April is National Poetry Month. The Academy of American Poets created this celebration in 1996 to increase awareness and appreciation for poetry. Poetry (both reading and writing poems) can be tough for kids. Kids think a poem has to rhyme or have some bigger meaning, but I’m here today to prove kids wrong and show that poems can be fun. They may just find themselves writing a poem too.
POETRY COMICS
By: Grant Snider
Published: March 26, 2024
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Fiction
Grant Snider has quickly become a children’s author whose books I really enjoy. I was thrilled to see he had another new children’s book out this Spring. Beginning with the Spring season, Snider has written and illustrated poems to mimic some of the activities of each season continuing with Summer, Fall, and Winter. Imagine a graphic novel yet in a much smaller format. Many of the puzzles cover just one page with a few that cover the double-page spread. The Illustrations fill a whole page or are individually sectioned illustrations to go along with the few words of the poem.
Reflection
in the still pond
the same world
but blurred.
Snider makes poetry easy to read and so fun that kids won’t even realize they are enjoying poetry. Many of the poems are set outside where Snider encourages kids to focus on the beauty of nature or the simple joys in a day. In fact, one Haiku just writes about a finch on a stalk of prairie grass.
POETRY COMICS would be a great addition to a classroom curriculum on poetry. The last poem in every section is titled, “How to Write a Poem” reminding kids that writing poems isn’t necessarily easy, but it can be a fun journey.
Grant Snider began drawing and writing before he knew what he was doing. Soon it was too late to stop. He is the author of Nothing Ever Happens on a Gray Day, One Boy Watching, What Sound Is Morning?, and What Color Is Night?, among other wonderful books. Snider lives with his wife and kids in Wichita, Kansas, where he also practices orthodontics. You can often find him carrying a sketchbook, lost in his own thoughts. Check out his website, HERE.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MOON
A Book of Bedtime Poetry and Art
By: Alison Baverstock, Matt Cunningham, Annette Roeder
Published: November 2, 2021
Publisher: Prestel Junior
Fiction
With a combination of famous and lesser-known paintings, the authors have chosen a collection of poems perfect for nighttime reading to go together in this compilation book. These poems are longer, more traditional styles of poetry. Just as there are famous paintings included, there are also famous poems as well including “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman and other poems by Edgar Allen Poe, E.B. White, Maya Angelou, and Robert Frost.
Even though younger children may not be able to understand all of the poems in this collection, reading them aloud will help them learn the rhythm of poetry. Exposing them to classic poems and famous paintings will broaden their exposure to the arts and help them learn to understand and appreciate poetry as they continue to grow up.
Many of the pages are frame-worthy as you’ll see paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Claude Monet. I was surprised to see a song that I sang to our kids as I was rocking them to sleep, “Hush Little Baby“, included in the collection. The authors hope that you appreciate the poems chosen with care for this collection. They suggest reading the ones from familiar poets first or try reading the short poems to get you started. There is no right or wrong way to read poetry. This poetry collection is quite lovely and could easily be passed down to future generations. You may even find a favorite to read and memorize at bedtime.
Alison Baverstock is the author of many books on publishing, communication and art for children including Secrets in a Box: The Art of Joseph Cornell and 13 British Artists Children Should Know (both Prestel). She is Professor of Publishing at Kingston University, UK.
Matt Cunningham is a writer and illustrator. He teaches at Morley College and Kingston University, UK.
Annette Roeder, born in Munich in 1968, is an author, illustrator and architect. She has been writing picture books and children’s books, as well as novels for adults for over 20 years. Her 12-book series Die Krumpflinge (‘The Crumplings’) is much loved by children aged 6+. She lives with her three children and dog Gusti in the south of Munich.
To purchase a copy of POETRY COMICS, click HERE.
To purchase a copy of AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MOON, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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Posted Under Alison Baverstock, Annette Roeder, art, Book Review, Children's books, Grant Snider, Matt Cunningham, poetry