Kennedy's collection is accessible, informative and a pleasure to read and mull over.Great Teacher or Librarian Resource X. J. and Dorothy Kennedy have compiled a wonderful poetry resource that anyone who wishes to share poetry with children would find useful. Although the "Afterword for Adults" states that the book is "addressed directly to children from eight to twelve," (157) it is very conducive to teaching various aspects and uses of poetry with examples and commentary from the authors. Originally published in 1982, this edition has been revised and updated with contemporary authors and selections that can get students even more excited about today's poetry. The contents of the book are organized into categories: 1- What do poems do? 2- What's inside a poem? 3- Special kinds of poetry 4- Do it yourself Each category then has sub-categories with poems listed by themes. These would be particularly useful for teachers or students looking for a poem that has a certain topic, evokes specific feelings, or is constructed in a specific form (such as haiku or limerick). The book does not simply present poems in an organized fashion, however, but the Kennedys also provide background information, insight, and ideas to ponder inter-mingled with the poetry examples. The narrative text serves as a guide to young readers who might wish to know more about the background of poetry and delve deeper into the meaning, structure, and purpose. The "Afterword for Adults" section at the end explains why the book was written, how to encourage children to like poetry, suggestions for helping kids write their own poetry, and ideas for those who work with groups of children, such as teachers and librarians. The Kennedys offer many suggestions for not only activities to use that utilize poems, but also how to best prepare yourself and your environment for sharing poetry with children. Other useful tools are: Index of Authors, Index of Titles, Index of First Lines, and Acknowledgements citing the original source for each poem. All in all, there are179 poems included that will spark a child's imagination and help in fostering a love and appreciation for poetry.
