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Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems: And Other Love Poems – A Reading Rainbow Poetry Collection About Everyday Childhood Joys
This award-winning poetry collection includes sixteen poems that tell of love and the simple joys of everyday life seen through the eyes of a child, by legendary author Eloise Greenfield with illustrations by Caldecott Medal-winning illustrators Diane and Leo Dillon. Each of these sixteen poems is spoken straight from the perspective of a child. Riding on a train, listening to music, playing with a friend...each poem elicits a new appreciation of the rich content of everyday life. The poems are accompanied by both portrait and panorama drawings that deepen the insights contained in the words. This beloved book of poetry is a Reading Rainbow Selection, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and the winner of George C. Stone Center for Children's Books' Recognition of Merit Award.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
13 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
About the author
Eloise Greenfield
74 books54 followersGreenfield was born Eloise Little in Parmele, North Carolina, and grew up in Washington, D.C., during the Great Depression in the Langston Terrace housing project, which provided a warm childhood experience for her.[1] She was the second oldest of five children of Weston W. Little and his wife Lessie Blanche (née Jones) Little (1906–1986). A shy and studious child, she loved music and took piano lessons.[2][3] Greenfield experienced racism first-hand in the segregated southern U.S., especially when she visited her grandparents in North Carolina and Virginia.[4] She graduated from Cardozo Senior High School in 1946 and attended Miner Teachers College until 1949. In her third year, however, she found that she was too shy to be a teacher and dropped out.[5]
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
July 10, 2018
Before the age of 10, I wanted two things: to marry Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and to have my own afro.
Neither childhood dream came true.
Turns out Barry Gibb was, like, 30 years older than I was (and already on his second marriage) and I was a white girl with hair the texture of gossamer. No afro for me.
But, when I pulled this precious, palm-sized book of poetry out of the Amazon box this morning, I gasped at the little girl of color on the cover and then squealed over and over again with joy at every illustration inside of a little girl and her powerful afro.
To me, achieving a truly great afro is right up there with being able to claim you once spotted a narwhal or a unicorn.
I think, given my early obsession with both Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou, I really and truly thought I would grow up to be a black (or Italian) adult, but, alas, I remained a skinny white girl with ancestors from the British Isles.
But that's okay, too, especially given that I can now tap into my inner brown child with Ms. Greenfield's very approachable and rhythmic verse.
With this collection, I can summon 1978 and every dream afro I never had as I read now to my daughters:
The day is hot and icky and the sun sticks to my skin
Mr. Davis turns the hose on, everybody jumps right in
The water stings my stomach and I feel so nice and cool
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool.
And:
Love don't mean all that kissing
Like on television
Love means Daddy
Saying keep your mama company
till I get back
And me doing it.
What an important and empowering collection of kid's poetry this must have been in 1978.
This is some afro-loving, girl-promoting, gold, black and white glory!
Neither childhood dream came true.
Turns out Barry Gibb was, like, 30 years older than I was (and already on his second marriage) and I was a white girl with hair the texture of gossamer. No afro for me.
But, when I pulled this precious, palm-sized book of poetry out of the Amazon box this morning, I gasped at the little girl of color on the cover and then squealed over and over again with joy at every illustration inside of a little girl and her powerful afro.
To me, achieving a truly great afro is right up there with being able to claim you once spotted a narwhal or a unicorn.
I think, given my early obsession with both Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou, I really and truly thought I would grow up to be a black (or Italian) adult, but, alas, I remained a skinny white girl with ancestors from the British Isles.
But that's okay, too, especially given that I can now tap into my inner brown child with Ms. Greenfield's very approachable and rhythmic verse.
With this collection, I can summon 1978 and every dream afro I never had as I read now to my daughters:
The day is hot and icky and the sun sticks to my skin
Mr. Davis turns the hose on, everybody jumps right in
The water stings my stomach and I feel so nice and cool
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool.
And:
Love don't mean all that kissing
Like on television
Love means Daddy
Saying keep your mama company
till I get back
And me doing it.
What an important and empowering collection of kid's poetry this must have been in 1978.
This is some afro-loving, girl-promoting, gold, black and white glory!
March 13, 2024
Sorry I can't say anything useful, or even pick a favorite poem. The recent picture-book Honey, I Love is fine, but this, with 15 other poems and art by the Dillons, is well-nigh perfect. Why have I not already read it... why was it not taught when I was in teacher-training two decades ago?
If you've not read it, do so now, especially if you're a teacher or a parent of young children.
It is available to borrow for free on openlibrary.org.
---
reread, review stands.
If you've not read it, do so now, especially if you're a teacher or a parent of young children.
It is available to borrow for free on openlibrary.org.
---
reread, review stands.
March 31, 2021
The illustrations and poems were so sweet. 💕
March 15, 2010
Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield is a collection of short poems. The simple and sweet poems about everyday things are from a child's perspective: playing with friends, dancing, personal thoughts, and family are all found in this book for kids aged 7-11. My favorite poem, Way Down in the Music, has such movement, "I get way down in the music, Down inside the music, I let it wake me, take me, spin me around and shake me. I get down, down, I get down." The collection contains black and white illustrations that beautifully portray the African American child and culture. This book contains emotion, it's relatable, and honest. While the setting was back in the 1970's, the same feelings and everyday childhood happenings are still present: sadness, happiness, and lonliness are common themes that travel through time. This book was so real, thoughtful, and precious. I have the perfect student in mind that I'll recommend it to!
Read
October 12, 2020This was so good. Wonderful children's poems with spellbinding illustrations (a mix of realism and stick figure abstraction). I ended up reading out loud from the book to my family and everyone loved it.
I feel like a lot of diverse kidlit that came out *before WNDB* is almost never promoted anymore - no one told me about this book, Spouseperson found it at a library booksale. So now I am telling you to go get this one. Short but so sweet.
The illustrators, the Dillons were also prominent in SFF art. Joachim Boaz had a Twitter thread recently: https://twitter.com/SFRuminations/sta...
_____
Source of the book: Friends of the Lawrence Public Library book sale
I feel like a lot of diverse kidlit that came out *before WNDB* is almost never promoted anymore - no one told me about this book, Spouseperson found it at a library booksale. So now I am telling you to go get this one. Short but so sweet.
The illustrators, the Dillons were also prominent in SFF art. Joachim Boaz had a Twitter thread recently: https://twitter.com/SFRuminations/sta...
_____
Source of the book: Friends of the Lawrence Public Library book sale
July 19, 2013
This book of poetry has a special place in my heart because we have read this book to my daughter since she was born. It is a book of poetry that seeks to offset the negative image of black people in the seventies by celebrating and showcasing the life of a black child. It is the kind of book that's just long enough for it to evoke emotion and bring back memories from my own childhood, but also short enough to accommodate a baby's two second attention span. The aspect of craft that Eloise Greenfield employs the best is the art of specificity. There was a poem in the book called I Look Pretty where a little girl dresses up in her mother's clothes and she describes how pretty she feels. I read that poem and it instantly took me back to when I was little and how I used to try on my mother's clothes and the good feeling that I felt when I would do so. If I were to integrate this text into a writing lesson, I might have my children write a poem that doesn't rhyme.
August 17, 2008
I read this book to my daughter; now we read it to my grandson. A classic!
February 21, 2019
Just beautiful. The poetry, the illustrations, everything. Gorgeous. So glad I read it.
February 25, 2023
I found this on a list for Valentines Day, although I wouldn't have considered it for that holiday from the title alone. However, I think it takes a really good look at how love can encompass a variety of areas.
I really love the illustrations in this one. The blurb at the back says that Dillon and Dillon "refuse to be restricted to any one style or technique." The pictures across the pages feature a single black girl in a style that looks almost photographic in black and white, and then there are the orange/sepia backgrounds that look like cut paper collages. It's the kind of thing where the reader notices something new every time, but not in an overwhelming way.
As for the writing, I think it would be great for a poetry or general creative writing unit around Valentines Day for older readers, and could serve as a good mentor text. For younger students, it would serve as a fun and thought-provoking read-aloud (but I'm still debating whether I want to bring it in with the kids, as the text is most likely above their independent reading level).
*
I really love the illustrations in this one. The blurb at the back says that Dillon and Dillon "refuse to be restricted to any one style or technique." The pictures across the pages feature a single black girl in a style that looks almost photographic in black and white, and then there are the orange/sepia backgrounds that look like cut paper collages. It's the kind of thing where the reader notices something new every time, but not in an overwhelming way.
As for the writing, I think it would be great for a poetry or general creative writing unit around Valentines Day for older readers, and could serve as a good mentor text. For younger students, it would serve as a fun and thought-provoking read-aloud (but I'm still debating whether I want to bring it in with the kids, as the text is most likely above their independent reading level).
*
September 18, 2012
Summary
Honey, I love and other love poems is a short poetry book containing sixteen individual poems. Each poem is told from a child’s point of view. Each of the poems has something that a child would talk about and how the child would feel and even see a certain concept, topics as simple as: playing with friends, jumping rope, riding on a train, visiting family, and even music! Each poem also in accompanied with illustrations, each illustration includes a portrait of a child and then drawings from a child as well.
The poems all have a hint of innocence in them, which can very easily bring an adult reader back to childhood or connect to the younger readers quite efficiently. The grammar in the book helps the reader know that this book takes place in the South and of course, by a young child. The book shows the reader the smaller things in life and how important they are, especially from a child’s eyes, something everyone must never forget.
Response
This book is deserving of four stars because of its ability to connect to younger readers in such a meaningful and accurate way, along with interesting the adult reader. The author also does an amazing job with making the words speak. For example in the poem Riding on the Train, the last sentence the phrase “I am getting sleepy.” The word sleepy trails off as if the child is beginning to doze off.
The language is also suited for the younger reader, especially with some sentences spoken in a child’s voice. For example, in the poem Harriet Tubman:
“ Harriet Tubman didn’t take no stuff
Wasn’t scared of nothing neither…”
One of the reasons why I did not give the book the full five stars is because stated in (TMY pg. 9) this book could confuse some children, (even though it is told through a child’s eye). I feel that some children may have not experienced some things as the child in the book has such as riding on a train, appreciating music, or the slavery connection.
Personally though, I loved and enjoyed reading this book, it was very cute and simple but yet complex in the way you had to remember the simple things in life
Classroom Connection
Some of the ways that a teacher could connect this book with a class would be to have a lesson on slavery since that is one of the main topics in a poem. The teacher can explain to the students where it was started and why and how some of the slaves escaped and how some did not. Along with what the slaves actually did and the bad treatment that they had received from the white man. Another topic would be to do social studies and show the trades ways through countries and states. Another connection that would be more personal is having the students write their own poems on what they love and draw pictures along with the poems on how they see things!
Text Complexity
This book is a NP Lexile/GR level M. Interest level grade 3-5.
Honey, I love and other love poems is a short poetry book containing sixteen individual poems. Each poem is told from a child’s point of view. Each of the poems has something that a child would talk about and how the child would feel and even see a certain concept, topics as simple as: playing with friends, jumping rope, riding on a train, visiting family, and even music! Each poem also in accompanied with illustrations, each illustration includes a portrait of a child and then drawings from a child as well.
The poems all have a hint of innocence in them, which can very easily bring an adult reader back to childhood or connect to the younger readers quite efficiently. The grammar in the book helps the reader know that this book takes place in the South and of course, by a young child. The book shows the reader the smaller things in life and how important they are, especially from a child’s eyes, something everyone must never forget.
Response
This book is deserving of four stars because of its ability to connect to younger readers in such a meaningful and accurate way, along with interesting the adult reader. The author also does an amazing job with making the words speak. For example in the poem Riding on the Train, the last sentence the phrase “I am getting sleepy.” The word sleepy trails off as if the child is beginning to doze off.
The language is also suited for the younger reader, especially with some sentences spoken in a child’s voice. For example, in the poem Harriet Tubman:
“ Harriet Tubman didn’t take no stuff
Wasn’t scared of nothing neither…”
One of the reasons why I did not give the book the full five stars is because stated in (TMY pg. 9) this book could confuse some children, (even though it is told through a child’s eye). I feel that some children may have not experienced some things as the child in the book has such as riding on a train, appreciating music, or the slavery connection.
Personally though, I loved and enjoyed reading this book, it was very cute and simple but yet complex in the way you had to remember the simple things in life
Classroom Connection
Some of the ways that a teacher could connect this book with a class would be to have a lesson on slavery since that is one of the main topics in a poem. The teacher can explain to the students where it was started and why and how some of the slaves escaped and how some did not. Along with what the slaves actually did and the bad treatment that they had received from the white man. Another topic would be to do social studies and show the trades ways through countries and states. Another connection that would be more personal is having the students write their own poems on what they love and draw pictures along with the poems on how they see things!
Text Complexity
This book is a NP Lexile/GR level M. Interest level grade 3-5.
April 21, 2013
"Honey, I Love
I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
Like
My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from the South
Cause every word he says just kind of slides out of his mouth
I like the way he whistles and I like the way he walks
But honey. let me tell you that I LOVE the way he talks
I love the way my cousin talks
and
The day is hot and icky and the sun sticks to my skin
Mr. Davis turns the hose on, everybody jumps right in
The water stings my stomach and I feel so nice and cool
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool
I love to feel a flying pool
and
Renee comes out to play and brings her doll without a dress
l make a dress with paper and that doll sure looks a mess
We laugh so loud and long and hard the doll falls to the ground
Honey, let me let you that I LOVE the laughing sound
I love to make the laughing sound
and
My uncle's car is crowded and there's lots of food to eat
We're going down the country where the church folks like to meet
I'm looking out the window at the cows and trees outside
Honey. let me tell you that I LOVE to take a ride
I love to take a family ride
and
My mama's on the sofa sewing buttons on my coat
I go and sit beside her. I'm through playing with my boat
I hold her arm and kiss it cause it feels so soft and warm
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE my mama's arm
I love to kiss my mama's arm
and
It's not so late at night, but still I'm lying in my bed
I guess I need my rest. at least that's what my mama said
She told me not to cry 'cause she don't want to hear a peep
Honey, let me tell you I DON'T love to go to sleep
I do not love to go to sleep
But I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
And honey, I love you. too"
I absolutely love this poem. It has become one of my favorites. This poem is about a young girl who describes everything she loves. Eloise Greenfield, the author, does a wonderful job of repetition and rhyming in this poem. The repeated phrase “Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE,” is so catchy and refreshing. She used the repeated phrase with the rhyming very well in this poem. The phrase is catchy and memorable. I still remember being read this poem like it was yesterday because of the catchy phrase.
I would definitely use this poem as a mentor text in my classroom. I think that students would love to use “honey, I love” or “honey, let me tell you that I LOVE” in their poems. I know I sure did. I remember writing my own piece of “honey, I love” in my poem. I think that students would really enjoy it and us it in their writing, and share it as well.
I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
Like
My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from the South
Cause every word he says just kind of slides out of his mouth
I like the way he whistles and I like the way he walks
But honey. let me tell you that I LOVE the way he talks
I love the way my cousin talks
and
The day is hot and icky and the sun sticks to my skin
Mr. Davis turns the hose on, everybody jumps right in
The water stings my stomach and I feel so nice and cool
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool
I love to feel a flying pool
and
Renee comes out to play and brings her doll without a dress
l make a dress with paper and that doll sure looks a mess
We laugh so loud and long and hard the doll falls to the ground
Honey, let me let you that I LOVE the laughing sound
I love to make the laughing sound
and
My uncle's car is crowded and there's lots of food to eat
We're going down the country where the church folks like to meet
I'm looking out the window at the cows and trees outside
Honey. let me tell you that I LOVE to take a ride
I love to take a family ride
and
My mama's on the sofa sewing buttons on my coat
I go and sit beside her. I'm through playing with my boat
I hold her arm and kiss it cause it feels so soft and warm
Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE my mama's arm
I love to kiss my mama's arm
and
It's not so late at night, but still I'm lying in my bed
I guess I need my rest. at least that's what my mama said
She told me not to cry 'cause she don't want to hear a peep
Honey, let me tell you I DON'T love to go to sleep
I do not love to go to sleep
But I love
I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things
And honey, I love you. too"
I absolutely love this poem. It has become one of my favorites. This poem is about a young girl who describes everything she loves. Eloise Greenfield, the author, does a wonderful job of repetition and rhyming in this poem. The repeated phrase “Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE,” is so catchy and refreshing. She used the repeated phrase with the rhyming very well in this poem. The phrase is catchy and memorable. I still remember being read this poem like it was yesterday because of the catchy phrase.
I would definitely use this poem as a mentor text in my classroom. I think that students would love to use “honey, I love” or “honey, let me tell you that I LOVE” in their poems. I know I sure did. I remember writing my own piece of “honey, I love” in my poem. I think that students would really enjoy it and us it in their writing, and share it as well.
August 5, 2008
One of the loveliest children's books I have ever read.
March 27, 2022
This is literally is the best book of poetry for children that I have ever read. Each one of the poems is brilliantly constructed - the reader can feel them and experience them along with the narrator.
In 16 short poems, there is a clear narrative arc and worldbuilding. The length of the book and formatting of the poems allows the story to be accessible for readers of all ages. This took me right back to how it felt like to be a kid, and the poems are timeless.
The illustrations added immensely to the impact of the work and are far more detailed than initially meets the eye.
To;dr - I want to buy hundreds of copies of this book and give them out to everyone I encounter.
In 16 short poems, there is a clear narrative arc and worldbuilding. The length of the book and formatting of the poems allows the story to be accessible for readers of all ages. This took me right back to how it felt like to be a kid, and the poems are timeless.
The illustrations added immensely to the impact of the work and are far more detailed than initially meets the eye.
To;dr - I want to buy hundreds of copies of this book and give them out to everyone I encounter.
June 18, 2018
Honey, I Love and Other Love poems is a ALA Notable Children's book. It has sixteen poems that express love throughout everyday experiences that we go through. It is told from the perspective of a child. Poems about jump roping, a ride on the train, things, what we look like, Harriet Tubman and other individuals. This could be read to children ages 8 to 15. There was a poem that rhymed and a poem with repetitive phrases. The illustrations also represents the young girls emotions and feelings. I love the fact that it is written in the perspective of a young girl! This is such a great book.
August 11, 2025
Sweet collection of 16 poems from a youthful eye about the ways life has brought her love, soothing, sentiment, and what it is to feel secure.
These poems are timeless in that they make adult readers recall people from their past who provided stabile environments, shaped who they are today, and modeled unconditional love. Children can relate to the poetry because it is spoken in their language, and they're likely to be currently experiencing these forms of love.
These poems are timeless in that they make adult readers recall people from their past who provided stabile environments, shaped who they are today, and modeled unconditional love. Children can relate to the poetry because it is spoken in their language, and they're likely to be currently experiencing these forms of love.
February 17, 2019
A fast little read with wonderful illustrations.
July 12, 2020
Recently I saw Jason Reynolds say Eloise Greenfield's Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems was a book he highly recommends for young readers. I ordered it right away.
This short collections of poetry is so lovely and affirming. Thanks to Jason's recommendation, I highly recommend it as well, and I can't wait to share it with young people soon.
This short collections of poetry is so lovely and affirming. Thanks to Jason's recommendation, I highly recommend it as well, and I can't wait to share it with young people soon.
March 3, 2025
Wow it’s so short. Only 16 poems. I think some students will miss the deeper meanings but we could have good discussions to get there
June 22, 2025
This poet captures the memory of what it feels like to be a child. Good descriptions. I especially liked the poem “I look pretty,” about playing dress up.
December 3, 2013
“Honey, I love” is a poem written by Eloise Greenfield. I used this poem to represent poetry in my list of genres. This poem was listed in a book with many different poems. I like the fact that this one rhymed and had a lot of repetitive phrases. It is written in a young girl’s perspective and I loved it! The little girl explained the things that she loves like her cousin’s southern accent, playing in the sprinklers, and her mother’s arm. The illustrations in this book represented the girl’s emotions very well. I like how the author uses her voice to speak to me in this poem. The attitude and tone that the author uses reminds me of a Southern accent. When I listen to the words in this poem, it speaks to my soul because I consider myself Southern as well. My professor read it with the same attitude and tone that I imagined from the little girl. I think when reading this poem; the reader has to have the right tone. Otherwise, it will not capture the audience’s attention. The author used a craft such as voice to get the readers attention while listening to this poem. Eloise did a great job using voice as a craft in this poem because she made me feel like I was listening to a real person reading this. I understood the words very clear. As I read the poem, I could hear a sassy little girl saying these words; “Honey”, let me tell you that I LOVE a flying pool.” I could use voice as a tool to teach writing in my classroom. I would read this poem aloud to my students to show them how the author used her personality to speak to them. The students will be asked to write a poem about something or someone that they love. In this poem they must use their voices and personalities to touch the reader. I will choose two students to share their work.
October 24, 2012
A little girl expresses her most favorable memories through the art of poetry. In her poems she talks about her wonders, enjoyments, and the people who have inspired her. The illustrations around the poems portray the little girl’s feeling on how she felt when she wrote the poems.
One of the poems that I liked from Honey, I Love is:
"Moochie likes to keep on playing
The same old silly game
Peeka Boo!
Peeka Boo!
I get tired of it
But it makes her laugh
And every time she laughs
She gets the hiccups
And every time she gets the hiccups
I laugh"(n.p.)
I liked this poem because it reminds me of my brother and sister. No matter how silly or embarrassing something is, I always do it just to make them happy. This book reminds me of Locomotion and Honeybee. All three of the books talk about their memories written in a poem format whether they have a rhyming scheme or not.
I would use this book for a lesson when talking about slavery in the United States. I would have the student do a KWL chart on what they know about The Underground Railroad. I would then teach a lesson about The Underground Railroad. I would then break the students into groups and have them research famous African Americans. There will be five groups total and they will each either research Harriet Tubman, Levi Coffin, William Still, Sojourner Truth, or Frederick Douglass. Each group will have to compose a biography of the person for their group.
Lexile: could not find but I would suggest 551-600
Guided Reading Level: M
Grade Level: 3-5
Independent Reading: middle of fourth grade
Appropriate Read Aloud: third grade and up
One of the poems that I liked from Honey, I Love is:
"Moochie likes to keep on playing
The same old silly game
Peeka Boo!
Peeka Boo!
I get tired of it
But it makes her laugh
And every time she laughs
She gets the hiccups
And every time she gets the hiccups
I laugh"(n.p.)
I liked this poem because it reminds me of my brother and sister. No matter how silly or embarrassing something is, I always do it just to make them happy. This book reminds me of Locomotion and Honeybee. All three of the books talk about their memories written in a poem format whether they have a rhyming scheme or not.
I would use this book for a lesson when talking about slavery in the United States. I would have the student do a KWL chart on what they know about The Underground Railroad. I would then teach a lesson about The Underground Railroad. I would then break the students into groups and have them research famous African Americans. There will be five groups total and they will each either research Harriet Tubman, Levi Coffin, William Still, Sojourner Truth, or Frederick Douglass. Each group will have to compose a biography of the person for their group.
Lexile: could not find but I would suggest 551-600
Guided Reading Level: M
Grade Level: 3-5
Independent Reading: middle of fourth grade
Appropriate Read Aloud: third grade and up
April 15, 2012
This collection of poetry is an ALA Notable Children's Book and was awarded the George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award in 1990.The target audience is children ages 5-12(P-I), but this collection can easily be enjoyed by all.
The author uses the voice of a sweet and sassy little girl to talk about all of the great and small things she loves. The language is down to earth and comforting. The artists use a combination of intricate pen and ink sketches and childlike gouache to illustrate what the narrator sees and how she interprets those visions in her own artwork. This has been my favorite book of poems since first grade. If I could give it 6 stars I would!
I would love to explore the gouache technique in an art lesson, using the artwork in this book for reference.
In my opinion, this book should be made avalable in every possible format, but, alas, it is only available in print.
The author uses the voice of a sweet and sassy little girl to talk about all of the great and small things she loves. The language is down to earth and comforting. The artists use a combination of intricate pen and ink sketches and childlike gouache to illustrate what the narrator sees and how she interprets those visions in her own artwork. This has been my favorite book of poems since first grade. If I could give it 6 stars I would!
I would love to explore the gouache technique in an art lesson, using the artwork in this book for reference.
In my opinion, this book should be made avalable in every possible format, but, alas, it is only available in print.
April 23, 2013
This is such a great book. It is about a young girl who writes poems about all the things that she loves. This is a great book because in the sixteen poems it gives student a different point of view when it comes to poetry. Honey, I love is also a great way to teach about poetry and repition.
I have never been a huge fan of poetry but having been read these poems I am slowly changing my mind. Honey, I Love are such wonderful kis friendly poems. THe author does a great job of using repitition and rhyming. Repeating the phrase, “Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE" just continuously reinterates what all these poems are about. I think this would be a wonderful mentor text because students would be interested because it shows that poems can be interesting. Giving them the chance to write a poem on all the things that they love is a great idea.
I have never been a huge fan of poetry but having been read these poems I am slowly changing my mind. Honey, I Love are such wonderful kis friendly poems. THe author does a great job of using repitition and rhyming. Repeating the phrase, “Honey, let me tell you that I LOVE" just continuously reinterates what all these poems are about. I think this would be a wonderful mentor text because students would be interested because it shows that poems can be interesting. Giving them the chance to write a poem on all the things that they love is a great idea.
October 8, 2007
This is without contest my favorite book of poetry. Currently reprinted in its 25th Anniversary year “Honey I love and other love poems” is a childhood classic. Leo and Diane Dillon’s illustrations became as much a part of my experience as Greenfield’s words. I remember jumping rope to the driving rhythm in “Rope Rhyme.” The meter of the poem translates effortlessly into the singsong cadence of a jump rope rhyme so, “Get set ready now jump right in, bounce and kick and giggle and spin.
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February 22, 2011This book of poetry provides text-to-self, as well as text-to-world connections. Through this text, readers will feel Greenfield's appreciation for life. I would read a poem or two from this book whenever my students need a pick-me-up. A few of these poems could be used as a teacher pick-me-up as well :)
May 2, 2016
An inspiring book of love, self identity, and the joys of everyday life. The poems in this book are simply beautiful. Sixteen poems told through the perspective of a child doing exactly what children are supposed to do, enjoy life! Including tidbits of history and background on African American culture, this book sings off the pages and is one that should be read aloud!
January 26, 2022
This book perfectly achieves Eloise Greenfield's purpose of "[giving] them words to love, to grow on". Her collection of poems tells beautiful stories from her life while also preaching self-love. She encourages readers to be themselves, be brave and loving, and to cherish the little things. The well-versed, flowing poetry is enhanced by the gorgeous illustrations, created by Diane and Leo Dillon. One of my favorite illustrations was one that took up two pages, featuring the child-like drawing style, as well as the hyper-realistic style together. The yellow doodles brilliantly contrast the black and white images of a young girl looking at the window, presumably seeing the yellow doodles in her own head. Greenfield shares eloquent poems about her family and friends, and sweet memories she has with the others in her neighborhood. However, this poetry book is not only sweet tales from Greenfield’s childhood. In one particularly strong poem, Greenfield talks about Harriet Tubman, who “didn’t come in this world to be no slave and wasn’t going to stay one either” (pg.40-44). The poem is informative and describes how brave Tubman had to be and accompanied by some of the most stunning illustrations in the entire book. The childlike doodles show Tubman and other slaves in chains, with slave-owners chasing them with guns and dogs. The hyper-realistic images overlaying that are children swinging, holding chains in a much different way. Overall, the poems are beautiful and great for older elementary students. They foster self-love while still flowing well and being informative. The illustrations and gorgeous as well, but it can be hard to miss the meaning behind them if you aren’t paying close attention. I believe some younger students may not grasp all the hidden connections, but I believe these just make it more fun for the adults to read.
February 26, 2019
This was a phenomenal book. Including 16 poems in its entirety, this book beautifully composes poems about love and joy, interestingly through the eyes of a child. The child talks about things she loves- the way her cousin speaks, playing with friends, and her mother. She also does things because she loves others, like keeping her mother company until daddy gets home. This book is so powerful for children to read about happiness in life and finding peace and joy in little things in their days. The poems are also accompanied by beautiful portraits that help readers see what she loves and how she sees her world. This book would be great for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade. I would use this book as a read aloud perhaps to start our day in the classroom, but also I think it would be great to accompany a lesson on poems. There were 16 poems, and I think it might be interesting to have students read a couple and then write a poem of their own about something or someone they love. It would also be cute to read around Valentines Day, or Mother’s or Father’s Day. This book was a WOW book to me because of it being in a child’s perspective. It had amazing pictures, and the poems were very easy to read but also very beautiful and well written. The poems are positive and joyful, and I feel that every little girl should have this book. Lastly, I loved this book also because of how universal the connections can be- girls can connect to it, but also different cultures and family dynamics!
May 25, 2022
As a Black girl who needed to see and hear this book but didn’t, I promise I appreciate that it is here for young Black children. I also appreciate that it is a tool for non Blacks. It lets people understand how we feel about ourselves, those we love, our neighborhood and community. Not just children. This book is amazing, it’s necessary, I found it when my son was in high school, kept it throughout his college years all the way through to earning his master’s degree, kept it through girlfriends, kept it until his marriage came and my amazing grandson was born. Kept it until he was old enough to really get that this book is filled with self examination, love for yourself, and love for those who are different. Filled with the love of simple things like a water hose in the summer heat. This story takes you back to a time when you noticed the softness of your mom’s skin, and her smell, but mostly her love for you and her kindness. This book is manna. I saved this book because I knew how much I was going to love my grandson. And of all the books I’ve ever read,I saved this book for over 20 years because I wanted to read it to my grandchild. I could have bought a new one, but this is the one that made my inside burst into a slow dance on a rainbow with no colors just warm, golden sunshine, it made me save it for someone who would own my heart. Thank you for this book. It is snapshot of a time in a little loved Black girl’s life.
Annalisa M Draper
Annalisa M Draper
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June 23, 2025A beautiful collection of children's poems. Not children's poems in the sense that they are simple or trite though--no these have depth and richness and history. Not just limericks either (though of course those are wonderful too. Eloise Greenfield certainly accomplishes her stated goal from the back cover "to give [children] words to love, to grow on."
The illustrations are beautiful and stunning as well, and expressively drawn with all ranges of emotion. Here there is depth too, the child behind the chain on a swing set on the first page of the poem about Harriet Tubman, and then swinging freely in the air, pushing the chains of that swing out as she soars as the poem talks about freedom,taking no stuff, having no fear.
"Aunt Roberta
What do people think about
When they sit and dream
All wrapped up in quiet
and old sweaters
And don't even hear me 'till I
Slam the door?"
"Reggie
It's summertime
And Reggie doesn't live here anymore
He lives across the street
Spends his time with the round ball
Jump, turn, shoot
Through the hoop
Spends his time with arguments
and sweaty friends
And not with us
He's moved away
Comes here just to eat and sleep
and sometimes pat my head
Then goes back home
To run and dribble and jump and stretch
And stretch
And shoot
Thinks he's Kareem
And not my brother"
The illustrations are beautiful and stunning as well, and expressively drawn with all ranges of emotion. Here there is depth too, the child behind the chain on a swing set on the first page of the poem about Harriet Tubman, and then swinging freely in the air, pushing the chains of that swing out as she soars as the poem talks about freedom,taking no stuff, having no fear.
"Aunt Roberta
What do people think about
When they sit and dream
All wrapped up in quiet
and old sweaters
And don't even hear me 'till I
Slam the door?"
"Reggie
It's summertime
And Reggie doesn't live here anymore
He lives across the street
Spends his time with the round ball
Jump, turn, shoot
Through the hoop
Spends his time with arguments
and sweaty friends
And not with us
He's moved away
Comes here just to eat and sleep
and sometimes pat my head
Then goes back home
To run and dribble and jump and stretch
And stretch
And shoot
Thinks he's Kareem
And not my brother"
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