Day: October 8, 2008

In the Night Garden

| Tasha

In the Night Garden by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles.

Three girls play in the night garden.  One is a bear, who eats berries from the branches.  Another is a whale cruising slowly through the sea.  The last is a sled dog who howls to the wintry sky.  Until bedtime arrives.  The bear pulls on her fuzzy pajamas, the whale spouts water in the bath and the sled dog pulls her covers up tight.  Their adventures are not finished, continuing in their dreams.

The art and poetry here dance together, as imagery comes to life on the page.  Sayles’ illustrations are deep colored and blissful as the girls play together, fading to an ethereal dreaminess by the end of the book.  Joosse’s poetry is accessible for young readers, but not childlike.  Her words are strong and evocative.

A great introduction to poetry for children, this book captures vivid imagination and the joy of play directly onto the page.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Second Children's Poet Laureate

| Tasha

The Poetry Foundation has announced that Mary Ann Hoberman will be the second U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate. 

Here is a quote from their press release:

The award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize, aims to raise awareness that children have a natural receptivity to poetry and are its most appreciative audience, especially when poems are written specifically for them.  “Generations of readers who first discovered poetry in the books of Mary Ann Hoberman remember it not as a dry textbook encounter but as a moment of joyous play.  Her poems tease young minds even as they please young ears with rhythm and rhyme.  We honor her for a lifetime of writing poetry of lasting value for young readers,” said John Barr, president of the Poetry Foundation, in making the appointment.

Hoberman has written so many charming poetry books for children!  This is a well-deserved honor.