Imagine a book, containing more than 90 poems, for the enjoyment of young children. This book of poems contains works by Lewis Carroll, Wallace Stevens, Margaret Walker, W. B. Yeats, Ogden Nash, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes and many other poets. Poetry Speaks to Children has all of this plus it contains colorful Judy Love, Wendy Rasmussen and Paula Zinngrabe Wendland's illustrations. The illustrations enhance the words, bringing the words alive.

Poetry Speaks to Children has poems on a variety of subjects with which children are familiar. For example, there is Maxine Kumin’s simple poem, Sneeze. The sweet poem describes the tickle of an oncoming sneeze. But, it doesn’t stop there. The poem goes on to describe the shiver, the wiggle and the jiggle one experiences before the actual sneeze.

All children love to play games. The game, hide-and-seek, is a favorite one. Robert Graves, his poem of the same name as the game, draws the attention of children. They can easily relate to the poem.

Also, the editor realizes modern day children are very comfortable with CD’s, sometimes more than they are with the written word. There is an accompanying CD with 54 of Poetry Speaks to Children’s poems. A variety of people read aloud the poems. Some poems are read by the original poet.

If you are interested in introducing children to poetry, this is the perfect way. Play the CD while children are coloring or doing other activities. They will easily absorb the words and messages without encouragement on your part. Of course, feel free to use the book and CD together.

Unfortunately today, many children are not exposed to the poetry genre. Poetry Speaks to Children fills this void. The poems are short. They reflect subjects of interest to children.



"There are no short cuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

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Note: Poetry Speaks to Children(Read and Hear) review book is from Media Masters Publicity.