Books make the best gifts. I may be a little biased, but I love giving books as gifts. I think they offer a personal connection. You are either saying, I loved this book and I think you will too. Or, I know you love cats, science, history, etc so I thought this would be a great book for you. It means you have listened to them when they have shared something with you and that you took the time to notice. To see all the posts in this series, click HERE.
THE POETRY OF US
More than 200 Poems that Celebrate the People, Places, and Passions of the United States
Edited by: J. Patrick Lewis, former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate
Published: September 25, 2018
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books
Non-Fiction
This book is all about sharing the love of our amazing country, the United States. Whether it is the people, the places, or nature around us, all of it is what makes our nation amazing. This coffee-table book is loaded with gorgeous, jaw-dropping photography that National Geographic is so well-known for. The book is divided by the regions including New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Pacific Coast, and then the Territories. Each of the poems in these sections is centered around landmarks, weather, people and history from this area of the country.
Of course, I loved the Midwest section and was surprised to see a poem about a small town near here. It’s called “Poem to Be Read at 3 A.M.” and it perfectly describes what it is like driving through a town like mine at 3:00 in the morning. I was also thrilled to see poems written by poets I already know and love like Walt Whitman, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jane Yolen, and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. The editor of this collection, J. Patrick Lewis, also has several wonderful poems included.
Another favorite poem, this one from the New England section, was “If I Had Nothing Else to Do, I’d Write a Christmas Card to You”. This poem written about a Christmas card that travels all around the country is in rhyming form and of course, doesn’t arrive at its final destination until July. I also really loved Jane Yolen’s “Ellis Island Mathematics” from the Mid-Atlantic section. Her poem shares the stories of immigrants checking in at Ellis Island. There’s a poem about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Phil the Groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a tree in the middle of Gettysburg, Grandma’s Front Porch, O’Hare Airport, Mount Rushmore, Hog Calling, Fly Fishing, Traffic Jams, and so much more. There is likely a poem about a place you have visited or want to visit, an activity you love, or a memory from your childhood.
This is truly an amazing collection of poems and a wonderful compilation of pride in the United States. It would make a wonderful gift for a family with children young and old.
J. Patrick Lewis – source
Former U.S. Children’s Poel Laureate J. Patrick Lewis was an economics professor before he turned to poetry full-time. Now he needs accounting skills to keep track of his more than 110 poetry books for children! His fascination with the richness of our world is reflected in his poetry, with collections on architecture, the Civil War, and even Blackbeard. And, of course, his celebrations of the country he calls home shines through, especially in his poetry for children. Lewis lives in Westerville, Ohio and visits school all over the country. You can find other books by J. Patrick Lewis by clicking, HERE.
To purchase a copy of THE POETRY OF US, click the photo below:
I will be linking up this review with other bloggers on Booking Mama’s Kid Konnection, HERE. There you will find other children’s and YA book related posts every Saturday.
Other children’s books with poetry that you might enjoy:
Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of the book for the purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.