Aimless Love by Billy Collins -- PUBLIC ONLY

Collins, Billy Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems 288 pgs. Random House, October 22, 2013. $26.00. (Language: PG-13 -- 6 swears, no 'f'; Sexual Content: R -- several very suggestive poems; Violence: PG-13)

A poetry collection from former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Most of the poems come from previously published volumes, but the last section is dedicated to entirely new work.

As usual, Collins's deceptively simple descriptions and ability to get to the heart of his subjects makes these poems a delight to read, both for adults and teens. Because of the strongly suggestive sexual content in several poems -- after all, the intended audience is adults, not students -- this is recommended for public libraries as opposed to schools. Many of the poems would make delicious classroom studies when taken individually, however, as they employ a variety of poetic devices.

HS, Adult -- PUBLIC ONLY. Reviewed by: Caryn

Literally Disturbed: Tales to keep you up at Night by Ben Winters –NO

Winters, Ben and Illustrated by Watkins, Adam Literally Disturbed: Tales to keep you up at Night 64 pgs. Price Stern Sloan, 2013. $8.99.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. (Scariness PG13)

This is a collection of 30 poems about everything that is remotely scary from werewolves, child eating monsters, ghosts, spooky animals, zombies, and children who have disappeared. Each page features a dark illustration.

This book has some incredibly disturbing illustrations; there were a couple that I will probably have nightmares about. I didn't care much for the poetry, it simply skimmed over a wide variety of creepy subjects. Although we have some popular ‘creepy’ poetry books, I need a bit more of a continuous story to carry me through. Too scary for Elementary, but not enough story for older students.

MS – NO Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Grumbles from the Forest by Yolen and Dotlich - OPTIONAL

Yolen, Jane and Rebecca Dotlich Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-tale voices with a twist.  Wordsong, 2013.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK. Content: G.  

Jane Yolen applies her genius to the thoughts of fairy tale characters and encourages her readers to flex their poetry muscles themselves.  A book like this is best after the students have been introduced to the originals – otherwise it is just confusing.  It would be a good ending activity for a fairy tale or poetry unit.  

EL, MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky- ESSENTIAL

Prelutsky, Jack The New Kid on the Block.  Illustrated by James Stevenson.  160 pgs. Greenwillow Books, 2013. Reprint edition. $9.99. POETRY.  Jack Prelutsky’s popular book of poems in available again in this reprinted version.  Prelutsky is a favorite children’s poet.  This collection contains over 100 kid-friendly poems. With poems about jellyfish stew, a bouncing mouse, a ridiculous dog and a boneless chicken, children of all ages are sure to become a fan! I read just a few to my son and he wanted to hear more! The illustrations by James Stevenson are as fantastic and important as they poems themselves. This collection is great for all kids and is a must have for every classroom and library!  If you have a sense of humor, you will love this book.  EL (K-3).  EL. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL

A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky- ESSENTIAL

Prelutsky, Jack A Pizza the Size of the Sun.  Illustrated by James Stevenson.  Greenwillow Books, 2013. Reprint edition. 160 pgs. $9.99 POETRY.  Originally published 10 years after Prelutsky’s The New Kid of the Block, this additional poetry book is as good as the first.  Meet Miss Misinformaton and Gladiola Gloppe (and her Soup Shoppe).  Read a backward poem and a poem that never ends!  And of course, there is the Pizza the size of the Sun:

I'm topping my pizza with mountains of cheese,
with acres of peppers, pimentos, and peas,
with mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausage galore,
with every last olive they had at the store.

Adults and children alike will delight in the humorous poetry and illustrations in this great poetry collection! The illustrations by James Stevenson are as fantastic and important as they poems themselves.  This collection is great for all kids and is a must have for every classroom and library! If you have a sense of humor, you will love this book.  EL (K-3). EL.  ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL.

 

 

Your Skeleton is Showing by Kurt Cyrus-ESSENTIAL

Cyrus, Kurt, ill. by Crab Scrambly, Your Skeleton is Showing. Disney Hyperion, 2013. Pgs. 30. POETRY

Meet Ophelia Heft who likes to drift or a skeleton who can't stop flossing. There's one's who died from picking their nose, from failing to tie knots on a high wire tight rope, and a lady who hugged an anaconda and died. This group of skeletons and ghosts had quite entertaining lives and afterlives.

A hilarious poetry book with wonderful, detailed illustrations. A perfect book for reluctant readers and boys. EL (4-6), MS. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy- ADVISABLE

Kennedy, Caroline Poems to Learn by Heart. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth.  192 pgs,  Disney Press, 2013. $19.99. POETRY COLLECTION.  New York Times #1 best-selling author has created a book of poems to celebrate every moment in life.  From shadows and crying, to bad mornings and Little Red Riding Hood, she covers a wide range of topics.  The poems are divided into sections about nature, sports, monsters and fairies, friendship and family. The illustrations are done in watercolor paintings and add character and insight to each page.  Whether the book is used in poetry unit in the classroom, or simply read each night before bed, the reader will enjoy each page.  EL.  Middle School. High School.  ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.

Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer - ESSENTIAL

Singer, Marilyn Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems,illustrated by Josee Masse.  

Marilyn Singer is incredibly intelligent and creative.  She has created her own form of poetry – reverso.  Each line of the poem is carefully constructed, so that when read from top to bottom is gives one character’s perspective.  Then, when all of the lines are reversed and re-punctuated, they give the perspective of the other character.  You really need to get your hands on this book and share it with your colleagues and students.  You will be amazed by what you read.  This is uncharted territory here.  And what an excellent challenge for an honors English class at any level.  

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Bananas in My Ears by Michael Rosen -- ADVISABLE

Rosen, Michael and Quentin Blake Bananas in My Ears: A Collection of Nonsense Stories, Poems, Riddles & Rhymes 96 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2012. $15.99.

A collection of free verse poems and stories covering the topics of breakfast, oceans, sickness, and bedtime. The 'nonsense' in the title is accurate; many of these poems and stories are very silly and often without a point or resolution. Still, the sense of fun and craziness in both the text and illustrations should capture many children's imaginations. While the repetition makes this one less fun for a read-aloud -- especially when tackling the entire book at once -- it would be a nice addition to a unit on poetry, or for students to browse through.

EL -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Caryn

My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt - OPTIONAL

Leavitt, Martine My Book of Life by Angel, 241 pgs. Margaret Ferguson Books, 2012 $17.99. Language G (No swears). Mature Content PG-13; Violence PG-13. 

Angel is 16 and has been recruited by Call to work Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. After the death of her mother and a few run-ins with the law, Angel has no one but Call to consider family.  She wants to leave, but can’t see how that’s possible until Call brings home an 11 year old girl and wants Angel to show her the ropes of the trade. 

The book is quick read for 241 pages. It’s written in poetry form and some pages only have a couple words on them. The book hints at all kinds of shady and illegal things, but never spells out exactly what his happening which leads the reader to come up with their own ideas. Still, it’s a grown-up topic and should stay in a high school library only.  

HS -  OPTIONAL. Shauna, Teacher.

Forest, What Would You Like? by Irene O'Garden - OPTIONAL

O’Garden, Irene Forest, What Would You Like? PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2013. $16.95. Content: G. 

This poem, in picture book format, asks the forest, “What would you like?”  The response consists of seasonal attributes such as flowers, trees, fruit, bugs, and animals. The forest wants to be enjoyed by children as well as respected and preserved by everyone.  The poem in this book is quite lovely and had a nice flow to it. It had language that made it easy to visualize the imagery. 

I liked the setting illustrations, but I wasn’t dazzled by the illustrations of the children, which were too reminiscent of the “Precious Moments” figurines for my liking.  The book had a message of ecology and admiration for nature, which I appreciated.  

Pre-K-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL. Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder –ADVISABLE

Snyder, Betsy I Haiku You 32 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. $9.99.  (Rating: G)

A collection of Haiku poems about love. From the love of friends, parent and child, and the love dogs have for their people.

This was an ADORABLE gift worthy little book. The illustrations are unique and just downright cozy. The poetry is so sweet and perfect. I think students will find the Haiku in this book extremely easy to understand and relate to, they might not even realize they are reading poetry! 

EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

A Meal of the Stars: Poems Up and Down by Dana Jensen -- OPTIONAL

Jensen, Dana. A Meal of the Stars: Poems Up and Down, illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Houghton Mifflin, 2012. $16.99.  POETRY.  Each poem either starts at the top of the page or the bottom of the page with no clear indication for the reader.  Author Dana Jensen wrote, “Hmm—which is which?  That’s up to you to find out.  Have fun!”   As a reader I found it more frustrating than fun figuring out where the poem began and where it ended.  It is usually obvious once you read it because one way (up or down) doesn’t make any sense.  My favorite poem in this format began at the bottom of the page and was about a zipper: “zip/ all/ the/ way/ up/ to/ my/chin…”  The poems are short and simple, but the language is beautiful (once you figure out the format).   Illustrator Tricia Tusa’s pictures are what truly steal the show.  The watercolor and ink illustrations are charmingly whimsical and are in a style entirely her own.  EL-OPTIONAL.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.

If You Were a Chocolate Mustache by J. Patrick Lewis - ADVISABLE

Lewis, J. Patrick If You Were a Chocolate Mustache, 159 pgs. Wordsong, 2012. $18.95  Language G () swears 0 ‘f’); Mature COntent G: Violence G. 

This is a collection of short poems by Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis.  While not specific to a subject, it’s fun, sometimes funny and often sweet.  Lewis demonstrates his ability with different types of poems, and the illustrations by Matthew Cordell complement the text.  All the poems are appropriate for the very young, but I would recommend this collection to upper elementary as a fun read aloud or even something to memorize.  

EL - ADVISABLE. Lisa, Media Specialist

Flight of the Last Dragon by Robert Burleigh - ADVISABLE

Burleigh, Robert Flight of the Last Dragon. Philomel Books, 2012. $16.99. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK.  

This epic poem invites the reader to come and see the last dragon. Ultimon, the last dragon, lives all alone beneath the subway.  He mourns for the days when his friends ruled the earth. He emerges from his dark tomb to fly once again.  He is drawn by a voice into the heavens. His scales become golden.  He is home.  The reader can see his light in the sky in the form of Draco, the constellation. The final page explains and shows the constellation, Draco, in the night skies.   

The beautiful illustrations in this book add emotion to this story of the last flight of Ultimon. The simplistic poem brings rhythm to the spoken story to heighten interest. The reader can feel the sorrow and elation as Ultimon wings his way to heaven. 

EL- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: MOMMC

Superheroes Employment Agency by Marilyn Singer –OPTIONAL

Singer, Marilyn and Illustrated by Jones, Noah Superheroes Employment Agency 40 pgs. Clarion Books, 2012. $12.74.  (Rating: G)

This poetry book reveals an odd assortment of second rate superheroes who are trying their very best. They make up the Superheroes employment agency. Weathergirl, Herkuleez, and many more tell their stories. Features bright and colorful slapdash imagery and even an interesting variety of formats –parts are presented as comics.

I really wanted to like this book. I think fans of Captain Underpants will be drawn to this art style. But all the mini-stories just didn't flow well, and they weren't funny. Although its true that graphic novel & superhero books draw in reluctant readers- I can’t help but think that a poetry-reluctant student might do better elsewhere. 

ELEMENTARY –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary Librarian & Author.

Pigmares by Doug Cushman –NOT RECOMMENDED

Cushman, Doug Pigmares 44 pgs. Charlesbridge, 2012. $11.01.  (Rating: G)

All the classics of horror are retold with pigs as the main characters. Each are presented in a single page poem format with accompanying illustrations.

This is just awful. I was hoping it would be silly and funny enough for this students to laugh at some goofy poetry, but there are a couple disconnects here. First is that most kids haven’t seen these “classics”, although a few characters are universal –most aren't  Second the language is a bit above those students young enough to see some humor in the whole pig thing. I also just thought the poems and the illustrations were boring and totally not funny.

ELEMENTARY–NOT RECOMMENDED Reviewer: Stephanie School Librarian & Author.

I, Too Am America by Langston Hughes - ADVISABLE

Hughes, Langston I, Too Am America, illustrated by Bryan Collier.  Simon, 2012.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  

Using mixed media illustrations, Collier brings Hughes poem to life.  This short poem is powerful – especially in a world that still doesn’t want to look beyond the color of someone’s skin.  Great for any poetry unit or art class.  

EL, MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher