Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets

by Paul B. Janeczko

"For a class, or to work up enthusiasm about writing - and not just poetry - one could hardly do better for young people than this fresh and inviting collection." - KIRKUS REVIEWS

How do you write poetry? It's a question with as many answers as there are poets. Now, in this unprecedented volume, thirty-two internationally renowned poets provide words of wisdom and inspiring examples of their own work for new poets everywhere.

Compiled by anthologist extraordinaire Paul B. Janeczko, a talented poet in his own right, this outstanding resource offers a fascinating spectrum of advice from those who know best - ranging from "break a few rules" to "read Shakespeare's sonnets in the bathroom" to "revise each poem at least thirty-two times." Not surprisingly, the most frequently made suggestion from these seasoned poets is simply to "read, read, read!" This rich volume - an ideal resource for classroom teachers and a beautiful gift for budding writers of all ages - offers the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Genres: Poetry, Writing, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Paul B. Janeczko is a poet and teacher and has edited more than twenty award-winning poetry anthologies for young people, including STONE BENCH IN AN EMPTY PARK, LOOKING FOR YOUR NAME, SEEING THE BLUE BETWEEN, and A POKE IN THE I, which was an American Library Association Notable Book.

Reviews

[Sydney Levine]

This compilation of poems and advice from poets is a great way to get students excited about poetry and motivating them to write their own. Each poet featured in this compilation wrote a brief letter to young poets inspiring them to write their poetry, before including their own poems. Many of them stress that poetry is unlike lots of things we learn about in school, and there is so much freedom there’s hardly a wrong way to do it; but, whatever you write must truly convey what’s in your mind and heart. This book may not be best for students to sit and read all at once, but this book is appropriate for grades 3-5, and anyone learning about poetry.
This book can be used to get students excited about poetry, teach the “rules” of poetry, see examples of poems from poets, and get advice on how to write poetry. This can also be used in the broader sense to inspire students to read and write more; many of the poets’ advices are about the importance of reading and writing.
This is a WOW book for me because the words of advice to young poets are truly inspirational. These poets tel personal experiences with poetry that are relatable, words of encouragement that are inspirational, and advice that is doable, for poets of all ages.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of the “how to write poetry” advise is repetitive, however it is said differently by each poet so still worth a read. A few poets I’m familiar with were included, and many more poets I am not familiar with were too (but after reading their sections I think I may like to be).

[Steph K · Rating 3 out of 5]

When they say "young poets," they mean YOUNG poets — elementary and middle school ages for the most part. To be honest, I didn't really like it regardless. Very few of the poems were good. Some were comparable to Shel Silverstein in that they're actually clever and humorous. Most of the poems just felt bland and not descriptive or complete. A lot of the "letters of advice" said the exact same thing — be observant, find inspiration everywhere, revise your poems. I think it definitely drives the point home, but it's also very redundant. I think maybe for someone whose JUST getting into poetry, it could be useful, but as someone who has been writing poetry for at least 6 years, most of this advice is just common sense at this point. I'd only recommend this for like elementary or middle schoolers, and I'd also treat it like a reference books — something you go to ONLY when you need advice or inspiration, instead of reading it beginning to end.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with lots of good advice for novice poets. Based sa mga sample poems at language ng book, mukhang targeted siya for teens pero useful naman kahit ano pang edad ng reader. Ang ganda ng cover art, gusto ko yung paper na ginamit (makapal, medyo yellowish na off white at ang bango). Parang mga liham ang format niya. 32 contributors, 32 letters of advice to young poets. Tapos may sample poems from each contributor. Mga two to three pages per contributor, kaya madaling basahin. Naka-pattern yata ito sa Letters to a Young Poet ni Rilke although hindi ko pa nababasa yun. May ibang advice na umuulit pero ok lang naman.

[Amy Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid pick to add as a mentor text and share with my writing experts this year when we begin to explore poetry. Quick snippets from the hearts of accomplished poets written directly to the young writer.

[Christy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid YA aimed book of poems and letters of advice from a wide variety of poets to beginning poetry writers.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good advice and examples for aspiring, young poets

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, Paul B. Janeczko has compiled poems and advice for young writers written by some of the foremost names in children’s and young adult literature. The book contains letters from 36 different poets. Some of the most prominent among them are Karla Kuskin, Jane Yolen, Joseph Bruchac, Douglas Florian, and Naomi Shihab Nye. The advice given in the letters varies by author, but the most common piece of advice is to read widely and enthusiastically. Many include philosophical thoughts about the nature of poetry, what makes a poem “good,” and some of the important elements involved in their creation. Others discuss the individual writing process that they use when they are developing ideas for, writing, and revising their own poems.

The wealth of creativity and insight contained in this volume is evident in the letter writing. School Library Journal notes that the letters are “personal, friendly, and supportive” (Amazon.com 2004). Each letter is artfully and thoughtfully constructed. Some of the poets choose to write their letters in poem form or include snippets of their poetry to illustrate points. In addition, each writer has his own personal way of opening and closing his letter. For example, George Ella Lyon signs her name beneath a wish that states “may the ink be with you” (75).

After each letter, one or two poems by the author are included. Janeczko has done an excellent job culling examples from each poet’s repertoire that will have high appeal to teenagers. Teens will especially relate to poems about school, first love, family issues, and writing. The selection of poems presented is creative and diverse. Some are narrative, some are humorous, some are lyrical, others are ponderous, while still others serve mainly as a vehicle for description of nature and natural phenomena.

One particularly interesting poem is Bobbi Katz’s “When Granny Made My Lunch,” which symbolically describes a teenager’s discomfort at being a Jewish child in a Catholic school:

“…A brass band of a sandwich
clamoring for attention,
the chopped liver
heaped between uneven slabs of pumpernickel
or sliced brisket piled on ragged rye.
And always,
always,
the raw onion:
a Jewish star
in this place of crosses
marking me as an outsider…” (61).

In this poem, Katz relates the experience of fearing being perceived as different by one’s peers. She uses personification when she describes the sandwich as “clamoring for attention” and relates it to the loud, buoyant noise of a “brass band.” The description of “heaps” “uneven slabs” and “ragged” rye creates a sense of dishevelment, probably symbolizing the subject’s fear of being noticed as unique or different.

Another interesting poem is Kristine O’Connell George’s “The Blue Between” which is the basis of the book’s title:

“Everyone watches clouds,
naming creatures they’ve seen
I see sky differently,
I see the blue between –

The blue woman tugging
her stubborn cloud across the sky.
The blue giraffe stretching
o nibble a cloud floating by.
A pod of dancing dolphins,
cloud oceans, cargo ships,
a boy twirling his cloud
around a thin blue fingertip” (37).


In this poem, George encourages readers to look at ordinary sights in a new way. The series of metaphors she uses to describe the spaces between clouds fills the reader’s mind with vivid images that spark the imagination. “Seeing the Blue Between” was an excellent title for this compilation because poets often do the same thing George describes in her poem – they look at ordinary objects and events in new ways and find the magic and mystery within them.

This anthology also includes brief biographical information on each poet included in the collection, as well as their pictures. This makes it easy for teens to discover titles written by poets that are new to them. An index of first lines is also included. This book is highly recommended for its diversity, creativity, and the high quality of the poems contained within it. It will also be helpful as a writing guide and may inspire some teenagers to consider writing poems of their own. The book would also be useful for class activities and discussions.

[Mrbrudney44 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry anthology is a great tool for students who would like to begin writing poetry. This anthology is unique in that it is divided into chapters depending on the poet. Each poet writes a letter at the beginning of his/her chapter, directed at young poets. The letters are meant to inspire children to create poetry. The poets offer advice to the children about how they should go about creating verses. At the end of the letters, the poets wish the children luck in creating poetry of their own.

Each of the chapters also features a couple of poems by the poet so that students become exposed to a variety of different styles of poetry. By studying a variety of different types of poems and themes of poetry, students will definitely become inspired to create poetry of their own. They could write a poem in a similar form as one of the poems featured in the anthology, or they could borrow a theme from a poem and use it to craft a unique poem that reflects their style.

I envision that this book could be read aloud to students in grade 3 or higher. This book would especially be suitable in a unit about poetry. Every day, the teacher could read a chapter of the anthology aloud. The class as a whole could discuss the particular poet's advice and then examine one or two of his/her poems. Afterward, the class could collaboratively write a poem in the style of the poet before splitting off and attempting a poem on their own. This anthology would also serve well as an independent read for any student interested in poetry. I would recommend this book as an independent read for advanced third graders and higher.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poetry anthology compiled by Paul B. Janeczko that features 32 different, well-published poets. What I absolutely loved about this anthology is that it wasn't solely a compilation of verse text. The text is organized into sections based on the author of the handful of poems and at the beginning of each section (which features 2-3 pieces of poetry by the author) the author addresses the reader in prose. I find this a wonderful relief from all of the verse that could have been featured in this book. I think, however, what I really enjoyed about this text was the subject matter: advice and inspiration for young writers. I just completed my Teaching Writing course and so I see a lot of potential in this book to help students better connect with the writing process. There is a wonderful prose piece by Naomi Shihab Nye titled "To My Dear Writing Friends" that talks about the importance and inspiring nature of revisions in writing. I think that this would be a great book to base writing lessons around for secondary students and maybe some older primary students. I could see these readings being selected for close reading purposes only, not as a whole-book read for the class.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another poetry title recommended by J. Patrick Lewis. This book features letters of advice from published poets to kids who are interested in writing their own poetry. Letters are short, inspirational, and full of great advice. No letter reads the same. Following each letter is a poem or two by that author.

This is a great title to bring out during National Poetry Month or as part of a writing unit in school. Additionally, these letters and poems would be of value to an introductory creative writing course at the college level. The poems featured in this book are more mature than most poems found on children's nonfiction bookshelves. Authors address items of interest to any writer just beginning their craft whether in elementary school or beyond.

An excellent read for teachers, would-be writers, and especially kids who think they hate poetry. There's a lot to love and this book makes poetry more accessible for a young audience because it encourages each reader's unique outlook and way of observing their world.

[Kasandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The advice to young poets = very good. Wish someone had told me some of these things when I started "seriously" writing poetry at age 13. The poems themselves = really poorly chosen, I felt. Very few of them interested or moved me at all, and I enjoy good childrens' poetry. There were a couple of very good poems in here, but no matter what age group this book is geared toward (I was never quite sure, but perhaps it's elementary school), I felt the poems were too geared only toward young children and tended to be too simplistic. Kids can appreciate and understand better poetry than this, and to use some examples of great poetry wouldn't have hurt, or better poems that weren't all geared toward 8 year olds. A couple of people mentioned Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, and including some quotes from that would have helped tremendously. A dumbed-down book, I think. If I had a child who wrote poetry I'd give them the advice and skip the book and steer them toward better poetry.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janeczko compiled letters and poems from thirty-two poets (most are well known) that offer very helpful suggestions to young poets as they begin or continue to write. The book is conversational and does not read like a textbook because it is broken up with lots of poetry and offers some humor. There is also a section of brief notes about each of the contributors that offers their background in literature

[Dannielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite anthologies! It even has letters from authors to explain their poems and give motivation to "the young writer". The poems are so classic! My favorite one was is what inspired the title. The Poem is about looking at the clouds, and instead of looking at the shapes of the clouds, the author looks at the blue between. It's beautiful! Side-note: My little sister wants to be a writer so I'm contemplating a christmas gift.. That's how much I like it!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book when I went to the library looking for poetry anthologies to provide to my class in order to help them in their search for a poem to memorize. I found I loved this book so much that I purchased it on Ebay so I could continue to use it in my classroom for years to come.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for teaching about poetry. The different featured poets share their sometimes contradictory opinions about poetry, which gives the reader a broad scope of perspectives on the subject. And the poems, too, provide a broad scope of the genre, as well as being cute, clever, and enlightening. The targeted audience is obviously children, but it doesn't need to be.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful inspiration for beginning poets and writers (adults, too!)

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome for use in the middle school classroom. Includes poems PLUS letters written by the poets to young writers.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students who see themselves as writers and those I see as writers (all of them) benefit from the ideas "real" writers share in this slim volume.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of different poets giving advice for young poets and a sampling of their poems. An excellent book for young writers. Anything by Paul Janeczko is usually great for youngsters.

[Celia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for the young writer, very informative. I found it interesting how there are letters from real authors and it is not just a book of tips. loved the book, so you have to read it to.

[Elaine Bearden]

looks interesting - poets write advice to young writers. interspersed with poems. cover i have is nicer than above. janeczko has done so much collecting!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the poetry was fairly thin, though I read most of it. But I skimmed many of the intermediary notes, since many of them were similar – advice to potential young poets.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

accessible and a pleasure to read for both kids and adults

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

a pick me up poem book.

[Cathy Blackler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice anthology of poetry to use in your poetry unit.

[Nayeli C]

I really liked this book, because it really has great advice and it helped throughout life. c:

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters from 32 poets written to young writers accompanied by a couple of the poet's poems. Reading a poet's letter and work every day could make for an interesting and inspiring poetry unit.