The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

 Finn kicked over a gravestone. He is failing seventh grade. Instead of having to pay for the headstone, the daughter of the deceased, requires Finn to hike the 46 Adirondack peaks with the deceased's dog. To pass seventh grade, he must compose poems about a hero.

As he hikes and writes poems to describe the hikes and his dad, a local hero who died, Finn discovers more about himself and his father.

A family member recently made it his goal to hike the 46 peaks in the Adirondacks. As a result, I was especially curious to read about the different peaks. Ms. Messner is a 46er, so she writes with authority about the hikes.

Discuss- alcoholism, death, lying, vandalism, 9/11, covid

-Borrowed from the library.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning illustrated by Kate Greenaway*

 While preparing for my son's history course, I read about how this poem is based on some historical truth. This addition defines archaic words. My son will be reading this poem & researching the different theories on this event.

I love the old-fashion illustrations.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Boy Who Became a Parrot by Wolverton Hill illustrated by Laura Carlin

 A Foolish Biography of Edward Lear, Who Invented Nonsense

An interesting picture book biography   Mr. Hill reveals Lear's unique childhood (#20 child in his family!, raised by his oldest sister, his bouts of epilepsy) and how he later connects with children and writes his nonsense verses.

I did not care for the illustrations. I, however, loved Lear's illustrations of animals. He was an amazing artist.

Considerations: It mentions he wanted to marry but felt "traditional marriage seemed like ill-fitting shoes: 'Far too tight" & that some of his poems are about unconventional unions. Lear's companion for sixteen years ended up being a cat named Foss. Six months after Foss dies, Lear passes away.

Dear Acorn (Love, Oak) by Joyce Sidman illustrated by Melissa Sweet*

 Letter poems from objects with various sizes and purposes  The poems remind readers how everything is made up of smaller things. Everything is connected and is necessary!

Great word choice & figurative language usage

Pairings: oak/acorn, bubble/sky, cloud/droplets, pebble/river, brick/school, button/coat, toes/child, sea turtles/ocean

The author then shares how to create one's own letter poems.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido art by Melissa Sweet

 Authors create a poem to instruct how to write a poem. I love how readers can return to it and easily identify the myriad of techniques the authors utilized. 

Great book to introduce a poetry unit  with elementary students.

-Borrowed from the library.

Pish, Posh said Hieronymus Bosch by Nancy Willard illustrated by Diane, Leo, & Lee Dillon

 A poem from Hieronymous Bosch's housekeeper's point of view. She is weary. Bosch's odd creatures create challenging days. She leaves but can't stay away!

A fictional account but based on Hieronymous Bosch's bizarre paintings. Bosch was a Dutch painter during the 1400s & early 1500s.

A fun addition to any medieval history unit. The Dillon family's talent is magnified in this book.

-Borrowed from the library.

Kiyoshi's Walk by Mark Karlins illustrated by Nicole Wong

 After observing his grandfather write a haiku, Kiyoshi asks him where poems come from. His grandfather, Eto, suggests they take a walk. Through the encounters on this walk, Kiyoshi learns how poems are inspired.

I would use this book when introducing poetry to elemenatary-age students and when learning about haiku.

-Borrowed from the library.

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver illustrated by Melissa Sweet*

 Ms. Sweet illustates Mary Oliver's poem "Goldfinches". The way she separates the lines on singular pages causes the reader to reflect on the words and appreciate Ms. Oliver's word play and word choice. 

I love Ms. Sweet's collage art. I own four of her books. I enjoyed reading how she researched for this book. Her correlation between thistles and the timing of goldfinch nesting is interesting (I knew about it prior to reading this book. I am glad she focused on how they mutually benefit each other so a younger audience can be in awe of God.)

Consideration: In the author's note, she mentions Mary's life partner, Molly. Since the book is the poem, their relationship is not highlighted in the main text.

*Highly recommend but see consideration.

-Borrowed from the library.

Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder by Erin Frankel illustrated by Jasu Hu

 As the author related Mary Oliver's younger years of wonder, my eyes welled up with tears as I recalled my childhood when I delighted in God's creation and relished being outside and being in awe of His creativity and beauty. I could also connect with Mary's love for poetry. As a teen, I loved the poets who celebrated creation (but they called it nature and seemed to worship it, not the Creator. Their poetry, however, caused me to worship the heavenly Father.). The author continues to reveal Mary's pursuit of poetry and wonder as she matured and entered retirement age. 

Warning/consideration: Mary had a woman, Molly Malone Cook, as a lifelong partner. A couple of pages are dedicated to their relationship. In the timeline at the end of the book it mentions a book she wrote about her love for and her life with Molly. 

-Borrowed via ILL

Like a Diamond in the Sky by Elizabeth Brown illustrated by Becca Stadtlander*

 A beautiful book about the woman, Jane Taylor, who wrote the famous poem "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". It mostly focuses on her unique upbringing and childhood influences plus her sister Ann's and her struggle to be published authors as women. 

*Highly recommend 

-Borrowed via ILL.

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford illustrated by Michele Wood*

-Newbery Honor Book 

Through poems, Ms. Weatherford relates the life of Henry Brown and his grand escape in small box! I liked how she included other historical events that impacted slavery. A great book to utilize when studying the Underground Railroad and rumblings of the Civil War.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Famous American Humorous Poets by Everett S. Allen

 I borrowed this book from the library to read about Oliver Herford for an upcoming Poetry Treat theme. I only read the chapter about him (Other the subjects were: Franklin Pierce Adams, Richard Willard Armour, Margaret Fishback, Arthur Guiterman, Samuel Goodman Hoffenstein, Donald Robert Perry Marquis, Phyllis McGinley, Christopher Darlington Morley, Ogden Nash, Dorothy Parker, James Whitcomb Riley, & Bert Leston Taylor). Published in 1968 for a younger audience, it does not have the stilted, simplistic style & tone a lot of biographies for teens have today. As I read the chapter on  Oliver Herford, I felt like I got to know him and could appreciate his personality.

I will reborrow this book when I feature him at our Poetry Treat.

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C.M. Millen illustrated by Andrea Wisnewski**

 Brother Theophane, a monk in the Mourne Mountains in Ireland, struggles to focus on his copying chores in the scriptorium. God's creation beckons him to delight in the outdoors. Because of his lack of discipline, he is relegated to make the brown ink. To take a break from the tedious task, Brother Theophane walks the  countryside, marveling at the color in God's creation. An idea forms that transforms the monks' copy work forever!

A fictional account but readers will learn about how books were copied, about monks, and about illuminated manuscripts. Ms. Millen also incorporates anonymous poems that monks doodled on leftover scraps of parchment or in the margins of their books.

A delightful story with stunning illustrations    I, of course, loved reading how different plants made different hues of paint.

The author's note offers more information about the topic. She even provides links to make your own hawthorn bark ink, to extract colors from plants, and how illuminated manuscripts were made. Even though the text is simple, junior high students can marvel at the word choice and writing style and also learn about this time period and occupation.

**Highly, highly recommend.

Borrowed via ILL -I bought this book, so I own it too now.

You're a Poet by Sean Taylor illustrated by Sam Usher*

 Ways to Start Writing Poems

As Piglet and his best friend, Squirrel, explore their world together, poems burst forth from Piglet. These adorable narratives weave in how naturally poetry can emerge from us during our ordinary routines. Five types of poems are demonstrated with "how-to" pages immediately after it. Mr. Taylor has offered a way to teach poetry in a fun manner!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dino Poet by Tom Angleberger

 A graphic novel

A dinosaur learns the finer points of poetry from a frog he wants to eat. To save himself, the frog distracts the dinosaur with poetry lessons. In the end, a friendship and a poet are born.

Reluctant readers and reluctant poets will enjoy this book.  A basic introductory to poetry and different poetry forms

-Borrowed from the library

How Elegant the Elephant Poems About Animals & Insects by Mary Ann Hoberman Art by Marla Frazee**

 I loved this anthology of animal poems! In her introduction, Mary Ann Hoberman discusses how she creates and writes her poems. Her poems all began with word play. This technique is apparent when reading her poems. They are fun and clever.

Ms. Frazee's illustrations reflect the poems but also connect them to tell a story of all of these animals staying at a hotel. Sometimes you can spy the subject of the next poem in the background of the current poem. I liked the illustrations as much as the poems.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes illustrated by Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney**

 A boy grieves his father's death. A week after his funeral he opens an envelope from his dad, which contains a treasure map through the woods they would explore together.  As the boy follows the map, he encounters many creatures he and his dad would admire. The treasure is so, so special. 

Ironically, Jerry Pinkney, the illustrator, died before he completed the illustrations. His son, Brian, finished the illustrations. Once you read the story, you will understand the irony.

I loved this book. The writing, the story . ..and also it features African Americans in a regular setting with a normal plot.

**Highly, highly recommend.

Discuss/consideration: The boy senses his father next to him and feels his hand on his shoulder even though his father is no longer alive. The author portrays that our loved ones communicate with us even after they die.

-Borrowed from the library.

Our Hymn Writers and Their Hymns by Faith Cook*

 I only read the chapter on William Cowper (researching for our monthly poetry treat at lunch). It, however,  will be a book I return to if I want to learn extensively about a hymn writer. Ms. Cook offers a comprehensive biography in a narrative form. She also includes (at least in Cowper's chapter) other biographers' conclusions that may not be accurate and refutes them. The first chapter and the last two chapters include shorter blurbs about many hymn writers. Chapters two through fourteen focus on one writer (Isacc Watts, Philip Doddridge, Charles Wesley, William Williams, Joseph Hart, Augustus M. Toplady, John Newton, William Cowper, James Montgomery, Henry Francis Lyte, Horatius Bonar, Francis Ridley Havergal,and Franny J. Crosby).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church library.

Wildflower Emily by Lydia Corry**

A Story About Young Emily Dickinson

A graphic novel 

RAR recently added this title to one of their lists. 

I loved this book. Ms. Corry integrates facts, Emily Dickinson's poems, and a narrative seamlessly. Before the book begins, she explains what artistic liberties she took. At the end, she shares additional information about Emily and her dog Carlo. This book focuses on Emily's love for botany and flowers.

**Highly, highly recommend. It is a title I may buy.

-Borrowed from the library.

Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow illustrated by Charles Santore*

Mr. Santore illustrates Longfellow's famous poem with stunning art. The unique perspectives and the deep colors create a mood and immerse the reader into the setting. In his illustrator's note, he shares his research to creating authentic pictures.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.