Review by Booklist Review
Nature in all of its colorful, vivid, stunning glory is presented here in full-page, beautifully reproduced color photographs (National Geographic's specialty, naturally) and spot-on accompanying poems. Former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis has compiled a selection of poems from poets both well-known and obscure. Each poem is paired with captivating photos, which, on every page, show an element of nature that fits along with the various themed sections. In the Sky, for instance, features images of the moon, sunsets, weather, and stars so big they look like snowflakes, all with perfectly chosen poems overlaid on the pictures. The photographs offer a wide range of perspectives, from the minute detail of an unfurling fern to the bird's-eye-view of a vast hurricane cloud, and they are impressive enough that some readers might be tempted to skip the poems. But the wide range of verses are equally impressive, with a broad selection of styles, forms, and poets. This is a full package; a duet of wonder. A beautifully produced collection that will easily snag the attention of young readers.--Linsenmeyer, Erin Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a superb companion to Lewis's 2012 animal-themed collection, poems from writers both classic (Dickinson, Millay, Yeats) and contemporary (Grimes, Sidman, Yolen) pair with breathtaking nature photography that celebrates the variety of life on Earth and some one-of-a-kind landscapes. Most of the images evoke wonder and splendor, though a harrowing picture of the 2011 tsunami in Japan accompanies three poems ("it rushes with something/ to tell the shore/ But by the time it arrives/ it can only roar," writes JonArno Lawson). Jack Prelutsky's "The Ways of Living Things," appearing beside a bald eagle about to take flight, sums up the collection succinctly: "In a fish's joyful splashing,/ in a snake that makes no sound,/ in the smallest salamander/ there is wonder to be found." Few books make it clearer why nature inspires so many poets to reach for the pen. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-Compiled by former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate Lewis, this assortment of nature-themed verse is, in a word, breathtaking. The selections represent a variety of styles, time periods, countries of origin, lengths, and themes; all are set against a stunning backdrop of full-bleed photographs. Offerings are divided into sections such as "In the sky," "In the Sea," and "On the Move" and run the gamut from whimsical to informative to comical and back again. William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," Li Po's "You Ask Why," and Jack Prelutsky's "The Ways of Living Things" provide myriad entry points into exploring and celebrating the natural world. Photographs, of the superior caliber one might expect from National Geographic, are labeled with a description of the animal, plant, or location depicted. At book's end, budding poets (and their teachers) will find a list of recommended children's materials on wordplay in poetry, sorted by type (acrostics, palindromes, haiku, and more). An index, divided by poem, subject, poem first line, and poet, renders this work exceedingly useful. VERDICT An excellent addition to any poetry collection.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ © Copyright 2015. 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.
