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Fiction | Non-Fiction
Hot Reads April 2009 National Poetry Month |
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Fiction: Let's find the poetry in our lives... |
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Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart by Vera B. Williams
A series of poems tells how two sisters help each other deal with life while their mother is working and their father has been sent to jail. (ages 7+)
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Basho and the Fox by Gloria Whelan
A famous Japanese poet is challenged by a fox to create his best haiku in order to keep rights to the cherries growing on Basho's favorite cherry tree. (ages 10+)
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For Your Eyes Only by Joanne Rocklin
The entries in the journals of two sixth grade students reveal much about their personal feelings, family lives, and a growing interest in poetry sparked by their new substitute teacher. (ages 8-12)
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Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem. (ages 8-12)
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Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression. (ages 11+)
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Shadow by Blaise Cendrars
Free verse evocation of the eerie, shifting images of Shadow which represents the beliefs and ghosts of Africa's past and is brought to life wherever there is light, fire, and a storyteller. (ages 5-8)
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Non-Fiction: What can a poem tell us?
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Cabbagehead by Loris Lesynski
Poems explore the often frustrating ways in which our brains work. Who hasn't been perplexed by spelling or chased in the night by an idea that won't go away?
(ages 8-12)
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Calling the Doves: El Canto de las Palomas by Juan Felipe Herrera
The author recalls his childhood in the mountains and valleys of California with his farmworker parents who inspired him with poetry and song.
(ages 8-12)
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DeShawn Days by Tony Medina
The author draws from his own experiences growing up in the projects to create the story of DeShawn Williams, his grandmother who helps him with his homework, and his cousin Tiffany, who shares in his laughter and adventures. (ages 6+)
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The Dream on Blanca's Wall by Jane Medina
Poems describe the life of an immigrant family's young daughter who dreams of being a teacher. (ages 9-12)
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If Not For the Cat: Haiku by Jack Prelutsky
A collection of 17 poems express the points of view of individual animals, from mouse to moth, from skunk to crow. (ages 5-8)
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The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle
Juan Francisco Manzano was born in 1797 into the household of wealthy slaveowners in Cuba. He spent his early years at the side of his owner's wife, entertaining her friends. His poetry was his outlet, reflecting the beauty and cruelty of his world. Written in verse. (ages 10+)
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Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) by Linda Sue Park
A collection of sijo poems, a traditional Korean verse form, celebrates the simple joy of everyday things, such as houseplants, breakfast, and thunder. (ages 5-9)
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Technically It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits
An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical-and not so typical-middle-grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover pizza, homework, thank-you notes, his annoying older sister, professional wrestling for animals, and the ultimate roller coaster. (ages 9+)
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This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems From Around the World selected by Naomi Shihab Nye
A poetry anthology in which 120 poets from sixty-two different countries, including ones in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, India, and South and Central America, celebrate the natural world and its human and animal inhabitants. (ages 11+)
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What is Goodbye? by Nikki Grimes
Alternating poems by a brother and sister convey their feelings about the death of their older brother and the impact it had on their family. (ages 8-12)
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If you want more...
Would you like to find out about some other poets, read more poetry, or write your own poem online? See Sherlock Byte Investigates and Prof Bookley's Tips.
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