Poetry comes in many forms

 Poetry has always been difficult for me. I have always felt like I didn’t “get it” because the meanings I would find would never be the “right” meanings that my English teachers would 




Paul, Miranda. Thanku: Poems of Gratitude. Illustrated by Marlena Myles. Millbrook Press, 2019. 40 pages. Tr. $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5415-2363-0


This collection of poems centered around the ideals of Thanksgiving provides great examples of many different types of poetry, written by many different authors. The general theme of each poem is about thankfulness, but goes beyond the stereotypical American Thanksgiving ideas. There are poems about family, about nature, about humanity, and about our connections to the universe. Each poem gets its own page and illustration, and each is labeled with the type of poem it is. The end of the book contains reference material for the different types of poems included, providing a paragraph explaining how the poem in question is generally formatted, and some questions to further your reading. There are also mini biographies on the authors of each poem, and an editor’s note regarding how to help encourage an interest in poetry in children. A portion of the proceeds for the book supports the We Need Diverse Books movement, and this diversity is celebrated throughout the poems provided.



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Thomas, Joyce Carol. The Blacker the Berry. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins, 2008. 32 pages. Tr. $16.99, ISBN 978-1-5415-2363-0


A collection of poems by Joyce Carol Thomas, beautifully illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Each poem centers around Blackness as something to be celebrated, tied into different berries. Berries are known for being colorful, but as the book states from the outset, “colors, without black, couldn’t sparkle quite so bright.” The illustrations convey a warmth and humanity that echoes the need for the words used. Beautiful poems that celebrate Black beauty and humanity, through different shades. The titular poem The Blacker the Berry starts with the oft quoted “the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.” This collection shows that Blackness is powerful and beautiful. A celebration of existence.


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Harjo, Joy. Remember. Illustrated by Michaela Goade. Random House Kids, 2023. 40 pages. Tr. $18.99, ISBN 978-0-593-48484-5


Adapted from She Had Some Horses (1983) by Joy Harjo into this picture book, gorgeously illustrated by Michaela Goade. A poem all about us: humankind, our connections to each other, and our connections to the world and the universe itself. Stunning artwork filled with Native American imagery, warm, rich colors. The book ends with a call to “Remember, you are this universe, and this universe is you.” An author’s note and artist’s note both show the powerful thoughts behind the writing and the artwork, and encourage readers to continue to remember our connections to each other and our world.



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Heard, Georgia. The Arrow Finds its Mark - A Book of Found Poems. Illustrated by Antoine Guilloppé. Roaring Book Press, 2012. 48 pages. Tr. 16.99, ISBN 978-1-59643-665-7


A collection of poems that have been created from found materials. From dictionary entries to Facebook posts, from newspaper clippings to road signs, these poems collect words found and remove them from their original context, creating all new context with this removal. The collection of poems shows that beauty and interest can be found everywhere, we just have to keep our eyes open to it. My favorite is from a road sign found in Cumbria, Northern England. The sign itself was regarding there being red squirrels in the area, and requesting caution on the part of drivers to avoid hitting them. By adding a clever title to the poem, we get this:


They Don’t Want Speeding Tickets, So….


red squirrels

drive slowly


A fun collection of examples of found poetry, and a great starting point for a class assignment on poetry in general and creating meaning from chaos. 










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