Cullinan presents young readers with fifty poems selected by their peers to be included in this collection. The ten featured poets are winners of the National Council of Teachers in English Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Poets included in the collection are: David McCord, Aileen Fisher, Karla Kuskin, Myra Cohn Livingston, Eve Merriam, John Ciardi, Lilian Moore, Arnold Adoff, Valerie Worth, and Barbara Esbensen.
This book introduces children to poetry covering many topics from recess to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Some of the poems have simple yet profound meaning in the verses.
Got me a special place
For martin Luther King
His picture on he wall
Makes me sing.
I look at it for a long time
And think of some
Real good way
We will overcome.
Myra Cohn Livingston, Martin Luther King
Some of the verses provide easily identifiable images for children.
The children
scribble their shadows
on the school yard,
scribble
scribble
on the great blackboard-
Lilian Moore, Recess
Each page includes black and white illustrations that effectively and subtlety complements each poem. This technique is not overwhelming and allows the reader to concentrate on the poems instead of extravagant drawings.
This collection is for parents and educators who want to introduce quality poetry to children. Because the collection contains a wide variety of poems from simple to complex verses, all age groups will benefit from reading this book. Young poetry readers will adore these poems and the interesting biographical sketches of the featured poets. Many will be inspired to read more; others will choose to write their own poetry!
