Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

The diversity of the United States is celebrated in this collection of poems accompanied by handsome, realistic watercolors.

Readers will recognize the emotional impact of one year in the writer’s life, a year of change, growth, pain and joy. It is presented in economical but powerful poems.

A range of poets, from Lois Lowry to Lee Bennett Hopkins, express thanks for critters small and large. Expressive, idealized watercolors depict adorable animals and children in poems of gratitude.

Take flight with a bit of imagination and a varied collection of poems. Handsome illustrations enhance the short poems presented to encourage flying with or without wings.

Familiar subjects are presented in short poems by a range of writers. These easier-to read works are just right to encourage careful listening.

Work by both well and lesser-known poets is presented by subject for an inspiring glimpse of American history as well as varied styles of poetry complemented by bold illustrations.

Celebrate the wonders of books and what they hold in this collection of poems written by well-known children’s poets. Semiabstract illustrations provide an imaginative look at those “…befriended again & again/by a well-loved book./…a wealth/we never lose.”

Real inventions come into focus in this poetry collection, some factually, others fancifully; each is sure to make readers think anew about what is often taken for granted!

The charm and sensibilities the late 19th and early 20th century are captured by illustrator Jessie Willcox Smith.

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.

Well-known figures in American history are presented by diverse poets in a range of styles, pictured in folk art style portraits. 

Every day, young children and their families can celebrate familiar things and activities in this sturdy, handsome, and appealing collection of 30 poems. Each short piece by a range of poets is about food, family, firsts, play and bedtime, creating a memorable collection just right for the youngest listener.

This collection of poems by Karla Kuskin, David McCord, and Janet Wong features rhymes about mathematics, numbers, and having fun, accompanied by illustrations in a naïve style.

Everyone has had a moment or a day in which nothing seems to be going right. These short, gently illustrated poems not only recall some of these uncomfortable moments, but are sure to help readers recognize the humor in them.

Twelve poems for each of the four seasons come together to provide a unique perspective of the seasons.

Poets have always looked to the sky for inspiration. A range of contemporary and older poets and their exploration of the stars, sky, moon — and more — are presented, illustrated with lush, evocative paintings.

Can a poem capture the excitement, exhilaration, or anguish of defeat when playing sports? The poems here do all that and more! It’s an easy-to-read collection that’s illustrated with just the right light touch.

Easier to read poems focus on weather and seasons.

What does a piece of art make you feel? This is what the poet/editor, Lee Bennett Hopkins, asked a diverse group of poets. Each examined work from the Metropolitan Museum and answered in a poem to create a unique and handsome collection.