In Micha Archer's Daniel Finds a Poem (Penguin, 2016; PreS-Gr 2), a young boy entering a park spies a sign that reads,

"POETRY IN THE PARK SUNDAY AT 6 O'CLOCK"

He wonders about "poetry" and encounters a spider, a squirrel, a chipmunk, and a frog, among other creatures, who provide him with their definitions of the word. To Squirrel, "Poetry is when crisp leaves crunch," while Owl declares, "Poetry is bright stars in the branches, moonlight on the grass, and silent wings to take me wherever I go." On Sunday, when the boy awakens, he has a poem of his own creation to share in the park—a poem that incorporates bits of this animal friends' thoughts and sentiments. The story is the first written by Archer, who has illustrated a number of books. Here, her distinctive collage and oil art, featuring layers of rich, saturated colors illustrates Daniel's newfound understanding of the literary form. In a short, illustrated piece, "My Collage Techniques," the author/illustrator offers readers a glimpse into her artistic process.

A page from Micha Archer's "My CollageTechniques," courtesy of Penguin Random House.