Poetry for Kids

Starred review from November 1, 2016
An illustrated Dickinson primer for young and old.This first title in the Poetry for Kids series incorporates the editorial savvy of poet/scholar Snively and artistry of acclaimed illustrator Davenier in presenting this supple edition of Dickinson's verse. Loosely grouped by seasons of the year, Snively's 35 selections showcase Dickinson's pithy contemplations of nature, animals, insects, and stages of life, presenting some of the poet's greatest hits ("Because I could not stop for Death," "I'm nobody! Who are you?" "A narrow fellow in the grass," "There's a certain slant of light") alongside many delightful, lesser-known works sure to pique the interest of young readers and listeners. Throughout, Davenier's sumptuous illustrations, utilizing pen and ink with vivid watercolors, depict scenes as wispy and suggestive as Dickinson's poetry. Snively also adds small glosses of tricky vocabulary on each page, which help open up the intricate layers of meaning. Dickinson aficionados will be intrigued by the editorial note at the volume's end, entitled "What Emily Was Thinking," which includes one-line thematic summations of each poem, providing helpful entrees into these potent stanzas. This arresting edition makes for a wonderful introduction to Dickinson's poetry that's sure to captivate all ages. (introduction, glossary, notes, bibliography) (Poetry. 8-12)

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December 1, 2016

Gr 3 Up-This winning collection pairs 35 poems from Emily Dickinson's canon, arranged by season, with Davenier's rich, expressive artwork. The book opens with a biographical introduction to Dickinson by Snively, who is a guide at the Emily Dickinson Museum. Snively emphasizes Dickinson's fascination with science and the natural world, presenting her as a poet with a life "both quiet and busy"-a refreshing characterization. Pen and watercolor illustrations accompany each poem, vividly highlighting its subject while cleverly evoking less tangible imagery. For instance, a child dressed as a juggler leaps gracefully in the air amid spotted colors of gold and purple ("Blazing in gold and quenching in purple," reads the first line of the corresponding untitled poem). The child dances within a circular orb that emulates the sun, helping readers to see the riotous sunset that is alluded to in the rest of the poem. Definitions unobtrusively appear underneath each poem in small italics, as warranted. A helpful index, bibliography, and brief poetry analysis section, "What Emily Was Thinking," are included. Although the title of the poetry analysis is slightly misleading, since no one knows what the poet was thinking when she wrote certain lines, it is a useful guide for independent readers. While there are previously published volumes of Dickinson's work available (Frances Schoonmaker Bolin's Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson), this is a far superior selection. VERDICT A beautiful introduction to Dickinson for upper elementary poets.-Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2016
Grades 4-7 For this opening entry in the Poetry for Kids series, Snively and Davenier acquaint middle-graders with Dickinson's one-of-a-kind verse. Bookended by a succinct two-page biographical introduction and a series of insightful annotations, the poems themselves35 in totalare categorized by season. While Davenier's sprightly watercolor-and-ink depictions of petals, bees, and birds often encapsulate each poem's literal context ( A soft sea washed around the house features a Victorian home floating atop cerulean waves), they also help illuminate trickier passages. A double-page spread of a snake slinking through a grassy meadow, for example, effectively identifies the sneaky fellow in A narrow fellow in the grass. Accompanying definitions of challenging vocabulary words throughout, from plashless to diadem, offer further clarification. Whether readers are exploring the magic of metaphoric language in Hope is the thing with feathers, the charm of playful quatrains in I'm nobody! Who are you?, or poring over more obscure selections, this aptly culled volumerhythmic, astute, full of wondermakes a fine resource for fledgling writers and Dickinson devotees alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)