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Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson
Let your children discover the works of poet Emily Dickinson in Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson.
As the premier title in the Poetry for Kids series, Emily Dickinson introduces children to the works of poet Emily Dickinson. Poet, professor, and scholar Susan Snively has carefully chosen 35 poems of interest to children and their families. Each poem is beautifully illustrated by Christine Davenier and thoroughly explained by an expert. The gentle introduction, which is divided into sections by season of the year, includes commentary, definitions of important words, and a foreword.
As the premier title in the Poetry for Kids series, Emily Dickinson introduces children to the works of poet Emily Dickinson. Poet, professor, and scholar Susan Snively has carefully chosen 35 poems of interest to children and their families. Each poem is beautifully illustrated by Christine Davenier and thoroughly explained by an expert. The gentle introduction, which is divided into sections by season of the year, includes commentary, definitions of important words, and a foreword.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2009
95 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,551 books6,829 followersEmily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
January 1, 2017
I love Emily Dickinson. I loved the illustrations and how each poem were divided into seasons. There was also a fantastic forward and in the back of the book, a way for children to see what Emily "was thinking" when she wrote each of her poems. A very well done book for kids.
October 1, 2016
https://msarki.tumblr.com/post/151185...
Wonderful to imagine a young child being introduced to poetry by Emily Dickinson herself, or someone almost like her. Emily’s words (or most of them) do sound right but in this illustrated collection that historic em dash is missing for those of us who seriously read her. Point is, what matters as importantly to a poet is the way her poem looks. The form it takes, its architecture. In Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson edited by Susan Snively it appears the story and illustrations by Christine Davenier takes precedence over remaining true to the work of Emily Dickinson. Though this children’s book is a suitable introduction to one of America’s greatest poets, a disservice is done to the children by the inferior editing. How pretentious to believe a Dickinson poem better, and more accessible, if changed or lightened in its weight in order to be explained inappropriately. It is absurd to think Susan Snively would know best or have better words than the ones Emily had chosen as her own. What alerted me first to this offense was when I read Because I could not stop for death (a favorite poem 712 collected in The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson) and I immediately felt something wrong. Her exacting words had been changed. And some were even missing. The poem’s meaning obviously altered to reflect what the editor wanted, disregarding the punctuation and form Dickinson had established as her own.
Too often in our public schools creative writing is distilled to a simple formula with hard rules. To a genius the likes of Emily Dickinson none of that instruction would apply, and so, in this book, the young student is robbed of a first exposure to a greater art. The child’s basic education is instead woefully patterned for the young student to simply fit in and be assigned a membership in the herd mentality, adding another number to further our world’s commerce and enterprise.
Rather than maintaining this status quo why not subject even the youngest of readers to the un-edited work of Emily Dickinson? To present her poems as written and collected in her many handmade fascicles neatly tied and bundled underneath her bed? A novel idea that offers far greater opportunities to explore and discuss what art truly is, and in this case, poetry. Teaching also becomes more demanding and expects the instructor to learn herself the truth about her subject. But all is not lost in this attractive children’s book. The more inquisitive ones among these exposed children to a censored, somewhat bowdlerized, Emily will further discover in their own future independent study that what this poet actually presented on each authentic page was truly remarkable. And the shame of it all can then be once again proffered and exposed.
Wonderful to imagine a young child being introduced to poetry by Emily Dickinson herself, or someone almost like her. Emily’s words (or most of them) do sound right but in this illustrated collection that historic em dash is missing for those of us who seriously read her. Point is, what matters as importantly to a poet is the way her poem looks. The form it takes, its architecture. In Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson edited by Susan Snively it appears the story and illustrations by Christine Davenier takes precedence over remaining true to the work of Emily Dickinson. Though this children’s book is a suitable introduction to one of America’s greatest poets, a disservice is done to the children by the inferior editing. How pretentious to believe a Dickinson poem better, and more accessible, if changed or lightened in its weight in order to be explained inappropriately. It is absurd to think Susan Snively would know best or have better words than the ones Emily had chosen as her own. What alerted me first to this offense was when I read Because I could not stop for death (a favorite poem 712 collected in The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson) and I immediately felt something wrong. Her exacting words had been changed. And some were even missing. The poem’s meaning obviously altered to reflect what the editor wanted, disregarding the punctuation and form Dickinson had established as her own.
Too often in our public schools creative writing is distilled to a simple formula with hard rules. To a genius the likes of Emily Dickinson none of that instruction would apply, and so, in this book, the young student is robbed of a first exposure to a greater art. The child’s basic education is instead woefully patterned for the young student to simply fit in and be assigned a membership in the herd mentality, adding another number to further our world’s commerce and enterprise.
Rather than maintaining this status quo why not subject even the youngest of readers to the un-edited work of Emily Dickinson? To present her poems as written and collected in her many handmade fascicles neatly tied and bundled underneath her bed? A novel idea that offers far greater opportunities to explore and discuss what art truly is, and in this case, poetry. Teaching also becomes more demanding and expects the instructor to learn herself the truth about her subject. But all is not lost in this attractive children’s book. The more inquisitive ones among these exposed children to a censored, somewhat bowdlerized, Emily will further discover in their own future independent study that what this poet actually presented on each authentic page was truly remarkable. And the shame of it all can then be once again proffered and exposed.
January 22, 2020
I have a hard time appreciating poetry so I thought that reading a collection geared towards children might be beneficial. The poems are short and use simple vocabulary - right up my alley! I can't say reading this suddenly turned me into a poetry buff but hey, a girl's gotta start somewhere!
# literary life reading challenge/a book of poetry
# literary life reading challenge/a book of poetry
August 15, 2024
This set of poems is so much more understandable than Waltman and Sandburg but there were still some that made my brain stutter lol 😂. I love that it was centered on nature and books. I also loved the being content with nature and your life as a whole!!
February 26, 2017
Emily Dickinson is that perfect poet for children, with her clear, true lines, and her honest voice, and her stance as a fellow as well. This is a lovely little book of her best, with beautiful illustrations that add to the text. I hope there will be more of these books.
March 3, 2024
This was a nice little collection of 35 poems. The editor included vocabulary beside each poem, and at the end of the collection is a nice synopsis for each poem. It would be a very readable and understandable intro to Emily Dickinson. The illustrations were especially nice.
October 3, 2016
I was intrigued by the Poetry for Kids premier title Emily Dickinson. Edited by Susan Snively and with colorwashed illustrations by Christine Davenier, the volume presents 35 of Dickinson's poems. The poems are grouped seasonally, starting with summer and ending with spring.
Poems include easily accessible favorites such as "A narrow fellow in the grass," "A bird came down the walk," and "I never saw a moor", the whimsical, and those celebrating nature.
Some selections surprised me. "He fumbles at your spirit" talks about "prepares your brittle substance/For the etheral blow" and "Deals with one imperial thunderbolt/That scalps your naked soul." It is the line 'scalps your naked soul' that makes the poem so forceful and wrenching. The commentary reads, "The poet captures the noisy music of a thunderstorm, as if trapped inside a huge piano. The sounds heightens the drama, until the thunderbolt delivers its mighty blow."
Poems dealing with darker feelings, like "There's a certain slant of light", and mortaility and death, including "Because I could not stop for death" and "Safe in their alabaster chambers," are poems that seem very serious for small children to tackle. In the publisher's note, Charles Nurnberg states that "the emotion and mood of poetry, even when it is almost too hard to understand, is so essentilal to undertanding the world around us." Thinking about this, I realize that learning about life through these beautiful poems allows children to gain understanding about difficult things they will encounter through personal experience and through the everpresent media.
Each poem includes word definitions and a brief commentary "What Emily Was Thinking." The forward includes a synopsis of the poet's life and publishing history.
The book is for children grades 3 through 7.
Upcoming titles will include Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman.
Poems include easily accessible favorites such as "A narrow fellow in the grass," "A bird came down the walk," and "I never saw a moor", the whimsical, and those celebrating nature.
Some selections surprised me. "He fumbles at your spirit" talks about "prepares your brittle substance/For the etheral blow" and "Deals with one imperial thunderbolt/That scalps your naked soul." It is the line 'scalps your naked soul' that makes the poem so forceful and wrenching. The commentary reads, "The poet captures the noisy music of a thunderstorm, as if trapped inside a huge piano. The sounds heightens the drama, until the thunderbolt delivers its mighty blow."
Poems dealing with darker feelings, like "There's a certain slant of light", and mortaility and death, including "Because I could not stop for death" and "Safe in their alabaster chambers," are poems that seem very serious for small children to tackle. In the publisher's note, Charles Nurnberg states that "the emotion and mood of poetry, even when it is almost too hard to understand, is so essentilal to undertanding the world around us." Thinking about this, I realize that learning about life through these beautiful poems allows children to gain understanding about difficult things they will encounter through personal experience and through the everpresent media.
Each poem includes word definitions and a brief commentary "What Emily Was Thinking." The forward includes a synopsis of the poet's life and publishing history.
The book is for children grades 3 through 7.
Upcoming titles will include Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman.
June 5, 2018
I loved the wispy, ethereal illustrations in this book, especially the little kitty who graced so many of the pages!
The poetry selected seemed to be chosen because it is fairly concrete and thus something children could probably understand or connect to -- but a lot of it did not read aloud easily, which is a shame since this is a picture book that one assumes a parent would share with their child, although it's also the type of book that a young reader could find appealing to delve into on his or her own.
My son was too young to really appreciate Dickinson's genius, of course, but I'll keep the book around for when that changes. :)
The poetry selected seemed to be chosen because it is fairly concrete and thus something children could probably understand or connect to -- but a lot of it did not read aloud easily, which is a shame since this is a picture book that one assumes a parent would share with their child, although it's also the type of book that a young reader could find appealing to delve into on his or her own.
My son was too young to really appreciate Dickinson's genius, of course, but I'll keep the book around for when that changes. :)
August 10, 2024
LOVELY. An immediate and enthusiastic addition to the "books to send to friends' children for Christmas" list.
October 3, 2025
“This, and my heart…”
This is a beautifully crafted children’s book—both in its content and presentation. I enjoyed it over an afternoon, with a storm brewing outside.
It’s thoughtfully organised, starting with an introduction and followed by four sections of seasonal poems. One of the best features is the “What Emily Was Thinking” section at the back—pure gold and a really thoughtful addition from the editor. Every page is illustrated, and the artwork wonderfully brings the poems to life.
Overall, a delightful book, full of life and creativity.
This is a beautifully crafted children’s book—both in its content and presentation. I enjoyed it over an afternoon, with a storm brewing outside.
It’s thoughtfully organised, starting with an introduction and followed by four sections of seasonal poems. One of the best features is the “What Emily Was Thinking” section at the back—pure gold and a really thoughtful addition from the editor. Every page is illustrated, and the artwork wonderfully brings the poems to life.
Overall, a delightful book, full of life and creativity.
July 24, 2025
Great, simple read. Beautiful poems, dazzling watercolor drawings. Great collection organized in seasons.
October 3, 2023
im getting to 75 books whatever it takes
June 21, 2017
Grades 3 through 7.
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then theres' a pair of us- don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.
Poetry for Kids by Emily Dickinson is a series of 35 whimsical poems arranged by season (starting with summer, and ending with spring), coupled with Christine Davenier's beautiful watercolor artwork. The National Council of Teachers of English named Poetry for Kids a 2017 notable poetry book. The introduction includes commentary ("What Emily Was Thinking") and definitions of important words. The poems and illustrations are expressive and enchanting, as they highlight the beauty of the world, no matter the season. The poems reveal different emotions, like joy, love, loneliness, and more. There are some darker themes as well, such as death and the passage of time as an inevitable part of life. Children in the poems spy on birds, sneak up on snakes, and talk to animals. It is nothing short of magical!
I think this is an excellent book for students who are learning new vocabulary words. Students can work together with their classmates to make a word wall using the words and definitions provided on the bottom of each page. In addition, students can write their own short poems that have some connection to a specific season! I think students can work together to write their own "Poetry for Kids" books!
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then theres' a pair of us- don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.
Poetry for Kids by Emily Dickinson is a series of 35 whimsical poems arranged by season (starting with summer, and ending with spring), coupled with Christine Davenier's beautiful watercolor artwork. The National Council of Teachers of English named Poetry for Kids a 2017 notable poetry book. The introduction includes commentary ("What Emily Was Thinking") and definitions of important words. The poems and illustrations are expressive and enchanting, as they highlight the beauty of the world, no matter the season. The poems reveal different emotions, like joy, love, loneliness, and more. There are some darker themes as well, such as death and the passage of time as an inevitable part of life. Children in the poems spy on birds, sneak up on snakes, and talk to animals. It is nothing short of magical!
I think this is an excellent book for students who are learning new vocabulary words. Students can work together with their classmates to make a word wall using the words and definitions provided on the bottom of each page. In addition, students can write their own short poems that have some connection to a specific season! I think students can work together to write their own "Poetry for Kids" books!
November 14, 2016
"Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson" is the first book in a new series of poetry for children. Drawing on the works of Emily Dickinson, this book is a great collection to introduce your children to the great works of this poet. I have loved some of Dickinson's poetry so much and was very anxious to share it with my daughters.
Filled with gorgeous illustrations and broken up into different sections by season, this book is a treat for the entire family. While I've read some of Dickinson's poems myself, there was really something special about this book being geared for children. I really enjoyed that I also got a lot out of this book while sharing it with my 18-month-old daughters. I don't believe that kids are ever too young to start hearing poetry and other books. Obviously with my girls only being 18 months old, these poems are probably going to go over their heads. I really think this is a great book that will grow with my girls. This is a wonderful book to share with your little ones to open a brand-new world of poetry up to them. It makes for perfect bedtime stories!
Filled with gorgeous illustrations and broken up into different sections by season, this book is a treat for the entire family. While I've read some of Dickinson's poems myself, there was really something special about this book being geared for children. I really enjoyed that I also got a lot out of this book while sharing it with my 18-month-old daughters. I don't believe that kids are ever too young to start hearing poetry and other books. Obviously with my girls only being 18 months old, these poems are probably going to go over their heads. I really think this is a great book that will grow with my girls. This is a wonderful book to share with your little ones to open a brand-new world of poetry up to them. It makes for perfect bedtime stories!
June 6, 2024
Một cách tiếp cận thơ nhẹ nhàng cho trẻ em
October 27, 2016
What a beautiful book that kids will enjoy. I read this book on an iPad and the illustrations were gorgeous and will engage even a non reader. I can't wait to get the book into my hands to enjoy them even more. The subjects of the poems will interest both boys and girls as they dwell on animals and nature. A perfect book for your grandchildren that you can share and develop and mutual love of reading.
October 3, 2016
My granddaughter and I enjoyed the wonderful Poetry as a bedtime read. All the poems were very well written and lovely pictures. The hardcover book with dust cover will keep it good for years. A nice addition to my library to read to all my grandchildren. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I was given this book from Quarto Knows for an honest review.
I was given this book from Quarto Knows for an honest review.
November 30, 2016
Ultimate Reading Challenge 2016. A book of poetry.
Many short poems. Okay, but nothing in particular jumps out at me. The only line that was familiar to me was from the poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death".
"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me."
A good introduction to Dickinson for children.
Many short poems. Okay, but nothing in particular jumps out at me. The only line that was familiar to me was from the poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death".
"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me."
A good introduction to Dickinson for children.
June 14, 2017
Poetry for kids: Emily Dickinson is a 2017 notable poetry book by the National Council of Teachers of English. In this collection of poems Emily Dickinson creates poems based on the seasons of the year. Within each season one can find between 8-11 poems, more poems in the summer section. Some poems are longer and take up the whole page, while other poems are short, only having three stanzas. The illustrations in this anthology of poems are breathtaking. Each illustrations reminds you of of the season you are reading about. It takes you to the memories you have in that season.
I would recommend this book for intermediate students, between third through fifth grade. This book of poems could be used in the classroom to discuss rhyming, vocabulary, and meaning of poems. Since the poems are easily read students will be able to easily discuss what they think the poem is saying. They also can infer what the poem is about by thinking about the season it is in. I believe this gives some students a scaffold to assist them with poetry. The poems also have vocabulary at the bottom of the page to better explain what some of the words mean. For example, in one poem it says "flakes," an the author explains that they mean "snowflakes."
I would recommend this book for intermediate students, between third through fifth grade. This book of poems could be used in the classroom to discuss rhyming, vocabulary, and meaning of poems. Since the poems are easily read students will be able to easily discuss what they think the poem is saying. They also can infer what the poem is about by thinking about the season it is in. I believe this gives some students a scaffold to assist them with poetry. The poems also have vocabulary at the bottom of the page to better explain what some of the words mean. For example, in one poem it says "flakes," an the author explains that they mean "snowflakes."
October 12, 2022
This book’s genre would be a book of poetry, this book has won no awards. The age range of readers for this book would be ages 9-12. This book is a gathering of many different poems and seems to be going through each season (Fall, Spring, Summer, etc.). It shows different elements of each season where poems are written some longer and some shorter and seems to be a collection of Dickinson’s poems that she has written that are involved with each season. I rated this book with 4 stars, this is a wonderful book filled with many interesting poems and the illustrations really depict what the poem is trying to say in some ways. However, at times the books’ themes seems to jump around which I am sure may be the point of a book of poetry but I found it different but a good different. I believe children would love to hear the poems and see the illustrations to really put them in that setting. A fun activity I could see doing would be to have the children close their eyes and visualize themselves in that season as the poem is read aloud. Have them explain what they are seeing and why they believe they are seeing those images as the poem is read.
May 15, 2023
This book deserves a 5-star rating because its poems are from a single famous author and has an illustration for children maturing to the next level. The art in the book is welcoming and pleasant for young readers to read the book. The language is maturing for the young reader to adapt to the grown meanings behind the poems. Readers need to grow and learn new vocabulary words. Poetry is the art of using literary words to build feeling into the section of the poem. This book would be perfect for children that were growing out of the basics of reading and into another level of poetry. Emily Dickinson is well known for her work in the literary world and numerous writing of her time. Someday when children grow up they would start reading and learning more about their favorite author and maybe follow in her footsteps into becoming poets themselves. I love to watch children growing up into new readings and learning to master the basics of poetry, that just shows how much to learn from reading and writing.
September 6, 2024
Đúng với tên gọi của cuốn sách "Poetry for Kids", tuyển chọn những bài thơ của nhà văn Mỹ Emily Dickinson với 35 bài thơ thú vị cho trẻ em và gia đình bé được sắp xếp theo các mùa trong năm, bắt đầu bằng mùa hè và kết thúc bằng mùa xuân với lời tựa vô cùng ngọt ngào, trong trẻo:
"Đây là tất cả những gì tôi phải mang theo hôm nay,
Điều này, và trái tim tôi bên cạnh,
Điều này, và trái tim tôi, và tất cả các cánh đồng,
Và tất cả các đồng cỏ rộng lớn"
Đọc tác phẩm này chắc chắn sẽ khiến độc giả ở mọi lứa tuổi thích thú trước những câu thơ trữ tình, vui tươi, kích thích tư duy và đôi khi u ám, thể hiện tình yêu thiên nhiên và khoa học cùng khả năng quan sát nhạy bén và cách chơi chữ khéo léo của Emily. Bên cạnh đó, những bức tranh minh họa bằng màu nước của Christine Davenier sẽ tạo cảm giác tự do trong nghệ thuật hấp dẫn trẻ em về cả lối viết và hình hoạ trong Poetry for Kids.
"Đây là tất cả những gì tôi phải mang theo hôm nay,
Điều này, và trái tim tôi bên cạnh,
Điều này, và trái tim tôi, và tất cả các cánh đồng,
Và tất cả các đồng cỏ rộng lớn"
Đọc tác phẩm này chắc chắn sẽ khiến độc giả ở mọi lứa tuổi thích thú trước những câu thơ trữ tình, vui tươi, kích thích tư duy và đôi khi u ám, thể hiện tình yêu thiên nhiên và khoa học cùng khả năng quan sát nhạy bén và cách chơi chữ khéo léo của Emily. Bên cạnh đó, những bức tranh minh họa bằng màu nước của Christine Davenier sẽ tạo cảm giác tự do trong nghệ thuật hấp dẫn trẻ em về cả lối viết và hình hoạ trong Poetry for Kids.
August 10, 2017
Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson is illustrated by Christine Daventer and edited by Susan Snively. It is a collection of work by Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most revered poets known for her unique writing style. This collection is appropriate for kids of elementary school age and beyond. Some of Dickinson’s most popular and notable poems are included in the book including, “Because I could not stop for Death” and “A bird came down the walk.” The collection is organized into four sections that correspond to the four seasons.
I like this book for children because Emily Dickinson’s subjects are universal. Her themes usually involve death, nature, and love. She presents these subjects in abstract ways, while at the same time, makes them relatable to everyday life. While writing about nature and death especially, Dickinson employs personification, which is appealing to kids and teens. She completely transforms her subjects into familiar characters, so that she can interact with them in her poems. Children and teens can learn about poetry from her work. The lines in her poetry alternate between eight and six syllables, with every other accent being unstressed and stressed. She utilizes unusual punctuation, dashes, capitalization of interior words, and slant rhymes. The illustrations by Daventer are beautiful, soft, and appear like watercolor paintings. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars because it is a must read for any child or teen who enjoys poetry. Reviewed on August 1, 2017
I like this book for children because Emily Dickinson’s subjects are universal. Her themes usually involve death, nature, and love. She presents these subjects in abstract ways, while at the same time, makes them relatable to everyday life. While writing about nature and death especially, Dickinson employs personification, which is appealing to kids and teens. She completely transforms her subjects into familiar characters, so that she can interact with them in her poems. Children and teens can learn about poetry from her work. The lines in her poetry alternate between eight and six syllables, with every other accent being unstressed and stressed. She utilizes unusual punctuation, dashes, capitalization of interior words, and slant rhymes. The illustrations by Daventer are beautiful, soft, and appear like watercolor paintings. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars because it is a must read for any child or teen who enjoys poetry. Reviewed on August 1, 2017
November 22, 2023
This is no Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson. I much prefer that series. But this is definitely interesting, if one remembers that there are clues to the meanings of the poems in the back. So many of the poems included here are like riddles, in that the reader is expected to figure out the subject referenced. Definitions of particular words are on the same page, fortunately.
I wonder why the editor left out the poet's famous dashes, though?
I wonder why the editor left out the poet's famous dashes, though?
June 19, 2017
Susan Snively divided the book into the four seasons of the year. Each section contains beautiful poems written by Emily Dickinson. Each poem talks about an important aspect of the season related to the section. The book has an introduction which explains Emily Dickinson’s life and a foreword explaining “What Emily Was Thinking” when she wrote each poem. Each page is layered with beautiful watercolor illustrations. The drawings contain fine black lines.
This book is recommended for children of all ages. Teachers can use it as a read out loud during poetry curriculum.
This book is recommended for children of all ages. Teachers can use it as a read out loud during poetry curriculum.
September 4, 2019
This was absolutely delightful. I loved the illustrations.
I love it when a book of poetry, for kids or really anyone, can do just enough explaining to make it accessible without drowning out the poetry and while trusting the audience to "get it." This hit that nail perfectly. After a brief bio, the poems are presented without commentary but with some obscure words defined as unmarked footnotes. Back matter includes a one sentence description of the theme of each, which I found unnecessary but I like that it's there so the reader can decide for themselves. A great book on a great poet.
I love it when a book of poetry, for kids or really anyone, can do just enough explaining to make it accessible without drowning out the poetry and while trusting the audience to "get it." This hit that nail perfectly. After a brief bio, the poems are presented without commentary but with some obscure words defined as unmarked footnotes. Back matter includes a one sentence description of the theme of each, which I found unnecessary but I like that it's there so the reader can decide for themselves. A great book on a great poet.
June 14, 2022
I used this book to study the work of Emily Dickinson with an 11 year old student. we had so many great conversations about Dickinson’s images, slant, rhythm, metaphors and about her life and beliefs. The book is filled with beautiful watercolour paintings that suit the selected poems. Even though this book is for children, I’d recommend it to anyone, especially if you’ve always wanted to read her work and didn’t know where to start. It’s accessible and thought provoking. She discusses nature, death, science, and meaning in these poems. I can’t recommend enough!
April 15, 2023
This lovely book includes 35 of Dickinson's poems divided into four sections: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. I met several poems I was unfamiliar with, and others that I was familiar with. I especially loved "There is no frigate like a book." Parisian Christine Davenier supplied the loose and free-flowing paintings that look like ink and water color. In the section "What Was Emily Thinking," there is a one or two sentence clarification of each poem. A short bibliography and index complete the book. A great introduction to this poet for children.
March 15, 2019
This is a poetry book that each page is a new poem really focusing on nature and animals around.
This would be a great book for k-2 because they have different difficulties of poems so advanced children could read it as well as children that were a little behind, also seeing nature in a beautiful view.
This would be a great book for k-2 because they have different difficulties of poems so advanced children could read it as well as children that were a little behind, also seeing nature in a beautiful view.
June 15, 2020
Poetry For Kids contains beautiful poetries by Emily from a child's imagination. The poems are lovely and honestly from a child's point of view and the illustrations are adorable and cute.
Blue is my fav colour every page was fab. It's a worthy read as anybody would fall in love with these cute poems and fascinating sketches. I would definitely want a physical copy and own it for lifetime.
Blue is my fav colour every page was fab. It's a worthy read as anybody would fall in love with these cute poems and fascinating sketches. I would definitely want a physical copy and own it for lifetime.
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