Poetry Books

This is a wonderful book filled with poems by well known authors.
Wonderful for children who enjoy poetry. Highly recommend!

The Kennedys have done a superb job in selecting the poems for this read-aloud. The titles run the gamut of sweetly simple (Langston Hughes' "Piggy Back"), to the powerful (Georgia Roberts Durston's "The Wolf").

There is something for everyone here. Readers will find old favorites-"The Purple Cow"-as well as a few not-so-well-known but soon-to-be favorites such as William Jay Smith's lovely and lyrical "Polar Bear."

The book is divided into nine, themed sections: Plays, Families, Just for Fun, Birds, Bugs, and Beasts, Rhymes and Songs, Magic and Wonder, Wind and Weather, Calendars and Clocks, and, finally, Day and Night.

Making their appearance are, among others, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joan Aiken, Jane Yolen, Gwendolyn Books, A. A. Milne, and Wallace Stevens.

Jane Dyer, as always, does a magnificent job with the illustrations. There are full-page pictures and spot art throughout, extending and enriching the text. Readers will want to linger over the realistic, charming watercolors.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff

This large, gorgeous picture book contains 123 poems perfectly suited for youthful excursions into the land of poetry. You will find many favorites here as well as bountiful opportunity to make new friends. Emily Dickinson, Rachel Field, David McCord, Jane Yolen, Christina Rossetti, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Coatsworth, and Robert Frost are just a few of the amazing talents that grace the pages of this book. From the very beginning where a qote from Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa" explains the title of the book, we are swept up in a cavalcade of imagery, sound and experience that is a true delight and feast for the imagination. Not only is this a wonderful introduction to poetry for children it is a giant step forward toward learning about creative visualization and self-expression. It is a fortunate child who learns to evoke response from others through the mastery and selection of words. There is no better way to teach the art than to provide a child with the opportunity to experience the magic first-hand. The splendid illustrations in this book cheerily invite one to venture closer and then become the magic carpet that sweeps one from place to place within the book. The subject matter covers a broad range of topics, humorous and thoughtful, and can serve as a wonderful catalyst to further discussion about poetry and the use of the imagination. After a long and satisfying relationship with this book, may I suggest that you place a special magical pen and a blank tablet of paper in the hands of your child and discover the wonders it has helped to deliver. This book is truly an ambassador to creative expression.

Last night, my not-quite-three-year-old daughter spontaneously recited a couple dozen poems from this book to my wife and me. We were astounded. She's been requesting that we read TALKING LIKE THE RAIN to her day and night since I bought it last month, but we had no idea how deeply the poems had sunken in. What better endorsement can one give to such a book? We plan to buy several more copies as presents for my daughter's friends . . . and their parents.

X.J. Kennedy is a terrific poet as well as a top-notch editor. I highly recommend his own children's poetry books, particularly his irreverent BRATS, as well as his poetry books for adults, which include the excellent DARK HORSES and CROSS TIES.

This is a beautiful book both visually and in content. The watercolor illustrations are in the realistic style painted in fine detail. My daughter loves to look at the pictures closely as we read the poems aloud.

The poems selected cover a wide range of topics, themes, and moods. There are funny poems like limericks, serious poems about the seasons, poems about how children sometimes feel (such as the one about the boy who didn't do anything right yesterday, so he's not getting out of bed today) bedtime poems, and poems about child play.

This book was a gift and I love it so much I've since given it to other parents and children to enjoy. Everyone has been enthusiastic about it. When my daughter selects this book (which is often) it's fun for us to browse through the pages and pick poems based on the illustrations or on our mood. We'll say, let's read about sleepytime poems, or let's read funny poems. She never tires of this book. There are hundreds of poems to choose from, but the scope is not overwhelming either.

I give this book my highest recommendation. Every home should have some poetry on the shelf!

My children all love this book and CD set. It is a tremendous source of poetic inspiration for them. The songs/poems are enjoyable for adults, too.

This is the best poetry book I have ever read. He came and performed at my school when I was in 6th grade (I am now in 9th) and he got me excited about performing. I now want to make movies and his book gives me hope that if you want to do something, you can. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a little hope, who has dreams, and anyone who just plain likes fun. Oh, and don't forget to check out The Tomato Collection: The Big Album CD. They turned every song in the book into a poem and it's really cool, I'm listening to it right now! Anyway's I suggest buying this book for anyone of any age. It can teach a lesson to all.

This book is full of really cute poems and thoughts that Mr. Kammeraad has and has put together into a funny little book. The book has poems that are fun to read and that the whole family likes to read. One of the poems is about a couch that eats people. This is a really neat book and everyone should get a chance to read it

The book says for ages 4 - 8, but we loved it just as much as our daughter!! It's loads of fun and reminded of us of our youth. Our daughter loved the artwork. We have read it over and over and keep finding new stuff each time we read it. Kevin obviously has a bright future ahead of him.

The Tomato Collection is a surefire winner for storytime with your kids. Honestly, I don't know who enjoys the book more - me or my son! The stories and poems capture the true spirit of kids, from the silly to the serious, in their own language. The original illustrations and photos add a whimsical dimension to the already creative writings. Everytime we read it, we find something new.

We liked the book so much that we recently added "the Big album" CD to our collection. The just-released recording puts The Tomato Collection to music in a collection of over 50 songs. My son and I love to dance and sing along with the characters from the book. Plain and simple - this is great fun for kids of all ages.

Hearty and wholesome.A delightful meal for Mind Body and Soul.An inspiration to us all.I simply could not put this book down.The wonderful lyrics and exciting prose in this book entice the reader to sing and dance to the rythm of love and laughter, while savoring the splendor of authentic foods.A great work of Art.A family's vision of God's wonderful Creation.[[ASIN:0553375423 Everyday Miracles: The Inner Art of Manifestation.)

If you're looking for poetry and prose that will bring back childhood memories and give you that warm feeling of family, this is the book for you. I have seen the Trilogy team performance many times and leave with with a smile on my face and warm sensation in my heart. I can't wait for the next book!

"A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose, and Thoughts" by Joseph, Sheila and Jonathan is a delightful work. It is filled with lots of imagery and figurative language. It is a delight to visualize and taste Joseph Spence's Jamaican foods, and taste Sheila's southern cuisine. The young Jonathan Spence is a rising literary star; his poetry and prose are excellently written. The Trilogy Team gives a vivid picture of their lives. It is a masterpiece of 21st Century poetry ; it awakens the five senses. Inspirational!
They have made a significant contribution to the poetic genre.

this is great for family, both for the young and the old.lot of good laugh for the soul and fun to read.
a great job from the trio.
the book has a lot of sunshine from the islands,that i am famaliar with.
this is a must read!

This was a great book for reading. It was truly food for the soul. I will recommened this book for everyone. The poems are truly inspirational and uplifting.

This book is quite unusual. Its words come out at you with such meaning and intensity that as a reader you are simply in awe. The last few lines of each poem are captivating. There is a story within each verse. This is indeed a poetic novel and I am enchanted.

I read Dorfman's book and am pleasantly surprised with her poetry narrative, her delightful flow as well as her perspectives.

Great work and we await your next book anxiously!

I enjoyed reading,"Unmasking The Passion." I found it to be so different from other books. It has such reading appeal to it. It seems to dance in your hand well after you have read its pages. Its hard to explain. But, Dorfman has definitely made an impression on me and I await more of her work. The poem "Rapture," was intriguing.

I read this book with a preconceived notion of "I don't like poetry so why should I read this one". I must now eat my words, for this book has changed my opinion forever. These poems are thought provoking, erotic, sad, clever, insightful and truth itself. I have never had anything touch my soul and make me remember all the joy and pain of a relationship. The good and the bad, from the first meeting through the relationship, to the end. Each poem kept me hooked until the end and then I wanted more. I hope this is just the beginning of such enlightenment. I can only hope that Ms. Dorfman has much more to share. A new devoted fan.

I urge those who have been in relationships that have not worked out to read this book. The poetry seems to offer objective reasoning and allow one to come to grips with their own perplexities. Its nice to read this book for my ego seems to be in much better shape. I feel invigorated and able to face my next relationship with a clearer understanding of who I am and what it is that I want.

The structure of the book has been well thought out,with short sections of the text above the vocabulary for that text and at the bottom there is a full commentary with grammatical explanations. There are full explanations of the progress of the story, with interludes explaining the action to come and explanations of both gods and humans. Altogether, I would recommend this book to any sixth form or university classics student.

This Latin textbook provides the first half of the Aeneid in Latin, along with plenty of footnotes and appendices to guide you as you translate the great epic. Each page contains five to fifteen lines of the Aeneid, and the remaining two-thirds of each page contains the vocabulary, grammar notes, and miscellaneous footnotes. You never need to turn a page or refer to another dictionary, so the tedious aspect of translating is removed. (My fellow students love this awesome aspect and therefore call it the "Pharr Out" edition.) The appendices provide all the grammar rules you may have forgotten or have yet to learn. Beginner and Intermediate Latin students can't go wrong with this book if they need or want to tackle Virgil's Aeneid.

This book is a great guide when translating the Aeneid. It has all of the poetic figures, grammatical notes, and vocabulary one needs for preparation for the AP Latin test.

I have found this text to be helpful, although at times somewhat misleading. Pharr's edition of Virgil's Aeneid is renowned for its extensive annotations throughout the entirety of the text (intended to assist students as well as intermediate translators). At times these annotations are more harmful than helpful. Many are either unclear or offer too much impertinent information. For this reason, students often miss the relevant information contained within and simply accept Pharr's translations of various phrases/words without actually translating for themselves.

I recommend this book for any Latin 3, or Ap Class! The vocabulary fold out in the back is very useful! Although some may argue Barbara Boyd's Book 10 and 12 Pallas and Turnus book is exactly the same, the vocabulary lists are scarce. Pharr also has vocabulary on the pages you are translating, that do not occur as often. He also has interesting points that refer to the latin in interpretation, and he points out examples of literary devices. This book is EXCELLENT for a latin student in any grade!

Wisdom Of Life is unique in that it is written by a family, namely the Kriger Family. It is a bold attempt to share their insights into life with the world. They do this through means of one of the oldest writing systems known to man that of Chinese; through the use of traditional Chinese characters. The result makes for a very reflective read given the subtle reality that individual characters offer many different meanings for one's consideration.

For those who would not be in any way familiar with Chinese the work presents translations of each verse in French, English, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, Arabic, and Sanskrit.

The following piece of wisdom in particular I find to be very useful:

"You should not become a slave to one idea." (Verse 5)

The work contains some delightful illustrations accompanying each verse. These also encourage the reader to take time to reflect on life. The cover design is very appealing in that it opens itself to a host of philosophical and spiritual interpretations.

Wisdom Of Life - a sweet fruit born of hard work successfully reaches out to the world through the power of various languages. It is a sign of what can be done not alone by a lone author, but also by he or she working with their family. This in itself is probably the finest piece of overall wisdom that the work teaches us.

I loved this book. Period. The ideas presented were thought provoking and insightful, and the opportunity to read (and spend hours with a bilingual dictionary translating!) in multiple languages was fantastic. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to expand their foreign vocabulary, find a taste of languages that aren't often found or just to enjoy a great piece of writing.

I absolutely LOVE this book! Being a fan of Richard Bach's "Illusions", reading this book made me wonder if the 'Messiah' character Donald Shimoda knew of these ancient truths told within these pages.

And as an added bonus - I am a Hare Krishna, and love reading Sanskrit - so having this book in English and Sanskrit was a big plus. Now if only there was an Esperanto version, it would be perfect!

I found Bruce Kriger's "Book of Wisdom" to be a wonderful book that was thought provoking as well as insightful. Although I could only read the English version, seeing the words in the other eight languages was a beautiful experience. I would highly recommend Mr. Kriger's book to anyone that enjoys or needs an inspirational boost.

A friend of mine recommended this book and now I'm recommending it to anyone else out there who is going through some rough times. This book really helped me put my life into perspective and gave me some things to really think about. This is one of the most inspirational books that I've ever read.

THIS BOOK RECEIVED THE PEN/OAKLAND JOSEPHINE MILES AWARD FOR BEST BOOK OF POETRY.

ALSO, PACIFIC RIM REVIEW OF BOOKS, SUMMER 2007 WROTE:

"In this beautifully written book, Leza Lowitz seeks to share the inner landscape of her yoga journey and to inspire others to take this same journey from individuation to unity...She accomplishes this by capturing the spirit of yoga with strong images and simple free verse firmly grounded in the experience of practice in mind, body, and spirit...This is not the yoga of the hip and trendy, but the yoga of a true seeker--an ordinary woman who has discovered her Self through movement, and has found acceptance and grace through allowing her body and soul to unfold with yoga. Named after yoga postures and breath work, Lowitz's poems capture the spirit of yoga again and again. In "Sutra Hasta Majoriasana (Threading the Needle)," simple yet powerful metaphor reveals the essence of the pose in body, mind and consciousness.

...untangling a knot
that is my life
the knot becomes my teacher...

the needle that is sharp
at dawn
might be broken by dusk...

The thread that is straight today
doesn't know
it will be knotted tomorrow.

The knot
that is tangled today
could be woven into gold
ten years from now.

That is why
I thread the needle,
honoring the odds
steadying my arms
softening my breath
working the knot,
trusting.

Any reader will recognize the moment when challenges are viewed as an opportunity to learn and grow. A yoga practitioner will recall the pose and know that each moment on the yoga mat is a metaphor for life. Lowitz's words inspire us to embrace each posture as an opportunity to remain mindful of each moment, to learn and grow, and to cultivate faith."

--Christine Morita Clancy, PRR Issue Six, Summer 2007

Yoga Poems- Lines to Unfold By... is a glorious collection.
These poems bring a beautiful perspective to each asana.
At the end of a practice, I select a poem of an asana of focus for the day. I quietly share this with the class during relaxation, as the mind is open and the body calm. It is truely heartening to me to see the soulful, connection it often brings to the receiver.

This book is ideal to sell in your studio as well as a simple and delightful gift for anyone in your spiritual community...

laughter, love and light in Colorado

As someone who came to Yoga after 60, I have found Yoga Poems:Lines to Unfold By from author Leza Lowitz inspiring! Not only has she given a beautiful voice to the asanas but she has given me the desire to go even deeper into the heart of Yoga practice. I can visualize the poses in her poetic imagery. The poems are as serene as Yoga is meant to be. I loved the illustrations and only wish that each pose had its own rather than just those introducing the various sections.
Donna Mendelsohn

This is a delightful, delicious, exquisite book. I could nibble on it all day long! Leza's Yoga Poems are lovely to read while sitting in Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide Angle Pose) or while eating an icecream sandwich after class. It is wonderful company if you are eating dinner alone. This books structure beautifully reflects the eight "limbs" or stages of yoga. Each inspired poem is named after an asana, (the Sanskrit term for a yoga posture), or a breathing practice. Like the other reviewers who practice yoga, I was amazed by how well Leza Lowitz captured the spirit of each asana. She has successfully united her passion for yoga with her love of poetry. The illustrations by yoga teacher and artist Anja Borgstrom are perfect. This is a magical book that also makes a most romantic present. If you are looking for a gift for the special Yogi or Yogini in your Life, or a perfect present for your teacher, I promise, this book will please them!

Suza Francina, author, "Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause" and "The New Yoga for People Over 50."

Yoga Poems: lines to unfold by
tell the truth about more
than the poses they limn;
they tell about we
who unfold in the poses,
our moods
our aspirations
our whims;
lines to unfold by
are lines to live by;
as we learn to unfold the lines
as we learn to unfold the poses
we unfold ourselves.

This title is a must for educators of young children. The illustrations are beautiful and the language is understandable even for the youngest of school children. Reading and discussing this book with a classroom will help children discover that differences are what make us special and differences are a reason for celebration. Love builds the bridges that create community within any and all societies.

This book relays the differences of people in a simplistic way with beautiful artwork. When teaching, this book can be used with different age groups. It can be used as a story-starter for writing with students.

Buy this book if you love all people.

~Shauna Schoenborn

Recently a close friend with mixed race toddlers appealed to me for advice on how to respond to her children's questions about color and difference. She lives in 'monocultural' rural Spain and thought that based upon my own experiences I could share some insight. We chatted for a bit, and then after we hung up I started to search through the old forgotten children's books belonging to my (now teenage) sons for appropriate ones to send her. My boys were happy to part with the picture and early years storybooks I'd found until,that is, I showed them this book 'All the Colors of the Earth'. Individually they both said a categorical "No way!" to the idea of parting with it, and I was both shocked at the level of affection they held for this gorgeous but seemingly discarded book, and secretly proud that in their new worlds of computer games and Manga and loud music that they still harbored a secret place of childhood memories where this fabulous book holds such a special place. My eldest surprised me further by speaking of wanting to share it with his own children in the future-imagine! So I had to buy my friend her own copy and have it shipped to us in the UK, so that we could give it as a present when they came to visit us. The moist-eyed smiles and gasps of delight that both she and her partner gave while flicking through the pages said it all. Looks like yet another family has an heirloom for future generations.

I was fortunate enough to receive this as a prize in a local contest for my kids; they love it! The text, the images, and the meaning are all wonderful. It promotes tolerance without the heavy-handed approach that some books take by simply presenting the reality that children are all different, and yet are bound by love and youthful innocence, and that *that* is a beautiful thing. I highly recommend this book.

i bought this book when it was first printed. i wore the pages right out of the book, and bought a second. this book inspired me to write poetry of my own.

I have this book, which I got in 1995. It is Wonderful! I have read it many times and still have not lost intrest!! It is SO good, that I can not believe that it went out of print. I have also read Kevin's new book: Unfinished work. Which came out on Nov. 6. This book is beyond describing. Read it for yourself!!
Kevin Max Smith has a beautiful, amazing, God-given talent, that VERY few people have! He is wonderful at writing. And his poetry is deep and moving. I hope to see many more books from Kevin. Also , look for another coming out (sometime soon, I hope) : The London Cowboy Choronicles. These are all wonderful works of poetry!!
I also hear he
is (possibly) starring in a movie coming out some time next summer. Be sure to check that out as well.

This book was a awesome encouragement of how beautiful God can really work through just one man. Kevin is sincere and personal and his style is very beautiful.

This is an amazing book. When it was originally published promises were made that a second book would be forthcoming. So, Kev - where is it?

Most artists have to die before they're appreciated. Thankfully Kevin Max Smith of DCTalk fame didn't have to die, his book just had to go out of print before everyone scrambled the ends of the earth trying to get their hands on a copy. The poetry is pure delight (my favorite is "Captured") and I love his poems for their sheer simplicity. The artwork by Jimmy Abegg sets off the collection nicely making it something that you want to pass down from generation to generation.

She brings it to me several times a day and says, "Ree baby born." She loves the pictures, loves the rhythm of the text. A great book for everyone. Beautiful art, heartwarming and thoughtful.

When I ordered it, I thought the board book would have lift-the-flap features just like the hardcover version; the description and reviews here make it really hard to tell. For the record, the board book version does NOT have lift-the-flaps. It's still a great book though, and in balance of things I guess I'd rather have the sturdiness of the board book. (Also, hardcover was on backorder and would have been really delayed in arriving.)

this is a fantastic book, great pictures, covers all the seasons, and a baby first year of life.

This charming lift the flap book is very different from the ordinary. Sweet rhymes and adorable pictures will delight both parent and child. When you lift the flaps you will find the unexpected.

I bought this book for all my friends having winter babies. I love the board book version, so I can share it with my baby now. I am hoping to hold onto it as a keepsake for her. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. This book is short and sweet. My 4 month old enjoys having it read to her.