Books in Pets for young people series

"The surrealistic illustrations, which appear to be rendered in pastels, are appealing; the soft edges and warm tones work well with Sandburg's imaginery."--SLJ. "The full-color illustrations are nothing short of breathtaking."--Parents. "...displays the range of everyday topics in which Sandburg found beauty, humor, or pathos....Unfamiliar words are helpfully defined in footnotes...and an introductory biographical essay establishes a context for the poems. Arcella makes a grand debut; his intensely colored sculptural forms, carved from dramatic shadows, have a distinctly '30s look to them...."--Kirkus Reviews. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

The cornerstone series that has sold more than a million copies--and earned lavish critical acclaim.Praise for books in the POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE series"It is particularly heartening to come upon... The Poetry for Young People Series [which] should be commended for recognizing that secure stepping stones hold infinitely more hope than forced marches."--Washington Post Book World "Satisfies in every way."--School Library Journal"Engaging...both informs and intrigues."--Booklist"Nothing short of breathtaking."--ParentsWith its blend of poetic brilliance and exquisite art, the Poetry for Young People series has won the admiration of critics, educators, children, and parents alike. Every breathtaking volume in this celebrated best-selling collection features an introduction to each poem, full-page images, annotations that define unfamiliar vocabulary, and fascinating biographical information. John N Serio, editor of Poetry for Young People: Wallace Stevens, and Robert Crockett, illustrator of Poetry for Young People: William Carlos Williams have combined talents to create an absolutely charming and appealing anthology--and one that teachers will joyfully welcome in the classroom, parents to their homes, and childrento their reading and listening enjoyment. With works by such poets as Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, e.e. cummings, and Nikki Giovanni, plus a haiku for every season, it spans the year exquisitely. The superb, yet always child-friendly, images make this a volume not to be missed.

With fantastic characters and enchanting language, Lewis Carroll created magical wonderlands children have always loved to visit. These 26 selections from his classic works have never lost their fascination. "Softly realistic, period-style watercolors effectively highlight the mood of each selection....vocabulary or context notes on just about every page, and the book opens with a brief but illuminating biography."--School Library Journal. "The illustrations are well-matched to Carroll's texts. Colorful watercolors provide plenty of action and excitement on every page."--Lorgnette.

Sterling proudly announces an exciting and vibrant addition to Poetry for Young People: The first African-American themed book in the series, featuring the poems of the extraordinary Langston Hughes. Edited by the two leading experts on Hughes’s work, and illustrated by the brilliant Benny Andrews, this very special volume is one to treasure forever. A much-requested book that was years in the making…and well worth the wait. One of the central figures in the Harlem Renaissance—the flowering of black culture that took place in the 1920s and 30s—Langston Hughes captured the soul of his people, and gave voice to their concerns about race and social justice. His magnificent and powerful words still resonate today: that’s why it’s so important for young people to have access to his poems. Now they do, in a splendid volume edited and illustrated by a top-caliber team who are simply the best in their fields. The introduction, biography, and annotations come from Arnold Rampersad, a Professor and Dean at Stanford University, who has written The Life of Langston Hughes, and David Roessel, co-editor with Professor Rampersad of The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes and editor of the Langston Hughes collection in Knopf’s Everyman series. Benny Andrews—a painter, printmaker, and arts advocate whose work is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Smithsonian, among others—has created gallery-quality illustrations that pulse with energy and add rich dimension to the poems. Among the anthologized poems are Hughes’s best-known and most loved works: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”; “Aunt Sue’s Stories”; “Danse Africaine”; “Mother to Son”; “My People”; “Words Like Freedom”; “Harlem”; and “I, Too”—his sharp, pointed response to Walt Whitman’s earlier “I Hear America Singing.” Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes is a publishing event for all to celebrate.A Selection of the Scholastic Book Club.

On a glorious summer’s afternoon, young Alice happens upon a smartly dressed rabbit looking at his watch and muttering, "I’m too late!" This not being an everyday occurence, she follows him down a nearby rabbit hole and falls into Wonderland. Lewis Carroll’s timeless children’s stories are magically brought to life in this new adaptation by Adrian Mitchell.

"Well-written, engaging introduction...illuminates Millay's personal history and writing... luminous, evocative watercolors...A noteworthy addition to the poetry shelf... both informs and intrigues."—Booklist "Luminous, elegant illustrations bring these complex and insightful verses to life...all are fresh and alive and will draw readers into the book."—School Library Journal "A good assortment of Millay's poetry."—Kirkus Reviews "The watercolor artwork creates atmospheric settings for her words."—Publishers Weekly

Features more than 35 of Dickinson's best loved poems, including "I'm nobody, who are you?" and "I started early, took my dog." "The choice of...Emily Dickinson is a good one....Chi Chung's illustrations...are precise and sometimes whimsical....Attractive and inviting....will give young readers something special."--Quill & Quire. "Bolin's four-page introduction describes and explains Emily Dickinson's odd life style and creative productivity....prettily colored watercolors."--LJ. "...footnotes glossing antiquated diction are well-handled and the precis on Dickinson's church-hymnal metric is a model of its kind."--Washington Post. ". . . shot through with magical charm and graceful beauty . . ."--Buzz Weekly. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

This anthology—now with a new cover and a fresh redesign—makes an especially gorgeous addition to the bestselling, critically acclaimed series. Two "Poetry for Young People" veterans have combined talents to create an absolutely charming collection, perfect for the classroom or to read aloud at home. With works by such poets as Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, e.e. cummings, and Nikki Giovanni, plus haikus for every season, it spans the year exquisitely.

Award-winning poet, author, playwright, historian, songwriter, singer, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, and civil rights activist: Dr. Maya Angelou needs no introduction. She is a true American icon—and now she is the first living poet included in Sterling’s celebrated Poetry for Young People series. Twenty-five of her finest poems capture a range of emotions and experiences, from the playful “Harlem Hopscotch” to the prideful “Me and My Work” to the soul-stirring “Still I Rise.” While her writings deal with the historic struggles of African-Americans, they all resonate with spiritual strength and hope for the future that everyone can relate to. A special inclusion in this volume is “A Brave and Startling Truth,” written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Award-winning artist Jerome Lagarrigue masterfully illustrates each verse with evocative, stunning pictures. Dr. Edwin Graves Wilson, the Provost Emeritus of Wake Forest University and a longtime colleague of Dr. Angelou, has written the book’s introduction, the introductions to the individual poems, and the annotations.

Robert Browning's poetry has mysteries and a beauty of language that youngsters will love exploring, from the classic and beloved Pied Piper of Hamelin to the charming verse play Pippa Passes. Perfect for parents to read aloud or along with their children, and accompanied by striking artwork, here is a selection of some of Browning's most reader-friendly works. Several paintings compellingly capture Pied Piper's drama: the Piper, smiling as he offers his services; the rats fleeing the town in droves; and the entranced children who will soon be lost forever. Home Thoughts from Abroad ("Oh, to be in England, Now that April's there...") features illustrations of the countryside in full bloom. There are 25 excerpts in all, fully annotated to enrich young readers' understanding of these poems.Dr. Eileen Gillooly earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University, where she is Director of the Core Curriculum and teaches nineteenth-century literature and culture. She has also edited another entry in the Poetry for Young People series on Rudyard Kipling. Joel Spector's work appears regularly in books, in newspapers such as the New York Times, in magazines such as Business Week, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and throughout Europe and in Japan. He lives in Connecticut.

"Gr. 5 Up...spacious format; a wide variety of poems; and colorful, interpretive illustrations...."--SLJ. "The format is admirable: a handsome sampler of poems, with a short introductory essay, unfamiliar words briefly defined in footnotes, and a few prefatory sentences for each poem to establish context and aid interpretation. 13 of Poe's more accessible poems appear here, including The Raven,' The Bells,' Eldorado,' and Annabel Lee.'...concludes with passages from short stories that highlight Poe's mastery of prose....Cobleigh provides atmospheric art: an arresting picture of The Raven,' a cadaverous ghoul in The Bells,' and a depiction of the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart' as a deranged Wee Willy Winky."--Kirkus Reviews. ". . . creepy, unnerving, chilling, and fascinating. . ."--Buzz Weekly. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

Utterly delightful to read aloud, and for parent and child to share, Edward Lear's humorous verses shine with irrepressible joy and rhythm. Filled with exuberantly nonsensical made-up words (like "Scroobius Pip" and "pobble"!) that tickle the funny bone, his work gives free rein to youthful imaginations. What better to foster a love of poetry than the immediately appealing The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, with its effortless rhymes, songlike beat, and charming animal characters? Or The Quangle Wangle's Hat, which tells the tale of a creature who warmly welcomes everyone--and so makes everyone cheerful. In Dingle Bank, even some young and mischievous boys punished by their schoolmaster make the best of their situation and succeed in having a good time. Bright and fanciful paintings--all as wildly energetic and unrestrained as the language itself--add to the enjoyment. 20 examples of Lear's finest poems will entice children over and over again--and, as always, this acclaimed series features fascinating biographical information, introductions to each verse, and full annotations that define difficult vocabulary.