{"id":42552,"date":"2023-07-08T19:01:35","date_gmt":"2023-07-08T23:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=42552"},"modified":"2023-07-08T19:01:35","modified_gmt":"2023-07-08T23:01:35","slug":"review-of-how-to-write-a-poem-by-kwame-alexander-deanna-nikaido-art-by-melissa-sweet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=42552","title":{"rendered":"Review of How to Write a Poem, by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido, art by Melissa Sweet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>How to Write a Poem<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido
\nart by Melissa Sweet<\/p>\n

Quill Tree Books, 2023. 32 pages.
\nReview written June 27, 2023, from a library book.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

This picture book is a wonderfully illustrated poem about poetry. It is appropriately fanciful, imaginative, and full of figurative language.<\/p>\n

The collage illustrations show kids following the instructions on one level, and imaginative flights of fancy on the other level.<\/p>\n

Each line or pair of lines gets a spread. Some of the lines I like best include:<\/p>\n

Close your eyes, open the window of your mind, and climb out,
\nlike a seedling reaching for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Next, listen to the grass,
\nthe flowers,
\nthe trees — anything
\nthat’s friends with the sun.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another wonderful image:<\/p>\n

And dive deep into the silent sea of your imagination<\/p>\n

to discover a cotton candy cavalcade of sounds —
\nwords raining everywhere.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They tell us to let the words “dance with your joy, speak to your sorrow.”<\/p>\n

As the book goes on, the kids who started out sitting in a circle of chairs end up playing in imaginative landscapes.<\/p>\n

I have no doubt this book can inspire a new generation of poets. I hope we get it into their hands.<\/p>\n

kwamealexander.com<\/a>
\ndeannanikaido.com<\/a>
\nmelissasweet.net<\/a>
\nharpercollinschildrens.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/how_to_write_a_poem.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a>