Books in Reading for young people series

WINNER OF THE 2007 CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR AWARD! A fresh design and appealing new cover enliven this award-winning collection in the acclaimed Poetry for Young People series. Showcasing the extraordinary Langston Hughes, it's edited by two leading poetry experts and features gallery-quality art by Benny Andrews that adds rich dimension to the words. Hughes's magnificent, powerful words still resonate today, and the anthologized poems in this splendid volume include his best-loved works: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”; “My People”; “Words Like Freedom”; “Harlem”; and “I, Too”--his sharp, pointed response to Walt Whitman's “I Hear America Singing.”

A Young People's History of the United States brings to US history the viewpoints of workers, slaves, immigrants, women, Native Americans, and others whose stories, and their impact, are rarely included in books for young people. Volume 1 begins with a look at Christopher Columbus’s arrival through the eyes of the Arawak Indians, then leads the reader through the earliest struggles for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights during the 18th and 19th centuries. Volume 2 picks the thread up in the early 20th century, covering both World Wars, Vietnam, the Black Rights movement, and ending with the current protests against continued American imperialism. Zinn presents a radical new way of understanding America’s history. In so doing, he reminds readers that America’s true greatness is shaped by our dissident voices, not our military generals.A Young People's History of the United States is also a companion volume to The People Speak, the film adapted from A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

An acclaimed anthology receives a new design and cover! Award-winning writer, historian, and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou is a true American icon. 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.” Award-winning artist Jerome Lagarrigue masterfully illustrates each verse, and renowned academic Dr. Edwin Graves Wilson, a longtime colleague of Dr. Angelou, has written the book's introduction, introductions to the poems, and annotations.

The newest addition to the acclaimed Poetry for Young People series shines a light on the power and beauty of African-American verse. Co-editors Arnold Rampersad and Marcellus Blount—both towering figures in literary criticism—have put together an impressive anthology that will open up a world of wonderful word images for children. The classic poems come from some of the most influential and celebrated African-American writers in history, including Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Countee Cullen, Lucille Clifton, and James Baldwin. Helpful and generous annotations, a lively introduction, and beautiful illustrations by Karen Barbour make this the ideal book to introduce young readers to the marvels of poetry.

From the grand and mythic Idylls of King Arthur to the tragic, rousing "Charge of the Light Brigade," Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry explores a range of magical, dramatic, and thoughtful topics. This outstanding and stunningly-illustrated entry in the much-praised Poetry for Young People series gathers excerpts from 26 of his finest works. The biography and annotations by a distinguished scholar, and extraordinary full-color paintings by a renowned artist on nearly every page, are the hallmarks of this acclaimed series. Youngsters will enjoy encountering Tennyson's "Mermaid"; the "Lotos Eaters"; and "Ulysses." A beautiful picture of "The Lady of Shalott," captures the sad heroine's isolation "in her four gray walls, and four gray towers." Images of a lonely man and a sweeping landscape illustrate Tennyson's masterpiece, In Memoriam. Plus: the haunting "The Owl," the lullaby "Sweet and Low," "The Hesperides," and other immortal verses.About the Editor:John Maynard is Professor of English at New York University and the former chair of the department. He has written books on Robert Browning, Charlotte Bronte, and the Victorian view of religion and love. Professor Maynard is also co-editor of the journal Victorian Literature and Culture.About the Illustrator:Allen Garns has worked as a freelance illustrator for a number of publishers and magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly. He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators of New York, American Illustration, and Communication Arts and Graphics. His paintings have been exhibited in a number of galleries.

"In an attractive large-size volume...25 poems to introduce Robert Frost to young people. The selections are arranged by the seasons, and Sorensen's handsome watercolor illustrations capture the feel of the New England landscape without in any way trying to provide literal images for the poetry. There's an excellent biographical essay, and at the bottom of each page, Schmidt provides a brief note on some of the possible ways to read the lines....These nature poems show that poetry holds feelings and ideas that everyone can understand."--Booklist. "...superb; the poems introduced in a tone that is informative but not pedantic."--PW. "...satisfies in every way."--SLJ. "Include[s] both well-known favorites and those less often read or quoted. 'Mending Wall,' 'Birches,' 'The Road Not Taken' are essential Frost and all are here."--Quill & Quire. ". . . thoughtfully compiled and brilliantly illustrated."--Buzz Weekly. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

He was the finest modern poet in the English language--plus a playwright, theatre manager, politician, and passionate believer in supernatural. William Butler Yeats' writing captures all the magic and mystery of his native Ireland, and here are some 26 of his finest, most mesmerizing verses. In "The Stolen Child," fairies come in the night to entice a boy away forever to "where the wave of moonlight glosses the dim grey sands with light." Yeats claimed that a Greek folk song inspired "The Song of Wandering Aengus": the excerpt here follows Aengus on his quest to locate an enchanted girl. Visions of a fierce and terrible battle-where "unknown perishing armies beat about my ears"--emerge in "The Valley of the Black Pig," all seen in a dream. Matching the beauty of Yeats' written images are a series of exquisite and evocative paintings, which range from panoramic natural landscapes to compelling portraits of characters both human and fantastic. And, as always, this acclaimed series features fascinating biographical information, introductions to each verse, and full annotations that define difficult unfamiliar vocabulary.

"Twenty-eight poems (or parts of poems) reverberate with Kipling's compassion for his fellow humans....introduction details the events of his life and their relationship to his work. With dedication to the structure, rhythm, and rhyme of his craft, Kipling created poetry that, when read aloud, sings to its audience in every phase. Sharpe's exquisite paintings illustrate the exotic quality of the verse, whether of animals in the jungle or ships at sea. Vibrant colors reflect the strong emotions of each poem...The faces of children show humor, trust, curiosity, and moodiness. Familiar lines from 'If' and 'The Ballad of East and West' demonstrate the poet's universal appeal. As in other books in this series, each poem is preceded by background information, and difficult or unfamiliar words are defined...A worthy addition."--School Library Journal.

With its combination of poetic brilliance and exquisite art, the Poetry for Young People series has won the admiration of critics, educators, children, and parents. Every breathtaking volume in this acclaimed, bestselling collection features magnificent full-color illustrations that enhance each verse, and a renowned scholar’s guidance to help children understand and love poetry. There’s an introduction to each poem, full annotations that define unfamiliar vocabulary, and fascinating biographical information.The star of this superb new entry in the series is 18th century artist and poet William Blake, who wrote his mystical, spirit-filled verses for children and adults alike. Best known for his masterpieces “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”—both excerpted here—he speaks of love, hate, anguish, relief and above all, mercy and the divine image that comforts us. Blake often uses simple, lovely language that young readers can appreciate, as well as animal metaphors; his poems sometimes even come in pairs, with the same subjects seen from different points of view. Professor John Maynard (Poetry for Young People: Alfred Lord Tennyson) provides the excellent biography and notes. Artist Alessandra Cimatoribus contributes richly colored and magically rendered paintings that fully capture the gentleness of “The Lamb,” the sparkling deep blue sky and angels of “Night,” and “The Tyger,” eyes glistening and sharp teeth bared—burning bright.

"An outstanding introduction to Whitman's life and work. A biographical sketch and a description of the time period...preface this collection of 26 poems and excerpts. Levin... introduces each selection with pertinent information about its relevance to a larger work, its relationship to Whitman's beliefs, or the symbolism within it... selections are thought provoking, descriptive, and full of emotion. Burke's pastel drawings add to the feelings...and to the emotional impact of each poem...This superb volume can be used to teach literature or to show a variety of poetic devices and style."--School Library Journal. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

The writers include Blake, Dickinson, Tennyson, Yeats, Wordsworth, and Keats. The captivating paintings by Simona Mulazanni make every page a delight. And the subject—animals, big and small, wild and tame— has an irresistible appeal to children. William Blake’s “The Tyger” burns bright in the lush image that accompanies the verse. Hillaire Belloc pays tribute to an elephant in a short, witty stanza accompanied by an adorable picture of the creature sitting on a small wood stool. Among the other poems are Marianne Moore’s “A Jellyfish” and Edward Lear’s charming, songlike “The Owl and the Pussycat.”A Selection of Scholastic Book Clubs.John Hollander has written A Crackling of Thorns (chosen by W. H. Auden for the Yale Series of Younger Poets), as well as literary criticism and children’s books. He has served as editor for many poetry collections, among them An Anthology of Poems for Young People (with Harold Bloom). He is currently the Sterling Professor of English at Yale.Simona Mulazanni is a successful and much loved children’s book artist in Italy.

Children instinctively love poetry, with its appealing mixture of rhythm and rhyme. And Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, with his suspenseful narrative verse, deceptively simple structure, and powerful images of 19th-century United States, makes an especially suitable subject for the critically acclaimed Poetry for Young People series. Brilliant, specially commissioned artwork brings to life all the atmosphere, drama, and emotion of his writing: the vital energy of "The Village Blacksmith," the urgency of "Paul Revere's Ride," and the sorrow of "The Wreck of the Hesperus." An opening essay tells of Longfellow's life: his childhood in Maine, his family history (the Longfellows played a major role in New England politics), his success as a professor of foreign languages, and his often-tragic personal life. More than just a biography, it reveals the inspiration for many of Longfellow's most popular works. Nearly 30 poems appear, most in their entirety, including "The Arrow and the Song," "The Rainy Day," "Woods in Winter," "The Forest Primeval" (from "Evangeline"), "Hiawatha's Childhood" (from "Song of Hiawatha"), "A Psalm of Life," and the abolitionist "The Witnesses." As always in this series, supplementary word definitions give children the knowledge they need to fully understand the poems. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.