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INNER CHIMES

Name: INNER CHIMES
Author: Bobbye S. Goldstein
ISBN: 1-56397-040-6

POEMS ON POETRY

edited by Bobbye S. Goldstein & illustrated by Jane Breskin Zalben ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 7, 1992

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Twenty pleasant poems about writing and enjoying poetry, mostly from standbys like X. J. Kennedy, Nikki Giovanni, Eleanor Farjeon, etc., and none more than a page long. The title comes from Eve Merriam: ``It doesn't always have to rhyme,/but there's the repeat of a beat, somewhere/an inner chime...'' Format is clean and bright, with decorative color illustrations on almost every page; on close examination, much of Zalben's art is clumsy- -she has an odd fondness for awkwardly congealed waves—but the general effect is cozy and appealing. Not essential, but a good contribution to the poetry unit. (Poetry. 6-10)

Pub Date: Oct. 7, 1992

ISBN: 1-56397-040-6

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Wordsong/Boyds Mills

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S POETRY

- BOOK REVIEW
BIRTHDAY RHYMES, SPECIAL TIMES
edited by Bobbye S. Goldstein & illustrated by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey

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AT BREAK OF DAY

by Nikki Grimes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1999

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A lovely and poetic recasting of the Biblical creation story in a modern spirit, from the versatile Grimes (My Man Blue, p. 721, etc.). Father and son create together, beginning “Once upon a time there was no time.” There are whimsical touches, e.g., the father calls the waters seas because he likes the sound of it; the stars are made of the son’s laughter, and some of them are angels in disguise. Adam and Eve appear in shimmering silhouette, and the final view of the earth echoes the glorious photographs taken from space. Morin’s illustrations make use of fabulous textures in paint and fabric; his dense collages in their dark jeweled colors include shells, beads, and needlework. Other contemporary creation stories, such as Julius Lester’s What a Truly Cool World and Caitl°n Matthews’s The Blessing Seed (both, 1998) could be used with this one for a tender trilogy. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-8028-5104-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Eerdmans

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S POETRY

- BOOK REVIEW
A CUP OF QUIET
by Nikki Grimes ; illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson

- BOOK REVIEW
LULLABY FOR THE KING
by Nikki Grimes ; illustrated by Michelle Carlos

- BOOK REVIEW
A WALK IN THE WOODS
by Nikki Grimes ; illustrated by Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

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ISN'T MY NAME MAGICAL?

SISTER AND BROTHER POEMS

by James Berry ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1999

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Leaving behind much of the lyricism found in his previous collections, Berry (First Palm Trees, 1997, etc.) pens poems in the voices of a sister, Dreena (who has the magical name), and brother, Delroy, on their experiences in the family with a dour sister, mother (“A teacher, Mom has lots of pens/and home and school jobs”), and father, who “drives a train,/sometimes in a heavy jacket.” This father is not really poem-material: “And, sometimes, Dad brings us gifts./Sometimes, he plays our piano.” The brother, Delroy, who tenders three autobiographical poems, can’t sit still and can’t stop talking about it. There is a good declarative poem, about a strong friendship he shares with another boy. Otherwise, he is dancing like a madman (“doing body-break and body-pop”) or skateboarding under the influence of a fevered imagination (“I want one owl on each my shoulder/hooting out as I leap each river”). In her first book, Hehenberger takes a literal route, anchoring every poem in domestic scenes of family and friends; the deep colors and finely sculpted forms become set pieces for Berry’s earthbound images. (Picture book. 5-9)