The Gift of Poetry

Samuel Taylor Coleridge described poetry as the best words in the best order. Young children understand poetry naturally. What a wonderful gift to enjoy with the youngest person you know. The holidays are the perfect time to curl up by a fire and watch a child slow down to the rhythm of these best words.

Here's a Little Poem edited by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Candlewick 2007) A lovely first book of poetry, this collection has been carefully chosen with a wide range of authors. A.A. Milne, Langston Hughes, Rosemary Wells and Jack Prelutsky are just some of the contributors. What I loved best are the pictures by Polly Dunbar, cheerful and clean, lovely and bright. (Ages itty-bitty to 6)

Today at the Bluebird Cafe: A Branchful of Birds by Deborah Ruddell, illustrated by Joan Rankin (Simon and Schuster 2007) Beautiful illustrations and lyrical poetry pays homage to the gift of birds. "It's all-you-can-eat at the Bluebird Caf,/a grasshopper-katydid-cricket buffet,/with berries and snails and a bluebottle fly,/a sip of the lake and a bite of the sky." 22 poems to enjoy - - youll want to order seconds! (Ages 4-10)

Technically, Its Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits (Clarion 2004) My son split a gut over this one. The visual play with the actual words of the poems makes this book stand out. The roller coaster poem does vertical drops and loop-the-loops. The baseball poem is shaped like a diamond. Grandits is brilliant in capturing the adolescent state of mind wry, intelligent and completely gross and absurd. (Ages 8-13)

Science Verse by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (Penguin Young Readers 2004) A parody of famous poetry including Lewis Caroll, Robert Frost, and even maudlin Edgar Allen Poe, this book follows up Math Verse by rewording classic poems into something dreamed up during Chemistry lessons. You can hear the poetry of science in everything. Every reader will learn to recognize the Fibonacci Sequence! (Ages 7-12)

Frankenstein Makes A Sandwich by Adam Rex (Harcourt, 2006) The synopsis says A hilarious look at the day-to-day life of the average ghoul. Not average, but the most famous monsters of all, hysterically expressing their deepest emotional conflicts. The werewolf has too much hair in the drain. And the Phantom of the Opera can only write songs to the tune of Pop-Goes-The Weasel. Now, thats just funny! (Ages 5-10)

Tap Dancing on the Roof, a Collection of Sijo, by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Istvan Banyai (Clarion 2007) Sijo is a form of Korean Poetry, similar to Japanese Haiku. Although the structure of the poem defines it, it is the twist or surprise at the end that makes it endearing. Banyais clever illustrations are a perfect match. (Ages 5-10)

Little Dog Poems by Kristine O'Connell George, illustrated by June Otani (Houghton Miflin, 1999) A perfect step up from nursery rhymes, this book will charm any little person who loves animals. "Little Dog's cold nose / is better than any / alarm clock". A second book of poetry, Little Dog and Duncan came out in 2002, and chronicles Little Dogs visit by an enormous Irish Wolfhound. (Ages 4-8)

Library Fan and kid chauffer, Julie Hubble lives in Leawood and wants to know what rhymes with orange.