A Light in the Attic

By Shel Silverstein

Shadow Race

"Every time I’ve raced my shadow

When the sun was at my bak,

It always ran ahead of me,

Always got the best of me.

But every time I’ve raced my shadow

When my face was toward the sun,

I won."

Shel Silverstein is always fun to read. He has his silly poems, his ironic poems, and his thought-provoking poems (my favorite). Most people end up liking his poems because they’re relatable and it doesn’t take much to understand them. His books are beloved by young and old alike for a good reason. If you’ve not read Shel Silverstein you need to at least try it. Doesn’t matter if you don’t like poetry, it’s poetry that even the most critical will enjoy.

I give it a 3.75 out of 5

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Illustrated by Susan Jeffers

“And miles to go before I sleep.”

This is one of Robert Frost’s most popular poems. Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening has a beautiful, bordering on haunting lyricism. When I came across this picture book set to his words in Barnes and Noble I was more than enthused. It was so gorgeous. The artwork is perfect, and it puts a new spin on the tale. I couldn’t help but picture Santa Claus (as I first found this over Christmas) and was delighted. Everyone I’ve shown this to has been touched and thought it wonderful. It’s a great gift for Christmas, for a friend, for your poetry lover, or your child. Great all around.

It gets a 4.5 out of 5

Shakespeare's Sonnets

By William Shakespeare

So, this is the complete collection of Sonnets by Shakespeare, it's kinda hard to give a summary of them, but most deal with death, love, riches, and other topics. I think everybody is at least familiar with 116, you know the one, "...Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds," Well, that one is definately a favorite, but I found tons of awesome gems that I'd never heard before, so I thought I'd just share a few a get you in the mood to take the time to read this. I know poetry isn't for everyone...but it should be!  This is a quick and beautiful read.

"But wherefore do not you a mighteir way

Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time?

And foritfy your self in your decay

With means more blessed than my barren rhyme?

Now stand you on the top of happy hours,

And many maiden gardens, yet unset,

With virtuous wish could bear you living flowers,

Much liker than your pianted counterfeit:

So should the lines of  life that life repair,

Which this, Time's pencil, or my pupil pen,

Neither in inward worth nor outward fair,

Can make you live you self in eyes of men.

To give away yourself, keeps yourself still,

And you must live, drawn by your own sweet skill."

Sonnet 17

Everything On It

By Shel Silverstein


Have you ever read a book with everything on it? Well, here it is, and amazing collection of drawings from the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up. You will say Hi-ho for the toilet troll, get tongue-tied with Stick-a-Tongue-Out-Sid, play a highly unusual horn, and experience the joys of growing down.
What’s that? You have a case of the Lovetobutcants? Impossible! Just come on in and let the magic of Shel Silverstein bend your brain and open your heart.


Are you poetry phobic? Just pick up a Shel Silverstein book and you'll be cured! He has the funnest poetry for children (and adult kids too!) that just make you smile. This was one of my favorites:

Spiders
A spider lives inside my head
who weaves a strange and wondrous web
of silken threads and silver strings
to catch all sorts of flying things,
like crumbs of thoughts and bits of smiles
and specks of dried-up tears,
and dust of dreams that catch and cling
for years and years and years...

There are silly spoems, serious poems, and poems that make you shake your head at the drawings that go along with them. Shel Silverstein is beloved by children everywhere- it's about time you find him too!

Where the Sidewalk Ends

By Shel Silverstein

Collected poems for children ranging from the silly to the serious.

If you’ve never read Shel Silverstein, you need to go to the library and pick up one of his many poetry books. He also wrote “The Giving Tree”, a sweet book that is well known. His poems carry a fun theme and kids love them. This is the first of his books of poems.

Far From You

By Lisa Schroeder

Lost and alone down the rabbit hole.
Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother—gone
Her father—remarried with a newborn
daughter.
Now...
trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.
But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks....


This book was interesting. I didn’t open it up until I got home from the library, only to discover that it was written in a poetry form. I read it fairly fast, but the story was a tender one about a girl who was coming to terms with her father’s new wife and baby. In a freak accident driving with her stepmother, she learns what’s important and how angels are always watching out for us. Caution: There is some strong language.