Thursday, April 11, 2013

Poetry Roundup

The second week of National Poetry Month is nearly over, which means that a poetry roundup is due!  I found some terrific volumes--again--this week, including a Newbery winner to check off my list!








A Maze Me: Poems For Girls is perfect for preteen girls who like to draw, write, create, and think--it's a lovely and meditative collection of poetry centered around everyday aspects of growing up--school, first crush, friendships, etc.  Definitely a great inspiration for budding poets and artists.










The Entrance Place of Wonders: Poems of the Harlem Renaissance is a delightful and beautifully illustrated volume of poetry for all children.  Many poems were first published in magazines written for African-American children at the time; while some focus on messages of self-worth and cultural pride, others deal with everyday childhood interests.  The author's introduction points out that nature was a common theme in poetry written during the Harlem Renaissance, which is reflected in many poems. 









After a momentary pause, I'm trucking along with my Newbery project (just finished Johnny Tremain).  Although Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices won the Newbery in 1989 (and I'm still waaay back in the 1940s Newbery books), I couldn't resist this opportunity to check off one more Newbery title.  Joyful Noise is a gem; the nature-themed poems are designed to be read aloud by two people.  At times playful and contemplative, this is definitely one of my favorite Newbery reads so far.









I knew I wanted to feature at least one Douglas Florian collection, but choosing one was so difficult! You really can't go wrong with Florian's poetry, but Zoo's Who is top of the line.  These poems are short, but long on humor and puns (some a bit groan-worthy, but still fun).  The illustrations (also by Florian) add to the whimsy and humor.


Speaking of poetry: We only have three days left in our Teen Poetry & Short Story Challenge! We are very happy with the response so far.  The contest is open to Fauquier County students in grades 6-12. 


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