when the world is puddle-wonderful

K-Gr 3–The possibilities of language are endless in Cummings’s avant-garde poetic universe. His deconstructivist approach to poetry plays with conventions of ­syntax, punctuation, typography, structure, and form—a literary equivalent of Marcel ­Duchamp’s urinal-as-art Fountain. The ­poems in this collection are carefully ­chosen to appeal to a young audience and speak to many joys of childhood such as seasons, holidays, and nature. There is a bit of a mismatch in the sophistication of the writing style and the presumed audience of this title. It takes a firm grip on traditional language structures to really understand how and why they are dismantled. Still, there are bright linguistic moments that connect to the early childhood worldview, like “newlY” (newborn), “spangles” (ornaments), and “puddle-wonderful” to name a few. ­Illustrations are a cheery blend of geometric shapes, primary colors, and mid-century modern patterning. The artwork is essential in creating context for young learners’ comprehension of the ­poems.