Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes

This selection of poetry by Langston Hughes has the added value of an introduction to the poet, notes for the poems, and collage and watercolor illustrations. An inviting introduction to the poet and companion to other books about him.

Grades 4 -8

Once Around the Sun, by Bobbi Katz

Illus. by LeUyen Pham

Poems celebrate each month of the year with childlike observations and enjoyment. "January is/when your sled hurries/to the park after school/and flurries you/down/the/hill." Bright colorful illustrations feature a young African American boy at school and at play. This is a visual delight and the poems could carry a classroom through the year and offer models for similar poems.

Grades 1-4

Once I Ate a Pie, by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charest

Illus. by Katy Schneider

"13 Dogs Tell All!" in humorous poems accompanied by doggie paintings. The use of different font sizes and text placement are part of the visual delight of these poetic offerings. With names like "Mr. Beefy" and "Wupsie", the dogs have distinct personalities captured in text and illustration.

Grades 1-4

Earth Magic, by Dionne Brand

Illus. by Eugenie Fernandes

Originally published in 1979, this book of poetry is now published with new, swirling color illustrations that strongly convey the beauty and strangeness of the Carribean. The author draws on her childhood in Trinidad in this selection of poems that range from morning to night. Poems about the heat of the sun, a drought, a storm, and a hurricane ably capture the texture and sounds of the tropics. Other poems range from carefree jump rope rhymes to slavery and toil in the fields and a young girl's longing for school.

Keep Climbing, Girls, by Beah E. Richards

A young girl climbs a tree in defiance of Miss Nettie, who hands on hips, tries demands, shame, and fear to bring her down. The message rings loud and clear for all girls, particularly girls of color, to climb higher, forge a path upward, and defy expectations. Besides it's such a great view from the tree top! R. Gregory Christie's angular and expressive swatches of color capture the spirit of this inspirational poem. Grab a girl or two and read this one aloud! An introduction provides background on the author, an actress featured in the documentary: Beah: A Black Woman Speaks.

All ages.

The Moon, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson.

Stevenson's classic poem "The moon has a face like the clock in the hall," is here given a beautiful and very child-friendly treatment. Wide double-spreads depict a father and child on a late night adventure that includes a moonlight cruise. It's the small details: binoculars and stuffed animal, family dog and cat, mom at home with a baby, and the child asleep in the car seat on the drive home that invite, comfort, and welcome young listeners into this poem. Grandmothers pay attention! This is a book for the youngest on your list. At the same time, I think the poem is so accessible that it might make a nice accompaniment to the third grade earth-moon-sun unit.

Preschool-grade 3

Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry by Joyce Sidman

A little tan dog zooms out of the front door of his home; a white kitten is pushed from a car by the side of the road. Through the magic of concrete poetry, their stories meet and merge in the park during a thunderstorm. The poet and the illustrator/designer combine talents to create a book full of verbal and pictorial imagery that is charming and inventive. Spiky-topped green letters form the grass in the park and read "PATCHWORK, RABBIT-NIBBLED, MOWER-CROPPED, WIND-WHISPERED GRASS". On the "nosetrail" of the cat, the dog's singlemindedness is momentarily waylaid: "catcatcatcatcat...catcatcatcatCHIPMUNK! The clouds grow from "WISP" to closely layered "SNOW-WHITE ROLLS AND DOLLOPS STUPENDOUSLY SWELLING". The multiple fonts and perfect color palette make this digitally-created book a treat. The poet has had experience teaching children how to write concrete poetry; this amazing little book will inspire others to creativity.