|
Seeing the Blue
Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets
edited by Paul B.
Janeczko
Candlewick Press, 2002
Here’s a compilation for aspiring poets. Dozens of poets share some of
their favourite work with young readers, along with a letter or short
essay of advice and inspiration. If you have a child who gravitates
toward poetry, or one who is already writing it, this collection will
give them more confidence and arm them with skills for both reading and
writing poetry. Featured poets include Jack Prelutsky, Nikki Grimes,
Jane Yolen, Bobbi Katz, and other award-winning writers.
The Invisible Ladder:
An Anthology of Contemporary American Poems for Young Readers
edited by Liz
Rosenberg
Henry Holt and
Company, 1996
The idea behind this particular anthology was to cull appropriate
poetry from the adult world and make it accessible to children who show
an interest in poetry beyond kid stuff. “Most poetry anthologies for
young readers are either what I call peanut-butter-and-jelly
anthologies…or poems by the dead and the very dead,” Rosenberg writes.
“Poetry is a kind of a code; it takes patience and practice to learn
how to break the code.” She acknowledges that not everyone loves
poetry, but those who do need to have collections with merit and
spirit. This one is fantastic.
I Did It Because…How a
Poem Happens
Loris Lesynski,
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Annick Press, 2006
Toronto poet Loris Lesynski makes poetry fun for young kids by using
made up words, sounds, wordplay, and silly themes. There are all kinds
of lively exercises to make poetry an interactive experience. Don’t
just read Loris’ poems: help your kids create their own with zany
inspirations. This collection is so much fun that kids won’t even
realize that they’re learning! Find out How a Poem Happens; learn about
rhythms, rhymes, sound effects, reciting, sparking inspiration and
more.
Jazz ABZ: an A to Z
Collection of Jazz Portraits
by Wynton Marsalis,
illustrated by Paul Rogers
Candlewick Press, 2005
Supposedly for readers 4 to 8 years of age, this stunning collection
works for all ages. You couldn’t find a cooler coffee table book if you
tried. Introduce children- or uninitiated adults- to jazz with Wynton
Marsalis, one of the world’s foremost jazz educators. Marsalis is also
a composer and trumpet player, and winner of nine Grammy awards and the
first and only Pulitzer Prize for jazz composing. Here he shares his
unique genius with an alphabet of jazz greats from Louis Armstrong to
Dizzy Gillespie. In between, you’ll meet Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan,
Jelly Roll Morton and many more. Each entry takes a different form:
limerick, list poem, blues poem, sonnet, ballad, tanka, and so forth.
Each letter features prominently in its poem- for example, almost every
word in Sidney Bechet’s three page poem starts with s! Beyond the
absolute creativity and inspiration of the writer, Paul Rogers’ art is
reminiscent of old record art, creating gorgeous images you’ll flip to
over and over. This is one of the most original poetry books ever-
indeed, one of the most original books ever published, period.
The Random House Book
of Poetry for Children: A Treasury of 572 Poems for Today’s Child
by Jack Prelutsky,
illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Random House, 1983
This is a must have general collection for kids of all ages. It’s an
all-inclusive anthology featuring J.R.R. Tolkien, Yeats, Sandburg,
Dylan Thomas, Byron, Langston Hughes, Alexander Pope, Ogden Nash,
Longfellow, Dennis Lee, Robert Frost and a whole range of classic and
contemporary poets. Topics covered are nature, seasons, animals, home,
nonsense, goblins and so on. The sweeping scope of this collection
means it won’t get dusty on the shelf. Reading a poem or two a day?
There’s enough for a year or more! |
