To continue our monthly series of book lists for youth, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following titles:
December, 2006 -- Poetry: Quick Reads for Busy Days
Little Donkey Close Your Eyes by Margaret Wise Brown. As the day comes to a close, an assortment of animals and a small child wind down their activities and prepare for sleep. Grades P-2. Print/braille book BRC 242 (suitable for large print readers). Large print book LP 12445.
Truck Talk: Rhymes on Wheels by Bobbi Katz. Different types of trucks describe themselves and their tasks in verse. Grades P-2. Braille book BRW 699. Large print book LP 14634. Cassette book CBA 6749.
The Dorling Kindersley Book of Nursery Rhymes compiled and illustrated by Debi Gliori. Fifty traditional nursery rhymes plus fast facts that enlighten modern readers about content and meaning. Grades P-2. Print/braille book BR 14024 (suitable for large print readers).
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. A collection of musical verse by this famous English author of the late 1800's. Grades K-3. Braille book BRW 803. Cassette book RC 43675. Large print book LP 14259.
A Child's Calendar by John Updike. A poem for every month of the year focusing on holidays and seasonal changes. Grade K and up. Print/braille book BR 12048.
Christmas Poems compiled by Myra Cohn Livingston. The joys and traditions of the Christmas season portrayed in new and old poems for family sharing. Grade K and up. Braille book BR 6299. Cassette book RC 23127.
The Frog Wore Red Suspenders by Jack Prelutsky. Poems focusing on animals and locations around the United States, some of which are sure to bring a smile. Grade K and up. Print/braille book BR 14035.
Iguanas In The Snow And Other Winter Poems: Iguanas En La Nieve y Otros Poemas de Invierno by Francisco X. Alarcon. Presented in both English and Spanish, these poems relate the joys of winter in the San Francisco area as experienced by an Hispanic family. Grade K and up. Cassette book RC 55043.
Alphabestiary edited by Jane Yolen. An animal poem or two for every letter of the alphabet. Grade 2 and up. Cassette book RC 44042.
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. A collection of brief and humorous poems featuring silly situations and a cast of zany characters. Grade 2 and up. Print/braille book BRC 301. Braille book BR 11899. Cassette book RC 42824.
Spectacular Science: A Book of Poems compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Fifteen poems that ask questions about the physical world like a scientist would do in research. Grade 2 and up. Print/braille book BR 13005.
Bone Poems by Jeff Moss. Fresh, funny, and offbeat poetry inspired by the early mammal and dinosaur exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History. Grade 3 and up. Braille book BRW 739. Cassette book RC 47161.
Custard and company: Poems by Ogden Nash by Ogden Nash. A collection of light-hearted verse. Grade 3 and up. Braille book BR 4825. Cassette book RC 16705.
Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost edited by Gary D. Schmidt. Poems about the seasons in New England with accompanying notes about that part of the country. Also includes a brief biography of Frost. Grade 3 and up. Cassette book RC 39975.
Callooh! Callay! Holiday Poems for Young Readers compiled by Myra Cohn Livingston. More than eighty poems from different countries celebrating holidays and special occasions. Some are recent, while others date from as far back as the 11 th century. Grade 4 and up. Cassette book RC16059.
My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Divided into seven geographic regions plus Washington, D.C., these poems celebrate the landscape and people of the United States. Also includes interesting state facts. Grade 4 and up. Braille book BR 13683. Cassette book RC 52592.
Earth Always Endures compiled by Philip Neil. A collection of sixty poems from various Native American tribes. Concise, eloquent phrases convey a respect for nature and human qualities. Grade 5 and up. Braille book BR 11399. Cassette book RC 45951.
This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems From Around the World compiled by Naomi Shibab Nye. Anthology of pieces by 129 poets from sixty-eight countries other than the U.S. The poems express a universal spirit through themes such as nature, dreams, families, love, and loss. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 48296.
Walt Whitman: Poetry for Young People by Walt Whitman. A collection of poems and excerpts from longer pieces in which the famous 19 th century poet reflects on the Civil War. Biographical material and a description of Whitman's era are also included. Grade 6 and up. Braille book BR 13190.
Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins. Explore poetry by a recent Poet Laureate of the U.S. known for his humor. Senior High and up. Braille book BRW 930. Cassette book RC 53069.
Link to previous Recommended Reads.