COELHO, Joseph. Spooky Poems Aloud: 25 Poems to Frighten and Delight. illus. by Daniel Gray-Barnett. 40p. (Poetry to Perform). Quarto/Wide Eyed Eds. Aug. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780711287402.
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 atmospheres. 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. VERDICT An uneven collection of poetry. Consider it as an additional selection.–Rachel Zuffa

LIMÓN, Ada. In Praise of Mystery. illus. by Peter Sís. 32p. Norton. Oct. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781324054009.
PreS-Gr 2–Limón’s words will travel nearly two billion miles to Jupiter’s second moon, Europa, via NASA spacecraft in the fall of 2024. The poem speaks to the power of the “mysteries below our sky” and the value in retaining one’s sense of wonder while journeying into the larger world. “We are creatures of constant awe,/ curious at beauty, at leaf and blossom,/ at grief and pleasure, sun and shadow.” The gentle, contemplative touch of the poet is evident in the rhythm and fluidity of the language and bolstered by the work of Sís’s encompassing and elegant illustrations—a layered mix of watercolors, pen, and ink that pair beautifully with the spare and delicate poetry. His art, like Limón’s writing, is rooted in the elements but threaded through with magic, filling the book with tranquil shades of blue and green. Each page features a scatter of Limón’s sharply honed words against a backdrop of the natural world, with emphasis on bodies of water and the vast sky. The book, while fairly brief, reveals something new upon each reading: a testament to the wonder and mystery that Limón writes about so movingly. This would be a lovely and innovative addition to a classroom lesson on space exploration. VERDICT This ode to beauty and the still-to-be-explored corners of the universe will find an audience among elementary school students and educators.–Kate Newcombe

POSEY, Alexander. Autumn (Petite Poems). illus. by Paige Pettibon. 24p. Cameron Kids. Aug. 2024. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781949480580.
K-Gr 4–A dreamy, succinct poem across many pages that all together encapsulates the sense of fall. “Scarlet leaves, that, dropping,/ Rise again, as ever,/ With a useless sigh for/ Rest/ —and it is Autumn.” The muted tones of the illustrations show a young child outside in a field of trees. As the afternoon progresses, the colors of the sky and ground change from blues to yellows, and then to a warm orange as the sun sets. There is a sense of joyful energy as leaves and acorns fall to the ground. The child plays with a patterned, tan blanket, while observing birds in flight, swirling leaves, and deepening shadows. Each page has a few lines of text. At the last line of the poem, the child wraps up in the blanket and sits down. Detailed drawings show shadows creating golden patterns, which mimic the designs in the blanket, on the ground. The whole poem is repeated on a single page near the end. Back matter includes a few sentences about the poem, followed by a brief biography on Posey, who was a Muscogee poet, journalist, humorist, and editor. A note from the illustrator, Pettibon, who is Black, white, and Salish, follows. Finally, a paragraph on “The Feeling of Autumn” encourages readers to explore their senses during this season. End pages show yellow leaves, brown moths, and acorns against a blue sky, along with the child’s blanket on a salmon-colored background. VERDICT A strong first purchase. The poem and artwork, which create an exquisite sense of a child’s joy in playing on an autumn afternoon, will appeal to all ages.–Tamara Saarinen

SAYRE, April Pulley. Pickle Words: Crunchy, Punchy Pickles and Poetry. illus. by Jialei Sun. 32p. Charlesbridge. Jul. 2024. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781623543624.
K-Gr 2–Through simple, crisp rhymes, Sayre’s collection of pickle poems introduces children to the joys of traditional types of fermented vegetables across cultures. While the poems are not particularly varied in style (four lines, all in an A/B/A/B rhyme scheme), the vocabulary is perfect for early readers to practice on their own, and the rhythms are a pleasure to digest. Adjectives integrated into Sun’s bright, vibrant illustrations also encourage readers to start considering how they, too, can describe the world around them with zest. Poem after poem in the same style on roughly the same subject matter can stretch a little thin if powering through in a single reading; however, the pages are sprinkled with additions that add some spice. Readers will find definitions; descriptions of many types of pickles, chutneys, and relishes from around the world; and, appropriately, a few recipes for making pickles. A small bibliography of pickle books leaves plenty more to discover. Sayre’s note about what inspired her to write the book is intensely sweet and is a posthumous reminder of how much she contributed to the children’s literature community. She fed her readers well on flavorful words, and she will be missed. VERDICT Those keen on finding poetry for emerging readers will find this book a satisfying dish.–Kate Stadt

TAYLOR, Jolie. The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings. illus. by Brandon Dorman. 128p. Shadow Mountain. Sept. 2024. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9781639933075.
Gr 2-4–A collection of mostly humorous short stories in verse offers a playful look at feelings. Comical cartoon black-and-white illustrations add whimsical details to silly situations, such as a claustrophobic alien encounter in “The Beebop Aliens and the Selfie Squish.” Other highlights include “The Cupcake Temptation,” which follows a girl’s hilarious deliberation as she considers stealing her younger brother’s treat. Text and illustration work well together in “A Hundred Years of Indecision,” “The Band,” and “Humdrum Dragon Blasts.” Other poems lack child appeal, though, with awkward, forced rhymes and clumsy sentiments. In “Uniquey,” a bear who doesn’t fit in learns to love himself, inspiring others who “tried to be more themselves too.” “The Best Egg Hunt” sinks under its heavy-handed message: A girl gives away her eggs and notes “the world contained giggles that were such a delight.” Emergent readers looking for a fun approach to feelings should start with Mo Willems’s The Frustrating Book or Mike Wohnoutka’s Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions. VERDICT With its good-humored approach and appealing illustrations reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, this uneven collection offers a few gems for sharing aloud, but ultimately falls short.–Marilyn Taniguchi

VAN CLEAVE, Ryan G., ed. The Illustrated Walt Whitman. illus. by David Miles. 64p. (Illustrated Poets Collection: Bk. 4). Moonshower. Aug. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781638192121.
Gr 5-8–A beautifully illustrated book of poems by the famous American poet Walt Whitman. This collection of 25 poems includes classics such as “O Captain! My Captain!,” “Song of Myself,” and more. Discussion questions at the end of each poem present great topics for new poetry readers or poet lovers alike. Illustrations that match the theme of each poem keep readers engaged. Definitions of vocabulary that students may find difficult to understand can be a great tool for readers to comprehend and learn new words—these are located at the side of each poem where students can easily find them. The printed areas fit well within the artwork, nothing is difficult to see, and the book blends into a cohesive piece of artwork, literally, pictorially, and figuratively speaking. Depending on grade and level intention, this book can be a wonderful English, writing, and even art and history supplement for teachers. VERDICT An interactive way for teachers and students to learn more about one of America’s famous poets.–BreAnn Weeks

WESTERA, Bette. Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites. tr. from Dutch by David Colmer. illus. by Mies van Hout. 40p. Eerdmans. Sept. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780802856357.
PreS-Gr 1–A clever picture book that connects children with a plethora of vocabulary detailing opposites found in nature. Each spread features two animals that contrast in a specific way, and the words describing these differences are highlighted in bold. Beneath these words are corresponding poems as spoken by the animals they reference. The poems themselves are delightful in their design, particularly because they do not rhyme, which is contrary to what is found most frequently in children’s literature. Instead, the poems directly reflect the characteristics defined by the vocabulary words featured on each page. Translated from its original Dutch, this book adheres well to the original while being accessible to an English-speaking audience. The text is occasionally difficult to read against the background images due to the color choices used, but the book is otherwise enjoyable. On each spread, the featured animals are shown in relation to one another and are depicted using illustration methods that are true to van Hout’s iconic style. These visuals allow children to better understand the creatures in this book, especially any animals with which they may be less familiar. Rich vocabulary, unexpected animal qualities, and clever poetry make this book an engaging selection for young readers and their families. VERDICT A unique book of opposites for children who enjoy learning about animals and being exposed to unfamiliar words.–Mary Lanni