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Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library]


First sentence: Ancient Greece: an age of marvelous myths, gone, but not forgotten. Heroes that rise and fall.

Premise/plot: This is the third collection of reverso poems by Marilyn Singer. The first two were: Mirror, Mirror and Follow, Follow. Both of those were fairy tale inspired poetry collections. This third book is inspired by Greek mythology.

So what is a reverso poem? A poem that is both read top to bottom, and bottom to top. The two 'versions' of the poem might tell completely different stories! Word order and punctuation can accomplish a LOT. Much more than I ever thought about!!! Most of the reverso poems in this collection have two narrators. For example, with "King Midas and His Daughter," the first poem is from the daughter's perspective (top to bottom), and the second poem (bottom to top) is from the King's perspective.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it as much as the previous volumes. But. It's been a few years since I've read them, and, I'd have to reread all three closer together to truly decide which is my favorite. I can tell you that I do like Greek mythology. (Thanks in small part to Edith Hamilton and good old Percy Jackson.)

I think my favorite poem might be "Pygmalion and Galatea."

Wondrous!/ How/ life-/ like! There is nothing in this world/ so perfect. Oh, these lips, hands, eyes!/ The artist/ is in love with/ his creation./ Let a heartfelt wish be granted,/ kind Venus:/ Only you could make this stone breathe!

Only you could make this stone breathe!/ Kind Venus/ let a heartfelt wish be granted./ His creation/ is in love with/ the artist./ Oh, these lips, hands, eyes--/ so perfect!/ There is nothing in this world/ like/ life! How/ wondrous!

*The book does have at least one typo. And I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't chosen to share it. I would have just auto-corrected in my head without thinking twice. "There is nothing is this world." I include it here just in case it hasn't been caught yet and fixed already for future editions.

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku. Lee Wardlaw. Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. 2015. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It's a fine life, Boy. Nap, play, bathe, nap, eat, repeat. Practice makes purrfect.

Premise/plot: Won Ton returns in a second picture book in Won Ton and Chopstick. Won Ton is most upset--at least at first--at the new 'surprise' at his house. The surprise is a PUPPY. The family may call the puppy, "Chopstick," but Won Ton calls him PEST. This picture book has plenty of adventures for the pair.

My thoughts: I really loved Won Ton. And this second book is fun. I thought the repeating refrain of the first book was fun, but I think it's even better the second time around.

Puthimoutputhimoutputhimoutputhim--wait! I said him, not me!

That never gets old!!!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10



© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Won Ton. Lee Wardlaw. Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Nice place they got here. Bed. Bowl. Blankie. Just like home! Or so I've been told.

Premise/plot: Won-Ton (not his *real* name) is a shelter cat who's been adopted by a young boy. The book tells--in verse--what happens next. If you love cats, then this one is a real treat. For example:

Your tummy, soft as/ warm dough. I kneed and kneed, then/ bake it with a nap.

or

I explained it loud/ and clear. What part of "meow"/ don't you understand?

or

Sorry about the/ squish in your shoe. Must've/ been something I ate.

My thoughts: I do love cats. (Even though I'm allergic.) And this picture book alternates being cute and funny. I definitely enjoyed it.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10




© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Poems in the Attic. Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. 2015. Lee & Low. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Grandma's attic is stacked with secrets.

Premise/plot: Poems in the Attic is a picture book about a seven year old girl who discovers a box of her mother's poems in her grandmother's attic. Her mother started writing poems when she was just seven. Our heroine, the little girl, decides to start writing poems of her own. Readers see these poems--mother and daughter--side by side. The mother's poems are about growing up a 'military brat' moving from place to place every year or so. The daughter's poems are doubly reflective.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I liked the premise of it especially. A girl coming to appreciate her mother in a new light. A girl learning to express herself through poetry. The book celebrates family, poetry, and a sense of life as one big adventure.

That being said, poetry tends to be hit or miss with me. I sometimes enjoy poetry. Sometimes not so much. I didn't love the short poems in this one as much as I wanted. I liked them okay. I just wasn't WOWED by them. I do like the celebration of family. And the illustrations were great. Eleven places were captured in the mother's poems. And the author's note was interesting. So this one is worth your time.

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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I Didn't Do It. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest. Illustrated by Katy Schneider. 2010. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

I Didn't Do It is a picture book collection of dog-themed poems. Or perhaps I should say puppy-themed poems. If you're thinking it's adorable, you're right. It is. Now, I love cats more than dogs. But the illustrations and poems combined got to me, I must admit!

The poems include:

• "Shhh...I'm Here"
• "No Name"
• "Rules"
• "What I Don't Like"
• "What I Like"
• "I Didn't Do It"
• "Rain"
• "What Did I Do??"
• "Big"
• "Pretty Puppy"
• "She Flies"
• "One Thing, One Time"
• "Puppy Dreams"
• "Every Night"

If you've got a reluctant poetry reader who happens to love dogs, this may be an excellent 'exception' to the rule. I love it when books surprise you. I do think there are plenty of exceptions when it comes to books.

The poems are written by a mother-daughter team. Patricia MacLachlan you've heard of most likely. I've read a lot of her books for younger readers. Though I didn't know she wrote poetry. Plenty of MacLachlan's books reveal a love of animals.

I really enjoyed the illustrations. Some spreads I love more than others. But overall, a very cute book.

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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It had me at hello.

You never heard of the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar? Child, where've you been? I got to have a word with you. Why, back in the day, you'd have whole families sitting around listening while one of them performed "When Malindy Sings" or "Little Brown Baby" or "A Negro Love Song" (which folks most always call "Jump Back, Honey").
Within a page or two, I was just fascinated with the book, with the story, with the narrator, and just HAD to keep reading. I wasn't expecting to find a book about a poet compelling, honestly. But this is a well-crafted narrative.

Readers learn about Paul Laurence Dunbar. Readers get the opportunity to read many of his poems. And that opportunity comes within the context of learning about his life. And I think, in part, that is why it is so compelling. It isn't just "here kid, read some poems." Far from it, readers have all they need--in my opinion--to understand and appreciate the poems. Readers are given a taste only, just enough to make you want more.

I really enjoyed this one. I'm not sure what I enjoyed most: learning about the poet, OR, reading the poems. I think both elements work well together. I think if readers had the biography without the poems, it would fall short. And I think the reverse is also true. Without knowing his life story, the times in which he lived, what mattered and why, the poems lose something--especially with so young an audience.

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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A Great Big Cuddle. Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Chris Riddell. 2015. Candlewick. 80 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Love poetry? Want to introduce your little ones to poetry? Michael Rosen's A Great Big Cuddle is a lovely collection of poems for the 'very young.' The poems are, for the most part, silly and fun and packed with rhythm.

Poems include:

• Tippy-Tappy
• Party Time
• Music
• Wiggly Wiggly
• Reading Lesson
• Mr. Hobson-Jobson Says
• I Am Angry
• Gruff and Dave
• Let Me Do It
• Hello Good-bye

There is a lot of variety in the poems. Some short and simple. Others a good deal longer. Some tell stories. Others are more a collection of really fun sounds to string together.

Overall, this one is easy to recommend. 

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. Edited by Elizabeth Hammill. 2015. Candlewick. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes is a diverse collection of nursery rhymes for parents to share with their little ones. The collection includes traditional rhymes from many countries and cultures. Yes, there are plenty of familiar rhymes from the English and American traditions. But there are plenty of poems--rhymes--that may be unfamiliar to readers. These poems celebrate a universal: young ones all over the world find rhymes fun and appealing.

Yes, the book celebrates the fact that we have a rich tradition of poetry, that there is something right, something good, about sharing rhymes with young children. But the book also celebrates art. Over 70 illustrators were involved in creating this book. Some illustrators are very famous, others are new to the field. The illustrations vary page by page. Chances are, some illustrations you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and others you decidedly won't personally appreciate. There truly is something for everyone.

My favorites?
Polly Dunbar illustrated "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and "I Had A Little Nut Tree."
Jane Ray illustrated "The Queen of Hearts" and "Pussy cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?"
Emily Gravett illustrated "A was an Apple Pie."
Ashley Bryan illustrated "Little Sally Water."
Lydia Monks illustrated "Little Bo-peep" and "Little Boy Blue."


© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Out and About: A First Book of Poems. Shirley Hughes. 1988/2015. Candlewick Press. 56 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I really enjoyed reading Shirley Hughes Out and About: A First Book of Poems. These poems reminded me that I do like poetry, good children's poetry, about subjects that are easy to relate to. These poems celebrating living life in all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These poems celebrate spending time outdoors. Best of all, these poems are kid-friendly.

For example, "Mudlarks"

I like mud.
The slippy, sloppy, squelchy kind,
The slap-it-into-pies kind.
Stir it up in puddles,
Slither and slide.
I do like mud.

and "Water"

I like water.
The shallow, splashy, paddly kind,
The hold-on-tight-it's-deep-kind.
Shlosh it out of buckets,
Spray it all around.
I do like water.

I like this poetry collection because it's joyful. These poems capture joyous moments. Well, for the most part! I suppose the poem about being stuck in bed SICK isn't capturing joy, it's capturing frustration. But still. These poems are easy to relate to. 


© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Maine Coon's Haiku and Other Poems for Cat Lovers. Michael J. Rosen. Illustrated by Lee White. 2015. Candlewick. 56 pages. [Source: Review copy]

If you love cats and poetry, this one may prove quite satisfying. If you merely like cats and poetry, you still might find something to make the book worth your time.

All of the poems are haiku. Each haiku is titled after a particular breed of cat: twenty in all. The book also provides readers with an opportunity to learn a little bit about each of the breeds featured in the book. I liked this back matter.

Which cat breeds are included?

• Maine Coon
• Ragdoll
• Turkish Angora
• Siamese
• Russian Blue
• Bombay
• Norwegian Forest Cat
• British Shorthair
• American Shorthair
• Burmese
• Birman
• Balinese
• Himalayan
• Japanese Bobtail
• Abyssinian
• Persian
• Havana Brown
• Scottish Fold
• Bengal
• Manx

I enjoyed this one. I can't say I loved it. I certainly found two or three poems which I LOVED. But I didn't love each and every poem.

Bombay
paired shadows prowling
in nightfall, but just two lights
pierce that darkness

Balinese
on the windowsill's
balance beam, the cat pirouettes
as the kipple pings

Abyssinian
curled up on your book
cat won't care what happens next
now's the only page

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Follow  Follow. A Book of Reverso Poems. (Companion to Mirror Mirror) Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2013. Penguin. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

I loved, loved, LOVED reading Marilyn Singer's Follow Follow. If you love fairy tales, you MUST read Follow Follow. If you love good poetry, you MUST read Follow Follow. If you're new to reverso poems, to the concept of this form of poetry, you should really read Follow Follow or its companion Mirror Mirror. I love how the form itself is so engaging. It takes poetry to a whole new level for me! (It may do the same for you. I hope it does!)

Author's note:

The reverso, a form I created, is made up of two poems. Read the first down and it says one thing. Read it back up, with changes only in punctuation and capitalization, and it means something completely different. When you flip the poem, sometimes the same narrator has a different point of view. Other times, there is another narrator all together.

The poems:

• Your Wish Is My Command (Aladdin)
• Birthday Suit (The Emperor's New Clothes)
• Silly Goose (The Golden Goose)
• Ready, Steady, Go (The Tortoise and the Hare)
• Will the Real Princess Please Stand Up (The Princess and the Pea)
• The Little Mermaid's Choice (The Little Mermaid)
• Panache (Puss in Boots)
• Follow Follow (The Pied Piper)
• No Bigger Than Your Thumb (Thumbelina)
• Can't Blow This House Down (The Three Little Pigs)
• The Nightingale's Emperor (The Nightingale)
• On With The Dance (The Twelve Dancing Princesses)

I think I LOVED almost all of the poems. There were a few that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED however.

The Little Mermaid's Choice

For love,
give up your voice.
Don't
think twice.
On the shore,
be his shadow.
Don't
keep your home
in the unruly sea.
Be docile.
You can't
catch him
playing
"You'll never catch me!"

You'll never catch me
playing
"Catch him."
You can't
be docile
in the unruly sea.
Keep your home.
Don't
be his shadow
on the shore.
Think twice!
Don't
give up your voice
for love.

Reading these poems is just a JOY. I love how engaging it is. How it makes you think and reflect on the familiar stories. I love how the poems play around with voice and perspective!!! So very clever!

Read this book!!!


© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Board Book: Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems To Love With Your Baby. Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Alyssa Nassner. 2015. Harry N. Abrams. 44 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I really, really LOVE some of the poems included in this board book collection. The poems are arranged in five different sections: FAMILY, FOOD, FIRSTS, PLAY, and BEDTIME. I probably loved a poem or two (or three) from each section.

In FAMILY, I really loved "Grandma" by Prince Redcloud and "Car Seat" by Jude Mandell. Here's "Grandma":

When she takes my hand
and begins to sing
I love her more
than
anything.

In FOOD, I really loved "Spaghetti" by Laura Purdie Salas.

In FIRSTS, I really loved "First Word" by Joan Bransfield Graham

In PLAY, I really loved "Blocks" by Ann Whitford Paul and "Sandbox" by Stephanie Salkin.

Sand on my fingers, on my toes,
Sand on my chin, my ears, my nose,
Sand on my elbows, neck, and knees.
Take me out of this sandbox--
Please?

In BEDTIME, I really loved "Read to Me" by  Lee Bennett Hopkins.

There were so many good poems in this collection. I would find it very easy to recommend this one.

The illustrations complement the poems very well! They are very sweet--though I wouldn't say they are "precious." The illustrations are all of animal families. (There are lots of cat families which make me smile!)


© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Poem Depot: Aisles of Smiles. Douglas Florian. 2014. Penguin. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

I loved, loved, loved Douglas Florian's Poem Depot: Aisles of Smiles. I just LOVED it. After finding five or six poems that I loved, I thought this one would be well worth recommending. But as I kept reading, I kept finding more and more poems to LOVE. This isn't a "good" collection with a handful of poems to love. Generally, that is how I think of poetry books: find one with a handful of poems to LOVE, really LOVE, and you've got yourself a good book worth reading and rereading. To find a poetry book with so very many poems that you love and enjoy--poems with the potential to turn children of all ages into POETRY LOVERS--and you've got something magical, something worth GUSHING about!!! Poem Depot is worth gushing about!!!

Poems I Loved: "Insect Asides," "Driven," "More," "My Closet," "I Hate Broccoli," "Mean Meat Loaf," "Soup of the Day," "Water Water," "What A Monster Ate," "Hair Scare," "This Chair," "Where My Cat Sleeps," "Hold Your Horses," "I Am A Robot," "The Computers Are Down," "Zero," "Alphabetter," and "My Mother Has Two Voices."

Poems I Really Loved: "Train to Nowhere," "Exercise," "Appetite," "Alligator Calculator," "Rome and Room," "The Greatest Invention," and "Windshield Wipers."

© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems. J Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian. 2014. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Silly car poems. Silly futuristic car poems. J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian have teamed up to bring readers delightful, over-the-top poems about automobiles. The illustrations are by Jeremy Holmes. Poems include: "Giant Bookmobile of Tomorrow," "Mini-Mini-Car," "Fish Car," "Eel-ectric Car," "Jurassic Park(ing)", "The Dragonwagon," "The Paper Car," "The Backwards Car," "High-Heel Car," "23rd-Century Motors," "Balloon Car," "Caterpillar Cab," "Bathtub Car," "The Egg Car," "Hot Dog Car," "The Sloppy-Floppy-Nonstop Jalopy," "Grass Taxi," "The Love Car," "The Banana Split Car," "The Supersonic Ionic Car," and the "Rubber-Band Car."

Without a doubt my absolute favorite is "The Giant Bookmobile of Tomorrow." This little poem is ABSOLUTELY delightful. It is just a gem of a poem, and chances are an instant favorite with librarians everywhere! There is probably a good reason why this poem is at the start! Just open it up, read it, and it might just hook you. I think it's the kind of poem that will appeal to readers even if they "don't like" poetry. The other poems, well, I'm not sure they're equally appealing to non-poetry-readers. But this one, all you have to do is LOVE books, and it's sure to delight!

Some poems are enjoyable because they are silly and playful and use language in a fun way. Some beg to be read aloud. Other poems, however, I didn't quite get as enthusiastic about. Probably the funnest poem title to read aloud is "Sloppy-Floppy-Nonstop Jalopy." I also enjoyed "Hot Dog Car" and "The Banana Split Car."

© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Shiver me Timbers! Douglas Florian. Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

Douglas Florian is one of my favorite poets, I do tend to love his books. Shiver Me Timbers has to be one of my favorites. These pirate poems are so much fun!!! I definitely enjoyed the poems and the paintings. (I love the fact that the book says, "Pirates by Robert Neubecker.") I do have favorites, however!!!

I loved the opening poem, "Pirates Wear Patches." From the very first stanza, I knew that the book, the whole book, was going to be great fun.

And I couldn't wait to begin this adventure. I also loved "Me, Pirate." This poem is so much fun, very descriptive, and I just loved the ending! "Pirates Pirate" was also great fun! In fact, it may just be my favorite of the book. (Well, I'm not sure I could pick just one favorite. But if I had to narrow it down to one or two or three, this one would come close to being the one.) Here's how it begins: Some pirates pirate rubies. Some pirates pirate gold. Some pirates pirate diamonds: All that hands can hold.

I just love poetry like this. It is fun, playful, inviting, and it just flows so well, so rhythmic. I would definitely recommend this one!!! And I'd definitely recommend Douglas Florian!

The poems included:

• Pirates Wear Patches
• Pirate Patter
• The Pirates' Code of Conduct
• Names for Pirates
• Pirate Punishment
• Hiring Pirates
• Pirates' Meal
• Blackbeard
• Buried Treasure
• Me, Pirate
• Pirates Pirate
• Turtle Day
• Captain Kidd
• Pirate Flags
• Me Pirate Weapons
• Rule of the Pirate
• Pyrates
• Arrr!
• A Pirate's Life

Read Shiver Me Timbers

• If you're looking for fun, playful poetry that may excite readers to read/write poetry
• If you're looking for pirate-themed picture books

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Out of This World: Poems and Facts About Space. Amy Sklansky. Illustrations by Stacey Schuett. 2012. Random House. 40 pages.

Yesterday, I reviewed Jane Yolen's poetry collection, Bug Off! And while I liked it to a certain extent, I didn't really love it. Out of This World, however, is a poetry book that I just LOVED. It's a great collection of space-themed poems. I loved the variety of poems, the types of poetry and the different subjects. There are poems about the sun, the moon, the stars, the solar system; there are poems about astronauts, space travel, space suits, etc.

Some poems are quite short:

Moon

Marvelous
Opaque
Orb.
Night-light for the world.

 Others are a bit longer. The longest being "Vacation Destination," a poem about a boy who fantasizes about traveling to different planets on his vacation. Some rhyme, some don't. I think there is enough variety to please every kind of reader. I don't even think you have to be a fan of poetry.

My favorite poems include: "Moon," "Countdown," "Packing for the Moon," "Left Behind," and "Sun."

Each poem is complemented by an informative paragraph or two (or three). These facts are just fascinating, and they provide balance and substance to the poems.

Read Out of This World

• If you are interested in space, space travel, etc.
• If you are in science or astronomy
• If you are a poetry fan
• If you're looking for a reader-friendly poetry book

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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I've Lost My Hippopotamus. Jack Prelutsky. Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. 2012. HarperCollins. 144 pages.

I was disappointed in some ways with Jack Prelutsky's I've Lost My Hippopotamus. While there were a handful of poems--and yes, I mean just a handful--that I really loved and enjoyed, most of the poems were of the not-for-me variety. The good news? Well, I think the audience for these poems are young kids--early elementary. The humor that makes adult readers groan might just make some kids giggle. Take for instance, the play on words for "centipede."

A centipede was thirsty,...moreI was disappointed in some ways with Jack Prelutsky's I've Lost My Hippopotamus. While there were a handful of poems--and yes, I mean just a handful--that I really loved and enjoyed, most of the poems were of the not-for-me variety. The good news? Well, I think the audience for these poems are young kids--early elementary. The humor that makes adult readers groan might just make some kids giggle. Take for instance, the play on words for "centipede."

A centipede was thirsty,
But to satisfy its need,
It drank too much for it to hold--
And so the centipede.
Here are a few of the poems I definitely enjoyed:

• "Thanksgiving Math" (112)
• "I'm Knitting a Napkin of Noodles" (96)*
• "The Scritchy Scratchy Scrootches" (9)**
• "Let's Make as Much Noise As We Possibly Can" (92)***
• "Mister Snoffle" (111)****

*Because I just love the first sentence, "I'm knitting a napkin of noodles, because I don't have any yarn." That is just too fun to say.
**Again, I love the sound of this one. It just feels right.
***Because I think parents AND teachers can relate
****Okay, this isn't the best-ever poem about waffles. It will never be able to top, "Mummy Slept Late and Daddy Fixed Breakfast" by John Ciardi. But at least this poem didn't make me groan. And it was one of the better ones in the collection.

Read I've Lost My Hippopotamus

• If you're a fan of Jack Prelutsky
• If you're a fan of juvenile poetry
• If you're looking for a poetry collection to share with first and second graders; though maybe other elementary grades as well; I think the humor is best for this age group.  
• If you are looking for very, very, very silly poems with an abundance of puns 
  2 Comments on I've Lost My Hippopotamus, last added: 4/27/2012
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  Kelly said, on 4/26/2012 8:04:00 AM
  

  I totally laughed at the Centipede joke! he he
  Reminds me of a book of poetry I had when I was in elementary school. Sadly, I can't remember the name of the book. It also had a collection of silly, juvenile poetry. Now that I type, it could have been Where the sidewalk ends maybe...?

  zapkode.marie said, on 4/27/2012 3:54:00 AM
  

  {new follower here}
  
  I wonder if my kids might like it - they are first graders lol.... Thanks for sharing.
  
  {http://www.justonemorechapter.net}

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UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. Douglas Florian. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

I definitely enjoyed Douglas Florian's latest poetry book, UnBeelievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. I typically enjoy his work, I think he's one of the best poets writing for children to be found. He's one of the best of the best. This latest collection combines poems about bees with bee facts. Each two-page spread offers readers a poem, a fact, and an illustration. The book is informative, interesting, and, in a way, playful; perhaps the last poem "Where are the Bees?" is the exception to the 'playful' tone of the book since it focuses on the threat facing honeybees. The book is just a great read! It's full of I-didn't-know-that-facts and the presentation of those facts is just too fun!!!

 Read UnBEElievables

• If you're a fan of Douglas Florian
• If you're a fan of poetry, in particular a fan of children's poetry
• If you enjoy poetry with a focus on nature, on the natural world

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Never Forgotten. Patricia C. McKissack. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. 2011. Random House. 48 pages.

Never Forgotten by Patricia C. McKissack won a 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Honor. It is a picture book for older readers, a collection of poems focused on the slavery experience from Africa to the Americas. While the book addresses, in a way, slavery as a whole, it is also a personal narrative in that it focuses on one young man--taken from his family, his community. The book has folklore elements to it as well, as several of the poems are narrated by wind, water, fire, etc.

I definitely liked the text more than the artwork, but that is just me. (Judging illustrations is so subjective--or it seems that way to me.) I liked the personal aspect to it--tracing the loss in his family, in his community. The always-wanting, always-missing, always-wondering aspect of it. This one is more a story about those left behind. So it is unique, in my opinion.

Read Never Forgotten

• If you're a fan of poetry
• If you're a fan of multicultural poetry
• If you're looking to read Coretta Scott King winners/honors
• If you're a fan of folklore

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Great Migration: Journey to the North. Eloise Greenfield. Illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.  2011. HarperCollins. 26 pages.

Between 1915 and 1930, more than a million African Americans left their homes in the South, the southern part of the United States, and moved to the North. This movement was named "the Great Migration." 

The Great Migration is a poetry book that won a 2012 Coretta Scott King Honor in the author category. What I liked best about this poetry book is the diversity of narrative voices. Greenfield tells the story of the Great Migration through a series of different voices--old, young, man, woman, boy, girl. Some find leaving bittersweet; others can't wait to start a new life. Some are anxious, hesitant. Others are exuberant and confident. All of the poems feel personal.

My favorite may be "IV. Question: Men and Women"

Will I make a good life
for my family,
for myself?
The wheels are singing,
"Yes, you will,
you will, you will!"
I hope they're right.
I think they're right.
I know they're right.
We're going to have
a great life. Got to try it.
Going to do it. Going to
make it. No matter what.

Read The Great Migration

• If you enjoy poetry written for children
• If you enjoy poetry with a historical subject
• If you're interested in this time period, 1915-1930
• If you are interested in African American history

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2010. Penguin. March 2010. 32 pages.

I loved this book of poetry! I did. If you like fairy tales, you should definitely pick this one up. Because this book of reversible poetry does a great job at twisting some familiar tales. Each poem can be read up and down. This is also a great collection for highlighting different points of view. So "In the Hood" tells Little Red Riding Hood's story when you read one way, but tells the Wolf's story the other way! That poem is without a doubt my favorite from this collection! Other fairy tales treated include Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty and The Beast, Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Bears. (Just to name a handful.)

Here is "Longing for Beauty"

A beast
can love
beauty.
A moist muzzle
can welcome
a rose.
A hairy ear
can prize
a nightingale singing.
Beneath fur,
look!
A soft heart
stirs,
longing.

Longing
stirs
a soft heart.
Look
beneath fur.
A nightingale singing
can prize
a hairy ear.
A rose
can welcome
a moist muzzle.
Beauty
can love
a Beast.

I really enjoyed the illustrations. They're bright, colorful, and engaging. (You can see examples of the art here. You can also read "In The Hood" there.)

Other reviews: A Year of Reading, Writing and Ruminating,

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Wonder Book. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrations by Paul Schmid. 2010. [February 2010] HarperCollins. 79 pages.

I loved this poetry book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Did I love all the poems equally? Of course not! No one poetry book is that perfect, that good. Still I found myself enjoying this one. Some of the poems are quite clever. (I enjoyed her palindrome section of poetry!) Others quite funny. (I enjoyed "It Could Be Verse", "Clarification", and "One Of These Things Is Not Like the Other.") I think there's enough diversity in the humor that every reader will find something to love or laugh about. (Such as "A Rose By Any Other Name" or "Typical Day".)

So which poem should I share with you?! I think I'll go with Clarification.

Clarification

What you can't run with:

sharp pointy things
a lollipop in your mouth
Grandma's crystal swan
a truck full of scissors
a souffle
your shoes tied together
twin porcupines

What you can run with:

a bag of marshmallows
a purple sock
a napkin
a really small baby giraffe
a spoon
a kite
a friend

(18-19)

Definitely recommended!



© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Everybody Was A Baby Once: And Other Poems. By Allan Ahlberg. 2010. [March 2010] Illustrated by Bruce Ingman. Candlewick. 64 pages.

I'm not always a fan of Allan Ahlberg's work. His picture books are quite simply very odd, definitely quirky and unique. (His books include The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil.) Everybody Was A Baby Once is a collection of his poems. And I must say that I liked it. A lot. Some poems are funny or are meant to be. One poem is quite bittersweet. ("The Good Old Dolls"). And a few are genuinely true. For example, "When I Was Just A Little Child" and "Everybody Was A Baby Once."

I do have favorites. I really thought "Everybody Was A Baby Once" was charming. Here it is in part...

The baby comes first in life's great plan
Everyone started out small
The child is father to the man
The race begins at a crawl.

Oh, your daddy was a baby once
And your mommy was a baby once
They would scream and bawl and shout
And they'd spit their dinners out
Everybody was a baby once.

Life begins with a baby's cry
Life begins in a cot
A little tear in a little eye
A little bum on a pot.

I definitely liked this book. (Some poems more than others). And I would recommend it.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Animal Poems. By Valerie Worth. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. 2007. FSG. 48 pages.

A collection of animal poems by Valerie Worth. All sorts of animals are covered within the book, everything from cockroaches to kangaroos and snails to elephants. No animal is too large or small. Each poem is complemented with illustrations by Steve Jenkins. (And these illustrations are fantastic!)


I don't know that I have a favorite poem exactly. But I'd probably go with the one about Kangaroos. Or Bears. Or Elephants. See, it can be hard to choose just one from a collection!

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Mother Goose's Little Treasures By Iona Opie. Illustrated by Rosemary Wells. 2007. Candlewick Press. 56 pages.

If you'd asked me I would have said I was a fan of Mother Goose. I mean, isn't Mother Goose one of those things you're supposed to like?! But I just didn't like Mother Goose's Little Treasures. Perhaps earlier books in the series might be better: My Very First Mother Goose (1996) and Here Comes Mother Goose (1999). Both of those are longer books, and they may be more substantive as well. Compiled of better known pieces I'd imagine.

This collection is supposed to be unfamiliar to readers. The point of the collection is to take us places we've never been. In the introduction, Opie writes, "The little treasures in this book are from the far edge of Mother Goose's realm; they belong to the land of More Beyond."

Here are a few examples:

Mrs Whirly sells fish,
Three ha'pence a dish.
Don't buy it,
don't buy it;
It stinks
when you fry it.

When the rain raineth
And the goose winketh,
Little knows the gosling
What the goose thinketh.

I found the rhymes in this collection to be odd for the most part. And not always odd in a charming, delightful way.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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