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    Poetry picture books celebrate everyday happenings

    0
    By Jessica on July 7, 2022 ages 4 & up, ages 8 & up, picture books

    Sometimes, writing poems can seem near impossible, but the following two books — for 4-8-year-olds and 9 and up — make poetry accessible and may even inspire young readers to create their own.

    TAKE OFF YOUR BRAVE: THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A PRESCHOOL POET, by Nadim and Yasmeen Ismail, Candlewick, March 22, 2022, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 4-8)

    For scared-sugar things, you put on your brave
    And you can take it off again, when you realize it’s OK.
    And that’s it. Scary and sweet. Scared-sugar.

    Nadim puts his words on paper and gives us a glimpse of how he sees the world: one filled with glitter, magical boxes, and cuddles with Mom. A place where school smells like daffodils and honey (and sometimes dirty socks), where Wednesdays are rainbow-colored, where fish in the sea make a shhhh sound, and where everyone has love, even baddies. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

    Penned by a 4-year-old and illustrated by his mom, this lovely anthology has a stream-of-consciousness vibe that parents will recognize from this age. Nadim’s honest look at the world is raw and heartwarming. Paired with colorful illustrations, this book is a fun jumping-off point for kids who want to write poetry of their own.


    MARSHMALLOW CLOUDS: TWO POETS AT PLAY AMONG FIGURES OF SPEECH, by Ted Kooser, Connie Wanek, Richard Jones, Candlewick, March 15, 2022, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 10-12)

    A freewheeling romp through the world of imagery and metaphor, this collection of 30 poems, framed by the four elements, is about art and reality, fact and fancy.

    Look around: what do you see? A clown balancing a pie in a tree, or an empty nest perched on a leafless branch? As poet Connie Wanek alludes to in her afterword — a lively dialogue with former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser — sometimes the simplest sights and sounds “summon our imaginations” and cry out to be clothed in the alchemical language of poetry. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

    Divided into the four elements — fire, water, air and earth — this book looks to everyday events and things for inspiration. From a thunderstorm to a flyswatter to a cow pie, the authors encourage readers to look beyond the obvious. Paired with stylized, dreamlike illustrations, this one is a joy to read.

     

    Copyright © 2022 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the main reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. Prior to creating Cracking the Cover, Jessica worked as the in-house book critic for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City. Jessica also worked as a copy editor and general features writer for the paper. Following that, Jessica spent two years with an international company as a social media specialist. She is currently a freelance writer/editor. She is passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices.

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