R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet Book

Winner of a Mom's Choice Awards -- 2008 Gold Recipient!

Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature

Where was this book when I was studying poetic forms in school? It is formatted like a picture book but really is so much more. The poems will appeal to the younger readers, but the information that accompanies each is a real goldmine. Running through the alphabet, readers learn what constitutes a ballad, what a ghazal is as well a haiku, kyrielle, onomatopoeia, quatrain, and plenty more. The poems are amusing and the illustrations provide even more humor. The sidebar contains some pretty detailed information about each poetic form and is probably even too detailed for the high end of the proposed age range. For a high school or college student, teacher, parent or librarian, this book will find many uses. It offers terrific examples and explanations to make poetic forms understandable, and even has a page of pointers on the last page with a special note to parents and teachers, as well as a glossary. A must have for any school or classroom library and a gem for any English teacher. 2006, Sleeping Bear Press, Ages 4 to 10.