This charming book, bearing the subtitle ``Poems to Celebrate Patterns in Nature,'' introduces many geometric patterns from the natural world and establishes an agreeable link between aesthetic enjoyment and natural history. Any pedagogical intent quickly succumbs to the tone of wonder and delight at patterns found throughout the universe in phenomena immense and small. In ``Branches,'' Esbensen (Dance With Me, 1995, etc.) juxtaposes the branches and roots of a tree with the veins of a leaf, then with the lightning in the sky and the veins in a hand. The final poem, ``Circles,'' begins with the ripples in a pool after a fish jumps and the rings in a tree trunk, then moves to a circle of musk oxen defending their group, a dappled fawn, the planets, hibernating bears (curled in sleep), and, finally, a bedtime scene of parent and child, an arm curved around a book, the moon shining, and a cat rolled up cozily at the foot of the bed. Soft watercolors accompany the free verse; the layout reflects a use of patterns as well. A welcome collaboration. (Picture book/poetry. 8-12)
Pub Date: April 30, 1996
ISBN: 0-06-024398-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1996
In this pep talk for aspiring poets, Fletcher (Have You Been to the Beach Lately, 2001, etc.) speaks directly to his readers in a chatty, non-threatening manner, as if he were a guest lecturer in their classrooms or homes and he reminds his audience that poetry must be an honest expression of the heart and soul. In the first of two parts, he focuses on what he calls “the guts” of poetry: “emotion, image, and music.” He explains the key role that each of these elements plays in the creative process and he also tackles the tricky problem of selecting a subject. The second part involves the nuts and bolts of crafting a poem. Throughout, he cites extensively from his own work, as well as those by other published writers and students. Also included are several interviews with poets who are asked about their inspirations, methods of writing, and advice to young poets. There is a lot of information to digest and understand, and it is not always presented clearly; ideas are thrown at the reader in rapid succession with hardly a breath in between. Each idea is ostensibly illustrated by a poem, but in too many cases neither the idea nor the poem is adequately explained before the next one comes along. Fletcher is obviously passionate about his subject. However, he might do well to follow the warning he gives to young poets: “beware of going on and on and draining the energy.” Someone already intrigued with the idea of writing poetry might find just the right hints and tools here to spark that first successful poem. Anyone else will be overwhelmed and confused. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-380-79703-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2002
A biography in verse pays homage to the life and art of Langston Hughes. “Little Boy Blues,” “First Grade,” and “Jim Crow Row” tell of Hughes’s childhood experiences with racism. “Grandma’s Stories” are about his ancestors’ courage in the days of slavery. His painful relationship with his father is told in “I Do Not Like My Father Much.” As the poems progress, they delve deeper into Hughes’s love of “endless, beautiful words,” his determination to discover “other voices and places,” and his joy in being part of the creative life that he finds among his people in Harlem, “the capital of my world.” All of the poems are in the first person, using Langston’s voice. Several of Medina’s poems directly and deliberately echo Hughes’s own work. “Grandma’s Stories” here corresponds with Hughes’s “Aunt Sue’s Stories,” while Medina’s “Sometimes Life Ain’t Always a Hoot” is the offspring of the famous “Mother to Son.” The poems are presented in chronological order, representing the stages of the poet’s life. They cannot and are not meant to be a complete biography. However, Medina’s introduction and detailed, biographical endnotes help to fill in some of the gaps. The whole work is brought to life by Christie’s remarkable, compelling illustrations, which perfectly complement each poem in content and mood. Christie also pays subtle homage to the African-American artists who have gone before him by incorporating hints of the styles of Horace Pippin and Jacob Lawrence in his illustrations. This is a treasure to be read and reread—a splendid work. (Poetry. 8-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2002
ISBN: 1-58430-041-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2002
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