Customer Reviews

Talking to the Sun: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems for Young People

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Poetry. Could be used for any age level.

Summary
This book is a collection of art work that accompanies more than a hundred poems by an array of writers, including Nash, Dickinson, Tennyson, Carroll, ethnic poems, and many by people I don't know.

Illustrations
The illustrations are photographs of art work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Application
This book would be great to read while waiting in line. We could look at Egyptian art page, for example, and I could ask students what they think about the people who created these sculptures? Who are these people today? How old do you think the child in this painting? Why? What kind of hairdo would the child have today? What kind of job do you think this woman had? I could have the students look for details in pictures. What happened to the rest of this sculpture?

I am 25 now, but I was given this book as a child, and I loved it. It is filled with lavish art and short poems that are meaningful and interesting to children as well as adults.

A great book to give a child as a first exposure to poetry.

This is a beautiful book. The illustration used with the poems were splendid. The artwork presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art were simple breathtaking. I would love to visit that museum oneday. This book is perfect for introducing children to all types of poetry.

My aunt gave me this book when I was 9 or 10 years old and it kindled a love of poetry that persists today. The poems are organized by theme and paired with lovely artwork related to the poem or theme. There is a wide variety of poems from well-loved standards to more modern American poets to a multi-cultural smattering of translated poems. It's a shame this book is out of print, because I think it is one of the best ways to transition from Shel Silverstein to more literary poems. Not to be snobby about Shel Silverstein, whose poems I still enjoy!

I wanted to make sure to review this book, as I have such wonderful memories of this book as a child. I memorized so many of them, and fell in love with such great poets. The art is also really interesting and a great mix. I love that these are very good poems for kids to enjoy, but they are not simple or all sing songy. there are all sorts of poems, and they are ones I still remember and love today. I couldn't praise this book enough! it is just a great collection.

If you have one book of poetry, or one book of art reproductions, for your family (or for yourself at any age), this may be it. All of the poems are short and vivid, and the images are stunning, as befits a book issued by a museum. The choice of poetry may not be everyone's cup of tea, as the New York School poets are rather over-represented and there are a lot of poems in translation that include good images but unfortunately sound a little clumsy. But year after year, I find new things to delight in here.

I disagree with the tag "children's poetry" for this book. This is not kiddy poetry, like Shel Silverstein's, but real poetry that children can appreciate.

As a father, poet and art fan, I think this book makes a brilliant gift for artistically inclined children. The art graphics and choices are excellent. The poems are excellent. Most importantly, the book doesn't condescend to intuitive children. Koch understands that kids don't crave excessively sentimental hooey. They like to be fascinated. This is the kind of book that, over time, will increase a child's creativity.

This is a book of poetry and art. The poems are good for adults as well as children (even though this is called anthology for "young people"). They are arranged loosely by theme and are from different time periods.

There are also many pictures throughout the book. These are color and are reproductions of art from different time periods and cultures. The pictures and poems are arranged to fill each page. This makes for a charming book to browse.

This is not an essential book for a family library. It is a nice edition and has a good collection of poems for all ages displayed attractively with pictures. Depending on what you already have and how much space you have this might be a nice edition for you.

This is a book of poetry and art. The poems are good for adults as well as children (even though this is called anthology for "young people"). They are arranged loosely by theme and are from different time periods.

There are also many pictures throughout the book. These are color and are reproductions of art from different time periods and cultures. The pictures and poems are arranged to fill each page. This makes for a charming book to browse.

This is not an essential book for a family library. It is a nice edition and has a good collection of poems for all ages displayed attractively with pictures. Depending on what you already have and how much space you have this might be a nice edition for you.