Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 6^-10. The editors of these handsome collections in the Poetry for Young People series have chosen well, bringing together about 20 of each great poet's most accessible, compelling poems, with selections that range from Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and Yeats' stark, dramatic "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death." The full-color paintings on each page are beautiful. Each volume begins with a helpful general biography and a critical introduction to the poet's work. On the page with each poem, brief editorial notes provide useful context and guidance (if only the notes were at the back of the book, so that the reader could first enjoy a poem free of commentary). In fact, the book design is a problem, especially in the Yeats book. Harrington's impressionistic art is lush and beautiful, evoking the Irish landscapes, fantasy worlds, and stormy emotions of the verse; but the large pictures leave no space for readers to imagine what the words suggest, and much of the type is hard to read because it's printed right on the dark, full-page paintings. In the Coleridge and Wordsworth collections there is a lot more white space, and the illustrations evoke each poet's world without totally overwhelming the verbal images. None of this classic poetry is easy reading, and all three books will work best for reading aloud and group discussion. --Hazel Rochman
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this latest addition to a successful series, Poetry for Young People: William Butler Yeats, ed. by Jonathan Allison, illus. by Glenn Harrington, a well-researched biographical introduction precedes 26 of the poet's works, many of which reflect the mystery and beauty of Yeats's native Ireland. A dramatic painting of a rocky Sligo coast accompanies "The Meditation of the Old Fisherman," which, according to a note introducing the poem, recalls a conversation between a Sligo fisherman and the poet; his famous "The Second Coming" ("And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,/ Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born") inspires a chilling portrait of a monster/man crawling out of darkness, followed immediately by a gold-flecked landscape for "Sailing to Byzantium," against which a man holds closed his golden cape, like wings folded. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-This introduction to the work of the poet reveals his love for the people and landscape of Ireland. Twenty-six poems and excerpts from longer works are included. Paintings, infused with atmosphere, illustrate the selections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Each of twenty-six poems is preceded by a brief explanation (written by the editor, a Yeats scholar) and has unfamiliar words and phrases explained at the bottom. Large paintings, stylistically reminiscent of John Singer Sargent's, accompany each poem. Occasionally, the paintings make metaphor too concrete, but overall they are evocative and help make this a very attractive collection. Ind. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
