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Tag: middle grade poetry

March 22, 2024 by Betsy Bird

Review of the Day: Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, ill. Ekua Holmes

Funny, whipsmart, emotionally resonant, and quick. When I want to hand a book to kids, I want to hand them the best. I want to hand them this.

August 15, 2023 by Betsy Bird

Review of the Day: My Head Has a Bellyache by Chris Harris, ill. Andrea Tsurumi

Folks, I see the challenge before me and I raise you one Chris Harris and one Andrea Tsurumi. A literary power duo the like of which the world of literature for kids has never seen.

December 16, 2022 by Betsy Bird

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2022 Poetry Books for Kids

Ah, poetry. One of the categories that goes across age ranges. Come see some of the finest bits of verse to grace the page in 2022, and find a couple surprises along the way.

More Recent Posts

Review of the Day – Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi

May 6, 2022 by Betsy Bird

With care, grace, and not a little cleverness, Zoboi doesn’t just introduce Butler to kids in the book Star Child. She makes it very clear from the get go that young Octavia was one of us. A supremely relatable person with a drive and output that far outstripped her times.

Review of the Day: niños: Poems for the Lost Children of Chile by María José Ferrada, ill. María Elena Valdez

February 25, 2021 by Betsy Bird

Oddly sweet, melancholic, and peaceful, this is poetry as remembrance as well as healing. It is also very much one of a kind.

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2020 Children’s Poetry

December 16, 2020 by Betsy Bird

Here is my list of some of the best, brightest, loveliest poetry of 2020. Do not let these books escape your notice! They are best read every month of the year (and not just April!). An ode to the 811s . . .

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31 Days, 31 Lists: 2019 Poetry Books

December 16, 2019 by Betsy Bird

A fan of poems? On this list we've classic poets re-illustrated, first timers, funny poems, deeply meaningful ones, poems that tie into the moon landing, nursery rhymes, and many many more. There's something for everyone on today's list. Don't believe me? See for yourself

Review of the Day: I’m Just No Good at Rhyming by Chris Harris, ill. Lane Smith

November 10, 2017 by Betsy Bird

I’m Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups By Chris Harris Illustrated by Lane Smith Little, Brown and Company $19.99 ISBN: 978-0-316-26657-4 Ages 7 and up On shelves now What exactly constitutes a celebrity children’s book these days? See, it all used to be so simple when it […]

31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 21 – 2016 Poetry Books for Kids

December 21, 2016 by Betsy Bird

Fun Fact: The American Library Association does not currently give an award specifically to great works of children’s book poetry.  Is not that strange?  When I first discovered this to be true, I was perplexed.  I’ve always been a bit of a rube when it comes to the poetic form.  Placing stresses on syllables and […]

Review of the Day: Are You an Echo? by David Jacobson

October 6, 2016 by Betsy Bird

Are You an Echo? The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko Narrative and Translation by David Jacobson, Sally Ito, and Michiko Tsuboi Illustrated by Toshikado Hajiri Chin Music Press $19.50 ISBN: 9781634059626 Ages 5 and up On shelves now Recently I was at a conference celebrating the creators of different kinds of children’s books. During one […]

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