Category: Poetry

The Blue Hour.

2/5/2017

The Blue Hour
By ; Isabelle Simler
Publisher ; Eerdmans Books for Young Readers ( February 2017 )

A wonderful lyrical celebration of nature's beauty!! The blue hour begins as the day comes to an end. And it is the time when the world turns still, when all the hidden animals come alive just before the night falls.
The author recreates this solitary moment of life through magnificent illustrations in different shades of blue and lulls the readers with her poetic text. From the skyline to the ponds, fauna & flora and animals are all colored in blue shades. Since it is based on the blue hour, she rhythmically introduces a number of lesser known animals who are also blue, in a manner that would arouse the kids' curiosity; a blue fox, a blue jay and the blue poison dart frog to name few. "Among the water lilies, blue poison dart frogs gather,croaking to each other."
At the beginning of the book there is a table of blue shades with thirty-six different shades from pale blue to midnight blue. Her illustrations make use of all those shades which in turn provides a glimpse of the color combinations to kids.
It is a book that will urge children to love and behold nature!!
( With many thanks to Eerdmans Books and NetGally for the ARC )

The Blue Hour

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The Toothless Fairy.

10/2/2016

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The Toothless Fairy ( Ages 4+ )
By ; Timothy Jordan & Matt LaFleur
Publisher : Night River Press ( August 2015 )

A brilliant Halloween read aloud! It is a story about a very ugly and lonely, single-toothed fairy. A multi-themed book with some lovely colorful illustrations, and a heart warming message about friendship! The themes,text composed of beautiful lyrical descriptions and humorous illustrations together produces an awe-inspiring effect that is capable of grasping kids from the very beginning.

The lonely fairy is too reluctant to find friends because she knows that she looks 'ugly & scary'. Adding to that scariness is her single toothed smile - as it goes the fairy is too fond of sweets and her greed left her with a single tooth! She longingly watches the children playing in the park. As the time passes and the leaves turn to brown, kids everywhere start getting ready for the Halloween. The children parade along on Halloween eve in their costumes, carrying baskets of treats, laughing and joking. Meanwhile our grotesque little fairy watches them from her hidden spot. But after the fun, when all is silent, the fairy remains thinking .....
"So what was it for, this Halloween night,
if not about candy, or having a fright?
Tradition and honoring those who have passed,
and friendship and mischief and having a blast."

Reluctantly though, the fairy decides it`s time to find a friend and have fun, She enters into a little girl`s room deep in the night, lights up her magic wand and offer her a brand new clarinet , the fun begins as they dance and play together.
"Together they played and danced and waltz,
skipped rope with the licorice and juggled the malts.
The girl offered taffy - and boy,was it yummy -"
Till dawn they have fun,finally when the little girl falls asleep the ugly fairy leaves, satisfied and with a signed promise of returning back next year.

This beautiful lyrical flow ends with another lovely verse written from a child`s point of view - in colorful childish handwriting which is the scribbled note - the fairy snuggles into the sleeping girl`s coat as she takes her leave.. Its eye catching Halloween parades, a 'super ugly' fairy and the rhyming verses will all ensure that the kids will return to this, again and again,long after Halloween.
The book has been named a 2015 INDIEFAB Book of The Year Finalist and 2016 Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalist.

(With many thanks to The Night River Press and NetGally for the ARC )

The Toothless Fairy

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Daniel Finds a Poem.

3/15/2016

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Daniel Finds a Poem.( Ages 3 to 6)
By : Micha Archer
Publisher : Nancy Paulsen Books ( Feb.,2016)

A celebration of poetry through wonders of nature! Daniel, a little boy who visits the park often, feels the beauty of nature all around him everywhere, and he relishes every bit of it -although he does not know what poetry means! A notice about a poetry reading, pasted on the park gates evokes his curiosity.

A spider weaving a web covered in dew drops reminiscent of a multi-colored beaded chain, tells him, "To me, poetry is when morning dew glistens." To the squirrel "it is crisp leaves crunching." A frog living in the solitary crystal waters tells him that poetry is " a cool pond to dip in." As days pass, on each day, from his imaginary conversation with an animal friend he learns a bit of poetry . And little Daniel discovers that poetry is all around him, as he gathers up one for himself. Young readers may learn to appreciate their surroundings with a different view point and with Daniel`s help they may try to explore the beauties and mysteries of language.

Absolutely mesmeric, spot-on illustrations of Micha Archer and her lyrical text, carry this enchanting story-line right into the reader`s heart. Her vivid and brilliant, yet richly detailed illustrations are a combination of paint and collage.
Such a delightful beginning to Spring reading! This is discovering poetry though glorious heartfelt illustrations of nature and -if one goes even further- through animal habitats as well!

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There`s a Bear on My Chair.

2/9/2016

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There`s a Bear on My Chair ( Ages 2 to 5)
By : Ross Collins
Publisher :Nosy Crow ( June.,2015)

An unwelcome visitor in the house, sitting on his chair, What would the poor mouse do? The bear is too big, He might even break the chair,and that`s his favorite chair. The little mouse is unhappy and wants the bear out!
With brilliant romping rhyming verses and splendid pictures, Ross Collins has created a tale to remember. As there are always a few number of books that we carry in our memories to our adulthood, this is destined to be one of those.
It`s presented in such a delightful way,with a very white bear in muted colour backdrops sitting on a yellow chair provides peace and simplicity. The mouse is doing everything possible to get the bear out of his chair. While the bear, sitting on the chair is doing the same to ignore the mouse, which in-turn creates a hilarious outcome.
The duo depict a common situation that many little kids get into; always drawn to others' belongings from food to toys to many other things. The bear with his silly facial expressions, together with each others tactics, from dressing up to reading a paper ensures that readers will stay attached to the book till the end. The text, full of expressions with red highlights, different font sizes and it`s hilarious rhyming effect are memorable. "I understand that bears are rare. I know they need utmost care".... "But still I cannot stand this bear". The text and the illustrations compliment each other well. "I must admit he has some flair. He has fine taste in leisurewear. I`m fond of how he does his hair. But still I wish he was not there" And finally as the mouse leaves, the bear decide to go back home. And there`s a big surprise awaiting for him as he enters his house.
This book has been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenway Medal 2016.

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The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems.

1/15/2016

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The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems.
Edited By : June Crebbin
Publisher : Puffin ( Aug.,) 2000

``The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems`` is a fantastic poetry book indeed. Over 100 delightful poems supported by lively and vivacious images are in this collection of Puffin poetry series. The book features some of the best work from over sixty favorite poets and some well known traditional poems. Spanning from Walter de la Mare to Michael Rosen, well categorized under themes of interest ;as Poems about games and playing,Animal Poems,Family Poems, Food poems, Fun and nonsense poems, Bedtime poems and more.Each section is illustrated by a different illustrator which gives the book an added diverse effect of seize.
This is an ideal read aloud to those little ones who are growing out of nursery rhymes and a brilliant collection to introduce poetry to them.
All of these poems are easy to grasp and fun to read together.There are many hilarious poems like My Grannies by June Crebbin and Goodness Gracious by Margart Mahy then some very interesting poems that any little foodie would love to read such as Sounds Good by Judith Nicholls and Toaster Time by Eve Merriam. Also included are some wonderful bedtime poems from Walter de la Mare`s Silver , Roger McGough`s Mrs Moon, Eleanor Farjeon`s Good Night and more.
``Mrs Moon
sitting up in the sky
Little Old Lady
rock-a-bye
with a ball of fading light
and silvery needles
knitting the night``. - Mrs Moon - By: Roger McGough
And some absolutely amusing tongue-twisters are there to ensure they`ll have lots fun of along their readings;
Yan, tan, tether, mether, pimp.
Sether,hether,hother,dother,dick.
Yan dick,tan dick, tether dick, mether dick, bumfit
Yan bumfit, tan bufit,tether bumfit,mether bumfit, gigot. - Yan,Tan,Tether (Cumbrian way of counting sheep)-By: Anon
Although the book is intended for 4 yeas and up, most of these poems could be read to smaller ones as well, as there are number of short poems in this collection that my youngest one,who`s below four, loves to listen, his favorite one being
`` I`m taking the train to Ricketywick.
Clickety clickety clack.
I`m sat in my seat
with a sandwich to eat
as I travel the trickety track.``.......- Rickety Train Ride- By Tony Mitton
Subjects of these poems being very much child oriented, simple with rhythmic effects,funny phrases, repetitions and tongue-twisters along with all those funny images, these poems surely will capture their hearts.

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The Ride-by-Nights

10/22/2015

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The Ride-by-Nights ( Ages 4 to 7)
By Walter de la Mare Illustrated By Carolina Rabei
Publisher : Faber & Faber September 2015

The best picture book to celebrate the season!!,Pairing up with celebrated poet Walter de la Mare is an equally brilliant artist Rabei and she has painted this magical poetry amazingly.
Up on their brooms the witches stream,

With a whoop and a flutter they swing and sway,
And surge pell-mell down the milky way,

They hover and squeak in the empty air,
Then round they sweep past the glimmering lion..........
This feast of language accompanied by it's glimmering and shimmering illustrations will make kids wonder and their thoughts will surely wander,,,,.

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Slinky Malinky Series

10/22/2015

Slinky Malinky Series (ages 2 to 6) By Lynly Dodd
Publisher : Puffin Books

A brilliant work created by the same author who introduced Hairy Mclairy to us. This was originally published in 1991 But it's beautiful language ,rhythm,very engaging plots and amazing illustrations makes it impossible to ignore.
The Slinky Malinki series features hilarious adventures of a black cat called Slinky Malinki. The poetic rhythm of these stories, her language and verses are exquisite.Here's a piece of Lynley in Slinky Malinki: ``Slinky Malinki is blacker than black, a stalking and lurking adventurous cat! he had bright yellow eyes,a warbling wail, and a kink at the end of his very long tail``. Not only kids, even grown-ups will surely enjoy these beautifully written stories. This is a must read for kids.An excellent bed time reading series. Also available on i tunes.

The Blue Hour.

The Toothless Fairy.

Daniel Finds a Poem.

There`s a Bear on My Chair.

The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems.

The Ride-by-Nights

Slinky Malinky Series

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