About a month ago, I listened to an NPR program with Kwame Alexander and Nikki Giovanni discussing how poetry can be a powerful tool in protesting. You can check that out here. Together, they inspired me to read more poetry, so off I marched to the library to pick up some of Nikki’s books. I am currently loving Nikki’s book of poetry A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter. Her poems in this book range from lighthearted to deeply moving. Folks, this woman has a gift.
I also decided to introduce more poetry to my 2-year-old (almost 3-year-old) daughter. I found this book, Read! Read! Read! By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater; illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke.
We found it on the “New Books” rack in the children’s book section of the library and decided to give it a read. I did not look too closely at it as I placed it in our book bag with the other books we had selected, but when we finally sat down to read it, my heart was warmed from page one. The poems in this book celebrate the power of books and emphasize the impact words have on our lives. Here is one of my favorites:
Double Life
A book gives you a double life.
It builds a treehouse in your head
a haven you can climb to
when you wish to get away.
A book will always be a friend
reaching out two wordy hands
offering enchanted lands.
You can be and go
who and where
you’ve never been.
The cover opens.
You are born.
Let your double life begin.
One of my other favorites from this book is “Stories.” This poem articulates how a book can teach us to process our emotions and that “…tears heal broken hearts.” This is a book that will be finding its way into our permanent home collection.
Do you love poetry? What are some of your favorites? We would love to hear from you! Email us at Teamfriendshippodcast@gmail.com and share your favorite poems and authors of poetry with us!
Post written by Lauren Keen
Reading the NEWBERYs: A Team Friendship Podcast 