Product Description

A beautiful poetry anthology, compiled by Jill Bennett and illustrated by Julia Cairns, which addresses a wide spectrum of family issues and emotions. From the silly to the serious, poems from authors such as Jack Prelutsky, Judith Viorst, and Mary Ann Hoberman celebrate some of the many different types of families that exist around the world today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2675525 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. This attractive collection presents 20 short poems about families, from Mary Ann Hoberman's "What Is a Family?" to Arnold Adoff's "In Both the Families," from Eloise Greenfield's "Missing Mama" to Judith Viorst's "Mother Doesn't Want a Dog." Other notable poets represented include Eve Merriam, Grace Nichols, Christina Rossetti, and Carl Sandburg. Though the verse forms vary little from poem to poem, readers will find significant differences in subject matter, voice, and emotion. Each selection is enhanced by Cairns' appealing watercolor illustrations with their stylized shapes, rich colors, and pleasing patterns. Peopled with characters from different racial groups, the pictures reflect the poems' many cultural contexts as well as the many ideas expressed. A well-illustrated book that will speak to many children. Carolyn Phelan
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About the Author
Jill Bennett trained in education and divides her time between teaching in a primary school and working as an Early Years education consultant in outer London. She is passionate about furthering the role of literature in the classroom and believes 'it is all too easy to forget the unique and fundamental role literature has in developing the imagination.' She is particularly interested in poetry and books with a spiritual dimension, which makes her ideally placed to compile this anthology. Julia Cairns began her career as a fine artist when she moved to Botswana where she worked for nine years. Although she no longer lives there, she continues to be inspired by the joy and hopeful spirit of the African people. Currently she resides in Northern California with her husband, two children and a bevy of farm animals. She also illustrated the recently released We All Went on Safari (2002).