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Adoff, Arnold. The Basket Counts. Illus. by Michael Weaver. 2000p. 48p. Simon & Schuster. Gr. 3 & up. Adoff doesn't miss anyone who has played basketball be they male, female, superstar or physically challenged. His poems put you inside the game, the feeling, the sweat, the agony, and the thrill of victory. A good pick for reluctant readers and basketball enthusiasts.
Adoff, Arnold. Touch the Poem. Pictures by Lisa Desimini. 2000p. 32p. Scholastic. Gr. K & up. A very engaging format for introducing poetry to children and adults. Desimini manipulated images that play on your imagination while supporting Adoff's prose. You will be turning the book one direction for one image and then another direction for the next and yet another direction for others. Purely a delight to read.
Fairies, Trolls, & Goblins Galore. Compiled by Dilys Evans and Illus. by Jacqueline Rogers. 2000. 32p. Simon & Schuster. All ages. Ah, the magic of the unknown has always intrigued our minds. This careful compilation of poetry will have you wondering about the little creatures of lore that's for sure. Rogers playful illustrations reveal some interesting angles on the underworld that add to the magic. The end pages, table of contents, and acknowledgement page offer some surprises too.
Florian, Douglas. Mammalabilia. 2000. 48p. Harcourt Brace. Pre K-3. The author of Insectlopedia does it again! Some clever layout of short verse combined with silly illustrations make this another great addition to Florian's growing collection of poetry books. His style work well for introducing and motivating would be poets.
Gold, Julia. From a Distance. Illus. by Jane Ray. 1998/1999. 24p. Dutton. All ages. This song, originally written by Gold prior to her thirtieth birthday in 1986, has become a wonderful inspiration for peace and harmony across the land. Nanci Griffith was the first to record the song and has since recorded the song in four languages. Gold's inspirational message has been heard throughout the world and played as a wake-up call for astronauts on the space shuttle.
Grimes, Nikki. My Man Blue. Illus. by Jerome Lagarrigue. 1999. 32p. Dial. This collection of poetry centers on a relationship between a young boy and an older man who live in the same neighborhood. Blue, the adult once had a son, but lost him before he had a chance to show him the ways of the world. In this book Blue befriends and looks after the boy.
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Yummy! Eating Through the Day. Illus. by Renée Flower. 2000. 32p. Simon & Schuster. Pre K & up. What a hoot! Lee comes up with great themes for promoting poetry. The food theme is right up at the top. Who do you know that does not engage in pleasing the palate? You may want to enlarge a few poems to hang in your cafeteria.
Hort, Lenny. Tie Your Socks and Clap Your Feet. Illus. by Stephen Kroninger. 2000. 32p. Atheneum. Gr. K-3. Humorous poetry with hilarious collages created from magazine photos and cut paper don't come any finer. What fun for kids. A great possibility for a teaching activity. You have the creative minds all around you. All you need is some old magazines, paper, pencils, and glue.
Hubbell, Patricia. Earthmates. Illus. by Jean Cassels. 2000. 32p. Cavendish. All ages. Hubbell's poetry has a subtle gentleness yet underlying sophistication that causes us to pause and think about the animal in each of her poems. Cassels lush illustrations compliment the poetry in every way. The two artists together provide a very fine tribute to our earthmates.
Katz, Bobbi. We the People. Illus. by Nina Crews. 2000. 100p. Greenwillow. Gr. 3 & up. Katz has compiled a collection of her poetry from over the years that marvelously traces the history of the United States through significant events and famous people in a first person voice.
Kroll, Virginia. She is Born: A Celebration of Daughters. Illus. by John Rowe. 2000. 32p. Beyond Words. All ages. The graceful and touching lyrics in this book celebrate the birth of girls around the world. Kroll draws parallels of daughters around the world from cultural birth rituals, growing up, and then moving full circle to potential motherhood. Thoughtful concluding notes by Kroll further illuminate the similarities of daughters around the world. The elegant illustrations by Rowe in his first picture book are breathtaking and truly capture the universal beauty of women. This book would make a beautiful gift for newborns and their mothers, mother daughter relationships, mother's day, weddings, and womanhood.
Light-Gathering Poems. Edited by Liz Rosenberg. 2000. 146p. Henry Holt. Gr. 5 & up. A powerful collection filled with a rich depth of stimulants for the mind. The poems from this collection come from poets with roots all over the world, some are still living and others from the past. The theme encompasses a broad interpretation of light from the lifting of burdens to seeing the light.
Mathis, Melissa Bay. Animal House. 1999. 36p. Simon & Schuster. Gr. K-3. Before you build that perfect house you might want to read this book. Mathis will have you in stitches as she rationalizes through the animals the need or is it the lack of need for large rooms, windows, and stairs depending on the animal. After reading this book you' will have to ask what your idea of a perfect house might be.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curious Cats: In Art and Poetry. 1999. 48p. Atheneum. All ages. Combining poetry and art featuring cats makes for a beautiful book. The poems have a playful quality. Cat lovers are sure to find this book a fitting tribute to their feline friends.
Michelson, Richard. Ten Times Better. Illus. by Leonard Baskin. 2000. 40p. Marshall Cavendish. Gr. 3 & up. The perfect book for making multiplication come to life in any classroom. You can't help but marvel at Michelson's playful and clever verse combined with Baskin's expressive illustrations. Like a math book this book also has an index, an answer page, and a section that expands the knowledge of the animals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish, and amphibians mentioned.
Myers, Tim. Basho and the Fox. Illus. by Oki S. Han. 2000. 32p. Cavendish. Gr. 3 & up. Although this book is not poetry in of itself, it does however contain a fanciful story of how Basho, one of the great poets of Haiku from the 1600s learned to write in this style. Basho was already a good poet, but it was the attention to "fine details" that he learned from the fox that made him even better. This book would be a wonderful introduction to Haiku poetry writing.
Nicholls, Judith. Someone I Like: Poems About People. Illus. by Giovanni Manna. 2000. 40p. Barefoot Books. All Ages. Poetry from 23 multicultural poets are found in this friendship themed collection. There are a variety of poems to fit the varied range of friendships and admiration for special people. The beautiful watercolor illustrations support cross cultural friendships.
Paul, Ann Whitford. All By Herself. Illus. by Michael Steirnagle. 1999. 40p. Harcourt Brace. Gr. 3 & up. A fitting and beautiful tribute to women from a wide variety of backgrounds who have left their mark in this world. Some of the women are better known such as Amelia Earhart and Sacajawea and others subtle surprises such as Golda Mabovitch (Meir) and Wanda Gág (Millions of Cats). Each of the 14 women featured in this collection possessed the fact that they acted upon their strong will to accomplish something that benefitted many people in the larger scope of life. They serve as strong role models for girls and women today.
Philip, Neil. It's a Woman's World: A Century of Women's Voices in Poetry. 2000. 93p. Dutton. Gr. 3 & up. This collection edited by Neil Philip is nothing short of fantastic. Over fifty female poets with roots from around the world are featured in this mind savoring collection. The poems are grouped by the following themes: Dear Female Heart; News of a Baby; A Freedom Song; Domestic Economy; Power; I Live With a Bullet; and The Old Women Gathered.
Smalls, Irene. Kevin and His Dad. Illus. by Michael Hays. 1999. 32p. Little Brown. Pre K-2. This heartwarming story in rhyme is about the relationship between a single father and son. There time together is special, day or night.
Smith, William Jay. Around My Room. Illus. by Erik Blegvad. 2000. 32p. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. Pre K-3. Full of humor and wit, Smith's poems are entertaining. I have a few favorites: The Chocolate Cake; The Toaster; Open a Book; Mr. Simpson; M is for Mask. Enjoy!
Updike, John. A Child's Calendar. Illus. by Trina Schart Hyman. 1999. 32p. Holiday House. Pre K-3. This Caldecott Honor Book for 2000 is very deserving. Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations capture the innocence and playfulness of children throughout the months in the year. Pulitzer prize winning John Updike first published this collection of poetry in 1965 and for this updated version he made several changes. The two artists compliment each other like two clasped hands.
Wise, William. Dinosaurs Forever. Illus. by Lynn Munsinger. 2000. 40p. Dial. Pre K-3. What a great combination! Munsinger's whimsical dinosaur illustrations will surely cause a classroom full of laughter as audiences let Wise verse tickle their ears. You don't have to be a dinosaur lover to appreciate the humor in this book.
Wong, Janet S. Night Garden: Poems From the World of Dreams. Illus. by Julie Paschkis. 2000. 28p. McElderry Books. Gr. 1 & up. The concept of dreams is something most people can relate to on a variety of levels. Wong's word choice creates great images for spring boarding into your own recollection of dreams. Putting your dreams to verse could turn out to be a great writing project in classrooms.