The Spider and the Fly based on a poem by Mary Howitt Illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi.

The Spider and the Fly is an exceptional picture book that is based on a classic poem written by Mary Howitt. The story begins with an invitation, ‘“Will you walk into my parlor?’ said the Spider to the Fly.” The Spider flatters the Fly with lovely words. Will the Fly be able to resist his invitation that has no happy ending for her? The pictures in this book are phenomenal and done in black and white that remind the reader of an old gothic horror film. The fly is dressed as an innocent flapper girl, the spider a polished Victorian gentleman. Being a cautionary tale, it warns the reader to beware of those who compliment you and offer you treats, for they may have evil designs on you!

Jessica, 1st grade teacher

A Child's Treasury of Poems Edited by Mark Daniel

A Child’s Treasury of Poems is a fantastic introduction to the timeless works of classic poets from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some poets include Tennyson, Dickinson, Wordworth and Kipling. The breathtaking artwork is reproductions of paintings and engravings from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The book is filled with lullabies, rhymes, bedtime stories and fairy tales. A great collection of timeless classics for poetry lovers!

Lauren R elementary school teacher

Dogku

With Dogku, author Andrew Clements departs from his usual fiction (Frindle etc.) to write a picture book entirely in haiku. This story is as warm and cuddly as "Mooch" our book's protagonist-a stray dog who is looking for a new home. (Now you know where the book's title comes from!) Some of Mooch's shenanigans make the reader wonder if a family will ever adopt him. Tim Bower's illustrations are just as endearing as the story. As a bonus, Clements includes an interesting author's note at the end of the book where he explains his love of haiku and his reasons for writing this book. -Barbara, Elementary School Reading Teacher

Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho

Hush by Minfong Ho and illustrated by Holly Meade is a lovely lullaby that comes from Thailand. The lullaby is about a mother who is hushing insects and animals that are trying to wake her sleeping son. Mosquitoes, lizards, monkeys and even elephants all come around their house during the babies nap. The pictures are beautiful and show traditional Thai homes and terrain. This book would make a great addition to any nighttime story!

Lauren- elementary school teacher

Honey, I Love and other love poems

Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield is composed of sixteen poems representing everyday life through a child's eyes such as: riding on a train, listening to music, jumping rope, and playing with a friend.
These short poems capture the emotions, especially love, felt by children. Diane and Leo Dillon add to the beautifully written script with their fabulous illustrations. Get lost in the imagery of this book.

~Erica, elementary school teacher

The Man Who Swam Away and Left only His Wet Feet by Gene Frumkin.
Every so often, we language teachers must seek out literature that commercially resides on the margins, for one of the important traits of literature is that everybody writes. Making money does not preclude talented writing; indeed, these processes may be separate, each requiring their own set of skills and procedures. To that end, I love finding literature from unknown "corners" of our society. Gene Frumkin is one such writer. Living in New Mexico, Frumkin first published in the early 1970s. The Man Who Swam is a collection of poetry dating from that first volume. His themes include philosophy, everyday wonders, characters from his life, etc. Stylistically, Frumkin uses the entire page, something not usually chosen today. He believes in the long line with indented lines interspersed throughout; his writing, in fact, looks like a squiggly word picture with these "twists and turns." Considered to be a surrealist wordsmith, Frumkin delves into our mind trips with "clarity" (one reviewer notes). Another critic elegantly states that this text "invites reading and deepens with each new exposure." Wonderful as a high school/college classroom aide for quick views into language versatility and power. By Natosi, high school/college English instructor.

Poetry Slam, Inc. Individual World Poetry Slam 2006, #III (DVD).
Hold on to your seats...you've never seen or heard anything like this. In a blend of live drama and dramatic reading, current performers of poetry strut their verbal skills...and tricks...in front of a live audience for the world poetry slam championships. Diversity rules the event, with performers drawn from around the cultural spectrum. In addition, topics are varying from social struggles, war, homage, and farce. A worthy addition to a high school or college classroom to inspire verbal spontaneity and language interpretive skills. By Natosi, high school/college English instructor.

The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems by Billy Collins

This is my favorite collection of poetry by Billy Collins (Poet Laureate from 2001-2003). This book of poems contains my two favorite poems by him "The Revenant" and "The Lanyard." Each poem is extremely funny. I have these on a CD with Billy Collins reading them and kids love it! In the poem "The Revenant," Mr. Collins said that he wanted to try to create an unsentimental poem about a dog and did so in this poem which begins be stating, "I am the dog you put to sleep" and continues with a hilarious laundry list of reasons the dog never really liked his owners in the first place (with memorable lines such as "you always scratched me in the wrong place" and "The jiggling of my tags drove me mad"). His poems are a great way to get students to realize that poetry is not just stuffy rhyming lines but amusing prose and poignant messages as well.

Julia, High School Teacher

Buckley, Christopher and Gary Young, ed. THE GEOGRAPHY OF HOME: CALIFORNIA'S POETRY OF PLACE. Berkeley CA: Heyday Book, 1999.

An extensive anthology of contemporary poems, GEOGRAPHY focuses on California as the source for poetic inspiration. Not simply referring to the geographical definition of "place," GEOGRAPHY'S themes include social commentary, human and animal characters, spiritual myths, etc. Writers, not all necessarily published poets, range from social critics to naturalists, recent immigrants, professors and teachers, etc. All have insightful and heartfelt renderings on the depth and breadth of California, that land at the edge of the continent. Poets printed in this compendium include Gary Snyder, Robert Hass, Carolyn Kizer, Gary Soto, Dana Gioia, and Jane Hirshfield, among many others. An excellent volume for a high school or college classroom to be used for spontaneous readings and jumping-off points for free-writes. By Natosi, high school/college English instructor.