Customer Reviews

A Child's Anthology of Poetry

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book to my four-year-old daughter every night before bed. We're already marking our favorites so we can return to them regularly.

The editor, Elizabeth Hauge Sword, has pulled together an eclectic collection of poetry for parents and children of all ages. Many old standards along with contemporary poets' works are included. My daughters, ages 6 and 2 1/2, look forward to bedtime poems every night

I just bought this book for my mother, who is elderly. It has all the famous poems I remember from when I was a child. I am buying another copy to read with my kids. If you have just one book of poetry on your shelf-- this should be it.

As stated by another reviewer, the book has just a few black & white small illustrations: the cover is deceitful. And I don't know what to do with such poems as "Don't write poems about what's happening. / Nothing is born or dies in poetry's presence. / Next to it, life is a static sun / without warm or light..." (Carlos Drummond de Andrade, a poet I appreciate, but not for children). There are too many abstract, religious and moral topics, and the pleasure of playing with words and worlds is scarce.

The editor, Elizabeth Hauge Sword, has pulled together an eclectic collection of poetry for parents and children of all ages. Many old standards along with contemporary poets' works are included. My daughters, ages 6 and 2 1/2, look forward to bedtime poems every night

I found this book on a shelf in a second-grade classroom (I'm an assistant teacher)and on flipping through it recognized several favorite poets. Further reading prompted me to ask if I could borrow it--there are so many amazing works in this book, from beloved childhood favs to thought-provoking new ones. As a writer and poet as well as a teacher I think this is an exceptionally versatile book, well worth reading by adults and children.

I liked the book but was a bit disappointed in some of the poem selections.
Overall, a good purchase for our family.
Not great for children under eight.

This book is the perfect poetry book for youth. It has an array of different authors and different levels. I have used it for my children ages 3rd grade and up. All styles are represented. I even recommended it to a teacher and she ordered it that week!

As a former English teacher, a mother and grandmother, I cannot give enough praise to the poems in this anthology. They are not condescending or silly. Many are poems that were not written for children but that children can understand. The poets represented are outstanding poets from many periods in both American and English literature.

A Child's Anthology of Poetry has poems for every age group. Most of the poems are quite brief and are more delightful when read aloud. If this were a person's intro to poetry, I believe he would pursue more of it afterward.