Happy April and Happy Poetry Month. I am sure I will find other poetry books for kids, but I will start with three that I just found. All are available (or with the last one “soon” in April 2024) but all have been read via online reader copies.
The first is All of Those Babies by Mylisa Larsen and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis . This book is one solid poem that rhymes and has repetition. The idea is how all babies, be they lizard, human or kangaroo all have one thing in common: they grow. In the interim, we see that some stretch themselves, some wiggle toes and fingers, others hatch and some have fur with others having scales. But no matter if you have teeth, claws, noses, or ears, you will grow. This repetition is fun, as well as finding out facts about animals (kangaroos and wombats both have joeys). The artwork is simple, mostly cute and colorful. The details are minimalist, but nothing is lacking.
I am not sure if I had the full or only a possible preview of Aunt Sue’s Stories by Langston Hughes and illustrations by Gary Kelley, but what I did read was heartfelt and strong. Aunt Sue is a storyteller, but not from books, but from inside of her, from her experiences and tradition. This tradition of storytelling links the heritage of the people who come before us and keeps it alive for generations to come. Overall, the story is one poem/lyrical writing with a wide collection of subjects inside of it. The artwork is a contradiction of dark and light; hard and soft; cold and warmth that comes together in richly, just the right amount of detailed images.
Finally, but not least, Bless Our Pets : Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends edited (and a few written by) Lee Bennett Hopkins and Lita Judge on the illustrations. The poems are spiritual, as each author tells a story/poem about their pet. From the scared kitten to the old tired doggie. There are snakes, gerbils and hamsters (not on the same page). They are sweet and cozy, sometimes with humor. All of this is reflected with the cute and fuzzy (except the snake) imagery. The colors and details support the stories and allow for each one to be its own special love note. Judge’s hamster probably is my favorite (it’s just sooooo fluffy!).
