Spooky Poems Aloud: 25 ­Poems to Frighten and Delight

Gr 1-4–Coelho encourages young readers to experiment with sharing and writing poetry in this thematic collection of creepy poems. A visual feast, Gray-Barnett’s combination of traditional and digital art enhances the mood and vibrancy of each poem. Reminiscent of Quentin Blake’s quirkiness, the bold colors and lines capture the imagination. Many of the poems include dramatic guidance, such as reading “On A Cold, Whispering Night” in a whisper. Others offer suggestions for writing poetry, as with “The Tower” urging children to think of scary places and atmosphere. The poet challenges children to write a renga and pantoum, and the poetry is a varying collection of silliness and real spookiness. Coelho begins with limericks like “The Poo of Death,” which is disgustingly wonderful, and the next spread is “It Woke Me From a Dream.” Deliciously frightening, a child is under their covers while a crouching thing in black is in the corner “waiting, watching.” The art helps to create a cohesive piece, but this collection is for a wide range of students. While younger children may most enjoy the slapstick poems, reminiscent of Prelutsky, some of the scarier and more thought-provoking ones will be best for older students, up to a middle grade age range.