I have a love/hate with children’s poetry, so it makes sense that I have a love/hate with the Cybils shortlist books in the poetry category. I’m pleased to say that the first six I’ve read are mostly winners.
Let’s start with the “meh” books.
This is probably mostly me and my love/hate thing but it’s become clear that I just don’t love ocean/water animal poetry for kids. It makes me roll my eyes more often than not. So, while I didn’t hate these, I don’t love them either except for one. One of these puts it slightly above the others:
Water Sings Blue was fine. Ho hum. Seen one book of children’s ocean poetry, seen ’em a..
In the Sea‘s poetry tried a little too hard but OMG the illustrations make up for it. Fabulous. I’d read this one again — just for the illustrations.
Moving onto the books I loved, some of them I was really surprised to love. OK most of them I was surprised to love (see my love/hate issues above.)
Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs — hahahah, laugh out loud funny. If you have kids who love puns or want to teach them puns (and have no problems with death humor) this is THE BOOK. I must own this myself to read to JMP when he visits. hahaha.
UnBEElievables — I’m getting a little tired of books about bees but as soon as I feel that way or say that or type that, I feel guilty because … people, our bees are in trouble! I’d be tempted to put this in the same category with the ocean/water poetry above except… the poetry is pretty good, the tidbits about bees are just right and the illustrations are truly a work of art. *Love* I’d buy this one.
Book Speak — probably just me (and other bookaholics) but I loved it. I suspect most kids won’t love it. Librarians, teachers, parents who are avid readers will want them to but most… won’t. This is a book that has to hit exactly the right person or it falls flat. And kids are tough audiences for poetry.
Now, for the king of kings. Queen of queens. Best book of poetry in the world and everyone should drop what they’re doing and buy this because it means you’ll never have to buy, look at, read, pretend to like another book of animal poetry again. You also won’t have to buy a zillion non-fiction photo books about animals. This one does double duty and will save you money, time, and space on the shelf. I also can’t believe I’m saying this because this is the one I expected to really hate, hate, hate. National Geographic: Book of Animal Poetry. Amazing. Frost, Prelutsky, Dickinson, Lawrence are in here. The photos are National Geographic quality. It’s a high quality book. Best in breed, for sure.
Oops, overlooked Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses on my library cart — it was excellent. Retold fairy tales, most definitely for older, mature teens. One of the best of the retold anthologies (and I’ve read a lot of them.)