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Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets | Kwame Alexander
47 posts | 34 read | 15 to read
A Newbery Medalist and a Caldecott Honoree offer a glorious, lyrical ode to poets who have sparked a sense of wonder. Out of gratitude for the poets art form, Newbery Awardwinning author and poet Kwame Alexander, along with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, present original poems that pay homage to twenty famed poets who have made the authors hearts sing and their minds wonder. Stunning mixed-media images by Ekua Holmes, winner of a Caldecott Honor and a John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, complete the celebration and invite the reader to listen, wonder, and perhaps even pick up a pen.
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mcappel

“People forget... poetry is not just words on a page... it is... a snowflake on your tongue... a tattoo on the inside of your arm“....

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mcappel

I think this book would be good to use when teaching poetry to a class. I think it would be good for students to hear a poem about the different types of poems.

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mcappel
Pickpick

This book is broken up into three parts: Got Style, In Your Shoes, and Thank You. Each poem is different. I read the Poem Snapshots by Chris Colderley. The poem describes all that poetry is and can be. The poem is like someone is telling you in real life what a poem is. It feels like someone is talking, and then taking a break to think, sort of like a child would do. It has a slow pace to convey its message.

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laurenkiernan

Hue and cry
“Bronzeville lady
Way past cool
Voice like butter
Melting blues

She sung low
she swung high
Rouse with rhyme
Hue and cry

Womanblack
Smile like moon
Bronzeville lady
Gone too soon“

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laurenkiernan

I would allow older elementary school students to look at this and maybe pick a favorite to share with the class and analyze the deeper meaning together. For the younger students, I could read one a day to them (or more) and we can talk about what makes it a poem rather than just a very short story- or lines of words.

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laurenkiernan
Pickpick

This anthology of poems goes into great detail about the many different kinds of poems. It has examples of all the kinds that are beautifully written. From haikus to basic rhyming poems with fantastic imagery, to contemporary verse poems that have a hidden meaning underneath. I think having a collection like this that you can go back to and reflect on many types of poems is great to get a good feel for them all.

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Abbylippert

“Here a beautiful red field grows- I'd say the loveliest anyone knows.“

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Abbylippert

I would use this poem with older elementary students to describe how life can be challenging and sometimes it takes more than just belief to make things happen. You have to be willing to put in the hard work and effort to see the results you're looking for. It would also be a good way to reinforce rhyming, as every two lines rhyme. I could ask students to identify the rhymes and note what they feel, hear, or smell when they read the poem.

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Abbylippert
Pickpick

The poem “A Field of Roses“ by Chris Colderley discusses how there is an old verse that says that believing in roses it what makes them bloom. However, knowing how challenging life can be, it takes many other things other than belief to make something happen. The author concludes by stating that a rich field of flowers grows within them. Each line rhyme with a different ending: -oom, -oil, -air/-are, and -ows. I can see and smell the roses too!

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Honeybeebooks
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Pickpick

It was a day to sip tea and savor lovely poetry inspired by other great poets. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pick for the illustrations and poems.

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Eggs
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Pickpick

I would read anything that Kwame Alexander wrote, sponsored, or published! In this lively poetry collection, Alexander, Colderley, and Wentworth share poems that celebrate some of the greatest poets who ever lived: Angelou, Cummings, Dickinson, Frost, and many others. Beautiful 😍

#SummerEndReadathon Day 23 @TheSpineView
#RushAThon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 6mo
MissyD Ohh. I got to meet him last year at the library book festival. He is the nicest person. 6mo
Eggs @DieAReader ❤️❤️❤️ 6mo
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Eggs @MissyD How wonderful🩷🩷 6mo
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 6mo
Eggs @Andrew65 🤗🤗🤗 6mo
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Mboyd28

Let loose your heart - raise your voice.

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Mboyd28

I love how each poem celebrates a poet and how the illustrations give tribute to the poet it is celebrating.

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Mboyd28
Pickpick

This collection of poems is amazing. Each poem celebrates a different poet that had a meaningful impact on the authors. This gives students exposure to a number of different poets and can strike interest in doing research on the poets that are discussed.

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MFlowers
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Pickpick

What a fantastic (Coretta Scott King Award Winning) poetry book for students! This can serve as a great IR or PR assignment. This book is a collection of poems for children to read. It honors and celebrates poets of all backgrounds. What a great way to get your students interested in poetry. I think a great idea for a lesson plan would be to pair students up and have them choose one poem to annotate or write about. We love choice in the classroom!

MFlowers https://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewStandard/Preview/5702
This cpalms lesson plan dives into the literal and nonliteral meanings of the text. I think that's a great way to deepen one's understanding and comprehension of a poem. When you split the students off into groups, you're fulfilling UDL principles 7.1 (Optimize individual choice and autonomy) & 8.3 (Foster collaboration and community). You're providing your students with choice, so that
3y
MFlowers they will work on something they truly enjoy. Also, you can meet EL strategy 2 (promote cooperation) & 32 (Use student pairs for team learning, especially for reports, experiments and projects).
#ucflae3414sp21
(edited) 3y
Acabrera Hey I really enjoyed learning about this book since poetry can help some many students 3y
PatriciaS I love this book 📖 great review and resources for poetry readings and introduction of a new genre, great for AS and LC. 3y
DrSpalding Excellent use of Cpalms. Your universal design and English learner strategies work well. This is a wonderful poetry anthology to include in your classroom library. 3y
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PatriciaS
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Pickpick

This, P-RA-BC-LC, Coretta Scott King Award Winner, Newbery Medalist, and Caldecott Honoree collection of innovative poetry collaboration, comes from Lucille Clifton, who wrote"Poems come out of wonder, not out of knowing." Made up of twenty poems, each one celebrating another noble poet. In 3 parts; "Got Style" "In Your Shoes" and "Thank You "

PatriciaS The book concludes with biographical information on all the poets and a listing placing each poet within his or her era. 3y
PatriciaS https://learningally.org>out of wonder for students with learning disabilities. 3y
PatriciaS UDL#3.2 highlight patterns in each poem, different styles of poetry, critical features, big ideas, and relationships. 3y
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PatriciaS UDL#8.3 fostering collaborative and community by having students work in groups and discuss each poem amongst themselves with guided questions and answers, and corporately. 3y
PatriciaS ESOL#2 promote understanding and cooperation, small groupings and discussion. #10 teach critical thinking 🤔 through discussion sessions and activities, pair and share strategies in cooperative groups. #12 teach to two objectives, language and content. 3y
AndreaEfres Wow. I am adding to my TBR 3y
PatriciaS @AndreaEfres wonderful, I am so glad to hear that you like it, ☺️ great poetry readings. 3y
DrSpalding This is an excellent poetry anthology. 3.2 is perfect! 3y
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BookishMarginalia
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Butterfinger Everything is gorgeous!! 3y
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BookishMarginalia
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A lovely #poem by #ChrisColderley celebrating #EmilyDickinson

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Tabitha_H
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Pickpick

April is National Poetry Month !! Another great book by Kwame Alexander. This P/B book highlights African American poets with biographical information as well as 20 poems. This would be a great RA or CR. Teachingbooks.net offers a classroom extension where students can work in pairs to create an original work of art to go with an assigned poem. How awesome would it be to then have a in class gallery walk ! #UCFLAE3414SP20

Tabitha_H The UDL principle I would use to accompany this book would be 2.2, clarify syntax and structure. The ESOL strategy would be #14 simplified speech & make it slower and redundant. 4y
DrSpalding It is national poetry month and this is an excellent anthology. Use poetry often in your future classroom. 4y
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GatheringBooks
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Pickpick

#ReallyRandomFebruary Day 24: In the Preface, Kwame Alexander noted: ““A poem is a small but powerful thing. It has the power to reach inside of you, to ignite something in you, and to change you in ways you never imagined.” like a #Candle, really. Fats‘ review of this gorgeous poetry anthology in celebration of poems and poets: https://wp.me/pDlzr-ghE

MuddyPuddle Love, love, love this book! 4y
OriginalCyn620 🙌🏻📚😊 4y
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gabbymartin
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Pickpick

“Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets” by “Crossover” author Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is a sweet Poetry PB composed of 20 poems “celebrating” different influential African American poets. It also contains biographical information on the poets. This book is also a Coretta Scott King Award winner. Teaching Strategies: RT, CR

gabbymartin EL: 6. Discuss each poem to enhance comprehension before reading another poem. UDL: 2.3 Study and understand the underlying symbolism in poetry. Website: http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2017/04/out-of-wonder/ excellent source containing lesson ideas to branch off the text as well as several websites to further explore the text as well! 5y
Kcompton2912 I just posted about another book of a poem this author has done. The poetry is very moving and great for a poetry study. If you combined this book with his poem “The Undefeated” you could do a AS unit comparing the poems and their content. 5y
DrSpalding Choral reading is an excellent strategy to go along with these poems. This has been on my TBR pile for quite some time. So happy you read this. Kwame is amazing! 5y
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BrittanyLewis
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“ each day I walk out onto the damp grass before the sun has spoken”

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BrittanyLewis
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I love the pictures behind each poem.

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BrittanyLewis
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Mehso-so

This is a great book but it is exactly what it sounds like. There isn‘t and overlaying story. It is a book full of poems celebrating poets. It‘s a great book if you don‘t have a lot of time to read but want to get in some reading time.

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claireherman
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Pickpick

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander is a collection of P that won the Coretta Scott King award in 2018! Introduce your students to the world of poetry though this book and also the the astoundingly popular author Kwame Alexander! I think a CR would be such a fun poetry lesson for students! #LAE3414sp19

claireherman UDL Principal that provides options for Language & Symbols (2.4) Promote understanding across languages
ESOL Strategy 26: Maintain a library of supplementary books & workbooks written in simple English, which offer additional illustrations for problems
Lesson Plan: http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/idea-share/jen-wellman/poetry-month-040417
5y
LaGasseSam1996 I like this one! I think it‘s always good to have student read poetry by someone who is still actively writing it. 5y
MNelson98 I love the website you attached! It provides a great poetry resources and activities 5y
DrSpalding I am adding this to my stack. I am thrilled you were able to read this award winner! 5y
3 likes4 comments
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giont
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Pickpick

Out of Wonder written by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth is a collection of original poems written in the style of 20 famous poets. Some of the famous poets being celebrated in this collection are: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Langston Hughes. This P collection won the 2018 Coretta Scott King Award. In my future classroom I would use this book as a RA to support students comprehension of poetry and to talk about

giont the different styles of poetry. https://www.teachervision.com/literature-guide/out-wonder-teachers-guide this teachers guide has pre-reading activities, discussion questions, and classroom extension activities. Teachers can purchase a page to writing, writing workshop from Kwame Alexander to use in their classrooms! Check it out here: https://kwamealexander.com/about/teachers/c/92 UDL principles that go along with this book & lesson plan are: 5y
giont 2.2 (clarify syntax and structure) 2.2 (support decoding of text, mathematical notation & symbols) and 8.3 (foster collaboration and community). Along with ESOL strategies 12 (teach to two objectives language and content) and 16 (integrate speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities). #LAE3414sp19 5y
Olsonashley19 I'm really interested in this author after what Dr. Spalding has said and the author study presentation. Thanks for sharing another great book by him. I like how you added multiple principles and strategies. 5y
DrSpalding Beautiful book, beautiful author! 5y
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Mmw2478
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Pickpick

This was a beautiful and creative P book by Kwame Alexander. In this book, he and a few of his favorite authors pay tribute to 20 famous, loved poets with poetry written by them in the style of the poet they are honoring. Very cool book to share. In the back of the book, he gives a brief history of each poet highlighted in the book. Very well thought out and could be a great guide for budding artists in Elementary school. #lae3414sp19.

Mmw2478 UDL Principles 8.3, 2.1, 2.4 as well as ESOL strategy 11 would be covered with this book. 5y
KAdudu This book looks very interesting. I will for sure have to pick this book up. 5y
DrSpalding Your posts became much more detailed as you went along. 5y
DrSpalding This is a wonderful anthology. Alexander is a poet and should include in your classroom library 5y
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Channing_Austin
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Pickpick

Lucy and I really enjoyed Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets. It is a wonderful picture book to celebrate P (Anthology). Kwame Alexander, author of The Crossover, is one of the poets in this book. This unique picture book celebrates famous poets through the art of P. This book would be a great introduction to a poetry unit in your classroom. I would definitely use it as a RA. #LAE3414SP19

Channing_Austin At the end of the book there are paragraphs about each of the famous poets that the poets celebrate throughout the book. And let‘s not forget about the beautiful pictures by Ekua Holmes. The illustrations that go along with each poem really brings the poems to life! This book won the Coretta Scott King Award! 5y
Channing_Austin This book is recommended for older middle school students, however, some of the poems could be shared in a higher elementary classroom. I believe this picture book would give students a great introduction into poetry and what it is all about. 5y
Channing_Austin This resource provides two great pre-reading discussion questions that will really get your students thinking. There are also discussion questions that are related to specific poems in the book. Not all questions have to be answered via class discussions. Using the turn and talk method would be another great way to get your students engaged in a great discussion about the poetry. http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/076368094X.btg.1.pdf 5y
Channing_Austin ESOL Strategy 11: Place language in meaningful context.
UDL 8.3: Foster collaboration and community.
5y
DrSpalding Using Candlewick‘s valuable resources is a wise choice Channing. This is a lovely collection of poems that would be an excellent addition to your classroom library. Love the picture! 5y
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Ceratina
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Here‘s my catch from the Tucson Festival of Books! Wish I could take home much more. So many inspiring moments and authors.

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emtobiasz
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Pickpick

I avoided picking this one up for too long! A delightful set of gorgeously illustrated poems paying homage to the authors‘ favorite poets. I‘m not super familiar with all the source material, and the book includes none of that inspiration, but most of what I recognized was spot on. An excellent read, and worth tracking down that background. #poetry #kidlit

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Eggs
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#septinbooks18 #writtenbyapocauthor @bookisglee
Some of my favorite authors-can you name them all??

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BucklingBookshelves
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These last two I already know I love because I‘ve borrowed them from the library before and they are both GORGEOUS. So lucky to be able to get them signed and add these beautiful books to our collection. 📚📚📚

OK that‘s the last of my posts from today‘s book festival adventure — thanks for letting me 🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍 in my feed a bit today 😊

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Cruzdia1
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Pickpick

This book is a (P) and is the winner of the Corbett‘s Scott King Award and can be used as a RA, S, RT, IR, SR or DR. This book contains rich and colorful mixed media images by Ekua Holmes. This book invites the reader to listen to, and may even inspire you to write poetry as well. #UCFLAE4313SP18

Cruzdia1 This book can be used in class to motivate students to become poets themselves. I would encourage students to write their own poetry and then participate in a RA. Some other teaching strategies that can be used for this activity are S, RT, IR, or DR. An example of this is illustrated in this video by edutopia that shows how performance poetry has the power to engage students in effective ways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8eym-7jeo0&t=36s 6y
Cruzdia1 A UDL strategy that can be implemented is 5.3 build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance. An EL strategy that can be used is #24 incorporate the culture and the language of second language learners in your curriculum. This can be done by helping the student draw inspiration from poets who your student can relate to. 6y
GraceNeg I have to read this book ! 😃 6y
DrSpalding I love that you read this current award winner. The mixed media images are beautiful! Excellent alignment to UDL and EL strategies. 6y
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MarriedtoMrT
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All the Coretta Scott King winners and honors.

Noticing any trends? Piecing Me Together, Crown, Long Way Down, and THUG collected awards!

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Tamra
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Congrats to Ekua! I‘ll say again that her art is AMAZING and she is totally deserving of the award. 💜

[DELETED] 3803335244 I‘m going to have to get this book! 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy me too! I renewed the copy I have from the library. 6y
Velvetfur Oohh that's great artwork on that cover 😊 6y
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Tamra
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Two for one #blackwriters, Alexander celebrating Brooks. Poets celebrating poets and the art is the very definition of celebration! This is another picture book that won‘t be outgrown. And yet another to put on my “to purchase” list.

#blackhistorymonth

[DELETED] 3803335244 This ones on my purchase list too! My oldest daughter is doing a poetry unit this year. And although this is a younger book, I think she would love it! Love the illustrations ❤️ 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy yes! It‘s not at all age limited, just as engaging for adults! It would be fun to read each selection in this book along side one of the poems of the celebrated poet for comparison. I‘ve come to the conclusion that sometimes labels like “children‘s” or “YA” is inappropriately limiting and loses audience. E.g. Anna and the Swallow Man wasn‘t specifically written as YA, but was marketed that way. 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 I agree! I still read all my kids picture books that are for “children” & my 2 oldest ( 15 & 14) love them. Especially Gail Gibbons books. I love to read middle grades & young adult. 6y
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Tamra @ForeverNerdy I love it too and I‘ll be the old lady in the bookstore without children reading picture books. 😂 By the way, I checked this out from our library to see if it was something I should get for our home library. I‘ve only just learned to do this. 🤪 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Our library stinks here with children‘s books. They are falling apart, have gross stuff in them, and other questionable stuff! It‘s like our librarian doesn‘t care. Plus holds cost me money! So I wish I could do that! There is another library a city over, I‘m thinking about checking them out. They are way smaller but maybe it will be a win! Wish me luck! Great idea friend ❤️ 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy $ for holds? That is preposterous! 😡 Is your library part of a regional or state consortium? If so, then you can order thru it paper or e-books. I live in a rural area so we have a regional system. Some have state systems, lucky ducks! 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 @Tamra you know what, I have no idea? My husband would know. I‘m thinking because we have such a tiny town it would be regional. I know I‘ve never checked out an ebook through them. I don‘t think they offer it? But I‘m not sure. Thanks for asking me this, I will find out 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy take a look at the library website and look for the Overdrive app. That is one format for audio & ebooks. You might just have to call or ask about whether they are part of a larger system. If they are, you can order books & they‘ll transfer between libraries. 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 @Tamra I‘ll do that! I‘ve been ordering kindle books lately. I enjoy ebooks only because they don‘t take up space. I‘m running out of room, lol 😂 And I‘m planning on buying my oldest a paper white too. He reads so much, he‘s a needs a ereader. 6y
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Thndrstd
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Pickpick

Three writers channel the works of twenty famous poets in this beautiful short book. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Ekua Holmes, the poems copy the style and content of the poets, often borrowing from their best known works. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, this is indeed a love letter.

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Lindy
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Pickpick

A collaboration of new poems in homage to 20 famous poets from the USA and around the world, with joyous art by Ekua Holmes adding to the celebration. A picture book for all ages.

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Lindy
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Hue and Cry
celebrating Gwendolyn Brooks

Bronzeville lady
Way past cool
Voice like butter
Melting blues
She sung low
She swung high
Rouse with rhyme
Hue and cry
Womanblack
Smile like moon
Bronzeville lady
Gone too soon.

—Kwame Alexander

batsy Lovely 💕 7y
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Lindy
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In the biography section at the back, information about Walter Dean Myers mentions Sharon Creech's Love That Dog (which I love) was inspired by Myers' poem Love That Boy, so I went to the Internet to track it down.

Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
[…]
He got long roads to walk down
before the setting sun.
I said he got a long, long road to walk down
before the setting sun.
He'll be a long stride walker,
and a good man before he done.

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tjwill
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Pickpick

I have been looking forward to getting this gorgeous picture book of poems celebrating poets after hearing poet Kwame Alexander and artist Ekua Holmes speak earlier this year. I love the cut paper illustrations, and this is perfect for #NationalPoetryMonth!

Graciouswarriorprincess I almost bought this book. The illustrations are beautiful! 7y
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Peddler410
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Pickpick

I am in love ❤️️!
This collection of poems, along with their illustrations, is such a wonderful tribute to so many wonderful poets! Many I am familiar with (Emily Dickinson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Naomi Shihab Nye) and some not so much (Pablo Neruda, Judith Wright, Okot p'Bitek). Many are from the United States but some are not.
Six pages at the end give short bios of those being celebrated and another organizes them by century with country of origin.

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Peddler410
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Looking forward to sharing these poems with my daughter AND middle school students.
I really like the introductions to each part.

#litsypoetry365

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Peddler410
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I may be just a little excited about poetry month approaching! 😊
All purchased today 😳

#litsypoetry365

tjwill I need to get Out of Wonder! Great book haul! 7y
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CherylC
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Pickpick

I just received my copy and I am in ❤️ love! Lovely poems and wonderful illustrations!

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tjwill
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I got to see Kwame Alexander and Ekua Holmes discuss their new book, Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets. They read from the book, talked about their individual artistic processes, and were a delight. I can't wait to get this gorgeous book!

Lmstraubie I heard Kwame Alexander speak this past fall. He is such a dynamic & engaging speaker. 7y
tjwill @lmstraubie Yes, he is! And I could recognize his style from his books in his speech, which was fun. 7y
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Peddler410
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I'm very much looking forward to this!
#litsypoetry365

Laura317 Such a happy cover, too! 7y
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