Well, it’s taken me four and a half months, but I’ve finally managed to get together another post on poetry. I’m very excited about all four of the books we have for you today. Mei-mei Berssengbrugge and Gregory Orr are the same age (born 1947) and are both seasoned hands, with many poetry collections and [...]
Review of the Day: God Got a Dog by Cynthia Rylant
God Got a Dog By Cynthia Rylant By Marla Frazee Beach Lane Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) $17.99 ISBN: 978-1-4424-6518-3 Ages 9 and up On shelves October 29th I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whom children’s books are really for. Kids, obviously. And parents that will have to (hopefully, potentially) read those [...]
Review of the Day: Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents by Marilyn Singer
Rutherford B., Who Was He? Poems About Our Presidents By Marilyn Singer Illustrated by John Hendrix Hyperion Books for Children $17.99 ISBN: 978-142317100-3 Ages 7 and up On shelves December 17th There is a brief moment of doubt when you first cast eyes upon the title of this book. It’s partly the design of the [...]
Reveling in Rhyme | Touch and Go
Poetry Slam: There will be poems (& art & Springfield flavor)
After our first/last highly successful poetry slam, demand grew for us to schedule a second event before the school year ended. And last week we did. Although I worried that final projects, prom, graduation, finals, etc. would get in the way, the kiddos from my dear Literary Mag, Gay Straight Alliance, Book Club and Gallery [...]
Review of the Day: Cowboy Up! Ride the Navajo Rodeo by Nancy Bo Flood
Cowboy Up!: Ride the Navajo Rodeo By Nancy Bo Flood Photography by Jan Sonnenmair Wordsong (an imprint of Highlights) $17.95 ISBN: 978-1-59078-893-6 Ages 8-12 On shelves now Sometimes I think half my job simply consists of making lists. Not that I’m complaining. I love lists. I love making them, and checking them, and adding to [...]
SLJ Resources for National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and unlike short stories, poetry is one form of literature that I, at least, have never had trouble getting teens interested in. Every April (except this one–my library is doing some construction) I try to hold at least one poetry event–an open mic, or a poetry slam–and they tend to [...]
Poem! Poem!: Everyday exposure to poetry brings joy and learning | Editorial
2013 Book Spine Poem Gallery
Poetry: It’s in the Details
Poetry Friday: In a Messy Room
Meeting the CCSS Through Poetry | Professional Shelf

Can kids garner a passion for literature without Shakespeare, Silverstein, Salinger, or Sendak? Not in the opinion of the “lead architect of the Common Core Standards Initiative.” In celebration of National Poetry Month, we offer three titles that illuminate the intersection between the study of poetry and the goals of the CCSS.
Great Books for Poetry Month: Haiku for Young Readers
Anatomy of a slam: “there will be poems”

April is Poetry Month. Last week, just a little early, we hosted our first ever Springfield Slam. The kids from Literary Mag, Gay Straight Alliance, and Gallery Club, who helped me organize the event, assured me, Dr. V, there will be poems. I worried anyway. No need for that. There was a poem or two [...]


















