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Though he practiced medicine, William Carlos Williams never stopped writing poetry. This picture book biography celebrates the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.

Summer camp adventures — from arts and crafts to games to hiking — are presented in rhymes that can be sung to familiar tunes. Slightly irreverent humor in text and illustrations are sure to make this a memorable experience for campers and non-campers alike.

Gentle rhymes and realistic watercolor illustrations invite readers to imagine what a range of animals are doing as readers go through their day. Naturally, activities wind down as animals “…who at this very moment/will fall asleep with you.”

If you thought that haiku was a staid poetic form, then you haven’t come across this collection! Boys and all things boy are presented for each of the four seasons. Sprinkled throughout are humorous line drawings that extend the light tone.

Stunning, full color, close-up photographs of birds combined with evocative poems in different forms present memorable portraits of birds. Factual material about each feathered creature is inserted on every double-page spread to complete the picture.

Stylized illustrations place readers in the 1920s and 1930s, a time when baseball was played on the streets, listened to on radio, and enjoyed in stadiums. A rhythmic text introduces some of the period’s heroes while capturing its spirit.

Die-cuts are cleverly used to focus on counting from one to 10 but with a turn of the sturdy page, readers can count again when introduced to a circus animal and various objects. Bold form and bright colors create a new spin on an old rhyme.

Meet the many animals that live on a farm in gentle rhymes and soft, highly realistic illustrations. Questions posed are likely to engage young listeners while adults will appreciate the additional information presented at the end.

Lyrical text and rich collage illustrations combine to tell the story of a brown cat named Wabi Sabi as he discovers the meaning of his name. As Wabi Sabi’s journey unfolds so, too, does the reader’s understanding of Japanese culture and sensibility.
Country of origin: Japan
 

Count down with a child who starts with 10 dogs but winds up with only one lovable canine companion. This nursery rhyme is based on a popular Spanish counting ditty which is repetitive and rhythmic, and meant to be sung or recited. Music is included in this cheerily illustrated book.

Textured, colorful quilts illuminate a collection of poems all focused on the notion of peace. Some speak to children’s experiences, while others are more sophisticated and abstract. World peacemakers are briefly introduced in illustration for one poem and in back-matter.

A short poem made from the word “Lemonade,” is difficult to read with letters dropped from the first word. Turn the page, however, and the poem is easily readable: “made/one/ad/added/one/lemon/load/and/one/mom”. Squeezing a poem out of one word is fun, playful, and downright clever.

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.”

Though first written in the 19^th century, Robert Louis Stevenson’s poems still resonate with contemporary readers of all ages. Newly illustrated with a nod to earlier editions, gently hued and highly detailed illustrations add a fresh look to a classic collection.

While on their outing, baby always responds “moo” when asked by mom and dad what animals say. Slightly older children will see the humor in the predictable pattern and lighthearted illustrations — until baby gets it right when he sees a black and white cow!

Poems introduce sea creatures and their habitats using different poetic forms (e.g., concrete, for two voices). Factual information is provided with each poem. This small, attractive collection concludes with where to find out more and a brief explanation of the poetic forms.

Silly poems introduce real animals from around the world. The lively language and accompanying comic illustrations help place animals — from the agoutis to the yak — on a map and concludes with a “menagerie of facts” — sure to delight readers of all ages!

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.

The narrator tells of a winter run with a team of dogs. Lush illustrations depict the animals’ anticipation and pleasure on the snow-filled night.

Each season of the year has its own special color and feeling. Summer, fall, winter, and spring are presented in rich, lyrical language accompanied by stylized illustrations that evoke something special about each.

Five ducks ride on bicycles for an apple-picking adventure. The rhyming text and gentle illustrations create a playful, satisfying, everyday adventure.

The townspeople are flummoxed when a new store mysteriously appears. But Benny Penny examines its mysterious stock — from the flying toaster to a walking teapot. Surreal illustrations correspond with the story revealed rebus-style, with words and pictures. The truly fantastic tale is told in complete words at the end.

New poems, many rhyming, describe the animals introduced in Saint-Saens’ orchestral music that was first performed in the 19th century. Semi-abstract illustrations accompany the verse. The book includes a music CD to bring the carnival of animals to life for a new generation.

A large format is used to present a variety of nighttime poems by a variety of poets, neatly organized in three sections: “Going to Sleep,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “In the Night.” Gentle, whimsical illustrations enhance the mood of each poem that will be appreciated especially when shared aloud.