Poetry

Bowles, David. They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems. Cinco Puntos Press, 2018.

According to the back of the book, this collection is to tell the story of a child who  lives on the border between United States and Mexico. It discusses his challenges and how he overcomes them with his family's traditions and his group of friends. The purpose fills a need in the general collection, bringing forward stories of children and families that have to navigate two cultures simultaneously. The poems are appropriate and a strong narrative to the purpose. The compiler and author has the qualifications to tell this story, as a Mexican American who grew up along the border of Texas and Mexico.

The intended audience appears to be middle school and older readers. The selections contain appropriate language and material for this audience. These poems might challenge readers who are unfamiliar with the difficulties that families along the border may face in their daily lives. This collection could be a great conversation starter or a great companion to a lesson in language arts, history, political science, or geography.

The poems are all written by David Bowles. There are 49 poems included in this collection. They are newer poems, not traditional tales being retold. The poems relate to one another. All poems center the same child as the narrator, and he has the same family, friends, and interests throughout the collection. 

While primarily in English, this collection also contains many words in Spanish. There is variation in meter and sound patterns throughout the collection. The variation enrich the poems, helping you to either slow down and take in the words with each built in pause, or read it to a beat as if you are living through what you are reading. The figurative language is imaginative, helping the reader fully immerse themselves in the poem. 

There is a table of contents to organize the collection. It is not clear to me how it is organized. There is not an index, but there is a glossary in the back for all Spanish words featured throughout the collection. 

Sanders, Rob, and Harry Woodgate. Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes. Penguin Workshop, 2024.

The purpose of this collection is to celebrate the legacies of queer leaders, past and present. It is clearly stated in the introduction. The purpose fills a need in the general collection, bridging the gap between available poetry and educating on historical figures. The collection fulfills its purpose. The compiler and author is qualified to tell these stories. He is a teacher, author, and considered a pioneer in LGBTQ+ nonfiction. 

The intended audience is younger readers who are interested in learning about history. Children that identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members that do will especially benefit from reading this collection. The selections are appropriate for this audience. This collection would be great to display during Pride month, but it could also be used year-round to inspire, educate, and celebrate. This collection could be used to discuss other topics from history or current events. 

The poems are by one author, Rob Sanders. There are 15 poems included. They are unknown poems told in traditional formats. They relate to one another, in that each poem focuses on one person from queer history. There is a variety of forms of poetry, meter, and sound patters throughout the collection. The verse patterns match the content of the poem, almost seeming to match the personality of the subject matter. There is imaginative figurative language that is appropriate to the story being told. It's also worth noting that each poem also contains a side panel with a short biography about the subject. 

There is a table of contents, helping you to see which poem has which subject. The collection appears to be organized in chronological order, beginning with Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, and ending with Pete Buttigieg. Other material in the book includes an introduction, glossary, information about pronouns, information about the poems, an author's note, and additional reading. 

The illustrations enhance the poetry. They provide additional details and background information that help contextualize the poem. The illustrations all feature an image of the person who is the subject of the poem, helping the reader to visualize the subject, time period, and setting of the poem.

Lewis, Amanda West, and Oliver Averill. A Planet Is a Poem. Kids Can Press, 2024.

The purpose of this collection is to explore the solar system via playful poetry. It is clearly stated on the cover and in the introduction. I believe this collection fills a gap in the children's poetry section. There are very few collections that focus on science. While the compiler does not have an educational or professional background in astronomy, she is a lifelong astronomy hobbyist and has written many collections of poems. 

This is a fun and engaging read for children that have an interest in astronomy. I think this collection would be best geared to children ages 8+. The selections are appropriate, with each page covering one planet or part of the solar system (such as the Kuiper Belt). It would be a great companion piece for a science class or activity. 

There are 13 poems in this collection, all written by the same author. There are traditional styles, with each poem having a different form, meter, and sound pattern. The forms almost give personality to the planet that's a subject. For example, Earth gets a ballad while Neptune has a free verse poem. The poems relate to each other, taking you on a journey through our solar system. It is very imaginative language, helping a reader feel like they are on the journey through space. The illustrations are minimal but vivid. They show where you are in the solar system with this planet and what the planet looks like. They do not distract from the poem, they enhance it. They are appropriately placed throughout the collection.

The poems are arranged in order of the planets. There is a table of contents and additional matter including an introduction, glossary, sources and resources, and a section to write your own poem!

Smith, Charles R. Hoop Queens 2. Candlewick Press, 2024.

According to the back cover, the purpose of this collection is to celebrate 13 of the best female basketball players. It is clearly stated on the cover, although an introduction would have been a welcome addition. This is certainly a needed addition in the genre, as there needs to be more encouraging girls to get into sports and more acknowledgment of the wonderful women athletes. As an award-winning author, Charles R. Smith Jr. certainly has the qualifications to fulfill this purpose.

The intended audience is sports lovers, ages 8+. The selections are appropriate and will be enjoyed by the audience at large. This collection would be a great way to engage children that might not feel confident exploring poetry but enjoy sports. This would be a great crossover book to help engage them in this genre. 

All twelve poems are written by the same author. They cover familiar topics and traditional forms. They relate to one another by all focusing on one athlete per poem, with the exception of The Ogwumike Sisters, which features both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike. There is variation in the poems. Some are faster with larger sound patterns while others feel softer and more intentionally slowed down. It feels as if the poem patterns were meant to match the playing style of each athlete. The figurative language is more literal than imaginative in this collection, which can help younger readers grasp the subjects. The poems are organized by player, with a table of contents in the front to help you navigate. There is also a section in the back for poem notes, so you can learn more about the athletes. 

While there are illustrations, the main images are photographs of the athletes. The illustrations are designs that enhance the images, such as a spiral coming out of an image of a basketball. They show the athlete in action, which enriches the poems and highlights that athlete's standout quality.