Customer Reviews

Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems

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What a great way to present poetry -- through shapes! The text of each of these poems is cleverly patterned like its topic, with adorable illustrations enhancing them. For example: a poem about rain has the words drizzle down like rain drops and then form the shape of an umbrella. The poems themselves are fun and representitive of some of childhood's most engaging activities and holidays. Poet, Heidi B. Roemer, has a true poet's ear that taps into the heart of children. Hideko Takahashi's illustrations of children of all colors are irresistable. Her bold and muted coloring seem to find the right balance to add even more delight to each poem. This book would be great in the classroom when studying poetry. It's a great way to introduce new poetry styles to children. But, it's also fun to read and look at. If this book doesn't get young ones hooked on poetry I don't know what will!

KIRKUS Starred REVIEW:

Roemer, Heidi B.
March 01, 2004 - Text and pictures blend seamlessly in this outstanding offering-no mean feat, as Roemer's rhymes are all shaped to evoke seasonal sights: the V's of nestlings' open beaks and skeins of migrating geese, the fall of raindrops, the twist of the garden hose, the paths of "Dancing Leaves" in autumn. Read aloud, the verses irresistibly invite
audience participation--"I take my little rake and my hoe, hoe, hoe;/And break up clods of firt in each row, row, row"-- but lend themselves to silent appreciation, too, as color changes, type sizes and artful placement work together to make them easily legible, even to less-practiced readers.

Takahashi folds the shaped lines into her simple, richly hued outdoor scenes with seeming effortlessness, letting words not only rest within the compositions, but become elements of them, as Christmas tree branches, menorah candles, an owl's crest, and dandelion fluff. She also adds visual surprises and stories of her own, from a child's face that dramatically transforms into a snowman's, to a teeter-tottering mother and daughter with
different skin tones.

A strong debut for Roemer and Takahashi's most inventive work
yet. (Picture book/poetry, 6 - 9)

The author's creativity seems limitless in this book as she provides not only pleasing descriptions, such as "summer snowflakes made of fluff" for dandelions, but places the words so that they make the shape of the dandelion! Her words make a perfect mental picture of the object such as "a sliver, a slice, deliciously nice" for a watermelon. In her "Celebrate" poem, just looking at it, the words forming a flowing flag shape, gives a sense of joyousness and celebration. I can hardly pick a favorite, but "Good-bye Winter" shaped like a rainbow, filling the sky with pent-up springtime emotions, would certainly be one of them.

Horn Book
May/June 2004 -
Roemer invites young guests--both newly independent readers and pre-readers--to celebrate the seasons in this unusual collection of concrete poetry. In the spring, "The Happy Gardener" is busily at work:

"I take my little rake and my hoe, hoe, hoe;
And break up clods of dirt in each row, row, row.
I scatter tiny seeds as I sow, sow, sow;
With water, sun, and patience, seeds will grow, grow, grow."

Set in four vertical rows within a brown plot of soil, this poem, as do most of the others, depends on the background art to complete the concrete picture suggested by the arrangement of words. Far from intrusive, these illustrations provide images that will help youngsters to better understand the poem shapes. A triangle of words creates a tent in the summer poem, "Camper's
Prayer:

("Starlight, shine bright
on my little tent tonight.
If it should rain, and skies turn bleak--
I pray my tent won't spring a leak.");

the shape is reinforced by the illustrated background, showing a forest set against the night sky and allowing the triangle to encase the backlit silhouettes of a parent and child.

For new readers, this is an excellent introduction to concrete poetry, while the physical patterns of the words will help younger children connect the sounds they hear with word shapes they see. And the gift of that pre-reading skill is a party favor to cherish. B.C.

Dancing Leaves

Crimson and coral
And yellow as butter-
We reach up to snatch
Waltzing leaves as they flutter.
Hip hip hooray
For fall's festive confetti!
Let's heap the leaves up and jump!
Are you ready?

Picture those charming words falling like leaves across the page. Come To My Party and Other Shape Poems is a volume of thirty-eight seasonal concrete poems. There are very few collections of children's poetry whose focus is specifically on the concrete form. Ms. Roemer's poetry dances across the pages and in the imaginations of her lucky young audience. Her poetry form is enhanced beautifully by the playful illustrations of Hideko Takahashi. This would make a lovely edition to any children's library. I hope this talented new poet doesn't make her growing audience wait too long for her next collection.

Words come alive in this beautifully written and illustrated picture book. Reading poetry is fun in Come to My Party, where the words become the pictures. This is a kid-friendly book from the types of poetry written as well as the bright and bold illustrations. Words make up a jump rope, a flock of geese and a snowy hill. Children will delight in this book and ask to read it again and again. The good thing is that it is fun for adults to read too! It celebrates not only the seasons, but the essence of being a kid! www.weeonesmag.com

This book is a treat for the eyes, ears, and tongue as the author and illustrator have created an incredible journey through the year in poetry and pictures. April is National Poetry Month, but the young person who receives this book as a gift will enjoy these poems all year long!