Celebrating Poetry and Nature

What do books and libraries mean to readers young or old? Fifteen poems pay tribute to just that. Poets included are generally well known and are accompanied by jaunty, playful illustrations which together are sure to please.

Air is all around us and is crucial to all living things on earth. In poetic language and handsome photographs of people from around the globe, the importance of clean air is presented. Additional information is presented at the back of the book.

Short, evocative poems – haiku – present clues about familiar animals.  With a turn of the page, the answer is revealed in bold typeface and a charming illustration. This short poetic form is effectively used to play a guessing game.

Don’t toss that tube, use it to create! Clearly presented ideas for crafts, games and other activities are displayed in this well organized, accessible book – a creative way to recycle and reuse “trash.”

Familiar rhymes and ditties are set in a city by clever photo-collage images. The diverse casts of characters bring new life to poems appealing and appropriate for the youngest listener.

A town transforms from dreary to delighted when a night gardener provides a new topiary to be seen each day. Muted colors in highly detailed illustration depict the impact of the creative gardener on the townspeople as they enjoy the outdoors.

The alphabet is used to introduce animals of the cloud forest and its most recently discovered resident, the elusive olinguito. Handsome illustrations and brief information appear in both Spanish and English as does more complete information at this stunning book’s conclusion.

Cars from one to ten line up to race in this rhythmic countdown. The rhyming text is a lively accompaniment to stylized illustrations and the final “GO!” as colorful vehicles zoom through the pages.

The author successfully creates a picture in the title of each poem (they are concrete or shape poems, after all!) followed by the poems in which are “pictures with words.” The result is a creative, playful collection of concrete poetry.

Short poems and gentle illustrations present seasons almost as a journal. Each entry captures natural beauty and emotions that often accompany them. For example the March 13 entry: “politely/but tired of mittens/I asked winter to please tell the snow/thank you very much, but no”.