Aside from one terrible acrostic poem I wrote in third grade about Mr. Squiggly, my class hamster, I have always written in prose. So to celebrate National Poetry Month, I don’t write my own poems, but instead I take the month of April to delight in the lyricism of others. Luckily for me, Scholastic has an array of books for all ages perfect for National Poetry Month. Here is a selection of some new titles that I am loving this month:
A Home for Mr. Emerson by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham (Ages 8-12)
Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham, the critically-acclaimed team behind The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy), What to Do About Alice, and Those Rebels John & Tom, introduce A Home for Mr. Emerson,another awe-inspiring picture book biography for young readers that’s perfect for poetry month. Before Ralph Waldo Emerson was a great writer, he was a city boy who longed for the broad, open fields and deep, still woods of the country. Then he was a young man who treasured books, ideas and people. This moving biography—presented with Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham's inimitable grace and style—illustrates the rewards of a life well-lived, one built around personal passions: creativity and community, nature and friendship.
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J Muth (Ages 4+)
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling author/artist Jon J Muth is a fresh take and exciting new look at the four seasons. This is a stunning companion to the beloved and bestselling picture books Zen Shorts, Zen Ties, and Zen Ghosts. Jon J Muth was inspired by his young twin son and daughter as he wrote and illustrated Hi, Koo! With a featherlight touch and disarming charm, Muth—and his delightful little panda bear, Koo—challenges readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with twenty-six haikus about the four seasons.
Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg (Ages 10-14)
Award-winning author Ann E. Burg delicately weaves together an elegant and emotional narrative in Serafina’s Promise, an exquisitely crafted novel-in-verse about a determined young girl living in poverty in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Eleven-year-old Serafina has a secret dream. She wants to go to school and become a doctor. But in their rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, many obstacles stand in Serafina’s way—little money, neverending chores, and Manman’s worries. More powerful even than all of these are the heavy rains and the earthquake that test Serafina’s resolve in ways she never dreamed. Her unwavering and buoyant spirit in the face of daily hardship is heartbreaking and inspiring. Serafina’s resilience is tested, yet her hope prevails.
OOM readers, how do you like to celebrate National Poetry Month?
