Alexander, Kwame and Deanna Nikaido. How to Write a Poem. Melissa Sweet, Illus. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 04/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. $18.99. 978-0-06-306090-6. OUTSTANDING.
In this companion to Alexander’s How to Read a Book (2019), readers are encouraged to jump right into the writing process by using their imaginations to describe things in nature. For example, “Close your eyes, open the window of your mind, and climb out, like a seedling reaching for tomorrow.” The text does not rhyme, and nowhere in the story are readers told to write a rhyming poem, making this accessible for all types of creative writing. The colorful collage artwork showcases a variety of items including cut papers, newsprint, pencil drawings, gouache, and three-dimensional objects such as rocks. The children in the illustrations represent a variety of skin colors. Teachers may be the best audience for this joyous book, because it can inspire writing projects and even art projects.
Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool