A World Full of Poems: Something for Everyone

 

It's not too late to order this as a holiday gift for everyone. Yes, I know that it says "for children," but aren't we all children at heart? It also says "Inspiring," and who couldn't use some of that?

Seriously, this volume is destined to become a classic, containing  poems by some of the most well-known poets in the world: Jane Yolen, Jack Prelutsky, Emily Dickinson, Charles Ghigna, Naomi Shihab Nye, Margarita Engle, David L. Harrison, Janet Wong, and so many more (110 in all--see the whole list here). My friend, Eric Ode, and two Minnesota poets (I think of them as neighbors, but we've never met), Joyce Sidman and Laura Purdie Salas are there, too. It also contains poems by lesser-knowns, like me!

Published by DK, edited by the amazing Sylvia Vardell, the book contains poems under these section headings: Family and Friends; Feelings;  Animals and Nature; Cities, Towns, and Travel; Fun and Games; Science and Art; Body and Health; A World of Learning. You can see that it has something for everyone and does, indeed, contain the whole world. The book's child-friendly illustrations by Sonny Ross add to the classic feel.

The book's back matter contains poetry activities from reading, acting, hunting, discussing, and writing poems to poetic styles and terms. 

You'll find me on page 25:

(Yes, this is a reprint that first was published in Pomelo Books' Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations in 2015.)

This book is a treasure to enjoy every day for years to come. 

PS See Sylvia Vardell's celebratory posts here and here.

Here We Go! National Poetry Month and A GIVEAWAY

Raise your hand if you are as excited about National Poetry Month as I am.

Great! Glad to see so many of you! I've planned some fun here throughout the month, with several guest poets, so I hope you'll stick with me here.

I'm pleased to kick off National Poetry Month 2017 by telling you a bit about Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell's Poetry Friday Power Books for middle school students and teachers, You Just Wait and Here We Go. 

Why a Power Book? Great question. The intro to You Just Wait says, "Because we believe in the power of poetry to express our deepest feelings and most powerful experiences. Plus we want you to discover the power of poetry in your own thinking and writing...."

Both of these books (and I hope there are more to come) have
*a story line told in different styles of poetry.
*anchor poems for each chapter written by well-known poets for young people
*response poems by Wong
*a pre-writing "Powerplay" in each chapter to get readers and writers ready
*a "Power 2 You" in each chapter that gives writing prompts and space to write.

The concept is beautiful in its simplicity and unique in its approach. Wong has chosen topics and poems that middle school students will relate to. You Just Wait focuses on a student's identity, trying to find one's place in the world within the larger, diverse community. Here We Go shows how students can band together to make their communities a better place. The illustrations by Franzi Paetzold add to the middle school vibe and enhance the text.

I highly recommend these books for middle school teachers to use with their students and for upper elementary-high school to use in or out of class.

GIVEAWAY! One lucky winner will receive a copy of You Just Wait and another lucky winner will receive a copy of Here We Go! What do you need to do? Comment on this blog post, including contact info (email, FB, or twitter), before noon CT on Sunday, 4/9. I will randomly select winners, contact and announce them. Good luck, best wishes, and happy National Poetry Month! Here we go!

More info about these and other Wong/Vardell books at Pomelo Books.
Video interviews with Wong 
Vardell's blog, Poetry for Children