Favorite Poems Old and New: Selected For Boys and Girls [Hardcover]

Helen Ferris Tibbets (Author), Leonard Weisgard (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 1, 1957 | Age Range: 3 - 7 years

Over 700 classic and modern poems written by poets from William Shakespeare to J. R. R. Tolkien, Emily Dickinson to Langston Hughes, and covering a range of favorite topics—pets, playtime, family, nature, and nonsense—ensure that there’s a poem to please every child. A truly comprehensive collection that is the ideal way of introducing children to the joys of reading poetry.

Helen Ferris edited 17 books for young readers and was editor-in-chief of the Junior Literary Guild from 1929–1959.

Leonard Weisgard was one of the foremost illustrators in the children’s book field, with more than 200 books to his name.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Among this abundance of funny poems, serious poems, story poems, poetic prose from the Bible, parents will find almost all those they want to share with their children. It makes a fat, generous, attractive book.”—Christian Science Monitor

“If your children don’t like poetry, expose them to this collection . . . and I defy them to resist its magic.”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

"This volume stands out for the comprehensiveness of its selection." --Horn Book

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
  
• Hardcover: 598 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday & Company, Inc.; Book Club Edtion edition (September 1, 1957)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385076967
• ISBN-13: 978-0385062497
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.8 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly...the ONLY children's anthology you'll need August 20, 2005

By homeschooler

Format:Hardcover

This amazing poetry collection is so comprehensive and well organized that you may never need another anthology of children's poetry. I have many very good poetry books (101 Great American Poems, F E G stupid Poems for Intelligent Children, being a couple of other recommendations) but this one is without question the most complete, nostalgic, and well organized. I appreciate that they aren't put in alphabetical order, as many others are, since often you can remember the subject better than the title of the piece in question. As we homeschool, I can flip through this MASSIVE collection quickly and find the perfect poem to compliment our current study. Our home is filled with books and this one is out "on display" to encourage browsing by meanderers...with this book around there will never be a dull moment (okay, there aren't many here anyway). I agree with another post that it is DEFINITELY not just for children. If you're buying this for a gift for someone who doesn't live with you....you'd better get two!

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this children's poetry book - it's PURE nostalgia!!! July 10, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Stumbling upon this book is a tribute to the wonders of modern technology - is seems like a miracle! I have occasionally browsed through poetry collections at bookstores and libraries over the past 20 years, trying to find a particular poem I liked SOOO much in childhood. All I could recall is that it contained something like "... the goblins gonna git you if you don't watch out." I assumed I'd stumble upon it one day - but never had - mainly because I didn't know the author or correct title. With the advent of the internet (and being awed by a 1 minute search procurring a Tunnel of Fudge Cake receipe I'd ALSO been searching for casually for years - since Pillsbury's ill-advised decision to remove it as a boxed cake + frosting mix combo - but appears revised in their new "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-off Cookbook"). Flush with success, I decided to brave exposing my ignorance with an e-mail inquiry in a poetry newsgroup. A kindly soul pointed me to James Whitcomb Riley and a web search got me the correct title -- "Little Orphant Annie." Someone knowledgeable about children's books guided me to my long-lost poem in THIS wonderful book - HER personal favorite children's poetry book (thank HEAVENS it's still printed - it should NEVER go out of print!!). When I got it home, I started by recalling the "scary" poem I loved in my childhood - plus Riley's warm "Raggedy Man" poem. I then proceeded to discover everything from the last few verses of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" (which I'd tried to recall only a few weeks ago - to no avail - alas) to Paul Revere's Ride (which I'd had to memorize in 7th grade - and have also dutifully forgotten). I reluctantly gave up browsing at 1 AM - unaware of time slipping away as everyone else slept soundly.... Every few pages there was a familiar poem evoking an "oh my gosh - I'd forgotten all about that one" and those not familiar looked like potentially great new discoveries! Coincidentally, a column in the next morning's newspaper listed current book favorites of 4th graders in Hawaii (Maniac McGee is #1), and the column's author added this particular poetry book as HIS all-time favorite for children (frankly, I think adults will love it too). I bought this book to share MY favorite poems with my 8 and 10-year-old summer visitors and ULTIMATELY my own newly married daughter and future grandchildren. But I think I will have to savor the nostalgia for several more days before I'll be ready to share with the newer generation Read more ›

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favorite poetry anthology(No pun intended) May 27, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I first used this anthology when I was in grade school. I now have a personal copy and recommend it to students who come into my library for their poetry projects. It has such a wide variety of material and is very useful for the different assignments that the students have. It is also one of the few books that has "High Flight", by John Gillespie Magee,and all the verses to the "Star Spangled Banner". I hope it never goes out of print.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the best September 1, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

My father gave me this book in 1958 and I dearly loved it. I have read it to all my children many many times especially
"Little Orphan Annie" It has been well read. and now my daughter wants it to read to her grandson ( my great grandson) I was so happy to find it was still around.As mine is falling apart. Like many others I feel this book should never go out of print. It would be a big loss if it did.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Family Treasure November 30, 2002

By Anne F.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was gift from my much older sister when I was a small child. I have treasured memories of my mother reading poems aloud and listening with pleasure as I chose and read one back to her. When I had children of my own, I often would have one of them bring out the book for a "quiet time" session and they tell me how much those memories mean to them now that they are grown men. I recently took my old dog-eared copy of this book along on a visit to my 87 year old mother, who was absolutely delighted to hear some of her favorite poems once again. Is this book for children? Yes, but it is just as wonderful for parents! I'm happy to be giving this treasure as a gift this Christmas to a new family, hoping it brings the joy of reading poetry into their lives, too.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All the poetry you need September 17, 2005

By J. Hunter

Format:Hardcover

This is such a wonderfully complete book. We are using this as our full poetry curriculum in our home school. The poems are categorized wonderfully to help you find a poem for different topics and also there is a listing by author so you can study them individually. I love having all the poetry I need in one beautiful book. It is really full.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Love all poem books March 25, 2005

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

I really like this book because it was very interesting to me. This book reminds me of the books thst my parents usd to read to me when I was little. I believe that aal children will be very interested in this book. This book would be very intersting to a small child because of this way to poems rhyme and how the pictures realte to real life with a combination of colorful pictures.