CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Holiday Poetry
edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins & illustrated by Melanie Hall
The preeminent anthologist of children’s poetry offers another well-chosen thematic collection in the respected I Can Read series for new readers. Ten of the 12 short poems follow traditional rhyming patterns, with three additional poems using less structured or nonrhyming approaches. Three deal with religious aspects of the holiday, including one verse of “Away in a Manger” set as poetry—the only selection that is likely to be familiar to young readers. The rest focuses on Santa, presents, trees, and other facets of the season such as sounds and colors. Hall’s attractive illustrations eschew traditional Christmas colors in favor of cooler tones of lavender, mint, and peach. Most illustrations cover the entire spread, with the poetry text integrated within the illustration, giving the volume a lively flair. (index) (Easy reader/poetry. 4-8)