This collection of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins all center around the theme of books and reading. The thirteen poems, including one by Hopkins himself, demonstrate the broad gateway to learning and escapism that books provide readers.
The poems employ various devices to convey the richness of language and meaning. Many employ rhythm or rhyme, and several use personification, making the book as active a participant in the action as the readers described in the poems. In some cases, as with the titular poem the book is the speaker of the poem. Though each poem in the book is distinct and meaningful standing alone, the selections blend together very effectively to create a cohesive collection.
Each of the short but meaningful poems contained in this collection are presented on a two-page spread and are accompanied by whimsical painted illustrations by Yayo that support and add meaning and interest to the poems. Images of books are cleverly worked into the illustrations as boats, oceans, popsicles, and treasure chests among other things to signify the roles of the book in the lives of readers. The table of contents, which lists each poems and author, provides access points into the text.
At book's end, the reader is provided with short blurbs about each of the poets whose work is included in the collection. Most of the poets are well-known contemporary poets, who have won awards and published works in various anthologies or in their own collections such as Karla Kuskin and Jane Yolen. The book contains one poem by poet Jill Corcoran whose work had not previously appeared in a published anthology. Most of the poems appear to have been written or copyrighted the same year as the book's publication, but some of the selections are older and have been previously published such as Karen B. Winnick's "Quiet Morning" and Beverly McLoughland's "When I Read."
Featured Poem:
Book
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Book in my bed
Snuggled in story
By heart
In my head
I wallow in words
Chapter One
Til The End
Closing the cover
I sigh--
Good-bye, friend.
After sharing this poem with students, I would draw their attention to lines such as "snuggled in story" and "I wallow in words," which combine a concrete, physical action/verb with a object that cannot really receive that action. I might also point out the last line that addresses the book as a person. I would encourage the students to come up with other phrases or sentences to show an abstract concept like story could be paired with a physical action verb to create an image of strong interaction.
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