MOTHER GAVE A SHOUT: Poems by Women and Girls

by Susanna & Morag Styles--Eds. Steele ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1991

A collection of over 100 poems from diverse sources, from ancient Greece to the present: rhymes, jingles, lullabies, and traditional poems of praise and celebration alongside contemporary narrative and lyrical poetry. Five poems by children complement the work of such well-known poets as Emily Dickinson, Sara Teasdale, and Gwendolyn Brooks. The poems are thematically arranged into sections with such titles as ""And a New Day Calling,"" ""The Moon and the Stars Above,"" and ""Here I Am!"" The collection is at its best focusing on female issues; the poems exploring relationships between mothers and daughters are especially memorable. Ray's decorative cover painting is strikingly attractive; her pen and ink sketches throughout are effective, but not well set off by the low-budget format and see-through paper. Originally published in England, the book makes a strong attempt to include poems reflecting various cultures; though there's a paucity of Latino and Asian voices here, it's still a valuable addition to multicultural literature, with broad appeal for children as well as their teachers and parents.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1991

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Volcano

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1991

Categories: POETRY