Poetry 2004    April is National Poetry Month. It was first inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. National Poetry Month brings together teachers, students, community memebers, and others around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Enjoy some of the recently published books of poems, or read about the power of writing poetry or the poets that create them. Visit the Academy of American Poets at http://www.poets.org to find a poem or a poet or for teaching ideas, journal articles, and other resources and suggestions for how to celebrate National Poetry Month.    One of the best known kid's poetry awards is that initiated by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Presented annually by Penn State University, the Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award recognizes excellence in poetry. It is given to an American poet or compiler for a work published in the previous year. 2004 Winner is Stephen Mitchell for The Wishing Bone and Other Poems, illustrated by Tom Pohrt (Candlewick) the Honorees are Animal Sense by Diane Ackerman with illustration by Peter Sis (Knopf), Blues Journey by Walter Dean Myers with illustrations by Christopher Myers (Holiday House), The Pond God and Other Stories by Samuel Jay Keyser with illustrations by Robert Shetterly (Front Street), and The Way a Door Closes by Hope Anita Smith with illustrations by Shane W. Evans (Henry Holt). All of these books are reviewed in our selection of poetry books and some other written in rhyme that may appeal to the youngest listners. Follow this link for more infomation about the Lee Bennet Hopkins Award Celebrate National Poetry Month in April, and Extend Your Celebration to Year-Round! Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets (AAP) in 1996, and sponsored by NCTE, ALA, MLA, and other groups, National Poetry Month brings together poetry lovers of all varieties to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. This year the AAP has launched a Web-based National Poetry Almanac, featuring 365 days' worth of poetry highlights, activities, ideas, and history for individual exploration and classroom use. The AAP kicks off the Almanac this month with "30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month." Read more about Almanac and National Poetry Month on the AAP Web site at http://www.poets.org/npm/. Langston Hughes Poetry Circles NCTE is sponsoring Langston Hughes Poetry Circles in cooperation with the Langston Hughes National Poetry Project at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and the AAP. The goal is to bring Hughes’s poetry to the public via formal and informal opportunities to read, speak, listen, and discuss his poems. NCTE members, schools, and communities are invited to take part. For more information, visit http://www.ncte.org/prog/poetry NCTE Poetry Resources For NCTE poetry resources, including teaching ideas, journal articles, and books, visit http://www.ncte.org/profdev/online/ideas/freq/116252.htm Parenthood.com Promotes the Power of Poetry NCTE members Georgia Heard, Jim Brewbaker, Mary Kenner Glover, Gloria Pipkin, and Regie Routman profess the perks of poetry. This article also includes tips for encouraging children to write poetry and suggests kid-friendly poetry books and Web sites. http://topics_a-z.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3827 Reviews Ancient Voices Kate Hovey Illustrations by Murray Kimber    If you don't know your Greek and Roman mythology, the poems in this collection will not carry much impact. For that reason, the publishers suggested age of 8 is in my opinion a bit too young. Even though kids may know a bit about the gods and goddesses and perhaps the Trojan War-the sophisticated stories will not be appreciated until they are much older. A good example is "Hera's Lament" in which she reflects on her marriage to Zeus and why she finally gave in after refusing him for three hundred years. "Would I be better off all alone?" The various sections are introduced with quotes from classical works such as those by Hesiod, Homer Anakreon, and Ovid. The artwork is often dark both in color and in the mood or sentiment depicted. The poems are really wonderful, but as noted earlier unless you have a basis for understanding what they are about, the book will not have great appeal. For students of the classics-this is a great purchase. For third graders, it is not appropriate. Even the Appendices with their explanations about the gods and goddesses as well as the bibliography are aimed at more knowledgeable students. 2004, McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, Ages 12 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-83342-3 Animal Sense Diane Ackerman Illustrated by Peter Sis    As one would expect from the title, this collection of 15 poems (including the introductory one) all relate to the senses (touch, hearing, vision, smell, and taste), which for animals and humans are pretty much the same. The book design is interesting--Sis has drawn a very simple human face on the left-hand page with a solid color page opposing. On this page, one word that names the sense appears to introduce the poems by Ackerman that follow. Sis has also developed other more complex illustrations for Ackerman's poems. Among those that kids will find amusing is the one about owls in the section concerning vision. "Consider the owl: a pair of binoculars with wings, / all eyes, giant eyes that swivel and swing / to spy tasty morsels..." I enjoyed the one about the skunk in the section relating to smell. "'Oh yeah' / says the skunk. / 'You, just keep provoking / me, and I'll spray you with a smell / that's rotten and rancid / and scummy and beastly...' " The poems are printed in different colors -- a plus and a minus, because sometimes the small type is hard to read, which is unfortunate because most of these do have kid appeal. 2002, Knopf, $14.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature) Best Books: Top 10 Youth Poetry, 2003 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book 2004 United States ISBN: 0-375-82384-0 ISBN: 0-375-92384-5 Ann and Seamus Kevin Major Illustrations by David Blackwood     The historical facts are few, but the story woven around them is captivating. Ann was a fisherman's daughter living in Isle aux Morts, or Island of the Dead, Newfoundland in 1828 when the Despatch ran aground. Her father was awarded a gold medal by the Royal Humane Society in London for the rescue of 163 people, but he was quick to hand the medal over to his daughter, Ann, the true hero. Major takes these facts as his frames and tells the story of a girl who wonders what she could ever become, trapped on a rocky coast, yearning to learn to read and to see the world across the sea. It is also the story of Seamus, an Irish immigrant crossing the Atlantic on the Despatch and wondering what life holds in store. When the Despatch is wrecked near Ann's home, she rows with her father through the storm to bring the survivors into safety, then helps nurse them back to health. While Seamus sees Ann for the hero she is and begs her to leave with him, Ann realizes how much she loves her home and the life she has. The story is told in verse, and is accompanied by simple and striking artwork. 2003, Groundwood Books/ Douglas and McIntyre, Ages 12 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Rebecca Watson ISBN: 0-88899-561-X Blues Journey Walter Dean Myers Illustrated by Christopher Myers    A young man sits strumming a guitar on the left-hand page while on the right the author presents an explanation of the birth and development of "a truly American music, the blues." This book successfully presents "the lyrics as a poetry form." The astounding artwork was created using blue ink, white paint and brown paper bags. Each illustration strikes a strong emotional chord, as one reads, or sings, the words in the call and response. Walter Dean Myers sets the stage perfectly with the first lyrics, "blues, blues, blues,/ blues, what you mean to me?/ Blues, blues, blues,/ blues, what you mean to me?/ Are you my pain and misery,/ or my sweet company?" Whether the topic of the song is a broad social issue such as slavery, or the more intimate loss of love, the reader feels the impact. The color blue with its many hues has been used most effectively to highlight a person or an object on the page. Christopher Myers has created wonderful facial expressions, incredible body language and a sense of movement on these pages, which enhance the reader's sensibilities of the poetry. This father-son team has truly created a sense of the blues in a picture book format. But don't let the format fool you. The depth of the African American experience is here. Every time I read this and look at the illustrations I see and feel something new. Extraordinary! A Time Line presents important names as well as dates, and a Blues Glossary adds important details for a deeper understanding of the lyrics presented. 2003, Holiday House, $18.95 Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature) Best Books: Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2003; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004 ; Children's Literature; United States Notable Children's Books, 2004; American Library Association-ALSC; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2003; Cahners; United States Top 10 Art Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Picture Book United States Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book 2004 United States ISBN: 0-8234-1613-5 Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum Lisa Wheeler Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith     If you like longer poems, this book will suit you just. A story poem about bubble gum and a variety of animals' sticky encounters. The rhythm is bouncy, springy, not too sticky. "Bubble gum, bubble gum, chewy-gooey bubble gum, icky-sticky bubble gum melting in the road. Along comes a goad…A fine, fat toad, A fine, fat, wild - SPLAT!- wart backed toad. Ew! Yuck! The toad got stuck!" Many creatures follow toad until they're all threatened by a truck heading at them (never play in the street kidlets!) and they rescue themselves using the gum. Fun read aloud. 2004, Megan Tingley Books/Little Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Levin ISBN: 0-316-98894-4 A Child's Garden of Verses Robert Louis Stevenson Compiled by Cooper Edens     These classic poems and the equally classic illustrations have been repackaged in a board book format. The poems are fairly complex even for an older reader and the idea that they will be appreciated and understood by children under the age of four seems to be a bit of a stretch. Perhaps the soothing sounds are sufficient and perhaps it is never too soon to introduce complex language, but I do think children of this age will get a lot more enjoyment out of simple nursery rhymes. This board book, in my opinion is really not one I would select for young children. It may be quite useful in programs where children who are older cannot handle regular books and it may even appeal to grandparents and great-grandparents who enjoy looking at the pictures created nearly 100 years ago. 2004 (orig. 1989), Chronicle Books, Ages 6 mo to 4, $6.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-8118-4168-5 A City Is Norman Rosten Collected and Edited by Patricia Rosten Filan Illustrated by Melanie Hope Greenberg     The free verse and the artwork celebrate the essence of New York City. There is great child appeal here with red fire trucks charging down a city street, a boat-filled harbor and a park full of children playing. The seasonal changes are represented, too, by springtime kite flying (" Look! It just broke away! Hope it lands on a soft place/ like a pillow, or cloud."); a sudden summer shower ("The birds sing while taking a bath/in puddles and wet grass."); the squirrels gathering nuts in the autumn ("burying nuts against the frost,/ closing storm windows/ wherever their secret houses are…"); and snow falling in winter ("Snow makes the city very quiet-/ you can even whisper and be heard."). A child and his mother are pictured in many of the two-page spreads, adding even more interest to each illustration. While it should be read for its pure enjoyment, this is also a great title to use in the curriculum on city themes, rivers and bridges, mapmaking, and seasons. 2004, Henry Holt, Ages 5 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo ISBN: 0-8050-6793-0 Come to the Great World: Poems from Around the Globe Selected by Wendy Cooling Illustrated by Shelia Moxley     The poems collected here bring us into the world of children. How they "play, talk and sing." Not only will kids see themselves, but they will also come to appreciate the differences in others around the world who are their age. Several of the poets are quite well know such as Shelia Hamanaka who writes about the varieties in skin color and hair as she describes kids of all colors in her poem "All the Colors of the Earth. Shelia Moxley's illustrations such as the one that accompanies this poem are both fanciful and reflective of the central message. She does depict children of various hues but in an interesting and eye-catching style. Grace Nichols' of Guyana and England gives a look at what it is like to have kinky curly hair in her poem "Granny "Granny Please Comb My Hair" echoes a pretty universal theme about the care of a grandmother versus that of an overworked mother. The young girls asks her granny to comb her hair, because she knows that granny will do it nice and slow and use coconut oil to make it easy to comb and give it a nice sheen. A couple of classic poets are featured such as Robert Louis Stevenson with his "Paper Boats" and "The Swing.' These poems illustrate playtime as do others that feature kite flying, singing, and even children's favorite foods. The fact that some children live in pretty unpleasant circumstances is not ignored and there are two poems about children who live in poverty. At the end of the selections there is a two-page spread that provides readers with brief information about the featured poets. This is another attractive collection for teachers and librarians seeking out books for National Poetry Month or just for the pure pleasure of reading poems. 2004, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-8234-1822-7 Ellington Was Not a Street Ntozake Shange Illustrations by Kadir Nelson    The text of Shange's emotion-packed free verse is spread, a line or two, across the tall double pages. It is rich with the memories of a Harlem childhood, warm with family love, and filled with encounters with men of vision "who changed the world," such as Paul Robeson, W.E.B.Dubois, "Dizzy" Gillespie, and Duke Ellington. All those mentioned appear at the end with small portraits and descriptions of who they were. Naturalistic oil paintings, almost like a family album of color photographs, record the details of rooms and the people in them; a posed group shot of 30 friendly people adds specific vitality to the text's more general memories. The final full-length portrait of Ellington is stunning in its elegant directness, illuminating the man's gentle spirituality. 2004 (orig. 1983), Simon & Schuister Books for Young Readers, Ages 8 up, $15.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz ISBN: 0-689-82884-5 Every Day's a Holiday: Amusing Rhymes for Happy Times Dean Koontz Illustrated by Phil Parks    Koontz is famous for his suspense novels with spooky plots. His poetry is anything but ordinary. These poems celebrate a year's worth of holidays, both traditional and unexpected, with humorous verse. From New Year's Eve all the way through the year to Kwanza, Koontz observes holidays with a twist. On Father's Day, for example, he writes, "Dad says because of me he's losing his hair/ Watching him go bald, I know he must care." His poems about Lost Tooth Day and Dino Day will reduce a fifth grade classroom to laughter. Readers will chuckle madly over the descriptions of crazy antics in "Holidays on Other Planets." Despite the delightfully sly phrases, he does have a serious side. His poems for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Memorial Day are simple and powerful. Each quirky poem is accompanied by a delightful black-and-white illustration that urges the reader to linger on the poem. Most of the poems are written in couplets, making it easy for youngsters to memorize a favorite stanza. His work is similar to some of Jack Prelutsky's more outrageous poems. Youngsters will enjoy reading these poems to each other. "Cat Day" would be a great poem for two voices. Librarians will find a way to incorporate the poem that celebrates National Book Week into their activities that week. The object of the book is to have fun with poetry, and it meets its objective. It is not a work of great literature; it is simply fun. The index is very useful. Nonfiction (811). Grades 4-9. 2003, HarperCollins, 127p., $18.89. Ages 9 to 15. Reviewer: Becky Young (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 3)) ISBN: 0-06-008584-? Falling for Rapunzel Leah Wilcox Illustrated by Lydia Monks     This fabulous fractured fairy tale will have readers giggling from beginning to end. Our fabulous prince comes upon Rapunzel's castle as she is lamenting a bad hair day. Mistaking her cries as a plea for help, the prince instructs Rapunzel to throw down her hair. Unfortunately, Rapunzel has a slight hearing problem and throws down her underwear instead. The folly continues, with the prince calling for curly locks, silky tresses, rope, twine and a ladder and receiving instead dirty socks, silky dresses, cantaloupe, swine and pancake batter (which Rapunzel points out is better after it's cooked). Finally he calls for her to throw down her braid and Rapunzel pitches the maid out the window. This turns out to be a good thing, as the prince thinks the maid is pretty cute. The prince and the maid ride off into the sunset as Rapunzel expresses a desire for future guests to use the door. The text's rhyming couplets add to the fun and frolic, while Monks' illustrations combine acrylic paint, paper montage and colored pencils into outstanding illustrations that are both interesting and humorous. Any library with young patrons needs a copy. 2003, GP Putnam's Sons, Age 4 to 10, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver ISBN: 0-399-23794-1 Grandparent Poems Compiled by John Micklos, Jr. Illustrations by Layne Johnson     Lucky is the child who has loving and caring grandparents. I am happy to say that I was certainly one. My grandparents were the ones who always had time to spend with me and they seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say and what I did. They were also a source of much information and may skills, such as cooking, knitting, sewing, playing card games, talking about things my parents did when they were my age and just generally there when I needed to talk to adult. This collection of poems celebrates those wonderful grandparents. In a nod to modern lifestyles, there is even a new grandmother (a remarriage) which in this case seems to have been quite positive. The picture of her holding a fragrant blossom shows a sweet gentleness which is a real contrast to the inset on the opposing page with grandpa racing off in a red sports car. Some granddaddies serve as daddies (more than five million grandparents are raising grandchildren) and some grandparents kids will never know because they are no longer alive, but they are remembered with love. A heartwarming collection by many well know poets such as Nikki Grimes, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Grace Nichols, Jeff Moss and Lee Bennett Hopkins that every grandparent will probably want to share with his or her favorite grandchild. 2004, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 5 up, $15.95 Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 1-56397-900-4 Heartbeat Sharon Creech     Annie is a young girl with an amazing sense of who she is and what she wants. A runner, Annie uses that time to think and see the world around her. Her friend Max runs desperately as if the only thing that matters is to cross the finish line. Much is going on in Annie's life with her Grandfather's memory failing --a harbinger of his mortality--and Mom is pregnant a new life is beginning. Creech uses both the running and Annie's interest in art as metaphors in this well-told tale. Annie refuses to join the track team because it will make running a win/lose endeavor. She wants to enjoy the journey. In art she is required to do 100 sketches of an apple. Her final sketches reveal the apple's essence and how it comes down to a single seed in both the beginning and the end of the apple. Grandpa holding baby Joey at the end of the book reflects life in that same way. Life does have a rhythm, a heartbeat, and perhaps listening to it and enjoying the miracle of it all is the way to go. Creech's choice of poetry as a form fits well with the rhythm of this book. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14, $15.99. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. Heartbeat Sharon Creech     Heartbeat carries the thread of a story but is written like a journal in free verse. It is reminiscent of Love that Dog with even a few good English lessons along the way (1), but twelve-year-old Annie is older than Jack and struggling with adolescence. There is the sadness of her Grandfather's Alzheimer's but also her mother's patience in dealing with it. There is the "alien baby" in her mother's tummy who is born with the help of a midwife: "I tell him he is a miracle and that he is perfect in every way". There is her friend Max with whom she runs barefoot. Max so wants Annie to be on the track team but Annie so loves to run by herself. Throughout the journaling, Annie describes an assignment to draw 100 pictures of an apple. A single apple. That process alone will generate fascinating discussions as will Annie's explorations of "should" and "supposed to" versus "want" and "fear", conformity versus individuality. The promotional bookmark proclaims "Be who you are." Annie does that superbly, but it's never quite as easy as it seems. With the "thump-THUMP thumb-THUMP" of Heartbeat, Sharon Creech invites us to smile and ponder all the ways there are to look at life, or an apple. (1) Annie is learning how and when to use footnotes. She "pictured little notes on her feet." 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 14, $15.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett ISBN: 0-06-054023-0 Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems Kristine O'Connell George Illustrated by Barry Moser     The reader joins the poet in the joy of discovering that a hummingbird has chosen this place to built her nest and hatch her babies. We anxiously await their arrival and are saddened when they finally leave the nest. Each poem is dated and the observations of that day are recorded in lyrical, well-cadenced language. Even the observations of the dog and cat are included. In "The Cat Remarks" we read, "I'm locked in jail,/ can't go outside./ I'm a prisoner-/ because of a bird./ How absurd." Descriptions of the nestlings and their feedings create marvelous images and draw out the reader's emotions. Moser's watercolor illustrations, which leave plenty of cream-color space on each page, are just right for these journal entries. Various perspectives of the nest give us both human and bird's eye views. He shows an empty, broken eggshell next to a ball and jacks for relevant size while the poet describes them as "ivory scraps" and "empty cradles." George states in her note in the back that this is based on an actual incident that occurred at her home. Additional information on hummingbirds is included in the back matter. This is a beautiful, quiet, thoughtful book that captures a wonder of nature as it captivates the reader in its fine phrasing and inviting artwork. 2004, Harcourt Children's Books, Ages 6 to 9, $16.00. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo ISBN: 0-15-202325-9 If Kids Ruled the School: More Kids' Favorite Funny School Poems Selected by Bruce Lansky Illustrated by Stephen Carpenter     Bruce Lansky has anthologized numerous funny poems and this sequel to Kids Pick the Funniest Poems includes reference to a wide variety of school experiences. Poems, written by mostly first-timers, keep company with one poem each from practiced and published versifiers, such Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, Jane Yolen, Judith Viorst, and Lansky himself. Situations include the brand new pencil before it's chewed; embarrassments such as ripping your pants in school or having a terrible hair day; excuses of all sorts; plus typical class characters such as the pest, the know-it-all, and the shy; and special teachers who go broke paying you to be good are all part of the mix. Lansky anthologized a collection of more well-known poets in No More Homework! No More Tests! and it is refreshing to see this number of new versifiers on the scene along with Carpenter's cartoonish illustrations which are typically included in collections of this sort. Kids will giggle while adults may note that these poems have mostly all been "done before." However, the collection holds up well and will no doubt be passed around from reader to reader in the second through fourth grades. A teacher might even read aloud a selection to break up the day…or the class! We all like to laugh at ourselves knowingly. 2004, Meadowbrook Press/Simon & Schuster, Ages 7 to 11, $8.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-689-03273-0 In Our Backyard Garden Eileen Spinelli Pictures by Marcy Ramsey     A wonderful story about an extended family is told in poetic verse. The setting is a garden somewhere in the country or suburbia. Grandpa has a tradition of planting a tree when a new member of the family is born. The tree and the baby will get to grow up together. The family in these poems is one that has city relatives who come out to the country to visit and enjoy the fresh vegetables and company of their country kin. It is real in that families have spats, girls have boyfriends, one aunt falls in love and marries the postman in a summer backyard wedding, and the Dad is currently out of work and looking of a job. The story is always upbeat and the illustrations add much to the charm and bring out the humor in the verses, such as granddaughter and grandfather talking to the pumpkin and the pumpkin having what appears to be a smiling face. Then baby brother spits up on cousin Liz's boyfriend Brian's head and Brian doesn't seem to be the least bit perturbed. The tire marks and trail of mayhem that Aunt Lois leaves when she decides to learn to drive is also a scene that will bring smiles. Kids and parents will enjoy this story poem as well as all of the activity, animals, flowers and more that appear in the pictures as one travels through a year in this family's life and their country garden. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-82666-4 In the Land of Words: New and Selected Poems Eloise Greenfield Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist     "In the land of words, I stand as still as a tree, and let the words rain down on me." Words simply flow to the author from her memory, imagination, or a dream. The book is divided into two parts. With each poem in the first section comes an explanation of how it came to mind. There are poems about babies, making friends, flowers and music. Thinking about patience inspired, "It takes more than a wish to catch a fish..." The second section contains poems about books, riddles, and words. Twenty-one poems in the collection explore the magic of putting words together to create a poem. Sewn fabric collages grace each page with whimsy and charm. Greenfield and Gilchrist, Coretta Scott King Award winners, have issued an invitation of inspiration for children to try their own creations. 2004, Harper Collins, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Laura Hummel ISBN: 0-06-028993-7 Mary Had a Little Jam and Other Silly Rhymes Bruce Lansky Illustrated by Stephen Carpenter     All the poems in this book, formally titled The New Adventures of Mother Goose, are rewrites of nursery rhymes and, although the creator wrote most of them, Jeffrey Goodson, Bob Zanger, Brad Schreiber, Gwen Molnar, Mary Collins Dunne, Sylvia Andews, Stan Lee Werlin, Larry Cohen and Steve Sweig, Virginia Kroll, Robert Scotellaro, Lois Muehl and Elizabeth Weiss also contributed to the collection. When Old Mother Hubbard can't find a bone in the cupboard, the dog in this version can't wait. So when his dinner is late, he does what a lot of us do, he orders a pizza by phone. And the old woman living in a shoe has the sense to get a break from the summer sun by moving to a sandal. Then there is Jack Sprat who doesn't want a cat and his wife who doesn't want a dog, "So when they went to buy a pet,/they settled on a frog." A clever book with illustrations to match; some joyful, some humorous, some wistful and a few managing to be all three. 2004, (orig.1993), Meadowbrook Press/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $9.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford ISBN: 0-689-03392-3 More Than Meets the Eye: Seeing Art with all Five Senses Bob Raczka     Raczka takes a unique approach to art appreciation-an approach that is sure to capture the imagination of many young readers. He invites children to not just look at art, but to taste, smell, touch and listen to it as well. "Drink some milk," he suggests below Vermeer's "Kitchen Maid," and amazingly, the reader can suddenly just about taste the creamy, cool milk that the woman is pouring from her crockery jar. Through the book we hear cannons boom and fencing foils clash, smell a stinky pig and a baby's sweet breath, and feel fresh tortillas and an ermine's coat. Using works by artists ranging from Leonardo da Vinci and Hans Holbein to Wayne Thiebaud and David Hockney, Raczka presents the world of art as a fascinating, invigorating adventure. In addition to the beauty of the artworks, Raczka's clever rhymes will make this book a read-aloud favorite. At the end of the book, there are short, one-sentence biographies of each featured artist. This is a terrific, highly evocative introduction to great art. 2003, The Millbrook Press, Ages 2 up, $23.90. Reviewer: Barbara Carroll Roberts ISBN: 0-7613-2797-5 ISBN: 0-7613-1994-8 My House Is Singing Betsy R. Rosenthal Illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine     A young girl celebrates the comfort and joy of her home in this collection of poems. She pictures her house as one giant hug wrapping itself around her. She rejoices in the heater that keeps her warm and the tempting smells from the kitchen. Young readers will identify with the magnetic scrapbook on the refrigerator, the sock eating dryer, and the annoyance of the ringing telephone. The noise of the vacuum cleaner, the worn out welcome mat, the crowded garage, the dining expanding and contracting room table, and the couch that turns into a bed are among the items that are praised. The large, colorful illustrations are an integral part of the meaning of the poems. In some cases, the words only hint at the item being described while the pictures show what it is. A comfortable book for introducing the genre of poetry through subjects that are familiar. 2004, Harcourt, Ages 3 to 7, $16.00. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer ISBN: 0-15-216293-3 The Neighborhood Mother Goose Nina Crews     Just when Mother Goose rhymes seem to have fallen by the wayside, Nina Crews has resurrected them and made them relevant to children today. Through the use of photography and children in an urban setting, she has cast Mother Goose in whole new light. Rhymes like "There Was a Little Girl" and "Jack and Jill" are updated and fresh yet they still retain the integrity of the rhymes themselves. This volume will appeal to children of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just what Mother Goose was intended to do! 2004, Greenwillow, Ages 4 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, PhD ISBN: 0-06-051573-2 The Not Me Monster Ila Wallen Illustrations by Robert Sauber     Bent Willow Publishing is a family enterprise. Ila Wallen writes the books, her father, Bill Wallen, publishes them, and various other family members design and edit the books. These facts go a long way toward explaining how this book made it into print. The story, which is intended-very pointedly-to teach children that they should not lie, follows a bunny and her animal friends as they get ready for a birthday party. One wonders why Ila Wallen chose to tell the story in rhyming couplets, an extremely difficult form that can so easily devolve into ear-straining pabulum, as it does in this case: "Everyone laughed and forgot about the monster real soon./Then Flynn asked Bunny to help him blow up balloons. . . .'Mistakes happen all the time,' Charity said with certainty,/'And correcting them is easy with a little honesty.'" And though the illustrations are bright, Bunny and her friends are rendered with such big-eyed, happy-mouthed sentimentality, they very nearly make the reader's teeth hurt. This book is the second in the "Willowbe Woods Campfire Stories" series. 2002, Bent Willow Publishing, Ages 4 to 7, $16.95. Reviewer: Barbara Carroll Roberts ISBN: 0-9710627-1-4 Our Nest Reeve Lindbergh Illustrated by Jill McElmurry     A nest is more than something made of straw, sticks or feathers; it is a home a place where one feels safe and loved. In this picture book, Lindberg shares a variety of nests made by animals as they care for their young. The field mouse uses and old garden glove, the doe just flattens some grass anc curls up with her fawn. Even inanimate objects can find a nest as is the case with boats that come home to nest in the harbor. The theme moves from the small nest of the mouse to the large earth which makes a nest for the ocean and bigger still the universe that "carries the earth and the moon…[and] Is a nest for the sun and the stars." It ends with a message that we are all "here in the nest of creation.." and closes with a mother tenderly kissing her young son as he prepares to go to sleep. A soothing book perfect for that nighttime wind down and a warm expression of love for all the world and those in it. 2004, Candlewick Press, Ages 2 to 5, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-7636-1286-3 Pocket Poems Selected by Bobbi Katz Illustrated by Marylin Hafner     I have heard from a few people about pocket poem programs in schools. Here's Bobbi Katz's poetic explanation of pocket poems. "With a poem in your pocket and a pocket in your pants you can rock with new rhythms. You can skip. You can dance. And wherever you go, and whatever you do, that poem in your pocket is going there, too. You could misplace your homework. You could lose your left shoe. But that poem in your pocket will be part of you. And nothing can take it. And nothing can break it. That poem in your pocket becomes part of… YOU!" The book contains a nice selection of short poems about hopscotch, jump rope, squirrels, frogs - all things that kids like or can relate to. Naturally, one of my favorites is, "Pardon me for being rude. It was not me, it was my food. It got so lonely down below, it just popped up to say hello." As Ms. Katz says in a note in the back "When we memorize poems, they become part of us. We own them forever. Even on busy days, there's a moment to slip a poem out of a pocket. " She selected short poems 'so that children can experience the sweet taste of ownership easily.' 2004, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 3 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Levin Pocket Poems Selected by Bobbi Katz Illustrated by Marylin Hafner     Looking at the table of contents gives readers a clue that these poems are going to be fun. While many famous poets including Emily Dickinson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton Lewis Carroll, Jack Prelutsky and many others, some of those not so well known will also be a treat. These small doses of poetry are meant to be fun and to introduce kids to the form as well as the joys of life. There are poems about the seasons, school subjects, playtime and commonly seen animals. The illustrations are bright and breezy and make you smile. The closing note from Bobbi Katz is illuminating-she describes why she called her collection Pocket Poems--"What makes two seemingly different things such natural go-togethers? A pocket: A private place, a close to the body place… A poem: A snapshot in words, a safe place to express feelings…A logic begins to emerge." It really doesn't matter just enjoy these poems and select on each day to read to your class or child. 2004, Dutton/Penguin, Ages 3 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-525-47172-3 Poems for the Very Young Selected by Michael Rosen Illustrations by Bob Graham    There is no better way to celebrate and share poetry with young children than to read a well thought out anthology like this one. Poems are the cousins of songs and this book is one to sing about. The bright and whimsical illustrations just add to the fun. It includes more than one hundred rhymes, chants, and poems just waiting to be read aloud to a young audience. There are some familiar and favorite selections and many new ones. A number of notable authors are included such as Carl Sandburg, Jack Prelutsky, Aileen Fisher, and Robert Lewis Stevenson as well as many anonymous and less known poets. One poem is even done by a five-year-old. Everyone will end up singing or chanting or just plain laughing. Poems provide an avenue for children to tune into the sounds and structure of language. Although this collection was compiled with the young child in mind, it will be enjoyed by anyone, young or old, who is willing to listen, to imagine, to feel, to remember, and to enjoy! 2004 (orig. 1993), Kingfisher, Ages 3 to 8, $9.95. Reviewer: Arlene Connolly ISBN: 0-7534-5816-0 Poetry for Young People: Alfred, Lord Tennyson Illustrations by Allen Garns     The reader is introduced to some of the most famous poems of Tennyson after reading a short biography of the poet himself. Some poems are excerpts of longer works but they have been selected for the interest of the younger reader. There is a space for definitions of words that modern readers might not understand which I found very helpful. The illustrations are quite lovely and spark the reader's interest in the poems. This is a great introduction to a great, English poet whose works have survived the test of time. Children might be encouraged to know that he started writing at the age of six. 2003, Sterling Publishing, Ages 5 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Barbara Youngblood ISBN: 0-8069-6612-2 The Pond God and Other Stories Samuel Jay Keyser Drawings by Robert Shetterly    This collection of stories is written for people of all ages to enjoy, but the content may be too mature for younger readers. The stories, which have titles such as "May Misfortune Smile on You" and "How the Gods Learned to Die," are dark, even cynical. Even the stories that seem more benign, i.e. "How Birds Began to Sing," are grim--a god impatient for song tears out the breastbone of a living bird, instead of waiting till its death, to carve a flute. There is nothing wrong with dark books. "The Series of Unfortunate Events," for example, is clever and well written, as is this book. However, unlike this book, the misfortune that befalls the Baudelaire siblings is balanced by their commitment to one another and ability to overcome the odds. In Keyser's stories, the characters, mostly gods, betray, harm and deceive each other with great frequency. On a positive note, the illustrations are gorgeous. Robert Shetterly's work, which is creative, haunting, and eerily beautiful, complements Keyser's stories. A few images, though, such as the one with a snail creeping out of a blind man's ear or another that depicts a bird extending its neck from the gauged out eye-socket of a living man, can be disturbing. It's true that children's stories are not always cheerful or fun--before they were altered, Grimm's fairy tales were originally dark and even graphic. Nonetheless, this particular book is more appropriate for an artistic, moody teenager than a young child. 2003, Front Street, $14.95. Ages 10 to 16. Reviewer: Rihoko Ueno (Children's Literature) Awards, Honors, Prizes: Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book 2004 United States ISBN: 1-8869-1096-0 Rainbow Soup: Adventures in Poetry Brian P. Cleary Illustrated by Neal Layton     This is a book of poetry, but it is much more than that because the author is teaching poetry as well as amusing young readers. Along the way he explains the various forms poems may take and also defines some terms. Opening the book is "Welcome" urging readers to romp "amongst the words" and "play amongst the phrases" and finally to "dance the dance of poetry." One interesting poem is "English Lessons" which contains many mistakes, but they are logical mistakes given the trickiness of the English language. There are two short poems, and the one titled, "How People Came to American" contains only eight letters, "Some swum." Kids will enjoy the poems dependent upon puns and the silly limericks as well. All in all, this is worthwhile book for kids who are drawn to poetry and might prove a surprising success with youngsters without an overt interest in poetry. The learning is painless, the poems are funny, and the illustrations are eye-catching. 2004, Carolrhoda Books/Learner, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford ISBN: 1-57505-597-X Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young Selected by Jack Prelutsky Illustrated by Marc Brown     Published more than 10 years ago, Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young has just been reissued again with a brand new bright and amusing cover. Jack Prelutsky selected the poems, and the beautiful illustrations are by Marc Brown, who also created the new cover. In his introduction to the collection, Jim Trelease writes, "The poets represented in this volume have not forgotten what it was like to be three years old.... Reading such poems aloud allows us to visit with the child within each of us, and each visit gives us a better understanding of the child in our lap or in our classroom." The 200 poems highlight all of the ordinary and special events in children's lives. It is a treasure for young and old. Also the added feature in this edition is reference to a website www.randomouse.com/kids where you can find a parents guide to sharing poetry with children. 2004 (orig. 1986), Knopf, Ages 2 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-394-87218-5 Soft Hay Will Catch You: Poems by Young People Compiled by Sandford Lyne Illustrated by Julie Moks     Sanford Lyne shares with readers the poetry written by kids from across the country, but primarily from rural areas. He spent years as a poet-in-the-schools running workshops for students in grades three through twelve. (Sandford is not limited to workshops for children, but also has successfully run workshops for educators.) The stage is set if you read the acknowledgements, introduction and flap copy, but the amazing part of this book is reading what these young poets have written. Their poems are divided into six major categories. The first section is entitled "The Inward Fire" which is a collection of poems about "the search for self." Most of these poems are written by kids in grades 5 to 7 and particularly 6th. It is a real turning point in life moving from a being a child to a teenager with all the hormonal changes and time spent thinking about oneself. The poem entitled "Innocence" is a good example of the need to go on or grow up and the tug of not wanting to move ahead just yet. In the second section entitled "My Fire Casts Shadows" encompasses poems that relate to solitude and loneliness-it is almost heartbreaking to read about kids in third, fourth and fifth grade who feel so alone in the world. And yet the compassion shown in the poem of a third grader named Matthew Schnall is truly heartwarming. He writes of a new kid in the area and how he should go and play with him "to start the kindness of another day." As you read through the book you cannot help but be impressed with the deep feelings and thoughts of these young students. It is a book that would be terrific in any poetry unit, and one that teachers should get into the hands of their students. The art has a folk flavor and that is really in keeping with the origins of most of the poets featured in the book. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 up, $17.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-83460-8 Spinning Through the Universe Helen Frost     Every time I read one of these collections of poems written by kids, I am amazed at the depth of feeling, their observations about life and their awareness of what is really going on around them. The poems all relate to events in the lives of a group of kids in Room 214 and their teacher. They range from the loss of a grandparent, a child evicted from his home, to cheating, worries about boys, being the outsider and all those other problems that kids must deal with. There is even a poem written by the teacher and one by the custodian. It was in a way a surprise and a bit of a disappointment to learn at the end that it is all fiction. The poems were written by Helen Frost which should have been obvious since the book didn't say compiled or edited by on the cover. Also, at the end there is a lesson (extensive notes) about the poetic forms found in the book. Regardless, the author Helen Frost has had extensive experience with kids, and it is reflected in the poems. Compare this adult writing as a student to the actual poems of students found in Soft Hay Will Catch You: Poems by Young People, compiled by Sandford Lyne. Better yet, give the books to students and let them do the comparison. 2004, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-374-37159-8 Talking Drums: A Selection of Poems from Africa South of the Sahara Edited and Illustrated by Veronique Tadjo    An anthology in seven parts introduces sub-Saharan African poets and poetry to middle and high school readers. The editor explains the seven-part organization of the poems, which include animals, love, celebrations, people, death, pride, and exile. Much of the poetry, especially the nature selections, are accessible to younger readers but many others reflect an adult sensibility that would move older readers to thought and discussion. The sources of the poetry are traditional as well as by poets such as Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Hamidou Dia, David Diop, Ben Okri, and other contemporary writers. Seventy-five poems represent writers from 17 countries. The editor's decorative black and white drawings are bold, motif-like, and might inspire readers to try a similar technique for their own poems. Tadjo repeats certain of the dancing figures, masks, and animals which gives a certain unity to the display of poems as well. Back matter includes a map of the poetry sources, a listing of the poets by country, and a glossary, making this a compliment to both literary and geographical studies. 2004 (orig. 2000), Bloomsbury, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 1-58234-813-8 Te Amo, Bebe, Little One Lisa Wheeler Illustrated by Maribel Suarez     Yes, this is the same author who wrote Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum which I also reviewed. No, I don't know Ms. Wheeler and I haven't been bribed (but if anyone's interested in bribing me, chocolate is always acceptable), she just wrote two books that stood out this month. Te Amo takes us through the first year of life of 'a bouncy, brown-eyed babe'. Mama sings to him all the time 'I love you once, I love you twice. I love you more than beans and rice. I love you more than rain or sun, Te amo, bebe, little one.' We watch the little baby in his bouncy seat gazing at cactus, playing in the water, snuggled in bed and toddling out the front door. His mother sings her song to him, changing 'rain' to 'sea' or 'earth' depending on what they had been doing that day. Such a warm, loving representation of a first year, a wonderful snuggle up and read with your little ones, no matter how old they are. And, at the end, at the baby's first year party? "No cakes, no pies, no punch with ice….that baby wanted beans and rice!" 2004, Little Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Levin Te Amo, Bebe, Little One Lisa Wheeler Illustrated by Maribel Suarez     The mother's love for her growing baby is delightfully captured in this picture book. The text opens with a baby being born and the mother crooning a lullaby that starts "I love you once, I love you twice/ I love you more than beans or rice." As the baby grows and experiences the changing seasons, mother always tells him how much she loves him. The text is soothing and will be fun for parents to read aloud. The pictures are pure delight-especially the one with the baby peering out from under a huge sombrero. When the baby turns one and Mama cooked up a big feast what did this little one want-why his beans and rice. The baby is a charmer and the scenes are simple but with enough to retain the interest of a young child. The cute baby and his loving mother are very appealing. While not poetry, the lyrical verse makes this a nice choice for poetry month or anytime and an especially nice gift for a new mother. 2004, Little Brown, Ages 1 to 3, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-316-61410-6 The Very Best Doll Julia Noonan     Starting with its lavender-striped endpapers, and proceeding in simple rhyme through its pastel-pretty bedroom, bathroom, and gardens, this is a sweet story of a girl and her two dolls, one old and comfortable, one new and ultra-fashionable. The old one is a rag doll with button eyes and curly light brown hair; the new one (a birthday present) is a raven-haired stunner by Madame Alexander. Even as the birthday girl offers her new acquisition tea on the veranda, styles her hair, and admires her extensive wardrobe, we know that this fashion plate will never displace her owner's floppy, smiling friend. Some very young doll lovers will probably enjoy reliving imaginative play with their own favorites; others may find it far from anything in their experience. Although the author, who also illustrated the book, is a doll collector and the flap recommends the book for "doll lovers of all ages," the very traditional feminine context offers no historical information (except that it seems like a dream of the fifties) and will no doubt appeal mostly to little girls. In spite of expanded gender roles, it's hard to imagine many boys taking to it. Still, it may provide for some young browsers a chance to enjoy the pretty details and the gently reassuring atmosphere or, better yet, a chance for mother (or grandmother) and daughter to share their doll experiences. 2003, Dutton, Ages 3 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft ISBN: 0-525-47075-1 The Way a Door Closes Hope Anita Smith Illustrations by Shane W. Evans    Smith's book is a collection of thirty-four narrative poems that tell the story of thirteen-year-old C.J.'s struggle when his father walks out. The poems begin with "Golden" which describes waking in a near-perfect sounding family: "My family is up/just like the sun,/and we are all/golden." Smith builds the tenderness of the father-son relationship and C.J.'s admiration for his father. C.J.'s father is a wise, proud man who gives him words, "each one a gem." After C.J.'s father loses his job and leaves, we learn of the strength of his mother and grandmother whose love carries him through troubled times. "My grandmomma's hands hold/my hands and me/but mostly/they hold/everything together." In brief, powerful vignettes, we see C.J. floundering, choosing hope and strength rather than acting out, and finally, slowly accepting his father's return. Scattered throughout are emotive oils by Shane Evans who captures the nuances of tenderness, depression and family connection. 2003, Holt, $18.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature) The Way a Door Closes Hope Anita Smith Illustrations by Shane W. Evans    In a series of poems, thirteen-year-old C.J. tells the story of his family and what happens when his father leaves after losing his job. C.J.'s painful loss is palpable, and yet he copes. Even though he knows when he walks through the door that his father is still gone, he tries to comfort his mother. He appreciates his grandmother's hands, which "hold everything together." Even in the face of friends who says that miracles "only happens once in a blue moon." C.J. retains faith that his father will return. Maturing, he even takes his younger brother to play basketball like their father would have done. When his father finally does return, C.J. breathes a sigh of relief because he knows "Daddy is home to stay." He says "Trust me, I can tell a lot by the way a door closes." The author has written a deeply moving portrait of loss and redemption. The illustrations by a Boston Globe-Horn Book honoree weave throughout the text, capturing the pain, the healing and, above all, the strength of family. 2003, Henry Holt and Co., $18.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature) Best Books: The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States School Library Journal: Best Books, 2003; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent Winner 2004 Author United States Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book 2004 United States What is Goodbye? Nikki Grimes Illustrations by Raul Colon     Death is not a subject that we dwell on or spend much time really thinking about. To consider ones own mortality or that of a loved one is just too sad and depressing. But many people die every day, and they leave behind family and friends. In this collection of poems readers experience with a brother and sister the loss of an older brother. The impact his death has on them and their parents results in a change in their home life and the way they relate to each other. It is a very difficult and sad year for all of them. They each deal with their grief and sorrow in a different way and experience the guilt of trying to enjoy life again. The collection ends with the family coming together-healing after the wrenching loss. The final poem is entitled " Photograph - Poem for Two Voices" where Jesse and Jerilyn, the younger siblings, who have revealed their personal anguish now speak as one when the family has a new picture taken-the parents and the two children-"…a new kind of family./ One piece…/One piece missing, but we're whole again." An excellent choice to give to any family grieving over the loss of a child and one that may really help the children in that family. Colon's illustrations range from somber expressions and cool tones of blue and green to pictures that slowly warm up until the final one with splashes of red and smiles on the faces of the once again whole family that is not totally whole but certainly working hard to find their way back to finding joy in life. 2004, Hyperion, Ages 8 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-7868-0778-4 When They Are Up... Maggee Spicer and Richard Thompson Illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin     The traditional nursery rhyme about the Grand old Duke of York and his ten thousand men is the base on which the authors have built adventures in verse, filled with silly nonsense. "And when they are up they knit scarves./And when they are down they knit socks./And when they are only halfway up./They knit overcoats for rocks." These ridiculous notions every page or two leave plenty of room for the illustrator's imagination. She creates ornately uniformed soldiers in big black hats with faces right off traditional playing cards. All manner of things appear in the double-page scenes: a big brown bear, a festive board overloaded with food, flock of white doves, all painted in bright, intense colors. More assorted items are depicted in borders down one or both sides of the pages, in colored washes. The visuals supply a good part of the fun. The music and all the verses are included at the end, followed by the authors and illustrator appearing as the King and Queen of Hearts and the Queen of Spades. 2004, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ages 6 to 8, $14.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz ISBN: 1-55041-707-X Whose Garden Is It? Mary Ann Hoberman Illustrated by Jane Dyer     Okay, the second you see Jane Dyer's name as the illustrator, just give a sigh and be prepared for beautiful, fun, eye pleasing and eye soothing work. To add to the joy of this book is the question posed by the title and the journey Ms. Hoberman and Ms. Dyer take us on through the garden. Mrs. McGee sees a beautiful garden and asks to whom it belongs. The gardener replies, "It's clear as can be! This garden you see belongs only to me!" Apparently this is up for debate as the rabbit says, "Just see how I dine! He grows me my dinner! This garden is mine!" The garden is then claimed by a woodchuck, a bird, a worm, the wasps, bees, butterflies and so on. The prose flows making it a delightful read aloud with a message; we all have a place in the garden and we need each other. This book works at so many levels, I'll be reading it to preschool through middle school. Especially as the book ends as it begins, "But still she kept wondering (Are you still wondering?) Pondering, Wondering, Whose garden is it?" Imagine the discussions you can have! Please note: normally I review books that are already on the shelf, this one has a release date of May. Go to your local, INDEPENDENT bookstore and order it now! 2004, Gulliver Books/Harcourt, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Sharon Levin Whose Garden Is It? Mary Ann Hoberman Illustrated by Jane Dyer     The jolly rhymes have Mrs. McGee, when she sees a beautiful garden, wonder whose it is. The gardener is the first to claim it: "...and everyone knows it./ I am the person who plants it and grows it." But his view is challenged in turn by a rabbit, a woodchuck, a bud, a worm, a series of insects, a snake, a mole and a vole, all telling the role they play and each saying "It's mine!" Then the plants, weeds, soil and a tree chime in, challenged by the sun and the rain, while a seed whispers that it is "the start of it all." The title question remains, for they all, of course, have a part. The fine lesson in basic ecology is splendidly visualized in double-page, naturalistic watercolor scenes resplendent with all manner of flowering plants and portraits of a parade of anthropomorphic costumed characters. The accompanying dog and child in stroller add action to the whimsy of the participating creatures in a celebration of nature. 2004, Harcourt, Ages 3 to 7, $16.00. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz ISBN: 0-15-202631-2 The Wishing Bone and Other Poems Stephen Mitchell Illustrated by Tom Pohrt    With all kinds of silly characters and charming illustrations, this poetry collection is simply a gem. Although it contains only nine poems, this delightful book covers a variety of imaginative topics including a wonderful wishing bone, a zany court trial with two animated lawyers, a quick visit with a white rhinoceros, and a boy's search for answers inside the whiffle bog. The author provides well-written rhymes ranging in length from three stanzas, "When I Grow Up" and "Questions," to thirty-three stanzas, "The Last of the Purple Tigers." Perfect for reading aloud, these poems dance off the page and leave the reader wanting more. Young readers will definitely enjoy the playful nature of Mitchell's poems, as well as Pohrt's whimsical ink and watercolor illustrations. Reminiscent of both Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, this collection of poems not only invites readers to dream and imagine, but it also creates plenty of laughs. 2003, Candlewick Press, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature) Awards, Honors, Prizes: Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award 2004 United States ISBN: 0-7636-1118-2 Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Karen Barbour     The intricacies of language are explored in this collection of poems from many very well known poets including Emily Dickinson, Eve Merriam, Nikki Grimes and Carl Sandburg. To fully appreciate them, kids will need to have some language skills. If you don't know what a metaphor is or punctuation symbols then you will miss the point of some of these poems. Word Builder is one that should be easily understood by the younger kids. It describes the alphabet which creates words which become sentences that become paragraphs and chapters and before you know it there is an entire book. My persona favorite is the poem by Richard Armour entitled "The Period" and it is appropriated places at the end of the book. The art is bright and bold and in some case quite fanciful. The illustration for Nikki Grimes short poem "The Dream" is quite effective in its apparent simplicity. An interesting kids to get kids motivating to discuss and perhaps have a hand at writing some poems of their own. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 to 11, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-83588-4 Additional Poetry Book Reviews 2000 2001 2002 2003 To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. Updated 04/07/04