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BIBLIOGRAPHY – POETRY
Asch, Frank, Cactus Poems , illus. with photographs by Ted Levin, Harcourt/Gulliver, 1998.
A variety of poetic forms—enhanced by detailed photographs—explores the Sonoran, Mojave, Great Basin , and the Chihuahuan deserts.
Appelt, Kathi, Just People and Other Poems for Young Readers & Paper/Pen/Poem: a Young Writer's Way to Begin , photos by Kenneth Appelt, Absey & Company, 1997.
This Texas author, poet captures the sights and sounds of young people everywhere. The author's description of a lonely lunch after her parent's divorce evokes pain that only children can understand.
Carlson, Lori Marie, ed., Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States , Henry Holt and Company, 2005.
This is a sequel to Cool Salsa ; Poems in both Spanish and English are divided by Language, Identity, Neighborhoods, Amor, Family Moments, Memories, and Victory. Also includes a Glossary and Biographical Note.
Carryl, Charles Edward, The Camel's Lament, illus. by Charles Santore, 2004.,
A pleasing poem and child-like rhymes. The illustrations are delightful pictures of the animals.
Clinton, Catherine, ed., A Poem of Her Own: Voices of American Women Yesterday and Today , illus. by Stephen Alcorn, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2003.
This chronological listing is a showcase of women's poetic voices that concludes with capsule biographies of the twenty-five women poets. Poets include Phillis Wheatley, who did not allow bondage, color or gender stand as an obstacle for literary accomplishment. For the more sophisticated reader.
Creech, Sharon , Heartbeat , HarperCollins, 2004.
With spare, graceful poetry, Creech describes the rhythms of 12-year old Annie, and her awareness of the world and her place in it.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin, Favorite Poems that Tell Stories: Once Upon a Poem , illus. by Peter Bailey, Si â n Bailey, Carol Lawson, Christmas McEwan, Scholastic Inc., 2004.
Full color illustrations describe the elements of the Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and other story poems that have monsters, animals, and events.
Dakos, Kalli, Put Your Eyes Up Here and Other School Poems , illus. by G. Brian Karas, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003.
Poems about all types of school things and events.
Esbensen, Barbara Juster, Echoes for the Eye: Poems to Celebrate Patterns in Nature , illus. by Helen K. Davie, 1996.
The poems are free verse, and the illustrations show geometric shapes such as honeycomb, rings in water when a fish jumps.
Fletcher, Ralph, Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out , HarperCollins, 2002.
The cover suggests that you “get in the habit of observing the world.” The author has designed this small book to help students in grades 3-7 with practical ideas for writing, and understanding the power of poetry. This is not a book about analyzing poetry.
Fleischman, Paul, Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices , illus. by Eric Beddows, 1988, HarperCollins.
Awarded the Newbery Medal this free-form poetry invites readers to join voices to re-create the “joyful noise” of each insect.
Florian, Douglas , Insectlopedia , poems and paintings by the author, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.
Another book by this talented author, illustrator presents twenty one insects, spiders, beetles, crickets, termites, with one caterpillar and butterfly. This is a wonderful way to create interest in nature and its creatures.
Ibid, Lizards, frogs, and polliwogs , poems and paintings by the author, Harcourt, 2001.
This large square book provides excellent space for the exuberant colorful illustrations. Some of the words are written in a pattern to describe the animal.
Ibid, Mammalabilia: Poems and Paintings by the author. Voyager Books, Harcourt, Inc., 2000.
This is a zoological garden of delights that will tickle readers. It brims with whimsy and fun.
Ibid, Omnibeasts, Animal Poems and Paintings , Harcourt, Inc., 2004.
The author's language describes the animals with humorous and descriptive words. “The Anteater” “The anteater's long and tacky tongue is snaking from its snout. A thousand termites riding in, but no one riding out.”
Ibid, Summersaults , Greenwillow Books, 2002.
Playing with language helps children understand what words mean, and demonstrates how mood and visual images can be changed.
For Example:
The Swing
The Swing's a flinging zinging chair,
The place to chase the air up there.
Just hold on tight, no need to steer,
And soon you'll clear the atmosphere.
Grimes, Nikki, Aneesa Lee and the Weaver's Gift , illus. by Ashley Bryan, Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books, 1999.
These thirteen interrelated poems celebrate the ancient art of cloth making.
Grimes, Nikki, Danitra Brown Leaves Town , illus. By Floyd Cooper, HarperCollins, 2002.
Through a series of letters, two friends share what childhood summers should be: fireflies, Fourth of July, family reunions, and handball games. The poetry of the author is as spirited as the full color exuberant paintings.
Hopkins , Lee Bennett, ed., Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? And Other Disasters: Poems, illus. By Wolf Erlbruch, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2005.
These funny poems describe almost every disaster that can confront a child. Poems include finding only part of the worm in an apple, missing the baseball in a game, cutting your own hair and your best friend moving away.
Katz, Susan, Looking for Jaguar and Other Rain Forest Poems , illus. by Lee Christiansen, Greenwillow Books, 2005.
Animals face out to the reader, Rafflesia, the world's biggest flower seems large enough to step inside and the reader confronts all aspects of the rain forest. The poems about the Cloud Forest, Anaconda, and Piranhas will appeal to young readers. Provided at the conclusion are two pages of facts, Web sites, plus a capsule of all the facts that support the poems.
Kuskin, Karla, Moon, Have You Met My Mother, the collected poems of Karla Kuskin , illus. by Sergio Ruzzier, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003.
This 322 page book is a comprehensive collection of poems by the acclaimed poet Karla Kuskin. The format includes heavy creamy paper with large type and large amounts of white space. The black line illustrations are simple, and match the text.
Livingston T, ed, Myra Cohn, Christmas Poems , illus. by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House, 1984.
This collection of poems includes selections from the Bible, Carol of the Brown King by Langston Hughes, a Christmas Prayer by David McCord, and A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore.
Mak, Kam, My Chinatown : One Year in Poems , HarperCollins, 2002. Full page color paintings illustrate the sights and scenes and compare Hong Kong with an American Chinatown . The descriptive vocabulary about New Year's Day tells of “noodles for breakfast, with sweet rice cakes. A red envelope stuffed with money in my pocket, and lions in the street outside. I fly downstairs to be there when they come – leaping, pouncing, prancing, roaring, jumping, dancing, shaking their neon manes. Drums beat, feet stamp, hands clap, voices shout – Chinatown, this is Chinatown .
Medina , Tony, Love to Langston , illus. by R. Gregory Christie, Lee & Low Books Inc., 2002.
This book captures glimpses of Langston Hughes life in the art form he cherished most – poetry. It is an introduction to Langston's world through his voice as I would imagine it, so that he comes to life speaking to you from yesterday and today, in the here and now. Biographical notes are included at the end of the book.
Milne, A. A., Now We are Six , illus. by Ernest H. Shepard, E. P. Dutton & Co., 1927.
The drawings are black line and simple. The poetry is a glimpse of the talent of A. A. Milne of Winnie the Pooh fame. The simplicity and expressiveness of “The End” is worth the purchase price. “When I was One, I had just begun. When I was Two, I was nearly new. When I was Three, I was hardly me. When I was Four, I was not much more. When I was Five, I was just alive. But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever. So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.”
Mora, Pat, Confetti, Poems for Children , illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez, Lee & Low Books, Inc., 1996.
These narrative poems in free verse capture the rhythms and uniqueness of Southwest and its culture as seen through the eyes of a Mexican-American girl. The illustrations are patterns seen in nature and as colorful as the southwestern landscape. A glossary of Spanish words and pronunciations is included.
Nye, Naomi Shibab, 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East , Greenwillow, 2002.
Someone said of the author's immigrant father that he “always looked dreamy, preoccupied, like he could see things other people couldn't see,” and the author thought “that's what immigrants look like. They always have other worlds in their minds.”
Prelutsky, Jack, The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders , illus. By Petra Mathers, Greenwillow, 2002.
Places in the United States , animals (real and imaginary) are included in these delightful wordplay poems. The full color illustrations reflect the simplicity of the hilarious verse.
Ibid. It's Raining Pigs & Noodles , illus. by James Stevenson, Greenwillow Books, 2000.
Rampant humor from the poem about burping to the one explaining why he is glad he is not a firefly. Poems to learn and laugh about.
Rosen, Michael, ed., Classic Poetry, an Illustrated Collection , illus. by Paul Howard, Candlewick Press, 1998.
The table of contents provides a small picture of the poet, birth and death dates, plus the poems that are included. The thirty-eight poets begin with William Shakespeare and conclude with Langston Hughes and Judith Wright. There are two pages of notes on poems with an index of titles and first lines.
Ryan, Pam Mu noz, Hello Ocean , illus. By Mark Astrella, Charlesbridge, 2002.
Large type, double page spreads of seashore color describe the look, feel and smell of the ocean. Talk with students about how many cultures have an ocean as part of their culture? The simplicity of the poetry is deceptive in its richness. “Froggy songs from distant boats, gentle clangs from bobbing floats.”
Scanlon, Elizabeth Garton, A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes , illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2004.
The author continues the title showing that a vase is a pocket for a rose, and a pocket for a chicken is a coop. Frisky illustrations throughout should please young readers.
Siebert, Diane, Motorcycle Song , illus. By Leonard Jenkins, HarperCollins, 2002. Poetry can describe the fast pace of motorcycles. Give students the idea that poetry can be used to describe things and events that interest everyone.
“Knows his shaft drives
Knows his chairs
Got 10-40 in his veins”
Sierra, Judy, Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems , illus. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, Harcourt/Gulliver, 1998.
These rhyming poems are both clever and humorous. They describe the behavior and habitat of the emperor penguin.
Silverstein, Shel, Runny Babbit, a Billy Sook , HarperCollinsPublishers, 2005.
This book was a work in progress for over twenty years. The poems are written in Runny Babbit talk and probably children will quickly adopt this language to their own speech. We called something similar pig Latin.
Silverstein, Shel, A Light in the Attic , poems and drawings by the author, HarperCollinsPublishers, 1981.
The 20 th Anniversary edition has a CD with the author reading 10 poems.
Ibid, Where the Sidewalk Ends, the poems and drawings of Shel Silverstein , HarperCollinsPublishers, 1974.
The 25 th Anniversary edition includes 10 poems recited, sung and shouted by Shel Silverstein. This collection includes the poem about a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale.
Stevenson, James, Corn-Fed , Greenwillow, 2002.
A combination of illustration and words that provides a new way of looking and describing everything from how a mall would look if all the shops were stacked on top of each other to the question of “why fish look so different and people look so much alike.”
Tolkien, J. R. R., Bilbo's Last Song (at the Grey Havens) , illus. by Pauline Baynes, Alfred A. Knopf, 1990. This small, beautifully illustrated with warm rich colors, is both poignant and lyrical. The words describe a longing to set forth on the ultimate journey and a tender farewell to friends left behind.
Worth, Valerie, Peacock and Other Poems , pictures by Natalie Babbitt, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002.
A very small book of descriptive sparse poetry is based on everyday items such as pencils, blue jeans, lunchboxes, and crayons.
Lunchbox
They always
End up
Fighting –
The soft
Square
Sandwich ,
The round
Heavy
Apple.
Young, Sue, The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary , Scholastic, 1994.
This is a must have for anyone considering writing poetry. This is not only a dictionary, but has an index at the back of the book for parts of words.
Zolotow, Charlotte, Seasons a Book of Poems , illus. by Erik Blegvad, Harper Trophy, 2002.
This “I Can Read” book describes the seasons, the elements of weather.
