Fact Friday on a Sunday: Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion

Image: Peachtree Books

Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion. Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. 48 p. Peachtree Books, March, 2022. 9781682631911. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Ugh! I was getting ready to write my Middle Grade Monday post early for once and saw that I didn't copy over my Fact Friday post. So sorry!

In #nevertoooldfor picturebook news, Fact Friday features Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Ecosystems are fascinating subjects. Poet Leslie Bulion is an ace at conveying science-y subjects through the imagery of poetry. Here, Ms. Bulion utilizes the Swahili poetic form utendi to do so. Animals large and small play a role in balancing an ecosystem. 

The poems sit in the upper left hand corner of the verso pages and bits of prose expand on the concept mostly on the recto pages. Softly hued single- and double-page illustrations depict much of the wildlife. Back matter includes the origin of the word, "serenget" from the Masai language, a two-page glossary, information about Serengeti stewardship, books and websites for further reading and a map of the region. This book is perfect for poetry lovers and budding ecologists. Happy reading!

Fact Friday: And We Rise: the Civil Rights Movement in Poems by Erica Martin

Image: Penguin Random House

And We Rise: the Civil Rights Movement in Poems by Erica Martin. 154 p. Viking/ Penguin Young Readers, February, 2022. 9780593352526. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday! So my break is winding down and I didn't read as much as I wanted, but got a lot of decluttering work done around my house. I also had the windows and carpets cleaned and the tile floor was waxed by a guy I have been using for more than 30 years. I also had some tree work done. My husband is probably rolling over in his ashes because he was adamantly opposed to any tree removal. In fact, he bought a special tow cable and used his Jeep to yank a fallen fir back upright, then attached the cable to a nearby maple tree to keep it standing. Needless to say, it didn't thrive. I feel like I'm living in a new house. 

Fact Friday features And We Rise: the Civil Rights Movement in Poems by Erica Martin. In her debut collection of poetry, Ms. Martin combines her love of writing and U.S. History to walk young readers through the Civil Rights Movement from the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, which ruled "separate but equal" unconstitutional. Not much changed in the Jim Crow south despite the ruling. And then, the marching started.

The poems use a variety of forms and effective use of white space and are accompanied by black and white historical photos from the era. A timeline follows an author's note and each poem is sourced. There are suggestions for further reading and bonus content.

There are many powerful moments in this spare collection. It's unusual, yet effective.  

Fact Friday: Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

Image: Bloomsbury

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by many. Bloomsbury Children's Books, January, 2021. 9781681199443. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it! Spring break is upon us! I am so ready for this break. I have no plans except to read, work in my garden and be active every day.

Fact Friday features Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes. Ms. Grimes pays homage to the under-appreciated female poets of the Harlem Renaissance through the"Golden Shovel" poetic method. This means she took a line or two from original poems by groundbreaking Black women, largely ignored, to create her own poems. Each spread features the original poem with the line(s) chosen bolded, followed by Ms. Grimes' new poem along with a brilliant illustration created by a Black female artist.

Ms. Grimes teaches readers a bit about the Harlem Renaissance and the "Golden Shovel" method as a preface to her collection. Back matter consists of poet biographies as well as artist biographies, sources, permissions and an index making this a terrific resource for aspiring poets and students of cultural history.

This is first-purchase! No poetry collection would be complete without this book. I plan on purchasing it for my own library as well as my school's. It's a book I know I will revisit often. 

Fact Friday: The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford

Image: Little Bee Books

The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. 48 p. Little Bee Books, January, 2019. 9781499804119. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Fact Friday features The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford. I'll put it right out there. I loved this book! This gorgeous picture book dazzles from end-page to end-page and is the perfect marriage of text and illustration. 

After a forward written by producer and musician, Swiss Beatz, Weatherford's connects the rich past of African American storytelling and singing and poetry as a direct path to the rise of Hip-Hop music in a sprightly, rhythmic poem whose words flow beneath each double-page painting. Morrison's art pulses with life. Each spread exudes energy and spirit. Do not rush past these spreads. And don't skip the back matter! There's both an author an illustrator note, a glossary, and a timeline.

The Roots of Rap is a first-purchase. It's a must-read for all lovers of music as well as non-musicians. 

Fact Friday: Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman

Image: Quarto Books

Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman. Edited by Karen Karbiener, PhD. Illustrated by Kate Evans. 48 p. Moon Dance/ Quarto, 2017. 9781633221505.

In honor of American Poet Walt Whitman's 200th birthday, Fact Friday features Poetry for Kids Walt Whitman edited by Karen Karbiener, PhD and illustrated by Kate Evans. Whitman was a bit of a rebel in the poetry world back in the day and Dr. Karbiener, a professor and expert on Whitman, excerpts thirty-five poems along with commentary and definitions of unfamiliar words. This accessible introduction is also illustrated with moody watercolor paintings and spot art. Happy birthday Walt Whitman!

Picture Book Review: A Place to Start a Family: poems about creatures that build by David L. Harrison

A Place to Start a Family: poems about creatures that build by David L. Harrison. Illustrated by Giles LaRoche. unpgd. Charlesbridge, January, 2018. 9781580897488.

I have been a terrible librarian. Not only has this lovely book been unreviewed since I read it back in January, but I have totally neglected to post any poetry books in honor of Poetry Month! Time to remedy the situation.

A Place to Start a Family promises rich cross-curricular use. I'm talking language arts, science and art. Twelve animals (plus one bonus) are highlighted and grouped by where on Earth they construct their abodes - builders underground, on land, in water and in air. The brief, rhyming poems capture the essence of the homes each animal builds and backmatter provides additional facts as well as suggestions for further reading.

The collage illustrations are so detailed and textured, my fingers itched to touch them. They invite pausing to pore over them, so take your time reading and sharing. 

Picture Book Review: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander. unpgd. Versify/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2, 2019. 9781328780966. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Two of my absolute children's literature favorite talents got together and produced a masterpiece. This! This, folks needs to be read and shared. The words alone, originally performed for ESPN, are incredibly powerful. Combined with Kadir Nelson's portraits of African Americans famous and unknown, along with a stunning and moving use of white space, the poem's emotional impact increases exponentially.

I was privileged to hear it performed by the poet at Words last week, and to hear the artist state that while he has taken to only illustrating his own work, he made an exception for this poem. 

I teared up several times during Alexander's reading. I do so every time I reread it. I shared it with one of my classes and they all leaned in to listen. We took some time to identify some of the people in the portraits. Detailed backmatter will help with some less familiar faces and an author's note rounds out what should be a first-purchase for all libraries. 

The Undefeated is already on the NYT bestseller list. It's getting starred reviews all over the place. It doesn't need my stinky little blog review. But, man, how I loved this book. I purchased it with the intention of donating it to my school's library, but am keeping it for my own library. 

Fact Friday: Hello, I'm Here by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder

Hello, I'm Here by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder. unpgd. Candlewick Press, March 20, 2019. 9780763698584. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.) 

Our Fact Friday feature proves one is never too old for picture books! Hello, I'm Here is a poem written by Helen Frost from the POV of a sandhill crane chick who is about to peck its way out of its shell. 

It is gorgeously illustrated with full-color photos by Rick Lieder chronicling the activity in the nest of a pair of parents who diligently care for their eggs. The "aw" factor increases once the chick emerges in all its fluffy cuteness. A note at the end of the book provides more information about sandhill cranes. This is a beautiful contemplation of nature and family bond. It was love at first sight, and second (those end-pages!) and third...

#tbt: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. 112 p. Joanna Cotler Books/ HarperCollins Publisher, July, 2001. 0060292873. (Own.)

I don't want to
because boys 
don't write poetry.

Girls do.

My heart melted at the opening words of Jack's poetry journal. He is such an endearing character! He's equal parts resistant and eager to please and shows such growth over the course of the year he spends with Ms. Stretchberry. I read this aloud to many classes and cried each time. I also love the fact that Ms. Creech included the poems that were mentioned/ modeled in the book. Love That Dog is a perennial favorite at TMS.

#tbt: Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes. 176 p. Penguin Young Readers Group, December, 2003. 9780142501894. (Own)

The eighteen students in Mr. Ward's english class are studying the Harlem Renaissance. When one student, Wesley, writes a poem instead of an essay for an assignment, Mr. Ward is inspired to host open mic and encourages his students to write and share their poems. This class is filled with students from a variety of cultures and mostly poor families. Readers learn about them - their struggles at home and in school - and come to appreciate how important this class becomes for each. 

Nikki Grimes won the 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award for Bronx Masquerade. She has written a number of verse novels between then and now. A sequel of sorts, Between the Lines is due out on February 13. 

Review: Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham & Charles Waters

Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham & Charles Waters. 40 p. Carolrhoda Books/ Lerner Publishing Group, January 1, 2018. 9781512400425. (Review from finished copy won at AASL, courtesy of publisher)

Charles and Irene are classmates in Mrs. Vandenberg's classroom. They don't particularly like each other. Charles is chatty and fidgets. Irene is quiet.  They find themselves stuck with each other as partners in a poetry project. Charles is actually looking forward to working on this project because, "Words fly off my pen 
onto the paper, like writing is my superpower." 

Charles suggests topics like shoes, hair and church. Irene writes about how she wished for an afro when she was younger; but her perm was a disaster. Charles writes about how he feels when kids try to touch his hair. They get to know each other through their shared poems but not without some mis-steps. Irene wishes that she would be invited to join a game of freeze tag the black girls are playing. Shonda confronts her with, "You've got the whole rest of the playground... Can't we at least have this corner?"

When Charles is rebuffed on the playground, he invites Irene to work on their project. Charles clearly has more to deal with than Irene, but they both take tentative steps towards friendship. 

The poems are paired on each page - one by Charles and one by Irene. They read smoothly, are accessible and a good choice to share with children to start a conversation about race - a conversation that many adults feel uncomfortable having. Pair a reading of this with Julius Lester's Let's Talk about Race, and you have two texts to help guide discussion with almost any age group, including young adults. The mixed media illustrations enhance the text. Observant readers may pay close attention to the newsprint used in the collage work. 

At AASL2017 in November, I attended a panel discussion entitled, Mirror, Mirror, Reaching All Readers, moderated by Carole Boston Weatherford. The panelists included Bill Konigsberg, Ellen Oh, Icy Smith and the two poets of this title. The authors read from their most recent work and went on to answer a series of fascinating questions posed by the moderator. I was so impressed by the discussion of Can I Touch Your Hair?, I made a note to myself to order it. Near the end of session, Waters announced that Lerner had provided several copies of Can I Touch Your Hair? to the attendees who could answer some poetry trivia questions. I was able to answer, "Who is the Children's Poet Laureate of the United States?" I won for knowing it is Margarita Engle! I beelined to the front of the room at the end to get the book autographed. I can't wait to share this with my colleagues and students.

Fact Friday: Traveling the Blue Road: Poems of the Sea edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Traveling the Blue Road: Poems of the Sea edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. unpgd. Seagrass Books, October, 2017. 9781633222762. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Let me put this right out there first: Language arts and social studies teachers who might be looking for a great title for a cross-curricular project, stop and take a look at this beauty! So rich with possibility!

Okay, now I can meander. 

I am not really a water person. While I love to be near the water, in the water? Not so much. I will enter the water as long as I can stand. Going out past where I can see land? Nope, nope, nope. The first time I saw the Mayflower II and realized just how small and rickety a craft it really was, I nearly barfed. That a hundred-plus people packed their worldly possessions and themselves onto the vessel and set out for the unknown boggles my mind. Still, those great expanses are intriguing. I confess that I never viewed the sea as a road. 

Traveling the Blue Road is a fascinating collection of original poems centered around the theme of arrival, whether by choice or capture or needing to flee a homeland. These poems will make you think. They are arranged chronologically and gorgeously illustrated with mixed media collages, most of which incorporate primary source images. This collection is one to get lost in both words and images. Seriously. Don't rush through it. In addition to a sprinkling of quotes throughout the book, the back-matter includes historical information behind each poem. Traveling the Blue Road: Poems of the Sea is a great addition to any library.

Non-Fiction Monday: Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. Illustrated by Dylan Metrano. unpgd. Orchard Books/ Scholastic Inc., February, 2016. 9780545699808. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

A good cure for nature deficit disorder is to just get outdoors. One sure way of luring young people outdoors is to share irresistible books that make them beg to go outside. Every Day Birds is one such book.* The other day, I read this blog post by Don Torino, naturalist and president of the Bergen County Audubon society. Great food for thought. My students are a pretty lucky bunch. Our science teachers are amazing and our town has a gorgeous nature center run by another amazing naturalist who visits three or four times a year to explore the nearby stream with students.

I love being out of doors. I love watching birds. I keep multiple bird feeders out in my front yard and while the squirrels who raid the feeders bother me to no end, I delight in watching which of my feathered friends might stop by. 

I am also a fan of Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's work. She's so passionate about nature (and poetry writing across the curriculum) and her poems always make me want to get outside. This lovely poem introduces twenty common North American birds. The illustrations are reminiscent of stained glass. Though they are not photorealistic, young readers will easily identify the bird in the wild based on the cut paper collage illustrations. Indeed, a teacher or librarian looking to make a unit out of this could pair photos (and even birdsong files) with the illustrations for a nice cross-curricular connection. 

There are several pages of thumbnail illustrations along with a line or two of extra tidbits about each bird. The poem is also written out in its entirety across two pages. 

What a lovely book to share with budding birders. Share this one widely. Visit the author's website for more information about her books, including book trailers, and school visits (highly recommended). 

*Other fun titles for curing nature deficit disorder are:
Forest has a song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.
Step Gently Out by Helen Frost
Sweep Up the Sun by Helen Frost
Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffen Byrnes
The Boy Who Drew Birds: a story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies

Arc Review: Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

Free Verse by Sarah Dooley. 335 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 17, 2016. 9780399165030. (Review from arc courtesy of editor)

This quiet novel, part of which is in verse, packs a powerful punch. There is so much loss in young Sasha's life, it's no wonder she has anger issues. Her mother abandoned the family when she was five. Then her father died in a mining accident when she was eight, leaving her and her brother Michael to fend for themselves. Michael, who desperately wanted to join the military and leave Caboose, West Virginia, put his dreams on hold to care for Sasha. When he died fighting a fire, Sasha believes she has no one. 

Luckily for her, there are a number of caring adults in her life who won't give up on her despite how many times she runs away or erupts violently. Phyllis takes her in to foster and tries to provide stability and space. Slowly, Sasha lets her guard down and when family is discovered right next door, Sasha warily begins to hope. But then a new loss causes her to stop speaking. She retreats into her poetry notebook, where she finds her voice.

Ms. Dooley (Livie Owen Lived Here) paints a vivid picture of the hardships that residents of a mining community face - the dangers for the workers, the poverty, as well as social problems such as addictions, that might arise. But all is not bleak, there is beauty, even in the grime, and a strong sense of community as well. This novel is peopled with memorable characters.

The language is lovely. I dog-earred quite a few pages to revisit. Lines like, "We see houses in town that lean toward each other like they're cheating on a test." (p.196)

I agree with the marketing blurb that teachers and librarians should give Blank Verse to fans of Sharon Creech, specifically, Walk Two Moons. Fans of emotionally wrenching books, or first-person narratives, or introspective, character-driven books will appreciate Sasha's voice. Don't miss this gem.

Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis

Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon. 114 p. Wordsong/ Boyds Mills Press, October, 2014. 9781620917855. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

Seventy, mostly first-person poems from mostly fictionalized narrators give young readers a you-are-there glimpse into one of the most galvanizing events in the Civil Rights Movement - the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. Some 250,000 participants traveled on foot, by bus and by train to march for jobs and racial equality. They were young and old, black and white, educated and striving. While variety of speakers gave speeches and musicians, such as Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson and Joan Baez performed, the day is probably best known for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s momentous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Perfect for pairing with Shane W. Evans' picture book, We March for highlighting the idea that individuals can make a difference or as an introduction to the Civil Rights Movement. This powerful and accessible novel is a unique addition to any school or public libray collection. An authors' note, bibliography and time line conclude the volume. 

Hi, Koo! by Jon J. Muth

Hi, Koo! by Jon J. Muth. 32 p. Scholastic Inc., February, 2014. 9780545166683. (Finished copy courtesy of the publisher for review.)

Koo (Zen Shorts) is back, tripping through a year and 26 haiku. While they all are not technically haiku, the reason explained in the Author's Note at the beginning, they all evoke simple joys found in each season. They are, at turns, contemplative, celebratory and hilarious. Each haiku is illustrated charmingly in watercolor and ink in a lovely palette dominated by greens and blues in the spring and summer, reds in the winter and browns in the fall. Adorably rotund Koo is front and center in each painting, but joined by two or more friends in most.

Arriving just in time to incorporate into a poetry unit for National Poetry month, this is a sparkling addition to your collection. 

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K.

by Greg Pincus. 226 p. Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Inc., September, 2013. 9780439912990. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for a review.)

Gregory K. is a poet lost in a family of math geniuses. Until now, amiable Gregory has kept his lack of math skills and fondness for the subject, a secret from his mathematically overachieving family. His cover is about to be blown because he's in danger of failing math. If he does, he knows he will find himself in math camp this summer instead of author camp with his best friend, Kelly. Author camp was always going to be a hard sell with his folks and now that Kelly's moving away, Gregory wants to attend more than anything. Can he risk telling his parents the truth? Remember I said that Gregory is amiable? In order to please everyone, he spins a series of lies. Of course, it collapses but Gregory gets help and support from an unexpected source and learns to see how his particular skill set can help him understand math.

This sweet and gentle middle grade novel about family, friendship, math and poetry is engaging and humorous. Warning: Do not read on an empty stomach. Kelly's mom owns a pie store named Slice, which Gregory visits daily and pie is described in glorious detail.

The Candy Smash by Jaqueline Davies

232 p. (The Lemonade War series #4) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group, January, 2013. 9780544022089.

Fourth grade continues for Jessie and Evan Treski. As Valentine's Day rolls around, Jessie is trying to come up with ideas for her extra credit newspaper and Evan is discovering that he loves poetry. He's even attempting to write some, secretly. He's also noticing that Megan is looking pretty good but gets embarrassed when his friends tease him about having a crush on her.

Then, candy hearts begin showing up on everyone's desk and no one knows who's doing it. Everyone seems to be getting personal messages but Evan.

This summary really does no justice to this installment in The Lemonade War series. It's probably my favorite one in that Evan's journey is so carefully crafted. Each chapter begins with a definition, mostly about the craft of writing, such as onomatopoeia, and personification and such. Ms. Overton had recently instituted a "Poem of the Day." Evan felt "they were like music, and they made something deep inside of him go zing."

The poem that the class dissects is one by e.e. cummings and Jessie has an instantaneous dislike to it for its "mistakes." Ms. Overton leads the class in a discussion about the poem that is instructive but also feels real. Evan has some problems reading and really appreciates the fact that not only does Ms. Overton read the poem, but goes over it line by line so that he can read it to himself later. He always finds a way to sneak a copy of each poem to take home without anyone knowing.

The brother/ sister dynamics are complicated what with Jessie being accelerated into Evan's class in fourth grade. She's also a bit opinionated, tends to miss social cues, and very right-brained. She is sensitive to her brother's feelings though and does try to toe the line, especially at school.

Fans of the previous books will happily devour this one. It can stand alone quite nicely though. Highly recommended.

Gone Fishing: a novel in verse by Tamera Will Wissinger

Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. 120 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March, 2013. 9780547829118. (Purchased)

Sam just loves to fish. He and his dad have a sacred fishing routine and he is so looking forward to going fishing the next day. Just Sam and Dad, Dad and Sam. Then, he discovers that his tackle box has been invaded by a princess doll, a throne, a clown and a bottle of perfume. Lucy!

Sam finds Lucy wearing his lucky fishing cap and riding a boat fashioned out of his fishing maps and steering with his compass. She was fair; she made a trade.

Sam is not amused. 

Unfortunately, the next day, he finds that his dad is rather difficult to get out of bed, but Lucy is up and raring to go. Uh-oh. 

This delightful story of fishing and sibling rivalry is told through a variety of poetic forms and link together in a blank verse novel sure to please the upper elementary crowd, and their language arts teachers as well. Matthew Cordell's whimsical black, white and grey line art perfectly captures Sam's growing dismay and Lucy's blissful exuberance.

But wait, there's more! Not only does the poet helpfully notate the type of poem under each title, but a "Poet's Tackle Box" is provided at the end in which, Ms. Will Wissinger helpfully explains poetic terms like rhyme and rhythm, and techniques like alliteration and assonance and imagery and simile, as well as poetic forms like ballad and cinquain. This is sure to thrill the LA teachers in my building as our school participates in an annual poetry festival and all students are expected to submit at least one poem for consideration to represent their grade level in a culminating, valley-wide celebration. 

I was very sad not to be able to make Matthew Cordell's signing of this book at ALA Annual and not just because he promised to draw a quick sketch for everyone on line, but because I'm a fan of his work and wanted to meet him in person. On Monday, I happened by the Houghton Mifflin booth and spied a stack of the books for sale. Score! Then I learned that the author was there to sign! Double score! Then I discovered that the batch had also been signed by M.C. Yes!

I'm donating this to my school's library.

Do check this one out. I'm sure I will be purchasing a few more copies as the LA teachers discover it.

Click here for Tamera Will Wissinger's website and here for Matthew Cordell's website.

Other blog reviews:
GreenBeanTeenQueen
100 Scope Notes
Bookends

Non-Fiction Monday:Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers: The life of Marc Chagall in Verse

by J. Patrick Lewis & Jane Yolen. 40 p. The Creative Company, August, 2011. 9781568562110. (Purchased)

Two premier poets team up again, this time they use fourteen of Marc Chagall's paintings as inspiration for poems depicting various stages in his life. Full-page, full-color, fully annotated reproductions reside opposite a poem, which bears the name of the painting. Pale-tinted text boxes below each poem provide more information about the artist's life in prose and below that, if necessary are definitions of the Hebrew or Yiddish words used above. Several black and white photographs are also reproduced. The final page lists works that the authors consulted.

What a creative and intriguing biography! I was a bit surprised by the copyright date of 2011. How had I missed this? I don't remember what prompted me to put this in my school library book order, but I'm glad I did. It might lend itself to lovely cross-curricular collaboration with the art teacher, not necessarily biographical but perhaps having students choose a painting of an artist or artistic movement being studies and composing poetry along with a bit of additional research. Or, the book can be part of a literature circle with a verse biography theme, joining books by Marilyn Nelson (A Wreath for Emmett Till; Carver: a life in poems), Margarita Engle (Poet Slave of Cuba), Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Frida: Viva la Vida!), or Carole Boston Weatherford (Becoming Billie Holiday). 

Of course, it can be enjoyed all on its own and certainly deserves space in the poetry collection.

Non-Fiction Monday is being hosted this week by A Wrung Sponge.