Yolen, Jane. Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Musical arrangements by Adam Stemple. 2005. This little piggy and other rhymes to sing and play. Cambridge, MS: Candlewick Press.

More than 60 lap rhymes, clapping rhymes, finger and foot rhymes, and songs are included in this oversized compilation by Jane Yolen. Each presentation includes a simple musical arrangement for guitar and piano, explanations and simple instructions so that even inexperienced parents can successfully play with their babies and toddlers. The accompanying CD contains 13 arrangements from the text that will get babies bouncing and toddlers dancing. The collection of familiar and less-well-known selections is paired with Hillebrand’s pastel illustrations portraying piggy families acting out the rhymes. The rhymes are arranged in sections from “Upsie, Downsie” to “Take a Bow” and the inclusion of an index of first lines makes finding and choosing a rhyme easy for readers. From “Catch Him, Crow” to “Down by the Station”, the rhymes and mixed-media images in this anthology will enchant even the youngest readers as they begin their journey to literacy with the help of parents, grandparents and siblings.

Sidman, Joyce. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. 2007. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Joyce Sidman cleverly employs the use of many voices from a fictional sixth-grade class at Florence Scribner School. The collection is introduced by one of the book’s characters, who explains the arrangement and significance of the poems. The poems of apology presented to readers are written to a diverse assortment of recipients, from dead pets to disinterested siblings and are written for different reasons, from missing a word in the spelling bee to stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers’ lounge. The range of poem voice makes the collection feel genuine and will give readers a glimpse into the life of sixth-grade students and even teachers and other school staff members. The collection includes a variety of poetry styles including haiku, pantoums, two-part poems, snippets, and rhymes and the inclusion of responses to the apologies makes this collection of poems even more meaningful. The apologies and responses are each published in a separate section of the book, which makes reading the pairs together awkward, and may discourage the pairing of poems for readers. The whimsical pen and ink illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski complement the poems and several display a creative use of the classroom items—from a dictionary definition of apology as part of a student’s clothing to white hole reinforcements used to portray a plate of donuts. Each poem is cleverly and winningly written and invokes emotions in readers from laughter to sorrow, depending on the verse. This Is Just to Say is a book that will delight older readers and will present a clear picture of the life of middle-school aged children.

Prelutsky, Jack. Illustrated by Meilo So. 1997. The beauty of the beast: poems from the animal kingdom. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Prelutsky’s collection of poems about the animal kingdom includes 200 poems by 123 poets—Conrad Aiken to Charlotte Zolotow, most well-known in the world of children’s literature. From Margaret Wise Borwn’s “Bumble Bee” to Jane Yolen’s “Calligraphy”, the anthology is a collection to treasure for years to come. The poems are arranged by zoological classification—“In Trillions We Thrive”, “Jubilant, We Swim”, “Dragons in Miniature”, “Hollow-Boned Singers”, and “Wrapped in Coats of Fur”, and the inclusion of indices by both title and author making finding favorites straightforward and almost effortless. Each spread contains multiple poems, which is almost overwhelming for readers. The arrangement encourages readers to read only the selections that appeal at a particular sitting, and yet calls readers back again and again to visit the world of animals. From endpaper to endpaper, the watercolor illustrations by Meilo So provide movement and action on each spread. So’s clever use of color and texture shows a menagerie of animals and presents each with a different mood. This collaboration by Prelutsky and So has created an anthology that is perfect for school libraries, home collections, and all collections in between.

Ada, Alma Flor and F. Isabel Campoy. Illustrated by Vivi Escriva. 2003. Pio Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

With an introduction that explains the importance of oral folklore in the Hispanic tradition, Alma Flor Ada introduces 29 traditional rhymes for children. The included rhymes cover topics from birds to angels, and many things in between. Many of the rhymes are well-known in the Spanish-speaking world and the rhythmic verses make this a wonderful choice as a read aloud. The inclusion of the verses in Spanish and their English translations, which retain both the rhythm and pattern of the original make it a favorite among readers of all languages. The watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations by Escriva use bright colors that make each spread a visual treat. The combination of detailed illustrations and bi-lingual text create a treat for all readers and make this a must for parents, teachers, and librarians.

 Imagine traditional Mother Goose rhymes, paired with photographs in city settings. Nina Crews uses color photographs and digitally manipulates them to bring a modern touch to well-known nursery rhymes. The photographs were taken in Crews’ Brooklyn neighborhood, and include realistic photos combined with more fantastical—the photograph for “Humpty Dumpty” shows two boys looking with astonishment at a worried egg sitting on a brick wall. The “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” is paired with full-sized shoes and miniaturized photographs of children playing jump rope, tug of war, and ball on stairs, while being reprimanded by the old woman. In “Diddle Diddle Dumpling, my son John”, the photograph is of a fully-dressed boy asleep on his bed. The combination of realism and digital manipulation creates an up-to-date version of a well-loved classic. Preschoolers will relate to photographs of children like themselves and will enjoy visiting this modern classic again and again.

Yolen, Jane and Andrew Fusek Peters. Illustrated by Polly Dunbar. 2007. Here’s a little poem: a very first book of poetry. Cambridge, MS: Candlewick Press. 

Yolen and Peters’ collection of poems for preschoolers provides a unique and entertaining assortment of poems that can be read repeatedly, not only to preschoolers, but also to any children who love rhyming and rhythmical text. The contributors include a menagerie of well-known and loved poets including Mary Ann Hoberman, Nikki Grimes, Margaret Wise Brown and Jack Prelutsky. The poems are grouped in a way that cover a child’s world—“Me, Myself, and I,” “Who Lives in My House?,” “I Go Outside,” and “Time for Bed.” The over-size presentation of the book lends itself well to the large text and colorful illustrations that balance the friendly, comfortable poems in the collection. A variety of mediums and techniques in the pictures make each turn of the page an adventure for readers, and the happy, go-lucky children shown are clearly enjoying life. The child-centered poems collected in this book will delight not only the children for whom the works are collected, but also anyone who chooses the book to read aloud with or to a loved one.

Kuskin, Karla. 1980. Dogs and dragons, trees and dreams. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.

Kuskin has created a collection of poems that not only entertains, but also, through introductions and notes teaches readers how to compose poetry. From bugs and toys to snakes and beaches, Kuskin uses simple subjects and simple words to put together creations that seem anything but simple. With introductory notes at the beginning of each new section, Kuskin gives readers a glimpse into poetry composition and poetry appreciation. The white pages and black text complements the simplistic feel of the poetry and the pen and ink illustrations scattered throughout the book highlight Kuskin’s selections. From a full-page illustration for the poem “Lewis Has a Trumpet” to the miniaturized children dancing for “A Dance”, the pictures draw readers into the selections and add a touch of whimsy to the book. Dogs & Dragons Trees & Dreams is a must read for children and adults who enjoy poetry and is a perfect addition for a collector of children’s literature.

Lewis, J. Patrick. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. 2002. Arithme-tickle: an even number of odd riddle-rhymes. New York: Harcourt, Inc.

Beginning with the riddle of a mailman delivering mail in a 92-story building, the poems in this book challenge readers to think mathematically, and occasionally, outside the box. Readers of the poems in this collection will find themselves visiting not only a 92-story apartment building, but also a gas station on a road trip, a farm where a rooster tries in vain to wake the farmer, and even Kalamazoo, where readers will try to determine what time they would meet a friend traveling from the other direction. The collection of arithmetical rhymes by the renowned poet, Lewis, is complemented by Remkiewicz’ watercolor and pencil illustrations which are drawn in a cartoon-style that will appeal to readers of all ages. The vivid colors used in the pictures highlight the humor in the rhyming text and give visual clues that guide readers toward the answers to the riddles, which are provided on each page. With humor and creativity, the 18 riddles in this collaborative effort will tease the brain and tickle the funny bone of anyone who discovers the joys of Arithme-tickle.