The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects

Gr 3 Up—Poet and anthologist Janeczko has joined with illustrator Raschka to create their fourth anthology of poetry for young people. The 50 selections are arranged in nine sections, each representing a different time period, from the early Middle Ages to the present day. The common thread is objects. The title poem discusses the demise of hat wearing in our society, while others take on such varied objects as ships, shadows, candles, stars, trees, cats and even stamp albums and manhole covers. Included are familiar offerings (e.g., Emily Dickinson's "The Railway Train," Robert Louis Stevenson's "My Shadow," and Robert Burns's "A Red, Red Rose"), as well some lesser known works. An in-depth introduction provides welcome context and explains how the examples were chosen from Janeczko's personal collection of more than 1,500 books. Although the poems are mostly representative of Western literature, readers will find some examples of Eastern poetry. Women are also represented, such as Naomi Shihab Nye, Christina Rossetti, and Sylvia Plath. Raschka's lively, vibrant watercolors frame the text, enhancing and imbuing the poems with life.