The original item was published from April 26, 2022 11:40 AM to April 26, 2022 12:16 PM
Though we’re almost through the month, we want to honor April as being National Poetry Month. It was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 to remind the public that poets and poetry are essential to our culture. We’ve selected just a small number of books of poetry and novels in verse to share with you this month. We hope you enjoy any of these books, or find more in our catalog.
DBC17260 Cricket in the thicket: poems about bugs by Carol Murray
Playful poems highlight surprising facts about the world of insects - from familiar ants and exotic dragonflies to cringeworthy ticks and magnificent fireflies. Carol Murray's whimsical verse, together with Melissa Sweet's collage-inspired mixed-media illustrations, beautifully render these dynamic creatures. Here's an enchanting and informative look at a perennial topic of interest for kids- cool bugs! For grades 2-4.
DB 106023 They call me Gu¨ero: a border kid’s poems by David Bowles
A novel in verse. Gu¨ero and his misfit crew--los Bobbys--discover girls and occasionally get into trouble by the Mexican border. Gu¨ero copes with life's challenges by writing poetry, after encouragement from his teacher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 5-8. 2018.
DB 101261 Jelly by Jo Cotterill
Taunted over her weight, Jelly hides her true self behind her humor and pours her feelings into poems bound in a notebook. When her mom's new boyfriend, Lennon, provides her with a different perspective, Jelly considers taking her poetry public. For grades 4-7. 2018.
DB 99980 Woke: a young poet’s call to justice by Elizabeth Acevedo
A collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice. Topics include ableism, body positivity, empathy, equality, justice, privilege, resistance, and more. For grades 3-6. 2020.
DB 87963 I'm just no good at rhyming and other nonsense for mischievous kids and immature grown-ups by Chris Harris
A collection of comically irreverent rhyming poems for readers of all ages. Topics include, among other things, avocados, anacondas, snails, and San Francisco. For grades 3-6. 2017.
DB 101676 Everything comes next: collected & new poems by Naomi Shihab Nye
A collection of the Poetry Foundation's Young People's Poet Laureate's acclaimed poems that reflect her personal experiences and Palestinian heritage. Includes previously published favorites such as "Famous," "Kindness," and "Arabic Coffee" as well as new prose. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2020.
DB 101118 Out of wonder: poems celebrating poets by Kwame Alexander
A collection of twenty poems by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth, written in tribute to well-known poets from around the world. Pays homage to Langston Hughes, Sandra Cisneros, Maya Angelou, Rumi, and more. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2017.
DB 104923 Black boy joy: 17 stories celebrating black boyhood by Kwame Mbalia
From seventeen acclaimed Black male and nonbinary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood. Authors include B. B. Alston, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, and more. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6. 2021.
DBC08752 If you were the moon by Laura Purdie Salas
What would you do if you were the moon? Do you think you would rest quietly in the night sky? Oh, no. The moon does so more than you might imagine! The moon spins like a twilight ballerina, it plays tug-of-war with the ocean, and it lights a pathway for baby sea turtles. Discover the many other roles the moon plays in this lyrical picture book. For preschool-grade 2.
DB 96626 A beautiful day in the neighborhood: the poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers
Lyrics to seventy-five songs from the children's television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, collected and presented as a treasury of poems. Lyrics explore topics such as feelings, new siblings, everyday life, and imagination. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers. 2019.
DBC09971 Winter bees & other poems of the cold by Joyce Sidman
Twelve distinctive poems pair with magnificent frost-bedazzled illustrations and fact-filled sidebars to eloquently encapsulate the season's ecology and ambiance. School Library Journal. Award winner. For grades K-3.