Poetry

HAVILL, Juanita. Grow. illus. by Stanislawa Kodman. 160p. CIP. Peachtree. 2008. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-441-9. LC 2007029745.

Gr 4-6–Twelve-year-old Kate joins her bigger-than-life, grown-up friend, Berneetha, to create a community garden in an urban lot. As unlikely friends and neighbors join the effort, Kate learns a little bit about people, life, and herself. Well-placed line drawings and an abundance of white space showcase Havill's fluid verse. B

HOPKINS, Lee Bennett, sel. America at War. illus. by Stephen Alcorn. 96p. index. CIP. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2008. RTE $21.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1832-5. LC 2006008723.

Gr 5-8–These moving poems, chosen for their “emotional impact,” represent eight conflicts in American history, from the Revolutionary War to the War in Iraq. Contemporary as well as classic poets are included. Alcorn's stunning watercolor paintings illustrate each selection with grace and feeling, their details setting the time and place for the accompanying words. B

KATZ, Alan. Oops! illus. by Edward Koren. 176p. index. CIP. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-0204-1. LC 2005032439.

Gr 3-6–Fans of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky will welcome this collection of 100 silly rhymes illustrated with humorous pen-and-ink cartoon drawings. Katz also includes an amusing riff on his penchant for writing, with reproductions of grade-school attempts and an inauspicious report card. B

LEAR, Edward. The Owl and the Pussycat. illus. by Stéphane Jorisch. unpaged. (Visions in Poetry Series). Kids Can/KCP Poetry. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55337-828-0; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-232-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 5 Up–In an interesting twist on an old favorite, Jorisch envisions Lear's nonsense poem as a struggle for acceptance by an unlikely couple—an Owl with an opulent past and a Pussycat from the wrong side of the tracks. Winsome ink-and-watercolor illustrations provide a fine example of the power of artistic interpretation. B

PRELUTSKY, Jack. Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem. 192p. glossary. index. CIP. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143449-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143448-8. LC 2007036738.

Gr 3-5–America's Children's Poet Laureate and all-around kid-favorite shares his tried-and-true techniques, assorted sources for ideas, and boundless enthusiasm for putting pen to paper. Amusing personal anecdotes are paired with the poems they inspired, demystifying the creative process, while writing tips provide practical suggestions that will empower young poets. B

SMITH, Hope Anita. Keeping the Night Watch. illus. by E. B. Lewis. 72p. CIP. Holt. 2008. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7202-0. LC 2007012372.

Gr 5-8–When his absent father returns home, 13-year-old C.J. (The Way a Door Closes [Holt, 2003]) seethes with anger as the man tries to regain the family trust. Told in lyrical free verse and complemented by distinguished watercolor-and-ink paintings, C.J.'s road to forgiveness exemplifies the power of love. B

Gonna Keep Dancing. CD. 48:54 min. Fat Flea Music (fatfleamusic.ca). 2007. $16.95.

Gr 2-6–Eddie Douglas has set some of his poems as well as those written by Canadian children's authors Jo Ellen Bogart, Loris Lesynski, Charles Wilkin, and Robert Munsch to music. Among the 14 tracks on this upbeat collection are “Armadillo Stomp,” “Dirty Dog Boogie,” and “Water in My Ear.” Douglas's vocals are strong and the music perfectly matches the tone and spirit of the words. A