Walt Whitman text set

 For this month's poetry treat, we are reading Walt Whitman's poems. Below are some resources we used. Be aware that some of his poems are descriptive of attraction and intimacy. It is easy to find ones that do not include these topics. Although I do not include a summary here, I am showing the physical copy of Leaves of Grass so they can appreciate the amount of poems he wrote.

1. Who Was Walt Whitman?-by Kirsten Anderson -a quick, but thorough overview of his life- Created/written for elementary readers, but junior high and high schoolers can read this in one sitting and have a great insight about his life. *Highly recommend. Borrowed from the library.

2. Walt Whitman by Catherine Reef-more in depth biography with a lot of photographs for junior high and older-Borrowed from the library.

3. Walt Whitman Words for America by Barbara Kerley illustrated by Brian Selznick-I own this one. Highly recommend. Beautifully illustrated biography.

4. Poetry for Young People Walt Whitman Edited by Jonthan Levin illustrated by Jim Burke  A great poetry series-includes many poems with summaries at the top of each poem with unusual words defined at the bottom of each poem.  *Highly recommend. I own this book.

5. Poetry for Kids  Walt Whitman Edited by Karen Karbiener, PhD illustrated by Kate Evans  (similar to Poetry for Young People as it features a mixture/excerpts of his poems with unusual words defined on the side/bottom of each poem).  -Borrowed from the library.

6. The Civil War Poems Walt Whitman (Barnes/Noble)-When I was in high school, my best friend gave me this anthology for either a birthday or Christmas gift (I really liked Whitman and studying the Civil War in high school, so it was a thoughtful and creative gift), but I did not keep it. I regret giving it away now!! -Borrowed from the library.

7. O Captain, My Captain -Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, and the Civil War by Robert Burleigh illustrated by Sterling Hundley  Mr. Burleigh takes quotes from Whitman and lines from his poems and uses them as headings/topic sentences to create a highly illustrated and engaging biography. For late elementary through high school.

8. The World Below the Brine by Walt Whitman illustrated by James Christopher Carroll    Mr. Carroll uses deep colors to illustrate Whitman's poem.  *Highly recommend for elementary readers. Borrowed from the library.