Archive for Poetry
April 19, 2013 at 10:27 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Ages 6 - 8, Poetry ·Tagged animals, Carin Berger, Jack Prelutsky, Joseph Cornell, Max Ernst, Scranimals, Stardines Swim High Across the Sky
One of my go to poetry books for children has always been Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky. Even kids who claim to ‘hate’ poetry and roll their eyes through my dramatic renditions of Emily Dickinson or Langston Hughes will chuckle and go “Oh cooooool….” at the silly animals created by Prelutsky. Now he is back with a new book written in the same form: Stardines Swim High Across the Sky, graced with incredible illustrations by Carin Berger.
Stardines is in some ways slightly more sophisticated than Scranimals. While the earlier title mostly focused on combining animals together or animals and plants (Broccolions, Potatoads), these creatures’ names comment on their characteristics, such as the rather messy Slobsters (…Their sense of decorum/Is woefully small/SLOBSTERS don’t have/Many manners at all…) and the erudite Braindeer (…With endless perseverance/They serenely mill about,/ Reflecting on the universe/And figuring it out…). The heightened language may be a stretch for some younger readers, making this a good choice for a read aloud, class discussion or bedtime story.
Fortunately, even if children might not always be able to decipher the words, the illustrations are stunning enough to fill hours all on their own. Carin Berger has created a shadowbox diorama for each creature, photographed them digitally and added such engaging touches as straight pins, labels and paintbrushes to the endpapers. In the style of such surrealist masters as Joseph Cornell and Max Ernst, Berger uses sheet music, advertisements, and constellation maps to depict Prelutsky’s fascinating creatures. My favorites are probably the Planda, with his paper fountain pen and his long list of precisely numbered images or the Bardvark, an inkpot standing on a stack of books and sporting a feathered hat and paper ruff. Readers will want to get to know them all.
– Cecilia
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April 2, 2013 at 7:27 am · Filed under Ages 6 - 8, Ages 8 - 10, Ages 8 and up, Poetry ·Tagged bedtime, Dial, fairy tales, Follow Follow, Josee Masse, Little Mermaid, Marilyn Singer, Nightingale, Pied Pipe of Hamelin, poetry, Puss in Boots, reverse order, reverso poems, Three Little Pigs, Thumbelina, Tortoise and the Hare, Twelve Dancing Princesses
The poems in Follow Follow are mostly short and deceptively simple. You read one poem top to bottom. Then on the other side of the page is the exact same poem written backward (only changes in punctuation or capitalization are allowed). You’ll be amazed at the new voices, details and attitudes that emerge simply from reading the words in reverse order. Following the fairy tale theme of Mirror, Mirror, each poem connects to a story either well known (The Three Little Pigs, The Twelve Dancing Princesses) or slightly more obscure (Pied Piper of Hamelin, Puss in Boots). Hans Christian Andersen is especially well represented here, with ‘Thumbelina’, ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Nightingale’ among others. Singer achieves the best results with poems connected to fairy tales with clear oppositional characters. ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ from the Tortoise and the Hare is especially witty. Poems that present a dilemma from two points of view, such as ‘The Little Mermaid’s Choice’ are sometimes less immediately engaging. Masse’s clever illustrations make use of a split page to show either two different characters or the same character in different attitudes, as in the sweet final selection ‘Now it’s Time to Say Good-Night.’ This will be a great addition to bedtime reading or classroom shelves everywhere.
Follow Follow: a Book of Reverso Poems, by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse, Dial, $16.99
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November 28, 2012 at 8:18 am · Filed under Adult fiction and non-fiction, Ages 10 - 12, Ages 10 and up, Ages 12 - 14, Ages 12 and up, Ages 14 and Up, Award Winners, Booksellers Diary, Poetry ·Tagged Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Bewilderment, David Ferry, Goblin Secrets, Katherine Boo, Louise Erdrich, National Book Award winners 2012, National Book Awards 2012, The Round House, William Alexander
The results are in! On November 17 at the National Book Awards Ceremony the winners in each category were announced. Swing by the store, give us a call, or email to reserve your copies! (703-548-4092 or info@hooray4books.com.)
Young People’s Literature: Goblin Secrets by William Alexander; Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster); 16.99
Poetry: Bewilderment: New Poems and Translations by David Ferry; University of Chicago Press; 18.00
Nonfiction: Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Hope, and Death in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo; Random House; 27.00
Fiction: The Round House by Louise Erdrich; HarperCollins; 27.99
Learn more about the National Book Award here!
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April 13, 2012 at 6:15 am · Filed under Poetry ·Tagged Candlewick, Candlewick Press, children's books, HarperCollins, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Jane Yolen, National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, poetry, Polly Dunbar, read aloud, Shel Silverstein
Sometimes poetry gets a bad rap. In school, poetry always ended up being the “boring” subject that no one wanted to participate in and I think if kids just had the right poems in their hands, they would see how fun and interesting poetry can really be!
April is National Poetry Month and we have a great poetry section in the store that will certainly spark an interest in your kids. Funny poems, shorts poems, long poems, dog poems, etc. We have something for every reader! If you or your children haven’t yet read any poetry together, April is definitely the month to do so. You can learn more about National Poetry month here.
One of the fun events that happens during Poetry Month is Poem in Your Pocket Day, which we encourage everyone to participate in! It’s easy: just selection a poem that you love, carry it in your pocket on April 26th, and share it with your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Spread the poetry love! 
If you come into Hooray for Books! and share your poem with us, you’ll receive a gift from our grab bag!
Poetry can be cool, fun, and exciting! Just because it’s not a book with chapters or a picture book with lots of illustrations doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. Encourage your kids to read poetry and to have fun with it! We would love to show you some of our favorites in the store.
Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein;$19.99; HarperCollins; Ages 4+
Here’s A Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry by Jane Yolen and illustrator Polly Dunbar; $21.99; Candlewick Press; Ages 4+
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January 3, 2012 at 2:28 pm · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Ages 14 and Up, Ages 6 - 8, Booksellers Diary, Poetry ·Tagged 12-18, Ages 3 - 6, animals, storytime, Young Adult, Sarah Dessen, ages 4-8, Doreen Cronin, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, non-fiction, Hyperion Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; HarperCollins; John Rocco, Pengiun Group USA, Joyce Sidman
Amanda has been on maternity leave for awhile, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped reading! Her favorites, like her reading tastes, span a variety of genres:
Blackout by John Rocco, $16.99; Hyperion Books for Children; ages 3+
The Trouble With Chickens: A J.J. Tully Story; $14.99; HarperCollins, ages 7+
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman; $16.99; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; ages 5+
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen; $19.99; Penguin Group; ages 14+
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October 14, 2011 at 11:43 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Ages newborn - 3, Poetry ·Tagged ages 4 and up, Bippolo Seed, book review, Dr. Seuss, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, poetry, read aloud
Yes, you heard that right! Foremost Seuss scholar (how’s that for a job title?) Charles D. Cohen has rescued seven stories that were previously published in magazines, and then discarded with that month’s issue. With some persistent sleuthing, Mr. Cohen dug up those stories and published them in a wonderful new volume, “The Bippolo Seed and other Lost Stories.”
We are certainly indebted to Mr. Cohen! Fans of Seuss will know to expect outlandish creatures, exuberant rhyme, funny adventures, and even a little food for thought. You’ll find all that and more in “Bippolo Seed.” The title story explores the nature of greed, “The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga” is a witty tale of brains versus brawn, and “Steak for Supper” is populated with Gritches and Grikkles and Nuppers galore. My personal favorite, “The Great Henry McBride,” encourages children to use their imaginations and not limit themselves to one answer to that ubiquitous question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s an inspiring message for adults and children alike.
This book is a fantastic find for Seuss fans of all ages, especially those of you who can’t stand the thought of yet another bedtime reading of “The Cat in the Hat!”
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories; 15.00; Random House Books for Young Readers; Ages 4+
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October 7, 2011 at 7:15 am · Filed under Poetry ·Tagged ages 5 and up, book review, books about books, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, picture books, poetry
Everyone needs a little poetry in their lives and what better to read than poems about books? Author Laura Purdie Salas has created a wonderful collection of book-related poetry, perfect for reading with all ages.
Poems like “Calling All Readers” encourage us to put down our remotes and controllers and take an adventure within a book, and “Cliffhanger” brings us into the world of suspenseful endings. You’ll be able to feel the excitement of a great cliffhanger after reading that poem! Our favorite here at Hooray for Books! would have to be “Lights Out at the Bookstore,” in which anxious readers await the closing of a bookstore (when the real party begins, of course).
Colorful, collage illustrations bring a sense of whimsy and charm to this lovely poetry collection. A beautiful gift for a child…or an adult who loves books!
Book Speak: Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas; $16.99; Clarion Books; Ages 5+
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One of my go to poetry books for children has always been Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky. Even kids who claim to ‘hate’ poetry and roll their eyes through my dramatic renditions of Emily Dickinson or Langston Hughes will chuckle and go “Oh cooooool….” at the silly animals created by Prelutsky. Now he is back with a new book written in the same form: Stardines Swim High Across the Sky, graced with incredible illustrations by Carin Berger.
