Between the Stacks: 10/30/2024

Children's poetry is the best-kept secret in the Whitehall Community Library's collection. For those who love "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein, there are many other wonderful silly poetry books to read. "Miles of Smiles," edited by Bruce Lansky, is a book for those who like to send their children into fits of laughter with read-aloud volumes on every subject, from showering backward in the sink to "An Everything Pizza" about a pizza that literally has everything on it. Speaking of pizza, Jack Prelutsky has two great poetry books in our collection, "A Pizza the Size of the Sun" and "Something BIG Has Been Here."

"Bone Poems" by Jeff Moss is a collection of verses about dinosaurs. Illustrated by Tom Leigh, this book is perfect for preschoolers who are in the dinosaur phase and just can't get enough of their colossal idols. "Runny Babbit is a playful book filled with Pig Latin verse throughout.

Children's poetry may also have much deeper meaning. "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse is a John Newberry Award Winner about the Great Depression. Written in free verse, it allows the narrator to tell her story in a way that relates to her feelings while letting the story flow around her.

"On the Horizon: World War II Reflections" by Lois Lowry is a remembrance of young Lowry, who lived in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Born in Honolulu in 1937, she was playing on the beach the day of the attack, looking out over the U.S.S Arizona. Throughout the war, the book looks at many different people in different scenarios. It is a gentle way to introduce children to the tragic history of a war that cost so many lives.

"A Visit to William Blake's Inn" by Nance Willard and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen is a double award winner, taking both the John Newberry Award and a Caldecott Honor book award. This whimsical set of verses is taken from quotations from William Blake, who painted and wrote over 200 years ago. The magical poems take place in a fantasy inn run by William Blake himself. It is great fun to share with younger elementary students as they get the hidden meanings of the illustrations and the poems.

Poetry is written to be read aloud and is a wonderful way to introduce children to writing differently and fantastically. So, stop by the library and pick up some to share.