Poetry    April has been designated as National Poetry month and teachers, bookstores and others will be planning and hosting lots of interesting events. If you need suggestions for events and activities, you might want to check out the following.    In 1998 Robert Pinsky, US Poet Laureate launched the Favorite Poem Project. He believes strongly that poetry should be read aloud and thus started this project. It has encouraged live readings, a database of letters and a series of short audio and video documents that capture American voices, faces and poem choices. Readers can visit the site www.favoritepoem.org to see these videos and an extensive the collection of poems chosen by the more than 18,000 participants.    There is also and Event Kit which is available by mail or online at the site noted above with tips to help organizations arrange their own Favorite Poem readings. Since its inception the project has assisted nearly 800 community readings across the country. You can contact Maggie Dietz, Project Director at Boston University, 236 Bay State Road, Boston MA 02215.    Another site of interest is www.gigglepoetry.com which features interviews with some of kids favorite poets including Bruce Lansky, Kenn Mesbitt, Linda Knaus, Robert Scotellaro and Eileen Spinelli. Kids can also ask questions. There are plenty of poems available in several categories and information about poetry contests, classes and more.    Two of the best known kid's poetry awards are those 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. In addition there is an award given every three years by the International Reading association - Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. Guidelines are available here.    If you would like to experiment with Poetry writing in your classroom, the following tips were prepared several years ago by NCTE and are still valid Criteria for Judging Excellence in Poetry. It is a short poetry piece which you can put up as a feature and add a reference to. Reviews Animal Friends: A Collection of Poems for Children Illustrated by Michael Hague    This lovingly illustrated collection of poems about animals and nature is a treat for those who already admire Hague's talents and a delight for those just becoming acquainted with this award-winning illustrator. The poems range from very short "I am just a woolly sheep. Please help me count myself to sleep." by Laura Godwin to the longer Robert Louis Stevenson poem "The Cow." Poetry from a variety of writers is represented here as a vehicle for Hague's beautiful paintings: Eileen Spinelli, Adriane Frye, Aileen Fisher, Christina Rossetti, Mother Goose, Annette Wynne, Jane Taylor, Cecil Frances Alexander, and Annette Wynne. The gentle animal rhymes are perfect to share before bedtime and promote stewardship of the earth's creatures. Many of the poems depict a young child (lots of different faces represented) reassuring an animal that they will not be harmed; only observed by the child. From "Come Hither, Sweet Robin" the lines "…be not afraid, I would not hurt even a feather;" and the lines from "People Buy a Lot of Things": "…I'd open wide the cage, and set the singer free." reinforce the message that humans must be caring of earth's wild creatures. Spiders, cows, elephants, cats, dogs, field mice, and frogs are all accorded respect and are beheld with a sense of wonder. The messages in the poems are not heavy handed and may be read as just a part of the lyrical language but the underlying point will "seep" into little listeners. This title will be an appropriate addition to any Earth Day celebration or reading that promotes children and the wonders of observing nature-or just for enjoying lovely language and beautiful pictures. 2007, Henry Holt, Ages 3 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8050-3817-0 ISBN: 0-8050-3817-5 Animal Poems Valerie Worth Illustrated by Steve Jenkins    Worth's captivating, concise lyricism is perfectly balanced by Jenkins' sparsely wonderful paper-cut illustrations in this picture book. Worth's verse is simply fantastic, perfect for reading aloud. Her flawless use of imagery describes each animal in the collection unexpectedly, using a combination of alliteration and metaphor in a free verse format. I also love Jenkins' choice of plain backgrounds and multidimensional imagery, similar in style to Eric Carle's or Lois Ehlert's. From the slight fuzziness of the bear and camel to the individually-cut needles of the porcupine, the paper-cuts masterfully convey the author's image of each animal, whether it is playful as the groundhog or mysterious as the jellyfish. Although the vocabulary of the text is very advanced for young readers, the sound of the words, the way the images flow over one another has the power to inspire readers and writers of all ages. The familiarity of the subject matter should also help, as most young readers will already have some acquaintance with snails, whales, kangaroos, etc. Regardless, this refreshing collection is a must-have for poetry lovers of all ages. 2007, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 4 to Adult, $17.00. Reviewer: Laura Ruttig (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-374-38057-1 ISBN: 0-374-38057-0 Are You Quite Polite?: Silly Dilly Manners Songs Alan Katz and David Catrow    A collection of silly poems with equally silly drawings, Katz aims to teach good manners. In the opening spread kids are told that it is not polite to put their mouths on the waterspout of a drinking fountain. All of the poems are written to be sung to songs--among them are “Polly Wolly Doodle” and “Pop Goes the Weasel.” In addition to the drinking fountain admonition, the book addresses other issues such as boogers, sibling rivalry, how to behave at a party, writing thank-you notes, not talking with food in your mouth, and the like. Catrow has a field day with his illustrations showing kids in their states of messy, bad behavior. A kid pleaser and a book that should instill messages about good behavior without feeling the least bit like a real lesson in proper etiquette from Emily Post. 2006, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster, $15.95. Ages 2 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-689-86970-3 Barefoot Book of Classic Poems Jackie Morris    This beautifully illustrated collection of classic poems contains a wide range of poets, forms, and subjects. Familiar, time-honored names such as Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, and Robert Frost are all included, along with more contemporary poets such as Dylan Thomas. You'll find playful works such as Furry Bear by AA Milne, The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, and The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash along with dramatic, somber pieces such as The War Song of Dinas Vawr by Thomas Love Peacock, and Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. Old favorites such as The Owl and the Pussycat and How do I Love Thee combine with fresh new pieces. The marvels and mystery of nature are celebrated in such poems as The Tyger by William Blake. This volume is a great resource for the classroom or home because of the wide variety of poems included. Parents and teachers will need to choose poems carefully as some pieces such as The Highway Man (a ballad of passion and murder) may be disturbing for young children. 2006, Barefoot Books, $19.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature). Best Books: Kirkus Book Review Stars, October 1, 2006; United States ISBN: 1905236565 Behind the Museum Door: Poems to Celebrate the Wonders of Museums Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen    Framed by a class visit to a museum, this collection of poems explores an array of experiences children might have after entering this fascinating space. Myra Cohn Livingston’s poem “Mummy” asks readers to imagine what we might learn from a mummy if he could “speak to me/ The riddle of/ His history,” while the speaker of Jane Yolen’s poem “Wheels” speculates about what, in nature, prompted the first humans to invent the wheel, marveling at the role wheels play in contemporary society. Stark color contrasts between the visiting children and many of the museum pieces offer a visual juxtaposition between the youth of the children and the age of the dinosaur bones, statues and suits of armor. Stacey Dressen-McQueen’s illustrations look, too, like artwork children might encounter in a museum, further encouraging their appreciation of the visual arts. In this book, Lee Bennett Hopkins has provided a rich poetic resource for preparing youngsters for an upcoming museum visit or for “debriefing” after such a visit. 2007, Harry N. Abrams, Ages 4 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8109-1204-5 ISBN: 0-8109-1204-X Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: And Other Poems Jack Prelutsky Pictures by Carin Berger    Poet Laureate Prelutsky continues to play with sounds and words, encouraging young readers to join in the fun. Here seventeen verses describe exotic, imaginary combination creatures, from the Umbrellaphant, the Ballpoint Penguins, and the Shoehornets to the Tearful Zipperpotamuses and the Solitary Spataloon. Their activities are frequently frantic and always funny. Reading the verses aloud is almost imperative. As in his Scranimals, the rhymes can stimulate young imaginations to dream up their own wild combinations. Berger’s accompanying collages may be more sophisticated than the younger readers can value. Much of the language on the torn scraps of paper will not be meaningful. The Umbrellaphant’s are even set in some, perhaps, Arabic orthography; others are mere snippets that act more as decorative elements. Both text and illustrations offer challenges to the thoughtful. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, $16.99. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).    Prelutsky has the uncanny ability to take the ordinary and with a twist make it creative and amusing. When you cross an umbrella with an elephant you get an umbrellaphant that is protected from the shade and sudden rain. Ballpoint Penguins come in black and white and “do little else but write and write.” The combination of toads and toasters results in Pop-up Toadsters that hop and hop “and place in slots atop their heads fresh slices of assorted breads.” So it goes through Cloctopuses, Zipperpotamuses, Tweasels, the Circular Sawtoise, the Shoehornets, and Panthermometers, etc. These poems beg to be read aloud and could serve as a springboard for imaginative creatures from clever readers. Full color art interprets the zany creatures from toasters with toad legs to hippos with zippers, and a menacing panther with a thermometer tail, and brings life to Prelutsky’s wild pairings. This is just plain fun from cover to cover and will be a hit with his legion of fans. 2006, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature). Best Books: Book Sense Children's Picks, Winter 2006/2007; American Booksellers Association; United States Children's Books 2006: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2006; New York Public Library; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 28, 2006; Cahners; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2006; Cahners; United States ISBN: 978-0-06-054317-4 ISBN: 0-06-054317-5 ISBN: 978-0-06-054318-1 ISBN: 0-06-054318-3 Beware, Take Care: Poems Lilian Moore Illustrated by Howard Fine    Just in time for the Halloween season, a colorful selection of the author’s frightfully fun poems. Many of the poems appeared in previous editions but are brought to a whole new generation of children with the illustrations of Howard Fine of Piggie Pie fame. His monsters are the best. The poems are not lengthy and could be read by a class of early readers. They are very imaginative and will have children thinking about them when they’ve finished the book. The author has many children’s books to her credit before her death in 2004. This is a fine tribute to her creativity. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Barbara Youngblood (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8050-6917-4 ISBN: 0-8050-6917-8 Bronzeville Boys and Girls Gwendolyn Brooks Illustrations by Faith Ringgold    It is hard to believe that the boys and girls of Bronzeville celebrated here are now over 50 years old. Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks first published this collection of poetry for and about children in 1956, but the joys and woes of childhood haven’t changed significantly in the last five decades: children still stage fancy tea parties, get bored by grown-ups’ conversations, fear thunderstorms, mourn dead goldfish, and comfort themselves with the “little wiggly warmness” of a puppy. Brooks recognizes and honors the smallest moments and the most fleeting realizations of childhood: the oddity of seeing oneself in a mirror, “A child you know and do not know, wearing what you wear”; the awareness that the clock is ticking away not only the time, but “the me” I am each day. This new edition of Brooks’s poetry is illustrated with stunning paintings by Faith Ringgold that take the reader past the stoops and trees and fire escapes of the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago and into the homes and hearts of its residents. Ringgold’s paintings are filled to bursting with the magic and wonder of these timeless children, each caught in one brief moment of time. 2007, Amistad/HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 10, $16.99. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-06-0290505-8 ISBN: 978-0-06-029505-9 ISBN: 0-06-029506-6 Bugs: Poems About Creeping Things David l. Harrison Drawings by Rob Shepperson    These bugs crawl, creep, fly sting, itch, bite, chew, and jump. They are fat, skinny, graceful, big, and tiny. There are dragonflies, spiders, termites, lice, apple worms, and gnats. They all have one thing in common - they are celebrated in delightful, refreshing, and often humorous poems. The opening poem that ends with "I've always said/ that bugs are pests, /but bugs who read/ are welcome guests" sets the tone for all that follows. The ink drawing are the perfect accompaniment and it's small size allows it to easily slip into a pocket while on a nature walk to woo the bugs with lyrical poems all their own. 2007, Wordsong, Ages 6 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-1-59078-451-8 ISBN: 1-59078-451-0 Call Me Marianne Jen Bryant Pictures by David Johnson    Young Jonathan describes an inspirational visit to the zoo, especially to see the newly arrived exotic lizards. What makes this more than an account of his responses to the creatures he sees at the zoo is his encounter with an unusual woman dressed in black. After he retrieves her blown-away three-cornered hat, they experience the lizards and other animals together. She tells him that she is a poet, writing constantly in her notebook; then she tries to explain to him how she works. She gives him a notebook of his own, encouraging him to begin watching and writing as she does. Recognizing the woman as Marianne Moore is not as important as the message about poetry that Jonathan learns. The double-page scenes are textured to produce a sense of “once-upon-a-time.” In this environment, Johnson’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations define Jonathan, the animals, Moore, and bits of zoo architecture with sensitive naturalism. Showing the animals in action from different points of view adds to the appeal. The final scene of Jonathan sitting on a bench, pencil and notebook ready, suggests the positive influence of the poet. A note fills in the factual information behind the fictional story. 2006, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $16.00. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0802852424 Carnival of the Animals: Poems Inspired by Saint-Saëns' Music James Berry ... [et al.] Edited by Judith Chernaik Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura    Thirteen poets (including X. J. Kennedy, James Berry, Kit Wright, Cicely Herbert, Judith Chernaik, Adrian Mitchell, Gavin Ewart, Gerard Benson, Gillian Clarke, Valerie Bloom, Wendy Cope, Edwin Morgan, and Charles Causley) were asked to write poems to go with the selections from Saint- Saëns’ wonderful music. While Saint-Saëns did not think that these pieces were worthy of public performance and did not allow them to be performed in his lifetime (with the exception of the “Swan” cello piece), the work has since gained popularity and has become a favorite. This book is enhanced with the fabulous art of Satoshi Katamura--he changes styles and approaches to accommodate each different selection most effectively. I am especially fond of the pieces “Elephant Eternity” and “Cocks and Hens.” A CD is packaged with the book and it is wonderful to hear the music and poems (with dramatic flair) while looking at the expressive illustrations. The poem “Pianists” very cleverly matches the music for which it was written. Children should be encouraged by parents, art teachers, and language arts teachers to try their own art and poems with Saint-Saens’ music for inspiration. I could wish that the CD had a pocket for storage in the book--the plastic sleeve that is used does not stay stuck to my book. 2006, Candlewick, $16.99. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature)    A joyful tribute to Mother Nature is Carnival of the Animals, a book of poems inspired by Camille Saint-Sains’s music. Gathered here by editor Judith Chernaik and whimsically illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura are 14 poems by Wendy Cope, Valerie Bloom, X.J. Kennedy and other esteemed versifiers. An accompanying CD provides a reading and the music. The different poetic forms and styles capture well the spirit of the various animals and the mood of the music. For example, the slow pacing, long lines and repetition of key words in Adrian Mitchell’s “Elephant Eternity” are especially effective in conveying a herd of pachyderms. A line in the first stanza--“Elephants elephants walking like time”--changes to and ends the poem with “Time is walking under elephant trees” where “Strong gentle peace is shining/All over the elephant earth.” Kids will have a good time imitating the “quaking roars” of “Lion,” “skim[ming] swift as thought” like the birds in “The Aviary” and “flipping along, dipping along” like “Kangaroos.” 2005, Candlewick, $16.99. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature). Best Books: Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 15, 2006; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 30, 2006; Cahners; United States Top 10 Art Books for Youth, 2006; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: CLPE Poetry Award Shortlist 2006 United Kingdom ISBN: 0-7636-2960-X Carry Me! Rosemary Wells    This book can be summed up in one word--irresistible! It includes three delightful, lyrical poems: “Carry Me!” “Talk to Me!” and “Sing to Me!” Each expresses a small bunny’s desire to have his every need attended to. In “Carry Me,” Bunny wants to be held to watch out the window for Daddy coming home, or to be cuddling with Mom “while you get dressed for town,” or falling asleep under the stars safe in his parents’ arms. In “Talk To Me,” this little rabbit is eager to learn and talk about everything from the “sun circles on my floor” to “how many shoes are on my feet.” In “Sing to Me!” Bunny welcomes the seasons: winter with his “beard full of blizzard” and spring with a hum along song. In summer “we’ll hop like lightening bugs” and in autumn he will “dance so free, /Like stars in the grass we will be.” Wells’ warm watercolors evoke the beauty of nature, from the seasons to the night sky, and the parents and child express emotions of joy, love, and concern. Each illustration is neatly framed, drawing the eye to discover the detail within. Filled with exuberance, quiet times, reassurance, and fulfilled desires, this is a perfect gift for new parents and a wonderful bedtime share. 2006, Hyperion Books, $15.99. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature). Best Books: Booklist Book Review Stars, Nov. 1, 2005; United States Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 1, 2006; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 14, 2005; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Books of the Year Winner 2006 Birth to 2 Years United States ISBN: 0-7868-0396-7 Casey at the Bat Ernest L. Thayer Illustrations by Joe Morse    It is interesting when you read about the history of this poem, which has been around for more than one hundred years and is familiar to many. The author did not even want to take credit for it because he felt it was such an inferior example of his writing. How amusing that this is probably the poem that is most frequently associated with his name, and that the rest of his work is relatively unknown. This version is really one for contemporary tastes--it almost looks like a graphic novel. The bold illustrations use just four colors and depict a series of inner city ball players--who indeed look larger than life and are as serious about the game as the fans are. Teachers and librarians who are looking for material that will attract older students, many of whom are already reading graphic novels, may find this one an easy sell. For any baseball fan, this book is definitely one with plenty of appeal. 2006, Kids Can Press, $16.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). Awards, Honors, Prizes: Governor General's Literary Awards Finalist 2006 Children's Literature (illustration) Canada ISBN: 978-1-55337-827-3 ISBN: 1-55337-827-X Castles: Old Stone Poems J. Patrick Lewis and Rebecca Kai Dotlich Illustrated by Dan Burr    Castles, those majestic sentinels of stone, evoke images of brave knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, evil queens, and lunatic kings. This volume of poems showcases castles from many different countries such as England, Scotland, Japan, Romania, Switzerland, and more. Through rhythm and rhyme, secrets of castle lore are divulged. Explore the dark halls of Bran Castle. Was it really the home of Count Dracula? Learn about mad King Ludwig, a brooding, despondent king, whose castle became his hideaway from the harsh realities of life. Legend has it that when the moon is full, his ghost appears. Read about Eric, a brave Danish prince, who could not escape the monstrous jaws of a dragon. Castle lovers of all ages will find this collection to be entertaining and educational. Dan Burr's beautiful, vivid illustrations capture the heart of each poem. From the grim portrayal of captive royalty in a dark dungeon to the magnificent rendering of Catherine's Palace with its luxuriant gold furnishings, every picture is a masterpiece. Includes bibliographic references, a table of contents, a timeline, and a section called medieval minutes that features intriguing facts about the castles. 2006, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, $18.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature). Best Books: Book Sense Children's Picks, Winter 2006/2007; American Booksellers Association; United States ISBN: 1-59078-380-8 Circus Carnivore Mark Svendsen Illustrations by Ben Redlich    Though basically a very clever idea, setting a mischievous group of characters inside the head of an unruly child causing her bad behavior, it doesn’t work well in Circus Carnivore. The rhyming is stiff and awkward. The reader is forced to stumble around a series of short, abrupt signs, signals and flags making the story a nightmare to move through. Instead of driving the reader onward it sets up word obstacles difficult to navigate. The illustrations only add to the confusion. It is a rather exhausting experience for the reader. Both words and pictures are so busy, each in themselves, that the book goes beyond the story into the land of the lost somewhere. Even the type face is visually jolting, moving across the pages in sporadic bursts. The focus seems to be more on the cleverness of the presentation than on the cleverness of the idea. Children will be confused and bored by the clutter of words and pictures. 2006, Houghton, Mifflin, Ages 8 to 10, $16.00. Reviewer: Joan Elste (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0618-56328-9 ISBN: 0-618-56328-8 City Beats: A Hip-Hoppy Pigeon Poem S. Kelly Rammell Illustrated by Jeanette Canyon    Words swoop and soar and so do the feathered protagonists of City Beats: A Hip-Hoppy Pigeon Poem. Through playful imagery, young readers get a bird’s eye view of a city replete with “juicy colors,” “grinding gears” and “different shoes on different feet.” Author S. Kelly Rammell uses onomatopoeia to wonderful effect and kids will want to make all the “screech,” “hiss,” “ker-chunk, “pound,” and “tweet” sounds in this engaging text. Illustrator Jeanette Canyon conveys the color, energy and texture of the urban scene through stunning polymer clay art that follows two pigeons as they peck crumbs on a sidewalk, goggle at a parade and roost sleepily on a window sill at night. 2006, Dawn, $8.95. Ages 2 to 7. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).    The first page of this colorful book explains some facts and background information about pigeons, and then asks, "What do you think a day is like for a pigeon?" Musical hip-hop rhymes describe what pigeons may see, hear, and smell in the course of a day in the busy city. A window opening cutout on one page shows part of the illustration that is on the next page. The full pictures are beautiful and there are vivid illustrations of the pigeons in the city. The artwork is rather complex for young readers, but they may enjoy seeing all the colors and shapes. The rhythm of the verses would be great to read aloud, and the use of exciting words would be helpful in developing vocabulary. Many words are the sounds of the city such as, "Honk! Beep! Screech! Squeak!" At the end of the story, the pigeons sit sleeping on the windowsill. Readers will enjoy the rhythm of the verses, and the unique way of looking at pigeons and their lives in a city. 2006, Dawn Publications, $8.95 and $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature). Best Books: Children's Books 2006: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2006; New York Public Library; United States ISBN: 1584690763 ISBN: 1584690771 Collected Poems for Children Pictures by Raymond Briggs    From the end of the 1950's until his death in 1998, Ted Hughes wrote poetry for children, publishing a variety of books such as: Meet My Folks!, What Is the Truth? A Farmyard Fable for the Young, and Season Songs. In recognition of his talent and body of work he was appointed England's Poet Laureate in 1984. This particular collection of poetry draws from some of his works for younger reader/listeners and progresses to some of his most sophisticated works. It is a testament to the change in the times and cultural evolution that many of the poems seem to be suitable for older readers when the writing evokes a scene or situation that would most naturally be deemed appropriate for the younger set. Perhaps, ambitious parents/teachers would introduce this lyrical amalgam of observations of nature and humanity with an eye toward stretching today's youngsters as listeners-provoking thoughtful enjoyment of this master's creativity, compassion, and expressed joy in everyday life. Religious motifs play throughout a number of the poems, with pointed poignancy and without superficial sentimentality. I was particularly impressed with the sentiment of the poem titled "Snail," in which a rose "shrieks out: What's this? Oh, what's this? The Snail says: Shhh! I am God's kiss." This idea is a lovely way to examine being slimed by a lowly slug. In "The Golden Boy," the allusions to the death and resurrection of Jesus are unmistakable with the life story of wheat as presented by Hughes: "Thanking the Wheat/Thanking the Bread/For Bringing them Life/Today and Tomorrow/ Out of the dirt." The poems that touch on nature are full of wonderful imagery and rich vocabulary. "Woodpecker" begins "Woodpecker is rubber-necked/But has a nose of steel." and continues "He bangs his head against the wall/And cannot even feel." Many of today's students will find this collection a challenge, but with considered guidance it may well be used to introduce a higher level of appreciation of the many faces of poetry. Over 200 black and white sketches from the talented Raymond Briggs, help to bring an additional spark of life and humor to Hughes' work-enhancing in places and supporting in other; but, never detracting from the words themselves. 2007 (orgin.2005), Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 8 up, $18.00. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan ISBN: 978-0-374-31429-3 ISBN: 0-374-31429-2 The Complete Book and CD Set of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller    Miss Jackie is at it, again. With assistance from another experienced educator, this veteran teacher and entertainer has assembled more than 700 songs, chants, fingerplays, and poems primarily for toddlers and preschoolers. Just about every children’s rhyme or song you have ever heard is in here. They are organized alphabetically and each notes a theme connection to the curriculum such as cleanup, self-esteem, or parts of the body. To determine what are chants, songs, or fingerplays, one must check the category index. It would have been helpful to new teachers to have this noted on the individual entries. Additional indices include a first-line index, a theme connections index such as animals, cooking, and counting, and the category index. Two CDs are included with fifty songs sung by both males and females. The songs are sung in alphabetical order on the CDs but do not correspond to the list in the category index. It would have been helpful to have a list of what songs are on what CD, preferably printed on the CD. 2002, Gryphon House, Ages Adult, $44.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-87659-053-9 ISBN: 0-87659-053-9 Confeti: poemas para niños Pat Mora Illustrated by Enrique G. Sanchez    This is a lovely little Spanish language reissue of a poetry collection first published ten years ago. The first thing about the book that immediately drew my interest was the illustrations; bright, colorful, and playful pictures will enchant browsers of all ages. After enjoying the pictures several times I actually started to read the poetry. There is something for everyone here. The youngest students will enjoy the chance to participate in choral "readings" of the many verses with repeated lines or sections while the older children can enjoy both reading out loud and the many mental images or memories Mora's words bring to mind. Several poems deal with typical Hispanic culture, offering English language learners something familiar and their classmates an opportunity to read across cultures.[Editor's Note: Also available in English, Confetti: Poems for Children.] Recommended. 2006, Lee and Low Books, 32pp., $7.95 pbk. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Angela Oliverson (Library Media Connection, November/December 2006). Best Books: Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, 1996; Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP); Commended; United States Notable Books for a Global Society, 1997; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Nominee 1996 United States ISBN: 1-58430-270-4 ISBN: 1-880000-25-3 Dance by the Light of the Moon Joanne Ryder Illustrated by Guy Francis    Based on the song of the same name, this book provides more detail into who those “buffalo girls” were. Personifying a group of farm animals—Buffalo Flo, Gertie May Goose, Cassie Sue Cat, and Patty Ann Pig—the poem follows each ladies getting ready for the dance and their joy in the upcoming occasion. “Gals from the farm stroll on by, arm in arm. They glide to the glen, but . . .where are the men? How could they be late for a toe-tapping date?” The gentlemen finally arrive and a delightful dance insures. The illustrations by Francis are joyful and exuberant and the animals all seem to be having a wonderful time. This is a fun picture book for emergent readers and will allow for joyful read alouds for those parents who enjoy reading aloud to their children. 2007, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 3 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer: Jean Boreen (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7868-1820-4 Dinosaur Bones Bob Barner    This humorous picture details the story of the dinosaurs and their time on earth, both when alive and today with the fossils that remind us of their existence. The history of ‘dinosaur bones” is told at two levels; the first is a rhyming poem with one line per page. The second is a more detailed history of dinosaurs with interesting facts that correspond to the poem. For example, the rhyming line is “Dinosaurs had teeth to bite and jaws to chew;” the factual paragraph includes “The shape of the jaws and teeth help scientists find out if a dinosaur was a meat or plant eater.” A further addition to this charming text is the CD, narrated by Jerry Dixon with a hip, humorous quality, and music written and performed by Raul Malo. Readers can choose a variety of styles from the CD to correspond with their reading. For parents who want their children to begin learning words, there is an option that allows for students to read along with the text while Dixon reads with them. The illustrations, also by Barner, are fun and attention-getting with their focus on primary colors. This delightful picture book will be a great addition to the library of anyone working with young readers. 2001, Chronicle Books, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Jean Boreen (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8118-3158-2 e. e. Cummings Catherine Reef    This fascinating biography of a major American poet of the 20th century relates his life to the social and political context of the times. He was called by his middle name, Estlin, and preferred that his name be written as “e. e. Cummings” using customary capitalization. While a young man at Harvard, he was already writing his unusual form of poetry and painting in the cubist style. A helpful formula for understanding his poetry is presented: “Sometimes, he pried a word open with a phrase wrapped in parentheses to show that two events or thoughts occur at the same time.” He is portrayed as a delightful, entertaining boy who never grew up. His two marriages ended in divorce, and he never married his later companion, Marion Morehouse. He and his first wife had a child, Nancy, whom he acknowledged only later in life, but never fulfilled her desire for a father. In Paris and Greenwich Village, he partied with the notables of his day. His friends included Hart Crane, William Carlos Williams, and Ezra Pound. Later he settled on his family’s farm. At 56, having published several books of poetry, he began to win prizes and have financial security. His mother had continually furnished support. This book is a gem for anyone interested in this poet, his poetry, or his times. 2006, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 14 to 20, $21.00. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature). Best Books: Booklist Book Review Stars, Nov. 15, 2006; United States ISBN: 978-0-618-56849-9 ISBN: 0-618-56849-2 Edgar Allan Poe Aaron Frisch Illustrations by Gary Kelley Photos by Tina Mucci.    Poe’s short, unhappy life is brought clearly into focus through the use of photographs, original illustrations, and most importantly his own words. The opening selection of “Eldorado” accompanied by a dark, bleak illustration sets the tone for what follows. A brief text provides biographical details that bind Poe’s life and poetry together into a meaningful whole. Orphaned at two and raised by indifferent foster parents, he suffered a sense of isolation throughout his life. As an adult he wandered from city to city without forming lasting relationships. His poetic talent was not recognized during his lifetime, and he lived in a constant state of poverty. Most of the people he felt close to died at young ages (many of tuberculosis), including his wife who died at the age of 24. His chronic depression caused him to try drugs, gambling, and other addictions in efforts to relieve his despair. The cause of his death at age 40 has never been determined. Relevant poems are interspersed among the factual details, including full text or excerpts from “To Helen,” “Hymn,” “Annabelle Lee,” “The Raven,” and other works. A beautiful, albeit dark and somber, tribute to this talented poet. 2006, Creative Education, $31.35. Ages 14 up. Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-5834-1344-8 "Fire! fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire Bill Martin Jr; Vladimir Radunsky made a hole and pictures for this book    The old rhyme used for the title is the framework on which Radunsky has built his new visual tale of a race to a surprise ending. Through the keyhole cut through the jacket, cover, and first pages we glimpse the light of a fire at which the small, polka-dot-dressed mouse Mrs. McGuire is pointing. “Where? Where?” asks Mrs. Bear. Mrs. Brown replies “Downtown!” The rhyming questions are traded from mouse to mouse, as the fire is shown through the painted keyhole. Finally, as Mrs. McDavis slides down stairs with a sack of potatoes, the fire appears through a cut-out keyhole again. Turning the page reveals the surprise. The initial setting is an interior done in dark tones: black floor, large brown teddy bear, somber patterned wallpaper. White mice in varied colored dresses catch our attention because of the color contrasts. Computer- generated, somewhat surreal images add to the offbeat fun, enhanced by casual-looking typeface. 2006 (orig. 1971), Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-15-205725-0 Flamingoes on the Roof: Poems and Paintings Calef Brown.    This quirky picture book moves from poem to poem with little organization but a great deal of colorful detail and over-the-top humor. From poems about “biscuits in the wind” and “the crystal bowling ball,” to ones about tiny baby sphinxes and Poseidon’s hair, these one-page free-verse poems will engage budding poets who want poems they can understand. The majority of the poems highlight phrases like “He picked some kelp, and with some help, he made his own toupee. Although it smells of oyster shells and often floats away, old Poseidon loves his hair.” These phrases provide the type of humor that matches the unusual nature of the illustrations. Brown’s characters are exaggerated as far as the details in their faces and are often colorful and unique in composition. Younger children should enjoy the specifics in the illustrations, and parents or teachers can practice their read- aloud skills on these easy to read poems. 2006, Houghton Mifflin Books, $16.00. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-618-56298-5 ISBN: 0-618-56298-2 The Friendly Four Eloise Greenfield Illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist    Drum begins telling the story, which is told through Greenfield’s amazing poetry and written in multiple voices. Summer has arrived and Drum is not happy. He just knows that his summer is going to be a “bummer.” There is no one in his neighborhood for him “to chase” or “to catch a ball.” All he sees ahead is boredom until a new family moves in down the street. When he sees that a girl about his age is moving in he decides that he needs to be a good neighbor and deliver a welcome greeting. This begins the friendship of Drum and Dorene as they run and jump and learn about each other. Then along comes another newly adopted boy, Louis, who has a party to meet the other children in the neighborhood. And finally, Rae, who is visiting her grandma and Dorene while her mother gets “a little bit stronger.” Friendships flourish as the children laugh, play, tell stories, and even build a town. Greenfield tells the story of friendships that build between the children and how their imaginations can take them into a wonderful summer of fun. The easy to read poetry is charming and descriptive of children and their many summer activities. The watercolor illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist enhance this beautiful story with her portrayal of these energetic children as they laugh and play together throughout the summer. The children also know that when school starts they may be apart, but they will continue to be friends. 2006, Amistad/HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-06-000759-1 ISBN: 0-06-000759-1 ISBN: 978-0-06-000760-7 ISBN: 0-06-000760-5 Go! Poetry in Motion Dee Lillegard Illustrations by Valeri Gorbachev    Why is poetry so appealing to children? Many classic works contain an element of rhythm and rhyme, including Goodnight Moon, Mother Goose, and Where The Wild Things Are. When the poetry is well written, it can have magical results, as it does in this collection. Bikes and trikes, scooters and roller skates, roller coaster and ferris wheels, ships and sailboats, fire engines and police cars are featured in this volume. This collection is guaranteed to enchant children because it touches on everyday life in a humorous ways. Dee Lillegard’s 30 poems are comically illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Young readers will enjoy the playful tone of the poetry, particularly poems like Bike and Trike/Bike teases Trike,/”Bet you wish you were me.”/He thinks two wheels/are better than three!” Go! Poetry in Motion is a wonderful blend of inventive wordplay and rhythm that will appeal to readers who have enjoyed Lillegard’s previous works, Tiger, Tiger, Wake Up House! , and Hello School! Gorbachev, the illustrator of fine works such as Big Little Elephant and That’s What Friends Are For, has added another humorous work to his repertoire. 2006, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 3 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-375-82387-9 ISBN: 978-0-375-92387-6 ISBN: 0-375-82387-5 ISBN: 0-375-92387-X Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More. Jack Prelutsky Illustrated by Chris Raschka    Children’s Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky and Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka collaborate on this paean to sports for kids. As its subtitle points out, this effort is about physical action. The “more” encompasses sturdy little poems about baseball, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, and more. Prelutsky strives mightily for worthy rhymes not only about the games themselves, but the concept of sportsmanship. As is his wont, he shines best in wry commentary. Only consider: “I had to slide into the plate,/It was my only chance./Though if I hadn’t slid, then I/Would not have lost my pants.” Or, “My dunk will be spectacular—/The greatest of them all./When I grow three feet taller,/I will dunk this basketball.” Raschka’s watercolor and ink drawings slip and slide right along with the poems. Putrid green and orange signify chances forever lost; broad swooshes of color imitate action; nebulous blob-like figures scrimmage with a will. Sports-oriented youngsters should eat up the results. 2007, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 3 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-375-83700-5 ISBN: 978-0-375-93700-2 Got Geography!: Poems Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Pictures by Philip Stanton    Lee Bennett Hopkins has already collected poetry about Marvelous Math and Spectacular Science. Now he has found poems that celebrate islands, mountains and forests as well as early explorers, the compass and even longitude and latitude. A few of the selections seem forced but many others are clever and memorable: “If I were the equator/I would have an attitude/I’d boast the most about my no degrees of latitude…” In Joan Bransfield Graham’s “Awesome Forces” we read that “lava flows,/geysers gush,/canyons are carved by a river’s push.” There is even an excerpt from “Lines Written for Gene Kelly to Dance To” in which Carl Sandburg explains that “when you dance it is the North Pole or the South Pole pulling on your feet like magnets to keep your feet on the earth.” Philip Stanton’s oversized primitive illustrations are bold and colorful. Poetry is a novel way to draw attention to geography and these poems certainly have the potential to spark more interest than finding continents or capitals on a photocopied map. 2006, Greenwillow, $15.99. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-06-055601-3 ISBN: 0-06-055602-1 Handsprings: Poems & Paintings Douglas Florian    Just in time to welcome spring, Florian has completed his seasonal cycle of poems that already include Winter Eyes, Summersaults, and Autumblings. His verses are concise, frequently fun, and always filled with the love of and play with words begging to be read aloud. Here he celebrates colors, sounds, activities, and the feel of spring, including March winds and April Fool’s. Sometimes the words march down or around the page; the letters of “Rain Reign” fall like showers. The watercolor and color pencil illustrations of varying sizes that accompany these innocent verses are also playful and full of youthful enthusiasm. No backgrounds are needed; no distracting details keep us from the direct appeal of a mouth tipped open to catch the dripping rain, or the jumping lift of a youngster as if from a coiled spring, or a grin so wide it needs three separate frames to contain it, or a daisy coming around a corner smiling at us, “Spring is one big daisy chain...Spring is silly daffodilly.” And Florian helps us open our arms to it. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).    Celebrate spring! Each of these thirty poems and paintings offers another reason to rejoice in this special season. There are things to love, like trees growing, springs flowing, flowers blooming, sports playing, and birds singing. Of course, there are a few drawbacks, like thunderstorms, insect swarms, bumblebees, and skinned knees. All of these subjects and more are explored in bouncy verses with the words sometimes moving about on the page. Clever word play and surprising images stimulate all the senses. For instance, in “Rain Song” the reader is treated to the sound of rain playing on the windowpane, the sight of rain pouring into puddles, and the feel of rain dripping on nose and lips. The poem about “mud, mud, mud” aptly shows the only cure, “suds, suds, suds.” Active full-color illustrations launch the reader into the season of growth and greenery. This book is a companion to Florian’s other seasonal books, Winter Eyes, Summersaults, and Autumnblings. Good choices year ‘round. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 6 to 15. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). Awards, Honors, Prizes: Books of the Year Winner 2006 5 to 9 Years United States Cybils Finalist 2006 Poetry United States ISBN: 0-06-009280-7 ISBN: 0-06-009281-5 ISBN: 978-0-06-009280-1 ISBN: 978-0-06-009281-8 Here’s a Little Poem Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters Illustrations by Polly Dunbar    Favorite pets and hated foods. Babies, brothers, sisters, mothers. The sheer delight of exploring the world. Take every beloved childhood experience, throw in a tantrum and some bedtime talk, and set them against a backdrop of rhyme, rhythm, and color. The result is a dazzling new collection of poems for the very young. Organized into four themes (Me, Myself, and I; Who Lives in My House?; I Go Outside; and Time for Bed) this engaging anthology introduces the magic of word play through familiar people, events, and experiences. Renowned poets Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters collaborated in the selection and arrangement of the poems, balancing classics by such noted writers as Langston Hughes, A. A. Milne, and Margaret Wise Brown with newer works by favorite authors including Rosemary Wells and Children’s Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky. Polly Dunbar created lively illustrations for each poetic gem, and creative use of color in the design of the text and lettering brightens each spread. While it is designed as a book to read-aloud to toddlers, the engaging illustrations and approachable text will encourage emerging readers to explore the poems on their own. 2007, Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 8, $21.99. Reviewer: Keri Collins (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-7636-3141-3 Hippopotamus Stew: And Other Silly Animal Poems Joan Horton Illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi    The twenty funny poems in this collection are all about animals in various silly, quirky situations. The big, bright illustrations are an interesting mix of collage and watercolors, colored pencils, and watercolor paper. They add just the right visual touch to the enjoyment of the bubbly, perky language of the poems. Who could resist a whale that prefers to take showers even when “he has an ocean to use for a tub.” In “I’m a Fierce and Fearless Dragon” we hear about how he can breath “red-hot plumes of flame” and “Knights for miles around all tremble at the mention of my name”--only to discover that the elaborate dragon description is just the dream of a “teeny tiny lizard / Who’s a mere two inches tall.” Clever and whimsical use of language makes this a pleasure to read aloud. The poems will give the listeners lots of things to discuss and spark some ideas for their own poems. 2006, Henry Holt, $16.95. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8050-7350-8 ISBN: 0-8050-7350-7 Holiday Stew: A Kid's Portion of Holiday and Seasonal Poems Jenny Whitehead    Covering holidays and celebrations throughout the year, this feast of poems includes all the major "Days": May, Valentine's, Arbor, Mother's, Father's, Memorial, Flag, Friendship, St. Patrick's, Grandparents', Labor, Columbus, Veterans' and Thanksgiving;" religious festivals; and seasonal events. Frolicking, cartoon-like illustrations punctuate every selection from Teacher Appreciation Day to April Fool's. The colorful people and clever animals cheerfully depict enjoying these festivities - all regaled in rhyme. I especially liked the lines on the Teacher Appreciation Day page, where one of the children's placards reads "…for wearing a sweater that matches the season…" - it just makes me think of all the teachers who honor each season and holiday with the appropriate apparel. Because the scope is so broad, there is something here for everyone to share and enjoy. Many of the poems have more than a bit of educational value tucked into the pleasure of the rhythms. "Upside-Down Thinking" shows planet earth with a winter clad child standing on one side and a beach-ready child standing on the other - even the two poems have one "right-side up" and one "upside-down" to help children understand the reversal of seasons north and south of the equator. Abe Lincoln is shown participating in a four part rhyme to salute President's Day. From the heights of Mt. Rushmore he forgets to make the rhyme work and is chided by his fellow presidents. Much humor and many insights are captured here, with only occasional stretches for a rhyme to make the poem "work." The 100th day of school and birthdays are celebrated with great pizzazz as are many other experiences common to all children. Teachers will find this a valuable tool for introducing a wide variety of holidays and seasonal changes - listeners will find this a wonderful opportunity to contemplate different viewpoints and traditions while savoring the rich language. 2007, Henry Holt, Ages 6 to 10, $17.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8050-7715-5 ISBN: 0-8050-7715-4 If: A Father’s Advice to His Son Rudyard Kipling Photographs by Charles R. Smith, Jr.    Rudyard Kipling’s poem begins: “If you can keep your head/ when all about you/ Are losing theirs/ and blaming it on you/ If you can trust yourself/ when all men doubt you,/ But make allowance for their doubting too” and continues to describe a series of common conflicts that most people face at some point in their lives. The poem then concludes, “Yours is the Earth/ and everything that’s in it,/ And—which is more--/ you’ll be a Man, my son!” Accompanying this motivational poem is Charles R. Smith’s photographic images of boys and young men playing popular sports like soccer, baseball and football but also less familiar ones such as archery, fencing and pole vaulting. Unlike the sharp images in some other of Smith’s photographic picture books such as Brown Sugar Babies and Perfect Harmony: A Musical Journey with the Boys’ Choir of Harlem, these images are intentionally muted, not clearly depicting any of the faces of the athletes. This technique, along with the final illustration’s focus only on the shadow of a man touching the shoulder of his son, suggests that regardless of sport, ability, ethnic identity or age, this poem is for Everyman. Though girls might enjoy this Kipling/Smith collaboration, it is firmly a “boy book,” concentrating visually on tense calf muscles, flying feet and twisting torsos of young male athletes. An excellent companion for books like Denize Lauture and Jonathan Green’s Father and Son, Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and E.B. Lewis’s Bippity Bop Barber Shop and Will Smith and Kadir Nelson’s Just the Two of Us, this title could offer an excellent avenue into literature for young male reluctant readers. 2007, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-689-87799-5 ISBN: 0-689-87799-4 I Must Go Down to the Beach Again Karen Jo Shapiro Illustrations by Judy Love    Take twenty-three classic poems by sixteen dead poets. Fast forward to today. Think silly or, at least, lighthearted thoughts. Rewrite the poems and update their subjects so they are accessible to kids. This is the conceit behind Shapiro’s new collection of poems, and it makes for enjoyable reading. Her poetic revisions of the works of American and British masters are true to the meter and rhyme of the originals. (For example, in Shapiro’s poem about a baby sister, Lord Byron’s opening line, “She walks in beauty in night,” becomes “She wakes up crying in the night.”) The humor is more of the chuckling sort than laugh-out-loud, but it is accentuated by Love’s nicely rendered and expressive black-and-white drawings. Shapiro includes endnotes identifying the poets and poems she has chosen to parody, and explaining her method. Students would derive more from the book, and Shapiro’s achievement would be better highlighted, if the volume included the original poems. However, the originals are generally available on multiple Web sites, and enterprising students and teachers can easily find them. 2007, Charlesbridge, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Debbie Levy (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-1-58089-143-1 ISBN: 978-1-58089-144-8 Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrations by Eric Velasquez    Though America’s fight against Hitler would not begin for several years, the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany shone a spotlight on a nation ruled by Nazi prejudice. This insightful picture book biography tells the story of Jesse Owens, the track-and-field athlete who won four gold medals and crushed Hitler’s dream of using the Olympics to show the superiority of the “German race.” Carole Boston Weatherford sets the tone for the book with the rousing poem “Go!”—simultaneously summarizing Owens’s youth and cheering him on to success as an Olympic competitor. Illustrator Eric Velasquez’s soft pastels launch the book by depicting the Olympic champion beginning a race, and the images continue to propel readers through each scene as though viewing snapshots in a scrapbook. The illustrations perfectly balance the thoughtful poems Weatherford created, detailing each step toward the defining moment, when Owens won his fourth gold medal and set a world record for the long jump that would remain unbroken for twenty-five years. The sensitive interweaving of both words and pictures place the Olympic Games in their historical context of segregation in America and the Holocaust. However, these sad truths never overshadow the book’s focus on an amazing American hero. Additional information at the end of the book rounds out the biography with facts about Jesse Owens’s life “beyond the track,” both before and after the 1936 Olympics. This inspirational story will serve many purposes in the classroom, from discussions about prejudice, the Holocaust, and segregation, to the importance of role models who are examples of determination, sportsmanship, and hard work. 2007, Walker & Company, Ages 6 to 11, $16.95. Reviewer: Keri Collins (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8027-9550-1 ISBN: 0-8027-9551-X ISBN: 978-0-8027-9550-2 ISBN: 978-0-8027-9551-9 Langston Hughes: the Voice of Harlem Brenda Haugen    Hughes lived during a very interesting time for black artists. Although his home was in various areas of the United States and Mexico, his true home was Harlem. His home on E 127th St. in Harlem is currently open to the public. Poetry readings by budding artists are given periodically at his residence. As a youngster he lived occasionally with his grandmother his mother and his father in Mexico. By the time he graduated from high school he had been chosen as school poet and had written “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” which would become the first poem he would publish. It was based on what he felt the Mississippi River and slavery meant to blacks. Throughout his life he continued to write and publish about what life was like for blacks in his day. Since he enjoyed music he also utilized his writing talent by working on operas and musicals. He was truly a Harlem Renaissance man. 2006, Compass Point Books, $30.60. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7565-0993-9 ISBN: 978-0-7565-0993-4 Me I Am! Jack Prelutsky Illustrated by Christine Davenier    Prelutsky's poem, originally printed in The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (1983), forms the basis of this picture book. His verse is whimsically Seuss-ish, and the wonderfully repetitive nature of the verses is sure to be a hit with young readers. Davenier's illustrations, on the other hand, are generally disappointing. The carelessly-drawn watercolors are clearly intended to look as if created by a child, but the color choices make many scenes unappealing. Blue and brown highlights give the book a hint of sadness, even though the verses are cheerfully upbeat. Furthermore, although the emphasis of the text is on the individuality of each child, all of the children in the book look pretty much identical, other than a barely distinguishable choice of clothes. The scribbled nature of the pencil lines and the small-scale of many of the drawings also make it difficult to follow many of the action sequences, without very close scrutiny. Better usage of color or a different style of illustration would probably fix many of these issues, but as it is, this picture book is only mediocre. 2007, Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 3 to 5, $16.00. Reviewer: Laura Ruttig (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-374-34902-8 ISBN: 0-374-34902-9 Meadow Guesses: Poems Joyce Sidman Illustrations by Beth Krommes    Teachers will delight in this companion to Sidman’s award winning Song of the Water Boatman. It is a wonderful tool for combining the teaching of science, language, and art. This latest book of engaging poetry centers around a meadow. All of the poems are written in different styles, but each is a riddle asking the reader to identify something commonly seen in a meadow. Poems describe everything from dew to foxes to goldfinches and milkweed. Prose explanations stress the ecology and interaction of all the plants and creatures living in the meadow. The rich, detailed, and vibrantly colored illustrations done in scratchboard are a perfect accompaniment to the text. Children are sure to discover something new each time they examine the pictures. This is a book to turn to again and again for the beauty of the poetry, the splendid art, and the scientific knowledge. It is definitely endorsed as a first purchase. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth (Children's Literature). Best Books: Best Children's Books, 2006; Kirkus; United States Children's Books 2006: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2006; New York Public Library; United States Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2006; United States Notable Children's Book, 2007; ALSC American Library Association; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2006; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Cybils Winner 2006 Poetry United States ISBN: 0-618-56313-X Meow Ruff Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Michelle Berg    Set aside some time to fully explore this masterpiece of words and shapes--a match made in concrete poetry heaven. The bright, inviting front cover prepares the reader for the treat to come inside this finely crafted, subtly sophisticated, extraordinary example of excellence in the craft of bookmaking. The deceptively simple story line is one of a dog and a cat caught out in a rainstorm seeking shelter together and becoming friends. The shiny black crows are observing the two furry pets approaching each other and “crows love fights … fur will fly.” Every page has a border of grass, which is really green letters spelling out wonderfully lyrical descriptions of “patchwork, rabbit-nibbled, mower-cropped, wind-whispered grass” that flows along under the story which is in itself told with lots of word pictures. The clouds are groupings of words like a “billowing batch of cumulus” in differing shades of whitish blue floating along in the sky. The whole book is about changes and the progression of the day’s weather, the relationship of the two animals, and the interactions of the crows and even the lady bugs (“really beetles and not all ladies”). The stupendously clever placement of the letters to create various items is seen in the vertical text coming from the clouds, which are now “dark drenching murk…thunderous.” One can “see” the rain as it changes from the “first drop falling” to “stinging ropes of water.” The picnic table under which the animals seek a dry spot is also made of words, as is the great tree that is seen throughout the story, which is made up of green words for the canopy and brown words for its trunk. Because the visual impact is so impressive, mere words are inadequate to describe this dazzling experience of concrete poetry. Plan to read it again and again. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). Best Books: Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 15, 2006; United States Books for Youth, 2006; Booklist Editor's Choice; United States ISBN: 0-618-44894-2 ISBN: 978-0-618-44894-4 Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem David Frampton Original poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti    Inspired by Ferlinghetti's poem, Frampton sets the scene by introducing the poet as a youth during a Brooklyn summer. Just a few words or sentences per double page leave ample room for Frampton's visualization of this time before the lines of the poem itself, "just the way he wrote it," are brought to life. The artist draws on his own memories to create full and double-page scenes bursting with the energy of youth. The black lines of his woodcuts encompass the urban colors: tan, muted greens, and oranges, with accents of white. Lots of curves generate the fire hose sprays and the children's spontaneous, joyous dancing. Even the firemen at their game of pinochle exude an air of motion. A note by the artist adds information on both the poet and the background. 2006, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $18.00. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0802852904 My America Jan Spivey Gilchrist Illustrations by Ashley Bryan and Jan Spivey Gilchrist    Corretta Scott King Award winners Jan Spivey Gilchrist and Ashely Bryan and teamed together to create this work of art extolling the virtues of America. Gilchrist asks the reader "Have you seen my country?" and then lists the things of which she is proud, such as the skies, the water, the land, and all the animals. The latter portion of the book focuses on the people of America, both in the text and pictures. A very simple yet evocative and powerful poem, especially when combined with the colorful and dynamic illustrations. The illustrations range from the very muted and simple to the colorful and complex, giving an accurate picture of the diversity that is America. 2007, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck ISBN: 0-06-079104-7 ISBN: 978-0-06-079104-9 My Parents Think I'm Sleeping Jack Prelutsky Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia    Going to sleep at night is an important part of a child's day. Some nights can seem scary, some noisy and some quiet. Some nights it is difficult to settle down. Prelutsky presents these scenarios and many others in these fourteen poems. Readers will identify with the child reading by flashlight under the covers and making shadow pictures on the wall. Illustrations work in harmony with the poems and extend them as well. In "Chocolate Cake" the little boy sneaks past his parents room where he hears snoring and goes into the kitchen, hopeful for a piece of cake. While it is not mentioned in the poem, Abolafia has drawn his father already in the kitchen munching on the cake. Discussions of imaginary monsters, daytime sheep and nighttime wolves in the clouds, and what happens to color at night are all topics that are child-centric. Humor, suspense, and surprise give color and variety to the poems. This is part of the "I Can Read!" series and is a level 3 "reading alone" title for "confident readers." Just as fresh as when this book was originally published in 1985, it is a good poetry title for parents and children to share together. 2007 (orig. 1985), HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-06-053720-5 ISBN: 978-0-06-053720-3 ISBN: 0-06-053721-3 ISBN: 978-0-06-053721-0 Poetry for Young People: William Blake Edited by John Maynard Illustrations by Alessandra Cimatoribus    It is an ambitious task indeed to bring the profound poetry of Blake to the eyes and ears of young people. Drawing on Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, Maynard has chosen works with deceptively simple words that often have a deeper core and deal with the emotions of love, hate, and lust all with spiritual overtones. The "Tyger Tyger burning bright…" is here along with "Little Lamb who made thee?" in all their majesty and innocence that many young readers will enjoy. But Little Boy Lost who is executed, the Poison Tree in which the speaker rejoices that his enemy has eaten the poison fruit, and The Chimney Sweep who decries his hard life and longs for death to reconcile him to a pastoral existence may be too harsh for today's children who will need adult input for meaning and appreciation. The final selection from Blake's later life includes excerpts from his more visionary poems such as Auguries of Innocence and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. There is an excellent summary of Blake's life that lays the foundation for his writing. Stunning artwork breathes life into the poems and celebrates each poem perfectly. Audience appreciation is limited and will be best utilized in a teaching environment. 2006, Sterling Publishing, Ages 12 to 16, $14.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8069-3647-5 ISBN: 0-8069-3647-9 Polar Bear, Artic Hare: Poems of the Frozen North Eileen Spinelli Illustrations by Eugenie Fernandes    Most people think of the Arctic as being very cold and uninhabited. This frozen land is home to many animals, from the huge polar bear to the tiny snow flea. Eileen Spinelli has written brief, evocative poems about various animals, plants, and even icebergs and the sun. The poems range from the truly original to re-writes of old favorites, such as "Arctic Nursery Rhyme" which follows the "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" form. Some, such as "Caribou" are very energetic and upbeat, while "Safe and Warm" (on the same page as "Caribou") are well suited for bedtime. Fernandes' breathtaking illustrations both accurately illustrate the poem subjects as well as fitting the emotions of each poem. Rare is the book that manages to capture both science and poetry, but the team of Spinelli and Fernandes have created a truly beautiful work. 2007, Wordsong, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck ISBN: 1-59078-344-1 ISBN: 978-1-59078-344-3 Sea Stars: Saltwater Poems Avis Harley Photographs by Margaret Butschler    Many of us remember the magic of hearing or reading poetry for the first time. Combine poetry with the wonder of beautifully photographed sea creatures and you have something special. Both illustrations and poems are an eclectic collection. Photos include commonly known sea animals--fish, whales, clownfish, crabs, sea stars--as well as unfamiliar ones such as sea cucumbers, giant plumose anemone, pipefish or kelp. Poems range from free verse to rhyme that may resemble the art of the limerick, whimsical to funny to phrases that can only be savored for their loveliness. For instance, the poem, “Otter Chatter” states, “How could you ever doubt the word/of the otter/When he sits up and talks to you/in the water?” What wonderful whimsy! The poem about sea turtles, “A Swimming Stone,” calls this reptile, “Leather Legs.” “Bonescape,” describing a whale skeleton at the sea bottom, says the bones “lie silent as the song of the lost whale.” Oh, my. From format to font to the double-page spread at the back of the book with facts about the featured critters, this book has done everything right. The perfect book for everyone from very young nonreaders to adults. 2006, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, $16.95. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Judy Crowder (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-59078-429-4 Seven Little Rabbits John Becker Illustrated by Barbara Cooney    Seven little rabbits start down the road to visit old friend toad. When one says he is tired, they discover a hole built by mole. They go down and the little rabbit goes to bed in mole’s underground den. The rest continue on their way but each in turn claims to be tired and they return to mole’s den until all seven are tucked in bed. Along the way they have stopped to pick flowers and have had a picnic. Perceptive children will point out that four of them “walkin’ down the road” almost get to toad’s house. From the small size (8” x 6”) to the jaunty rhyme and humorous captions, this is a delight for parents and children to share. In size, clothing, and their interests, these are seven distinct rabbits. The flower border around the rhyming text changes from page to page. It feels as if spring is bursting forth. Even when they are not reading the book, children and their parents will be chanting, “Seven little rabbits/ Walkin’ down the road/ Walkin’ down the road/ Seven little rabbits/ Walkin’ down the road/ To call on old friend toad.” It is the perfect size for an Easter basket, and it would also be a good title for a springtime storyhour. 2007 (orig. 1973), Walker & Company, Ages 3 to 8, $7.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8027-9634-9 ISBN: 0-8027-9634-6 ISBN: 978-0-8027-9635-6 ISBN: 0-8027-9635-4 Shout! Little Poems that Roar Brod Bagert Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa    The style of these poems is a little different-there is a lot of repetition and they really need to be read aloud. The target audience is young children learning to enjoy the sound of words and also words that relate experiences they can understand. School is a time to play and learn, but the big word is play. I am not so sure that today's kindergartens are as playful as they used to be with the emphasis on learning alphabets, numbers, body parts, animal sounds and the like. There are some lessons in the poems-what the weather can be like, how the seasons come in cyclical fashion and how great it is to master the alphabet. While school is great, there is also the desire that it come to an end and then there will be time to enjoy more time to play in the summer sun. I Can't Wait is a poem that makes that desire clear. The illustrations are bright and bold and are also designed to appeal to younger children. A book that should have some appeal to those in preschool and kindergarten. 2007, Dial/Penguin, Ages 4 to 6, $16.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-8037-2972-8 Someone I Like: Poems About People Compiled by Judith Nicholls Illustrated by Giovanni Manna    Poetry about favorite people is offered here from poets Nikki Giovanni, James Berry and John Agard as well as Charlotte Zolotow, Mary Hoberman and Langston Hughes. Giovanni Manna's watercolor and ink paintings have a bit of a Peter Max feel, and also conjure up Tomi Ungerer's work. Relationships are the compiler's subject, so there are poems about successful friendships as well as those that are rocky. Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "André," confirms a boy's acceptance of his parents, while Hiawyn Oram's “Urgent Note to My Parents,” offers parents important advice. Poems from the sibling point of view express the joys and difficulties of holding a new baby sister and tell of the yearning to be as old as a big sister. Grandmothers and grandfathers receive a kindly look, and even teachers who read to their classrooms are given their due! Here is a gift from Britain that will enhance most collections. 2000, Barefoot Books, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Martha Shaw (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-84148-004-5 There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me Alice Walker Illustrated by Stefano Vitale    Acclaimed author Alice Walker reminds children and adults alike to slow down and appreciate the wonders of the world in There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me. In the author’s note at the end, Walker reveals that she wrote this long poem as a thank-you note to the universe. In language both playful and profound, Walker recognizes the connections and interconnections between all things. The sky, road, flowers and rain are not merely passive recipients of human actions but dynamic participants in an egalitarian relationship. “There is a road/ At the bottom/ Of my Foot/ Walking me,” proclaims the text. “There is a dog/At the end/ Of my leash/ Holding/ Me. Stefano Vitale’s illustrations are a vibrant accompaniment to this simple, wise text as well as a tribute to the beauty around us. 2006, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages all. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature). Best Books: Children's Books 2006: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2006; New York Public Library; United States Kirkus Book Review Stars, April 15, 2006; United States ISBN: 978-0-06-057080-4 ISBN: 0-06-057080-6 ISBN: 978-0-06-057081-1 ISBN: 0-06-057081-4 This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski    Inspired by the poem "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams, a teacher assigns her students the task of writing poems of apology for actions they have taken and encourages recipients of the poems to write poems of response. Written by a fictional sixth grade class, each poem manages to convey an intense emotion, whether the joy of being the "dodge ball kings" or sadness at not meeting a parent's expectation. The poems of forgiveness are equally evocative and answer each apology poem in turn. While it is disappointing to realize that the authors of the poems are fictional, each poem still feels as if it were written by a child, expressing dismay at hurting a teacher's feelings or admiration to an older sibling who seems so much cooler than the author. The illustrations are reminiscent of drawings and doodles of children and manage to suggest that children had a direct hand in writing and illustrating the poems in the book. 2007, Houghton Mifflin Co., Ages 9 to 13, $16.00. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-618-61680-0 ISBN: 0-618-61680-2 This Is the Dream Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander Illustrated by James Ransome    From the very first glimpse of the striking end papers, the reader becomes aware that this is a special book on an oft discussed subject. Using a combination of collages of actual photographs from the era of the Civil Rights Movement, and paintings that convey visual images that complement and enhance the simple, but powerful text, Ransome has succeeded in turning this picture book into a succinct, compelling history lesson. The authors have used plain, straightforward language (in rhymed couplets) to relate the events of the experience of segregation and the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. Even young readers will feel the impact of the power of this examination of an extremely emotionally charged time in our nation’s history. The heroic grace of “an army without guns, but not without strength” (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1964) is shown with honest empathy. The faces in the photographic collages reveal much about the attitudes of the times. The peaceful protests look all the more powerful when juxtaposed against such ugliness. Some of the strongest leaders of the movement are given a place of honor featuring their portraits, but it is in the faces (and actions) of the “everyday” people that we see the courage and determination of those who dreamed of “freedom and justice for all.” Children will be able to recognize the injustices of racial prejudice and the need for the changes that have slowly approached giving all of our citizens their rightful place in the nation. This is an important addition for any library. 2006, Harper Collins, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).    Rhymes lead to reason in Diane Shore and Jessica Alexander’s title. During the first half of the book, verses explain segregation with couplets like: “These are the fountains that stand in the square and the black-and-white signs say who will drink where.” The second half of the book uses the same rhyming schemes to depict agents of change who “rallied and answered the call…dreaming of freedom and justice for all.” While the book can be used to introduce the past to younger children, James Ransome’s illustrations encourage discussion by older students. His strong, bold oils bring out the starkness of situations and strength of those who fought for equality. His interspersed collages make similarly powerful statements, whether he is showing the faces of those who suffered, or blending faces of children to represent the change to equality. 2006, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-06-055519-1 ISBN: 978-0-06-055520-7 ISBN: 0-06-055519-X ISBN: 0-06-055520-3 Today at the Bluebird Cafe: A Branchful of Birds Deborah Ruddell Illustrated by Joan Rankin    It is hard to believe this fascinating book, with interesting and humorous poems, is the first book the author has written for children. We hope she writes many more. The charming illustrations are rendered in watercolor; this gives the bird book a unique appearance. The poems are funny and have a rhythm that most children will not be able to resist. The reader, or caregiver, will no doubt be asked to read and discuss the poems many times. Children who can read will want to read and re-read the clever poems while looking at the interesting pictures. The first poem ends with the line, “A sip of the lake and a bite of the sky,” ensuring the reader that the book has much to offer. Children rarely hear enough poetry, or rhyming words, which will help them to learn their language as well as learn to read. Each poem is about a different bird, and each bird has something whimsical and unusual about it. The poem about swans starts, “Fairy-tale bird on a moonlit pond, pulled by stars or a magic wand,” making children and adults want to finish reading it. The interesting poems about birds and the attractive illustrations will make this an winning addition to any library. 2007, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, $15.99. Ages 4 to 10. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature). Best Books: Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 1, 2007; United States ISBN: 0-689-87153-8 Tough Boy Sonatas Curtis L. Crisler Illustrations by Floyd Cooper    Through the voices of urban young men, this forceful collection of poems weaves threads of anger, frustration, sex, confidence, and pride through a gritty tapestry depicting life in Gary, Indiana. Curtis L. Crisler, a Cave Canem Fellow at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, does not flinch away from the tough issues that accompany poverty and racial prejudice, ranging from gangs, drugs, and domestic violence to hopelessness and despair. Occasional bits of light, in the form of family, friends, and happy childhood memories, offer brief respite from the crushing reality brought to life in Crisler’s evocative free verse. Dramatic experiences, such as the brutal hanging of a stray dog from a swing set, or watching a grandmother doing intravenous drugs, are starkly different from those commonly portrayed in children’s literature, yet resonate in their vividness. Floyd Cooper’s smokey illustrations extend the poetry’s dark themes, from the factory pollution blackening the sky to the taut emotion of a teenager howling his rage. While some language and subjects may be controversial, this portrayal of urban adolescence, told with such insight, skill, and honesty, is a powerful and important look at the very real challenges of many teens. 2007, Boyds Mills Press/Wordsong, Ages 13 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Keri Collins (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-1-932425-77-2 ISBN: 1-932425-77-2 Tour America: A Journey Through Poems and Art Diane Siebert Illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson    America is full of so many amazing places that it must have been difficult for Siebert to select only twenty-six. Her choices include the famous and the fascinating, natural beauty, and man-made wonders. Visits to the Washington Monument, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Las Vegas, and the Kentucky Derby inspired poems about our history, culture, and symbols. Lesser-known artworks, such as the “Cadillac Ranch” near Amarillo, Texas, and “Lucy the Elephant” in Margate, New Jersey, show us the more idiosyncratic side of Americans. Here one can read about the awesome power of Niagara Falls and Mount Saint Helens, the vanishing beauty of the tall grass prairie and the everglades, the Aurora Borealis in Alaska, UFOs in Roswell, New Mexico, and the Vortex in Gold Hill, Oregon. Next to the poem and above a rectangle with information about the area are small outline maps of the contiguous United States and the state in the title of the poem. Red lines indicate the location of each place. Siebert’s poems are fresh and vibrant. Each is distinct in its pace and tone, reflecting the mood of the place. Just as distinctive are the illustrations that accompany the poems, giving a broader picture to the reader. Johnson uses a wide range of art and mediums and lists them in the back of the book. Watercolor, oil, collage, photography, colored pencil, and more have been used, sometimes alone and sometimes mixed, and the results are amazing. With a bit of a postmark on each page, it truly feels like Siebert and Johnson have sent postcards from each of these places. Wonderful for geography, history, science, art, and English classes--why it can even become a math lesson in determining how far it is from one place to another. What a great way to get children to look at their surroundings and write their own poems. This is a beautiful book to hold, to peruse, and to read aloud. It is definitely a “first purchase” for libraries, and an excellent choice for a gift. 2006, Seastar Books/Chronicle Books, $17.95. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). Best Books: Books for Holiday Gift-Giving, 2006; Association for Library Service to Childrern; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2006; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Cybils Finalist 2006 Poetry United States ISBN: 0-811-85056-0 ISBN: 978-0-8118-5056-8 Trailblazers: Poems of Exploration Bobbi Katz Illustrations by Carin Berger    What a creative idea! Bobbi Katz celebrates the remarkable exploits of explorers from the earliest of times to current day. Whether conqueror, pirate, pilgrim, scientist, adventurer, or teacher each of these notable people contributes in some way to our knowledge of the earth, what is beyond the atmosphere, and what lies deep within the ocean. From Alexander the Great to Ernest Shackleton and Mae Jemison and the lesser known Jeanne Baret (the first known women to sail around the world (1768) or Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen, Katz chronicles in rhyme and free verse the fears, hardships, excitement, awe, and adventure of these intrepid men and women. She often incorporates her subjects' own words, garnered from diaries and journals, into her poems. Appended is a thumbnail biography (in alphabetical order) of each explorer and an author's note helps set the political climate and motivation behind some of the undertakings. Used in conjunction with a class unit on explorers, this will be an excellent companion piece. 2007 (orig. 1993), Greenwillow, Ages 10 to 14, $18.99. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-688-16533-8 ISBN: 0-688-16533-8 ISBN: 978-0-688-16534-5 ISBN: 0-688-16534-6 Trailblazers: Poems of Exploration Bobbi Katz    This unusual collection of poems celebrates explorers both from the past and the present. The book begins with a tale of Adam and Eve and continues through time from Marco Polo up to John Glenn and Sally Ride. The quality of the poems is a bit uneven, as some are exceptional while others are just painful to read. Each one is generally educational, as they are usually factually correct. However, the point-of-view is sometimes a bit disturbing, as in the case of the Vikings who are described as pillaging more than exploring, even as they are portrayed sympathetically as “better workers / when they’re roused / to be berserkers” (20). The author also includes many lesser-known explorers, such as Mary Ann Parker, Ida Pfeiffer, and Richard Spruce to name a few. The inclusion of a large number of female explorers is particularly refreshing, and some of the poems—particularly those focusing on more modern topics such as space and deep-sea exploration—have a very nice sound. 2007, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 8 to 12, $16.99. Reviewer: Laura Ruttig (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-688-16533-8 ISBN: 978-0-688-16533-8 ISBN: 0-688-16534-6 ISBN: 978-0-688-16534-5 What a Hippopota-Mess! Pat Skene Illustrations by Graham Ross    The title poem sets the reader off on a wild hippo ride introducing Pete and Sal, who happen to be very messy hippos who leave a layer of pink sweat all over their young friend’s room. In the subsequent interview with Pete and Sal, the reader discovers that hippo sweat is actually pinkish-red and that hippopotami eat plants and grasses which then rot in their stomachs, giving them bad breath. The first poem, like the others in the book is delightfully silly and fictional, yet disarmingly chock full of factual information. Skene dishes out more facts about various creatures of the natural world in an appealing interview format following each poem. This wacky poetry book includes entries about two messy hippopotami, creepy crawly critters, a lizard called Smiling Jack, how a tree changes throughout the year, Blue Muckles Brown the moose, and mischievous dandelions. Young readers will be mesmerized by Skene’s delightfully ridiculous rhymes and entranced by the incredible facts about real live beasts. Kids will shriek with delight and wonder at Skene’s angle on the gross, tricky, and unusual behaviors of her fictional and non-fictional characters. Skene delivers a truly pleasing poetry book that is smart, irresistible and loads of fun. 2006, Orca Echoes/Orca Book Publishers, Ages 5 to 8, $4.99. Reviewer: Katie DeWald (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-55143-402-4 ISBN: 978-1-55143-402-5 When You Are Happy Eileen Spinelli Illustrated by Geraldo Valério    Eileen Spinelli lets out all the stops in this no-holds-barred paean to family love. Her tiny poem-meditations catch a little one’s tears “in a blue cup/and water the yellow flowers/and they will grow/more beautiful.” Blankets are woven “from leftover sun.” Stars are borrowed and belly buttons exposed as parents, grandparents and siblings rally round a delicate child. The end result could be either unadulterated joy—or suffocation. The Brazilian/Canadian illustrator Geraldo Valério works with acrylics, and his figures swirl Chagall-like—with that touch of magic realism that is considered Latin American, but perhaps was birthed in the shtetls—through bright, bold spaces. His work is a good match for Spinelli’s verse. The book is definitely eye-catching, from the prefatory visual family tree, to anti-grumpy pumpkin fields, to night skies pierced by the spotlights of rescue helicopters and spelled-out star messages. It’s certainly a good-choice bedtime story for insecure youngsters. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 6, $16.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-689-86251-2 ISBN: 978-0-689-86251-9 Winter Song William Shakespeare Illustrated by Melanie Hall Introduction by Alice Provensen    Icy blue endpapers lead to a mix of cold blues, greens, purples and snowflakes that create the perfect setting for Shakespeare’s words and imagery from a poem at the end of his play, Love’s Labor’s Lost. Occasional touches of red give life to the pages. In her Introduction, Alice Provensen tells readers, “Shakespeare’s descriptions are as appealing now as they were in sixteenth-century England.” She is quite right. Expressions used in Shakespeare’s time which are now obsolete are explained in a glossary. Elizabethan-style houses and period clothing provide a glimpse into Shakespeare’s time. Torn paper collage showing outdoor items, such as an owl and a man riding a horse, are placed in the middle of larger illustrations and look as if they are encased in blocks of ice. This would be a good, accessible introduction for high school classes studying Shakespeare, poetry, or the evolution of language. It is a book for all ages, even a primary grade class discussing winter. Because it is poetry, it is best read aloud. 2006, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 6 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-59078-275-5 ISBN: 978-1-59078-275-0 Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon: Poem Ruth Forman Illustrations by Cbabi Bayoc    The joys of a South Philly summer are celebrated with a bouncy, rhythmic text and brilliantly colored, dynamic illustrations. Two bright-eyed African-American girls with cornrow hairdos announce that they have no backyard or front yard. What they do have is something better. They have black magic in brownstone steps, cool lemonade, black-eyed peas and "corn bread coolin on the stove." They have "double dutch n freeze tag n kickball n places to hide n seek." They have the ice cream man, the corner store, and fine brothers and sisters with "attitude." They do not mind not having backyards or front yards, because at night they can call out the moon with their black magic and brownstone steps. The exuberance of the children is aptly captured in the vividly colored, active pictures. Children race through the pages and convey emotions expressively as they delight in the joys of their neighborhood. A good choice for reading aloud. 2007 (orig. 1993), Children's Book Press, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). Best Books: New Black History Books for Youth, 2007; Booklist; United States ISBN: 978-0-89239-218-6 ISBN: 0-89239-218-5 Zany Zoo William Wise Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger    In the tradition of Mother Goose, this piece takes the reader through the habitats in a zoo, revealing each animal’s story in rhyming verse. The familiar and exotic animals include: Daisy the Dog; Lambert the Lion; Young Yuri, the Yak; Elephants Kermit and Kit; Gertrude the Agouti; Sabrina the Snake; Bradford the Bat; Rob the Raccoon; Harry the Horse; Pedro the Panda; Tapir; Tess and Tom Tern; Kenneth the Kangaroo; Lulu the Skunk; Carlos the Crocodile; Bess the Tigress; Mary the Mouse; Olga the Otter; Wally the Whale; Carlotta the Cow; Geese; Kevin the Cat; Hope the Hyena; Charley the Chicken; and Rabbits Basil, Betty, Bobby, and Bill. Wise immerses the reader in figurative language, such as puns (“melon collie” for melancholy), allusions (Kentucky Fried Chicken), clichés (“just desserts” and “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”), personification, and more. Challenging vocabulary is also used, such as “purloined.” Detailed, colorful, and humorous illustrations appeal to the reader through priceless character expressions, which communicate the rhymes and character flawlessly. Though written for an elementary audience, high school students could also benefit from the playful and memorable examples of literary and poetic devices. 2006, Walter Lorraine/Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Jamaica Johnson Conner (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-618-18891-8 ISBN: 0-618-18891-6 For reviews on this topic from last year, click here. 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 March 29, 2007