Around the world in eighty poems

Gr. 3-5. This large-format book presents 80 poems, including many in translation, from 51 countries and the Arctic Circle. Selected by Berry, who was born in Jamaica and now lives in Great Britain, the poems vary in sophistication as well as in their origins, subjects, and styles. American children may need some explanation of the Irish political references in John Montague's poem "What a View," but most of the selections are quite accessible. Their appeal is based on universals, such as the gentle humor in the "The Prayer of the Little Ducks," by Carmen Bernos de Gasztold of France, and the emotional resonance of a child longing for the mother's return in "Footpath," by Kenyan poet Stella Ngatho. Lucas' gentle, rather lyrical acrylic paintings maintain a single style but seem to adapt well to the different moods, locales, and peoples in the verse. Not an essential purchase but a colorful, attractive addition to poetry collections. ((Reviewed July 2002)) Copyright 2002 Booklist Reviews

Beginning in the Arctic Circle, traveling all the way to England and making pitstops in places like Nicaragua, Mozambique and the Czech Republic, readers make a poetic pilgrimage in (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Gr. 1-5-A rich collection, both lighthearted and serious, from over 50 different countries. Many are narrative poems that open up new vistas through imagery and language. Attractively designed, delicate folklike sketches in acrylic paints accompany each selection, capturing its essence, be it humor, pathos, memory, or tradition. A brief preface will help readers appreciate the range of poetry represented, with each selection intended to introduce a new experience and a different culture. A simple, colorful map locates the places where the selections originate. Although aspects of some of the poems may be specific to the countries or cultures from which they come, there is a universality to the collection, emphasizing the commonality of our world.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

A poetic pilgrimage offers a collection of poems from over fifty countries varying in tone, style, and subject.

This diverse poetry collection takes readers on an imaginary journey from Greenland to Great Britain by way of Nicaragua, Kenya, Hungary and many other lands. Some poems are lighthearted, some are serious, and together they evoke a world that's both exotic and familiar. An Australian tree-lizard sings for rain, a Chilean mother rocks her baby to sleep, a boy monk dozes in a Korean temple, and Jamaican children clamor for after-school treats. With poems from more than 50 different countries and exquisite illustrations, Around the World in Eighty Poems invites children to share in the richness of cultures around the globe.