the author's son, Thomas C. Benét, provides background about the poem and its creators. 2001, McElderry/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-689-82975-2
Just around the Corner: Poems
James Stevenson
You never know what you'll discover just around the corner. And so it is with the collection of poems assembled here. Refreshing perspectives about everyday objects fill this slim volume. The reader will delight in the variety of topics, from cookies and ice cream to rain and slush, and even a nostalgic look at an old-fashioned electric fan and the poet's old Underwood typewriter. Each poem is short-some only two or three lines-but stirs the imagination. Watercolor paints and black pen create the look of quickly sketched items. Many of the poems have just one simply illustrated object, but "December Sunday" is a marvelous blend of words and two pages of mini-pictures. From the first delightful poem about umbrellas, the reader will want to turn the page and go exploring "just around the corner." 2001, Greenwillow, Ages 7 to 10, $14.95 and $14.89.
Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-688-17303-9
ISBN: 0-06-029189-3
Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems
Selected by Barbara Rogasky
Photographs by Marc Tauss
Each photograph contained in this book of autumn poems seeks to capture the essence of the accompanying poem and the result is not just beautiful but intriguing as well. Several of the pictures portray the brilliant colors of autumn¾the brown, gold and red of the leaves hanging tenuously from branches or carpeting the paths and fields. Others are muted or black and white, as is the photo illustrating "Lady in Grey" by Arnold Vermeeren. The reader is urged to look beyond the standard view of the season while yet admiring the awe-inspiring spectacle of autumn leaves. The collection of poems is excellent, offering a fairly wide range of styles including an excerpt from "come up from the fields father" by Walt Whitman and Eleanor Averitt's "November Day," which compares the trees to pheasants plucked by the wind. Robert Browning, William Ernest Henley, Gerald Manley Hopkins, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Amy Lowell are among the poets represented in the collection. 2001, Scholastic, Ages 8 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0-590-25347-6
Let's Count the Raindrops
Illustrated by Fumi Kosaka
The illustrations accompanying this collection of ten poems about the weather feature a young girl with her frisky spotted pup and capture perfectly the joy of being outdoors and the magic of watching a snowfall. The little girl's red dress and hair are whipped about as the wind twirls her doggie up in the air, and her face is a picture of contentment in the illustration for "Wouldn't You?" by John Ciardi. "White sheep, white sheep,/Where do you go?" asks Christina G. Rossetti in "Clouds," and Karla Kuskin writes of the heaviness of "Winter Clothes." A poem by Aileen Fisher is particularly catchy. It is simply titled, "June!" and explores the joy of going barefoot. The title of the book is taken from Alan Benjamin's playful poem about counting the millions and millions of drops falling during a rainstorm. This collection offers an introduction to excellent poetry for the very young. 2001, Viking/Penguin Putnam, Ages 3 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0-670-89689-6
A Light in the Attic
Shel Silverstein
Most of us grew up listening to our teachers or our parents reading to us from Shel Silverstein's poetry collections A Light in the Attic, Where the Sidewalk Ends, or The Giving Tree and loved every humorous moment of them. The only thing better than listening was to hear them and look at the illustrations Silverstein provided for each poem. In this 20th anniversary edition of A Light in the Attic, a new generation of readers is provided the additional joy of listening to Silverstein read-with great enthusiasm-eleven of his personal favorites from the collection. A CD compilation produced by Sony Music in 2001 allows us to listen to such classics as "Rock and Roll Band," "Homework Machine," and "Backward Bill." From the woes of homework to the practicalities of the best way to get out of doing the dishes; from the joy of imagining oneself in a rock and roll band to the amazing abilities of the Twistable, Turnable Man; young and "young-at-heart" readers alike will find themselves laughing at or nodding with the charming characters found in Silverstein's poetry. This collection has been and continues to be a "must-use" book for teachers working with students of any age to encourage or reinforce a love of poetry. 2001, (orig. 1981), HarperCollins, All Ages, $22.95 and $17.89. Reviewer: Jean Boreen
ISBN: 0-06-025673-7
ISBN: 0-06-025674-5
Little Tree
e.e. cummings
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
The entire text of cummings' 1925 poem about a little tree which is cherished by some children as a Christmas tree forms the basis of Raschka's retelling and is reprinted as an opener. Raschka tells the story from the tree's point of view as he wonders where he is going, rides the truck and train to a "little big city." There a family finds him on a sidwalk and take him home, up the little elevator, where they decorate him in their little apartment and he glows and shines. It's the kind of book that makes a child sigh with contentment and the illustrations are a triumph of triangles and other patterned shapes to represent forests, cities, exteriors and interiors, and the childlike drawings of the people. Greens dominate with plenty of other colors to make this fun for close-up looking but a little too complicated to share well in large groups. All in all, it's a beautiful contribution to the literature of Christmas and brings to light a poem not familiar to many children and rarely anthologized. 2001, Hyperion, Ages 3 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-7868-0795-4
Lizards, Frogs and Polliwogs: Poems and Paintings
Douglas Florian
Amphibians and reptiles abound in these 21 poems. Each poem, one per page, is accompanied by a full-page, imaginative and amusing painting of the critter. These poems beg to be read aloud due to their strong rhythm and rhyme. Full of humor and delicious words, they are impossible to keep to oneself. Many of the paintings have the word of the animal, or at least the first letter of its name. It makes for an interesting search on each page and encourages children to look closely. The illustration of the Box Turtle makes him look like a little car complete with wheels where his feet would be. "The Python" and "The Gecko" are both examples of concrete poems. Florian has become a favorite poet, and his followers will enjoy every word and picture here. 2001, Harcourt, Ages 6 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-15-202591-X
Love That Dog
Sharon Creech
Newbery-winning author, Sharon Creech, uses verse in Love That Dog At first, Jack, the narrator of the book, is skeptical about poetry . He begins, "I don't want to / because boys / don't write poetry ./ Girls do." He's a bit more open in his second entry, "I tried./Can't do it./Brain's empty." In a believable sequence of poems, Jack comes to appreciate poets like William Carlos Williams and Robert Frost and his interpretations of their work give glimpses into his tender heart and clever mind and we know why his teacher works so hard to draw him out. By the story's end he has been captured by the power of poetry, and inspired by the work of Walter Dean Myers, Jack writes a poignant poem about his beloved dog. Poetry is the perfect vehicle for a book about a boy's acceptance and imitations of this genre. The poems mirror and guide his creativity and courage to risk. In under 100 pages of short verses, the author exposes children to some wonderful poems and tracks Jack's journey into artistry with the very form that speaks to him. 2001, HarperCollins, Ages 9 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-06-029287-3
Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers
Edited by Pat Mora
Illustrated by Paula B. Barragan M.
Mexican-American author Pat Mora has gathered together the work of thirteen poets who speak in a wide spectrum of Latino voices. In one vibrant and spirited volume, these writers sing with joy, humor and love about their various heritages-Puerto Rican, Cuban, Venezuelan and Mexican-American. Their work rings true as they touch upon the powerful bond among mothers, grandmothers and children-universal relationships that transcend cultures; primary love that speaks to us all. Selected poems address childhood memories, dreams and worries from a child's point of view, often using both Spanish and English words within the verse. The illustrations by Paula B. Barragan M. are a visual delight. Her quirky collages of pencil, cut paper and gouache paint are done with exuberant joy in strong, hot colors that reflect the passion of the emotions expressed in each poem. This collection will give young readers a taste of Latino culture and customs, creating in them a hunger for more. 2001, Lee & Low Books, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 1-58430-019-1
Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems
Lee Bennett Hopkins
Paintings by Karen Barbour
This is a collection of 16 poems by different poets, accompanied by vibrant illustrations. Unfortunately, the math is ordinary, and the poetry isn't marvelous either. Teachers will be able to find one or two useful poems, but will be disappointed with most. One major problem is that the book has a defensive feel, such that the overarching theme seems to be, "we can help you hate math a little bit less." One poem paints a natural landscape where "orange poppies multiply," but the word "multiply" is used here in its biological connotation of breeding and not as a math word. As in this example, many of the poems do not actually deal with math, they just pretend to. Other poets in the collection see math as nothing more than arithmetic, and several see it only as a painful rite of passage. Although this collection won the "Parents' Choice Award," teachers will feel that it does as much harm as good. 2001 (orig. 1997), Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 9, $6.99. Reviewer: Seth Berg
ISBN: 0-689-84442-5
ISBN: 0-689-80658-2
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Graved and painted by Christopher Bing
Longfellow's classic poem describing Revere's historic ride and its importance in American history strikes a welcome note in these days of renewed patriotism. "The fate of a nation was riding that night." The story itself is a stirring one, loosely based on fact. Included with the text are maps of the "Secret Expedition to Concord" and of Revere's actual ride along with extensive notes about the proper history, about the preparation of the book and the art, and a bibliography. Attached to the endpapers are facsimiles of General Gage's orders and of Revere's deposition after the ride. Bing combines scratchboard drawings with glazed watercolors to create richly detailed scenes that glow in the light of a full moon. Todd Sutherland integrates facsimiles of old paper and scanned objects of the times, like coins, a watch, musket balls and pigeon feathers, to enhance the historic feel of the pages. Great care and esthetic sensitivity has been exercised here to present an exceptional setting for the poem. Note the paper jacket's subtle use of embossing in the overall design. 2001, Handprint Books, Ages 7 up, $17.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 1-929766-13-0
Mommy Poems
Compiled by John Micklos, Jr.
Illustrated by Lori McElrath-Eslick
While I read this short compilation of poems about mothers, I couldn't help but think of my own mother. Memories of sneaking in early on a Saturday morning to see if mommy was awake to watch cartoons or fix breakfast and of how she took care of me while I was sick rolled through my mind. Each of these memories was heightened when I read poems of other people's memories of their mothers. This seems more suited as a gift from a child to a mother than as a children's book. The colorful illustrations of mothers with children serve to emphasize their special relationship. Even everyday activities are brought to light through these poems, which can create peaceful memories for a mother when her child has grown up and moved away. 2001, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 5 up, $15.95 and $8.95. Reviewer: Danielle Williams
ISBN: 1-56397-849-0
ISBN: 1-56397-908-X
The Moon Has Got His Pants On and Other Poems
Steve Turner
Illustrations by David Mostyn
British poet Steve Turner produced 70 poems for this collection. As he notes in the introduction, "The challenge I set myself was to write three poems for every hour of a typical day and night." Turner met this task with, for the most part, a lighthearted humor that illuminates the very normal aspects of a child's life. For example, in "Sleepovers," Turner suggests that they should be banned because "People don't sleep during sleep-overs./They eat sweets/during sleep-overs/and make noises/and watch videos/and stay awake./They should be called/sweetnoisyvideostayawakes…" In "Face," Turner notes "Every morning I wash my face./Mum says to do so is right./But tell me this: how does a face/Get dirty during the night." Yet there is also a contemplative side in Turner's poems that strike an interesting balance with the humor. In "Can Hate Come Home," Turner allows his readers to personify abstract ideas like love, hate, peace and contentment in order to clearly see the positive and negative traits of each-"Can Hate come home to play, mother,/For Hate is daring and fierce?/I'd rather you played with Love, my child,/For Love has a sister called Peace./Can Pride come home to play, mother,/For pride is clever and cool?/I'd rather you played with Humility,/For Pride can lead to a fall…" Besides the humor, the nine and ten year olds I shared this book with got a kick out of the "funny" words Turner used; these words, like "loo," "lift" and "canteen" are the British versions of bathroom, elevator and cafeteria, and provided me a chance to talk about how similar words are used differently in various locales. Certainly this is a vocabulary teacher's dream. In conclusion, this short collection is a shining star for readers looking for fun in their poetry. 2001, Lion Books, Ages 5 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Jean Boreen
ISBN: 0-7459-4582-1
More Spice than Sugar: Poems about Feisty Females
Compiled by Lillian Morrison
Illustrated by Ann Boyajian
These poems celebrate the greatness of women and girls as they excel in a variety of endeavors, including sports and careers once available only to males. There are no boundaries. Several of the concrete poems are really a delight, including "Lashondra Scores" by J. Patrick Lewis, which follows the path of a basketball as it arcs to the hoop, and "The Hamill Camel," which like skater Dorothy Hamill, streaks and swirls across the page. Other poems celebrate both famous and unknown women-those who sacrificed and worked to make their children's lives better and those whose fame we know, like Amelia Earhart, Fannie Lou Hamer, Clara Barton and Molly Pitcher. All of the poems are accompanied by delightful black-and-white sketches. What a wonderful collection to have available for young girls-one that clearly demonstrates that there are no longer any boundaries. Table of contents and notes. 2001, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 8 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-618-06892-9
A Mother's Heart, a Daughter's Love: Poems for Us to Share
Joyce Carol Thomas
TNational Book Award novelist Thomas shares a mother-daughter poetic dialogue in this slim volume. The conversation begins at birth, continues through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Thomas uses a back and forth technique in which mother/child thoughts vary, blur, and finally merge into separate but equal insights. A mother and grandmother herself, Joyce Carol Thomas has an intuitive understanding of the female bond. Her perceptive poems are both humorous and moving. This would be a fine gift for any new mother of a girl-child. 2001, Joanna Cotler Books, Ages 5 up, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-06-029649-6
ISBN: 0-06-029650-X
Mouse of My Heart: A Treasury of Sense and Nonsense
Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
The legendary editor and author of Goodnight Moon wrote much more for young children-as this anthology of poetry and prose attests. Leonard S. Marcus, Brown's biographer, sets the record straight once again in his brief but insightful introduction. The rest is for the little ones, cuddled in mom's lap or tucked safely into bed. The offerings are divided into sections called "Adventure," or "Bravery," or "Belonging," but the distinctions are unnecessary. Just open the book at any page and be greeted by "The Tiger's Child" (I'm Wild Cat Wild) or "You Be Little and I'll Be Big" and enter a world of innocence and yearning, the world of a child's mind before TV and the Internet, a kind of primal Garden of Eden. Krupinski's wonderfully loving illustrations embrace the text, creating a keepsake book for any growing family. 2001, Hyperion, Ages 3 to 8, $19.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-7868-0628-1
Nothing Beats a Pizza
Loris Lesynski
Nothing Beats a Pizza is a busy, fun and snappy book of poems, mainly about pizza, but also about families, feelings and school experiences. Author Lesynski recommends that her readers read the poems out loud for the best effect of language and sound. Some of the poems have titles like "Old, Cold Pizza," "Mock Pizza," and "The Bad Mood Blues." There are also lots of small and humorous sidebars sprinkled among the pages, and Lesynski's illustrations are colorful and whimsical. The author encourages her readers to write their own poems and to experience playing with words and their sounds. This is a creative and fun book. 2001, Annick Press, Ages 8 to 12, $18.95 and $6.95. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi
ISBN: 1-55037-701-9
ISBN: 1-55037-700-0
Oddhopper Opera: A Bug's Garden of Verses
Kurt Cyrus
The bright and boldly illustrated pages give a bugs eye view of the bustling life above and below the ground in this garden setting. Creepy crawly insects in a variety of colors and shapes slither and crawl and even fly as they eat the vegetation or each other. Beetles gather balls of dung to feed to their young, a millipede lays a hundred eggs, and the spider weaves a beautiful web hoping to ensnare some unsuspecting bug. Some of the more amusing lines include the one about a stinkbug trying to hide-"Only trouble is…It's never any secret where a stinkbug is." The grossness will certainly appeal to a certain age group and the ending illustration with its red tomato hitting the ground is sure to elicit a few squeals of delight. Not the greatest poetry but plenty of wordplay, puns and just plain fun. 2001, Harcourt, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-15-202205-8
The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems
Edited by Donald Hall
Moving chronologically from early days in America to the present, Donald Hall presents a collection of poems that he hopes parents and teachers will read aloud to young listeners. In this compilation there is also a wonderful selection of period art to accompany each poem. The result is a visual and aural treat. The book opens with several Native American chants and songs, and moves on to more familiar selections from the 19th century such as "The Village Blacksmith" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) and "Barbara Fritchie" (John Greenleaf Whittier). It then provides delightful poems from twentieth and twenty-first century poets, including Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Gary Soto, Lucille Clifton, Janet Wong and many others. The variety and styles are such that each page offers something new and interesting. Leafing through the pages brought back many memories of poems once enjoyed but long forgotten. It is a book that really should be in home and school collections. A table of contents, index of authors and first lines will assist anyone looking for a specific entry. 2001 (orig. 1999), Oxford, Ages 4 up, $11.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-19-514578-X
Pieces: A Year In Poems & Quilts
Anna Grossnickle Hines
A feast for the senses lies between the covers of this book. Eye-catching handmade quilts, created by Hines herself, are the backdrops for twenty of her poems about the seasons. The first poem, "Pieces of the seasons/ appear and disappear/ in a patchwork pattern/ making up a year" sets the stage for what is to come. The poems present the sights, sounds and smells of the seasons, beginning in early spring with a crow alighting on a cedar branch. In the subsequent quilts, pastels give way to multi-hued flower beds of summer, followed by the orange and yellows of fall, that give way to shadows and the ice blue shading of a winter night. The poems beg to be read aloud, with strong rhythms, strong images, delightful use of language and onomatopoeia. Hines presents the story behind the quilts and discusses her process at the end of the book. She dedicates the book to her mother who gave her sage advice-"If that's what you want to do, that's what you should do." This is a book for those who love language and images, art and quilts. 2001, Greenwillow, Ages 5 up, $15.95 and $15.89. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-688-16963-5
ISBN: 0-688-16964-3
Pieces: A Year In Poems & Quilts
Anna Grossnickle Hines
If you aren't a quilter, you will be when you read Pieces: A Year in Poems and Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines. The art of quilting has never been more exquisitely displayed than in this book. Twenty original poems celebrate the seasons joyously evoking in words what we feel as we admire each quilt. In "Ballet" the crow dances from one page to the next in slow motion. A stunning page shows vertical tree trunks of varying shades of brown and green, titled, "Do You Know Green?" You can feel the "Psst! Ping! Pop! and Pow!" as "green tickles the tips of twiggy tree fingers." To encourage you to try quilting, Hines tells the story behind the quilts, accompanied by photos of the process. Her mom is her inspiration. 2001, Greenwillow, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-688-16963-5
Pocketful of Poems
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
TImagine having a pocketful of words-pigeon, hot, angels, shower, gifts¾that you can take out to create poetry. Free verse captures the feeling-"CATERPILLAR-the word wriggles in my pocket...I reach for it, but it worms away..." A free verse poem is coupled on each double- page foldout with Haiku. Haiku is a seventeen-syllable, three-line poem that originated in Japan, but is open to universal interpretation. "Magic! Evening snow...drifts turn! Each starlight into...a star on a stick." Grimes has coupled these paired poems with the contemporary art form of a Harlem-born city girl. The poems invite young authors to write poetry of their own and set them into artistic collages. What would you do with an old faucet, some straws, a sponge and textured papers? Steptoe has used a wide variety of found objects to create fanciful creations that seem to spring from the page. Old tin pie plates make a silvery moon, while a baseball bat fashioned out of straws invites us to take "one last sip of summer." Children will enjoy the three-dimensional aspect of the creative artwork and teachers can use the book as a springboard for writing. 2001, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin, Ages 6 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-395-93868-6
Pocketful of Poems
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
Imaginations spin and fly when kids try writing their own stories and poems. Haiku, with its short, syllabic form and focus on image, offers an accessible model for budding poets. Acclaimed poet Nikki Grimes provides an abundance of playful haiku in A Pocketful of Poems. The speaker, a girl named Tiana, carries words in her pocket, takes them out, and fashions them into poems. Especially inspiring for young readers will be the idea that Tiana makes art from the things in her life. Poems can be about pumpkins, pigeons, and ordinary stuff! Javaka Steptoe's collage illustrations convey this idea visually. His use of cut paper and found objects-buttons, pie tins, feathers-will have kids creating their own pictures from things they pick up or collect. 2001, Clarion, Ages 5 to 10, $15.00. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-395-93868-6
Poems From Many Cultures
Compiled by Fiona Waters
While most of the poems in this collection can be found elsewhere, this is a useful multi-cultural anthology. The poems celebrate uniqueness but also reflect on the universal themes of love, friendship, and family that seem to unite rather than divide us. There is the simply stated pain of Yugoslavian poet Jon Milos who in Don't Ask me reflects on the harsh realties of war that have left him unable to care for anything but his work. An aboriginal mother laments in Spirit Belong Mother of the loss of one taken from her people. In Proud Old Man (Grandpa) Zimbabwean poet Paul Chilyausiku chides youth for their softness. Native American poet Eagle Wing points out the irony of the word Alabama that means, "here we have rest" but in this land for his people, "there is no spot under the stars that now smile upon us". We Are All in the Telephone Book by Langston Hughes seems to sum up the aim of this thought-provoking collection when he writes, " for generations men have dreamed of nations united as one". Buff pages with occasional blue or white illustrations that are uninspired give the book an austere look. There is an author index but an index of first lines would have been helpful. 2001, Evans Brothers Limited, Ages 14 to Adult, $19.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-237-52104-0
Poetry for Young People: Edward Lear
Edited by Edward Mendelson
Illustrations by Laura Huliska-Beith
Edward Lear is most well known for the hundreds of poems he wrote in the form called the limerick. In this new collection, many of his other works are introduced. Some, like "The Owl and the Pussycat," may be familiar, but there are many more that are not often included in collections of his poems. Lear's verses are full of rhythm and joy - it almost seems as if they should be set to music. All the characters in his poems, both real and imaginary, seek freedom and justice. This is a theme that is carried through all his work, and young readers will strongly identify with the urge to march to a different drummer. Lear's words make it OK to be unique. The lively illustrations by Laura Huliska-Beith fairly dance off the pages, adding to the sense of delight Lear's words bring. This collection is a marvelous introduction to a poet whose life's work was bringing joy to children. 2001, Sterling, Ages 3 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Joanne Draper
ISBN: 0-8069-3077-2
Points of View with Professor Peekaboo
John Agard
Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura
Although not every poem deals with an aspect of the environment, many of them do. A thought-provoking poem on the ozone ("With my little eye/ I Peekaboo spy/ something that begins with/ O"), sits alongside a poem about cloning ("Why have two of Peekaboo/ when one of Peekaboo would do?"). There are poems on the extinction of animals as well as languages. Professor Peekaboo also addresses personal hygiene ("Sitting alone/ on my throne/ commonly known/ as the loo…") and (I'm singing/ not in the rain/ but under the shower./ I'm having my soap-rano hour…"). There is one poem per page, and no titles are given. Occasionally, the rhyming and the cadence are a tad off, but that won't bother the middle school students who will appreciate the viewpoints of Professor Peekaboo. There is plenty of humor here to keep the readers turning the pages. Kitamura's black and white line drawn illustrations are the perfect accompaniment. They are quirky and comical when called for by the poems. 2001, Red Fox Book/ Random House Group, Ages 10 to 13, $8.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-09-941326-4
A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems
Selected by Paul Janeczko
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Twenty-seven offerings poke, prod, delight, confuse and surprise the reader/viewer with concrete poems, words that also shape an idea-like STOWaWAY. There are five choices from the master, Robert Froman, including his well-known lightbulb-shaped definition of a seeing poem. Raschka adds a delightful "Cat Chair"-a chunk of paper on which the word "cat" appears, largely claiming ownership of a torn-paper- rendered plush chair. A pair of Popsicle-shaped poems -- one obscure and challenging for older readers about childhood memories, by Robert Hollander, and another a sensory exploration that would appeal to younger readers, by Joan Bransfield Graham -- show how poets play with the same summer treat. Anyone, young to young adult, can see the humor in the way Monica Kulling's "Tennis Anyone?" makes your head turn back and forth from left page to right page just to read the poem. Raschka uses torn origami paper, checkered cloth, watercolors and ink to create quirky and slightly off-balance images and each double-page spread has some sort of unifying color or texture. What a treat-to see words, illustrations, and ideas at play. Even the endpapers, repeating fragments of Helen Chasin's "Joy Sonnet in a Random Universe," make you smile. La la la. Whack a doo. 2001, Ages 5 up, Candlewick Press, $15.99. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-7636-0661-8
Quilt Alphabet
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
"Each letter has a poem," a brief one with a clue to the word that letter begins. If the reader can't guess from the illustration, the answers are in the back, but most are pretty obvious. The imagery of the verse is more than an excuse for the quilt square-like letters and illustrations. The artist's choice of image ranges from a simple garden gate to a more complete scene of a scarecrow in a detailed landscape, painted with broad strokes that emphasize color relationships and basic forms, with direct visual appeal. 2001, Holiday House, Ages 3 to 6, $17.95.
Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-8234-1453-1
Rumpus of Rhymes
Bobbi Katz
Illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas
TSubtitled "A Book of Noisy Poems," this picture book lives up to its promise. The author takes a fresh, funny approach to poetry for children. The verses deal with kid-friendly topics, like slurping noodles, crunching potato chips and chomping chewing gum. There are poems about the sounds of the ocean surf, busy street noises and the "glubbita-GLUB" of an old washing machine. These poems beg to be read aloud, and most are rollicking fun. Additionally, many poems invite responsive reading or suggest accompanying "acting-out" motions that reader and listener may share. The full-color illustrations are humorous, loosely-rendered -- and bright-perfect companions for the bouncy text. Whether for library, classroom or home, this title is a good choice when it's "rhyme time." 2001, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 5 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 0-525-46718-1
Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo
Gifts for Kwanzaa might represent one of the holiday's seven principles. The first refers to unity, especially of family, community, nation, and race. The sixth recognizes the importance of creativity in building a stronger community. Carole Boston Weatherford's Sidewalk Chalk can be seen as a lyrical representation of both principles. Twenty poems bring to life a city neighborhood peopled with Bea the Beautician, animal lover Hazel Harris, and kids planting tire gardens, splashing in the park pool, and licking chocolate ice cream cones. Dimitrea Tokunbo's vibrant illustrations add a festive touch. 2001, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 7 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 1-56397-084-8
Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo
Twenty poems that capture the sights and sounds of modern American city life flow across this 32-page format picture book. Whether a visit to the laundromat, lunch at Moe's greasy spoon, an appointment at the beauty shop, or following the ice cream truck, ordinary events are celebrated. All the senses are aroused, from the smells of the city market to the sounds of the faithful to the gentle touch of caring family members. The language is rhythmic like a city street. The illustrations depict the city in all its colors-both bright and muted but always compelling and richly textured. They show what is good about an urban community in all its diversity. As the final poem states "where I live there are no trees to climb," but "dreams take root in concrete" and "my branches lift the sky." The book will serve to entice young city dwellers to celebrate poetry as well as themselves. 2001, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson
ISBN: 1-56397-084-8
Sing of the Earth and Sky
Aileen Fisher
Illustrations by Karmen Thompson
Inspired by the earth, moon, stars and sun, Fisher writes with quiet reflection and humor in this appealing poetry collection. Although it is uneven in quality, the poems have a rhythm and simplicity that make them easy to read and appreciate. Fisher seems to be at her best when she is playful, as in "The lawn is full of footprints golden tracks that show. /My father says they're dandelions. /I think they're sunprints, though." Black-and-white drawings are acceptable, however, a few splashes of color would have been an added touch. All in all, this is a very good collection to add to any size library. 2001, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 1-56397-802-4
Some From the Moon, Some From the Sun: Poems and Songs for Everyone
Margot Zemach
Some familiar traditional verses and some less known are collected here with illustrations done before the artist's death in 1989. The final six pages contain her autobiographical notes and additional illustrations. Her great talent for making lines live, for perceiving the essence in objects and showing them to us, is evident from the jumbled sketches on the end-papers on through the book. This collection includes impressionistic images along with others of linear specificity; the care in reproduction captures the subtlety of her pen and brush. A bibliography reminds us of the many gifts left us by this outstanding illustrator. 2001, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Ages 4 to 8, $17.00. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-374-39960-3
The Stable Rat and Other Christmas Poems
Julia Cunningham
Illustrated by Anita Lobel
A book for families who love to wonder¾there's nothing like sitting down as a family and taking the time to dream. Each year there seems a special book that offers an opportunity to gather, read, and marvel together. This year it's Julia Cunningham's The Stable Rat and Other Christmas Poems, a miracle of a book. The lyricism of Cunningham's sensory poems wraps around readers transporting them to the first Nativity night where they will be captivated by a variety of viewpoints. The crows set the scene with their hoarse Hosannas, mighty hymns/that thundered the tops of trees,/tossing their leaves/every which way. Coming closer to the manger, meet The Stable Rat, unnoticed in most nativity scenes. He paints pictures with insight and imagery, seeing the sheep, clotting their corner/in four mounds of wool/white as moons. His voice holds the envy of a small beast who is ...alone and gray, forgotten,/ a fill of skin so small among their legs. And then comes the magical moment when a small hand clutches his tail, giving him a halo like a flame a rising higher than the evening star-/a glory given me,/shadow and self together. Cunningham's carefully chosen words portray the psyches of many and the marvels of all with a beauty that lifts the reader to another realm. Anita Lobel, moved by the poems, has created illustrations that portray the aches, joys, curiosities, triumphs and wonderment of that first Christmas. 2001, Greenwillow, Ages 6 to adult, $15.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-688-17799-9
Stepping Out with Grandma Mac
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Angelo
The word love is not part of Grandma Mac's vocabulary, but it is in her heart. She isn't the cuddly type; in fact, she has few of the typical characteristics of grandmothers. Yet she loves her granddaughter fiercely. Told in first person by the unnamed granddaughter, these free-verse poems are poignant, humorous, honest and full of love-and are sometimes reflect disagreements between grandmother and granddaughter. Each of the twenty poems is short and centered on one or two pages. Angelo's colored illustration of the pair on the book jacket, the two full-page, black-and-white illustrations in the book and the small, sparse black-and-white drawings throughout are just enough to give the reader an image of the spunky preteen and her just-as-spunky grandmother. Grimes and Angelo have produced a delightfully warm book of poetry that belongs on every the shelves of every library. 2001, Orchard Books/Scholastic, Ages 9 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0-531-30320-9
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
As the title suggests, these short stories and poems are for the adult child as well as the youngster. Open the book anywhere and find a story or poem that is delightful, thought provoking, or perfect for sharing. Harold Bloom has selected great authors from the 19th century and earlier, authors who are mainly known for their adult classics. He believes that if children are given good literature, they will be encouraged to read, no longer bored with mundane stories. The poems and stories are not hard to understand. A reader need only persevere to comprehend the selection. "It is by extending oneself, by extending some capacity previously unused that you come to a better knowledge of your own potential." Lewis Carroll's character, Alice, is featured, a character that could empower children to stand up for what they know is right. Kipling's The Elephant's Child, Walt Whitman's A Noiseless Patient Spider, Aesop's Fables, Stephen Crane's The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, and Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat are among the long time favorites of young and old alike. 2001, Scribner, Ages 7 up, $27.50. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose
ISBN: 0-684-86873-3
Storm Coming
Audrey B. Baird
Illustrations by Patrick O'Brien
Twenty-two poems by the author bring every aspect of storms alive for readers. In "Edge of the Storm," "nervous clouds, dark as raven's wing," gather. "Dull, Dumb Day" evokes the boredom that rainy days can bring to children who would rather be playing outside. Everything in the yard and down the street disappears in the poem "Fog." Running the gamut from humorous to melancholy, each poem is true to life and will give readers a new reason for appreciating stormy weather. The illustrations add dimension and texture to the poetry, although some succeed better than others. O'Brien's strongest artwork depicts the landscape with storms approaching and the later interior scenes with the storms raging outside. 2001, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson
ISBN: 1-56397-887-3
Summer, An Alphabet Acrostic
Steven Schnur
Illustrated by Leslie Evans
Close your eyes and let childhood images of summer flow freely into your mind's eye. This is the effect of this series of acrostics. Each page springs us into the glowing warmth of the season, enticing us outdoors and into New England-like action. Nap under the shade of a striped canopy. Hum with the wind and waves along a sandy beach. Admire the dance of the morning sparkle on the lake from a secluded cabin. Dart from daisy to daisy with the whimsical dragonfly. Twist and entwine yourself up the staircase with red and purple clusters of grapes. Hike amid the tall pines. Doze idly with a Black Lab above the emerald grass in a swinging hammock. Race the wind in an eager sailboat. Celebrate the flash of the fireflies from a porch swing. Notice the chunky trunks beginning to stack under the window, readying for fireside chats and cooler nights. Crisp images embrace us, capturing our memories and inviting us to bask in the glow of summer. Interesting vocabulary and a unique acrostic style make this an excellent model for the creative writing classroom. Joined with Schnur and Evans' Autumn and Spring, the set also makes for an inspiring study of the seasons. 2001, Clarion Books, Ages 3 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Leslie Julian
ISBN: 0-618-02372-0
Sun Dance Water Dance
Jonathan London
Illustrated by Greg Couch
TThe joys of summer, swimming, childhood, watching the shooting stars and endless days are brought alive in this absolutely wonderful book of verse. Bright, fun, lively full-page illustrations surround the poetic words that describe the pleasures of being a child in the summer heat. The children are at a summer cabin in the mountains along a river and one can feel the bliss and timelessness of their days as they play and swim all day long. The fluidity of the illustrations matches the tone of the verse to create a pleasurable reading experience. This is a highly recommended picture book for its playful verse and sensational illustrations. 2001, Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Putnam, Ages 3 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill
ISBN: 0-525-46682-7
Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writings by Teenage Girls
Edited by Betsy Franco
Photographs by Nina Nickles
Writer and poet Betsy Franco has set out to capture the joys, sorrows, complaints and concerns of teenage girls. This compilation of over thirty poems and commentaries, each written by girls ranging in age from 14 to 18, captures the essence of what it means to be a female adolescent today. From discussions of the Women's Movement to self-esteem to sexual orientation, a variety of issues are covered. Some of the poems follow traditional verse with neat and tidy rhymes, whereas others are more unique, breaking free of conventional forms, reading more like pronouncements about the state of frustration or sadness of the writer. The expressive black-and-white photos that accompany the writing add to the strength of this anthology. This book is a great gift for any teenage girl. 2001, Candlewick Press, Ages 14 up, $15.99 and $8.99. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede
ISBN: 0-7636-0905-6
ISBN: 0-7636-1035-6
This Is the Ocean
Kersten Hamilton
Illustrated by Lorianne Siomades
Brief rhymes take us from the ocean through the rain cycle as the sun lifts the moisture to clouds, which release the rain over the mountains. The rain forms brooks, which run into rivers, through valleys and marshes, back into the sea. The journey is described simply but in language rich with figurative description. Siomades parallels the text's versified telling with cut-paper creatures and landscapes designed more for eye-appeal than scientific accuracy. The double pages present pink porpoises, purple goats, and a gull riding a turtle; all recognizable but attractively simplistic, making the journey from cloud to ocean easy to follow. More facts are presented in prose at the end. 2001, Caroline House/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 3 to 6, $14.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 1-56397-890-3
Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny
Bill Grossman
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
The team that brought readers My Little Sister Ate One Hare is back together with another gleeful collection of poetry and equally amusing art. The laughs start on the title page with Dad imprisoned in a green bottle from the poem "Poor Dad." When the kids couldn't free him from the witch's curse, they returned the bottle for the nickel deposit. The image on the acknowledgement page comes from a poem entitled "Skinny Young Jane," who unfortunately ends up going down the drain. There is plenty of word play, as in "John Paul Mullers/Got coated with colors/When some buckets of paint blew apart./ We put John Paul/In a frame on the wall./Now everyone knows him as "Art."" Most of the poems are presented on two-page spreads and the text and illustrations are all big and bold. It is irreverent and that is certainly part of the attraction. 2001, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-028010-7
ISBN: 0-06-028758-6
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems
Kristine O'Connell George
Illustrated by Kate Kiesler
Anyone who has ever gone on a family camping trip will delight in this simple yet affecting collection of poems. With a child's eye view, and with simple, well-chosen words, Ms. George captures the joys and trepidations of living outdoors. In "Campfire," she writes, "Warm front. Cold back. I turn around. Warm back. Cold front. I turn around. I lean against Mom, my head on her shoulder. Warm all over." Other titles include, "Abandoned Cabin," "Sleeping Bag," "Storm," "Mosquito Song," "Forest Walk," and "Flashlight." Beautiful, ethereal watercolor illustrations accompany the verses. One can almost see the starlit night, taste the marshmallows, and hear the buzzing insects as words and illustrations combine in this unique collaboration. 2001, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin, Ages 5 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
ISBN: 0-618-04597-X
The Usborne Book of Animal Poems
Illustrations by Stephen Cartwright
Mammals, amphibians, reptiles and more are all represented here in this small anthology of poems. From cats to parrots to anacondas, these poems seem to capture the nuances and characteristics of most of the animal kingdom. All of the poems are new by contemporary poets, which makes this collection unique from others that usually include several classics. The small, humorous illustrations that accompany the lyrics give the book a light, fun feel. And this new edition makes the book more portable. 2001 (orig. 1990), Ages 5 to 7, Usborne, $6.95. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede
ISBN: 0-7460-0442-7
Voices
Barbara Brenner
April also gives us a chance to be thankful for the rhythms, rhymes, images, and verse that is poetry. Barbara Brenner takes families on a "voyage of discovery" in Voices, which offers poems and art from around the world. What a way to celebrate National Poetry Month! Even skimming the book, readers will find random lines that delight and move-"Typewriter of breeze in the leaves from Brazil; The memory of my father is wrapped in white paper/like slices of bread for a day's work" from Israel; and "The night tinkles like ice in glasses" from Scotland. A rich collection, indeed. 2001, National Geographic Society, Ages 9 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-7922-7071-1
Wachale! Poetry and Prose About Growing Up Latino in America
Edited by Ilan Stavans
This wonderful anthology captures the essence of the Latino culture in America. Written in part Spanish and part English, it includes excerpts from famous Latin American authors, such as Rolando Hinojosa-Smith and Virgil Suarez; poets, such as Gary Soto and Carolina Hospital; songwriters, such as Woody Guthrie; and other Latinos who have made an impact on their people in America, such as Achy Obejas and Ruth Behar. These writings depict the struggles, traditions, and stories of this culture and how Latinos have shaped modern-day American society. This book covers a wide range of issues from food to dance to political hardship to discrimination to poverty. It also gives a voice to a large portion of our population, who has typically been overlooked or misunderstood. This is a great learning tool for gaining insight into this culture as well as a wonderful book for all Latino students searching for their cultural identity. 2001, Cricket Books, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede
ISBN: 0-8126-4750-5
Way to Go: Sports Poems
Lillian Morrison
Illustrations by Susan Spellman
Ask most children if sports and poetry have anything to do with one another, and they will turn up their noses at you. To most of us, sports are so active and alive, but we perceive poetry as dull and boring. It is one of those things that our teachers make us do. This anthology by Lillian Morrison definitely dispels the myth that poetry is dull. These poems are very much alive and active, as they accurately depict the feeling of a particular sport, such as basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, track and field, skiing, snowboarding, sailing, surfing, biking, skateboarding, and even rollerbladding. She also has a series of poems that capture the spirit of sports as a whole. So no matter what sport readers are into, there is something to be gleaned from this book. You will feel like you are on the tennis court in poems like "The Ace at Match Point" and on the basketball court in "Solitary Practice." You will sympathize with the narrator in "Perfect Pass" and in "Cross-country Elation." So for any reader interested in sports, this is also a great way to get them interested in poetry and in expressing how sports make them feel. 2001, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 7 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede
ISBN: 1-56397-961-6
When Riddles Come Rumbling: Poems to Ponder
Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrations by Karen Dugan
Have you ever been stumped by a really hard riddle, only to find out it was talking about something simple, like something you have laying around the house? Riddles can challenge our minds to think of everyday things in a new way. Poetry can do the same thing. That is why this wonderful collection of riddle poems that "weaves words/into puzzles" is so fascinating. Parents and children can read them and try to piece together all of the clues to come up with the correct answer. For instance, can you figure this out-"I boom,/I pop,/I stay up late-/my neon colors/decorate?" Each page provides a new challenge, first to understand the lyric and then to think of what it is describing. Fortunately, Karen Dugan's wonderful illustrations give us further clues when we are stumped. Overall, this book is an excellent exercise in poetry and a great introduction to riddles and logic puzzles. Its fun rhymes and vivid pictures are sure to provide hours of enjoyment. 2001, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 7 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede
ISBN: 1-56397-846-6
When the Moon is Full: A Lunar Year
Penny Pollock
Illustrated by Mary Azarian
In this book that names the twelve full moons of the year by their Native American names, Azarian's woodcut illustrations are engaging and full of detail and quite nicely reflect the appropriate month of the year. However, the short poem by Pollock that accompanies each illustration leaves the reader unimpressed. Pollock's short note following each poem is either an over-simplified statement about the month or is an inaccurate statement that lumps the beliefs of all Native American tribes into one. The two pages of questions and answers about the moon at the end of the book may be the most redeeming part about the text. It is a shame that the appeal of Azarian's woodcuts is lost with the weak text. 2001, Little Brown and Company, Ages 5 to 9, $15.99. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0-316-71317-1
Who's Been Sleeping in My Porridge?
Colin McNaughton
This collection of poems by McNaughton will not disappoint his legion of fans. Author of more than sixty books and three International Reading Association Children's Choices Awards, McNaughton continues to do what he does best: "being silly and "messing about." His new volume of wacky poems and weird verses about people and creatures of all shapes, sizes, smells, and habits will generate howls of delight from energetic readers. The antics of the characters in various poems can be gross at times, but children will adore them for different reasons. "Romeo, O Romeo" is a comical spin on Shakespeare's famous play. Do you want to know why junior boy has a fascination for motorcyles? Read "They Call Me Harley-Man, Ah'm Cool!" Not everything is mildly disrespectful. There is a serious message in some of the poems like "Said the Boy to the Dinosaur," where the importance of good manners is vividly illustrated. Overall, the seventy poems in this collection are silly and lighthearted, but are bound to be crowd pleasers like McNaughton's numerous other poems. 2001 (orig. 1998), Candlewick Press, Ages 8 to 12, $4.99. Reviewer: Jeanette Lambert
ISBN: 0-7636-0106-3
ISBN: 0-7636-1380-0
Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People
Bonnie Christensen
This bold, picture book biography of the well-known composer of over a thousand songs invites a whole new audience of readers learn about Guthrie's work. Illustrated in dramatic mixed media with black-lined, woodcut-like illustrations tinted in dusty pastel shades, the pictures compel the reader's attention with their fresh depiction of the Dust Bowl era and Woody's later involvement with workers from many occupations. Christensen's text presents highlights and lowlights of Woody's life with enough detail and poetry to make this a joy to read aloud. Verses from four songs, with the complete text of "This Land is Your Land," are included at the end, giving readers a much-too-modest sample of his music. But an important part of the design element are the idiosyncratically hand-written verses from "This Land...," lilting in blue across the top of each page as if to remind the reader that Woody's life was threaded together with a concern for poor and unfairly treated people. A timeline of "Important Events" further rounds out the portrait of Guthrie. Kathy Jakobsen's more brightly colored illustrations for the song found in her book This Land is Your Land, features an appreciation by Pete Seeger and a short double-page biography that augments Christensen's book but does not supplant it. All in all, this book is a stunning and worthy tribute to one of America's most influential songwriters and the founding father of the folk singing movement that grew strong in the Thirties and once again in the Fifties. 2001, Knopf, Ages 8 to 12, $18.99 and $16.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-375-91113-8
ISBN: 0-375-81113-3
Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art
Belinda Rochelle
TWhat a powerful collection of poetry and art by African-American authors and artists! Rochelle has paired poems and works of art that express the despair, strength, courage, loss and hope that represent the unquenchable African-American spirit. By selecting poems and art that span over a century of the African experience in America, Rochelle brings together works that might otherwise seem dichotomous. The book is perhaps most powerful to those adults who have experienced or witnessed events represented in the poems and art, yet it can serve as a learning/sharing tool with children and young adults, to preserve the memory of the scaled hurdles of past generations. The reader's emotions will run the gamut with this collection. Selecting a favorite poem or work of art is impossible, yet most remain indelibly marked in the mind and heart. The addition of biographical information about each poet and artist makes the book an important addition for any poetry collection. 2001, HarperCollins, Ages 8 up, $16.95. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0-688-16415-3
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