The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems

by Paul B. Janeczko, Richard Jones (Illustrations)

Toast a marshmallow, be a tree in winter, read braille -- Paul B. Janeczko and Richard Jones invite you to enjoy an assortment of poems that inform and inspire.

Today I walked outside and spied
a hedgehog on the hill.
When she and I met eye to eye,
she raised up straight and still.

Be they practical (how to mix a pancake or how to bird-watch) or fanciful (how to scare monsters or how to be a snowflake), the poems in this book boast a flair and joy that you won't find in any instruction manual. Poets from Kwame Alexander to Pat Mora to Allan Wolf share the way to play hard, to love nature, and to be grateful. Soft, evocative illustrations will encourage readers to look at the world with an eye to its countless possibilities.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Nonfiction, Anthologies, How To

48 pages, Hardcover

Published February 25, 2019

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

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog, is a book filled to the brim with thirty-three wonderful poems by a variety of poets. The poems cover lots of different subjects including animals, food, and life in general.

The book is not only filled with amazing poems, but it also is full of wonderful full-page illustrations that complement each poem perfectly.

My favourite poem was about camels called ‘How to Tell a Camel’ by J. Patrick Lewis. In which the poet explains how to remember which type of camel has one hump and which has two by turning the first letter of their name on its side – Dromedary has one hump and Bactrian has two humps.

The book is a great introduction to poetry for children as all the poems are aimed at or about children and they all are simply beautiful.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dandy collection of fun poetry by writers ranging from the relatively new - Kwame Alexander to the venerable -Robert Louis Stevenson. All creations are made even more delightful by the addition of Richard Jones' stunning artwork.





My two favorites?

Toasting Marshmallows
It hinges on a second, an inch.
A shade too long, a hair too close,
and perfect crisp brown
turns to bitter charcoal,
gentle melting
becomes ooze.
And you lose the game,
the marshmallow
to the flame.


On the Fourth of July
Take one dark sky,
Mix one large crowd,
prepared beforehand to be quite loud.
Set rockets down,
Wait for cues.
Now it's time to light a fuse.
There it goes - there's the first.
Watch it rise, watch it burst.
Gold to red, red to blue.

Fireworks! Let's all go, "Oooh!"

both by Marilyn Singer



A glorious read!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as wonderful as it thinks it is, not quite worthy of being oversized, and not satisfying (to me). I want poems that say that they're 'how-to' poems to be either clear (like 'To Make a Meal') or sarcastic/ sassy (like 'Tired Hair') not vague or lame. If I were using this as a mentor text, I'd discuss the poems first with the children, try to find out which ones each of them liked or didn't like and why.

Nice idea for a book, almost successful, not quite recommendable. Imo.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is incredibly helpful. Maybe. Now that I have a useful memory aid for remembering which is the Bactrian and which is the Dromedary, I'll not have an occasion to apply it.
But a fun collection, well selected, good rhythms with stylized illustrations that reflect mood well.

Library copy

[Ember Air · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had so much potential - it could have been so cute! I love poem collections, I love children's poem collections, and I love animals/nature, so this collection should have been right up my alley - but I hated it. Some of the poems were okay, some were almost good but ruined it with the last stanza or so, and others were so bad I couldn't find a single part to appreciate. The artwork was a lot of fun though.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite anthology. So many poetry friends can be found between these covers. So many perfect how-tos.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often check out new children's books from the library. I share them with grandchildren. Many books are very good. Occasionally one is so outstanding that I need to purchase it for my own library and, of course, I say it is for the grandchildren. This book of poetry is so engaging and beautifully illustrated that I just had to purchase it. I shared it with my four year old granddaughter who listened to every poem, laughed out loud at silliness of some, and named a few favorites after a couple of readings from cover to cover. The subjects are varied and entertaining. Most of them follow the "How to" theme and subjects include everything from mixing a pancake to meeting a hedgehog to making snow angels and riding a bike to what to do if tired of your hair. I look forward to sharing this with all of my grandchildren and seeing which ones are their favorites and get a giggle.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! a poetry collection that kids will WANT to pick up. Parents, this will remind you of collections we read in the '90s (and, as these are all previously published works, you actually might've read some of them then). This poetry begs to be read aloud, with a child on a lap or in a group. With a lovely array of poets addressing how-to instructional topics, this anthology is well-ordered and well-illustrated.

A perfect introduction to poetry for kids who 'hate poetry.'

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very charming and cozy illustrations from Richard Jones, but I was lukewarm on most of the poems. Two stuck out for me and made me want to read more.

Rules
Karla Kuskin

Do not jump on ancient uncles.

Do not yell at average mice.

Do not wear a broom to breakfast.

Do not ask a snake's advice.

Do not bathe in chocolate pudding.

Do not talk to bearded bears.

Do not smoke cigars on sofas.

Do not dance on velvet chairs.

Do not take a whale to visit
Russell's mother's cousin's yacht.

And whatever else you do do
It is better you
Do not.


How to Be a Tree in Winter
Irene Latham

Enough hiding --

drop any leaves
that linger.

Etch your
message

in calligraphy

across
a parchment

sky.

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthologist Paul B. Janeczko pulls together a delightful mix of "How To" poems from how to build a poem to how to rules to how to pay attention. Richard Jones' illustrations are rich and wonderful and meant to be savored. Terrific book to share in classrooms and as a spark for students to create their own "How To" poems with accompanying collage illustrations.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, the poem "The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog" is 100% how to greet a hedgehog. They really nailed their shy personality. ~Anyway, I really enjoyed the illustrations and the rest of this book. I really liked several of the poems in here and it really gave a unique feeling when reading them or really capturing the essence of something or feeling. I would highly recommend this book! ~Ashley

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is a series of poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko. Each poem has a different author, but they all rhyme in a wonderful limerick way. The poems themselves are whimsical, and cover topics such as scaring monsters away, taking care of trees, and of course, properly meeting hedgehogs. Each poem is matched with a wonderful illustration that perfectly depicts what the poem is discussing. The poems themselves aren’t too long but give enough information to create a clear image.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone to read, especially children. The topics are all magical and whimsical, letting children’s imagination run free. The illustrations are beautifully done, with so much color and style to them. The poems themselves are pretty easy to understand and straight forward, but still fun to read. The authors all made sure that they were relevant to what children are experiencing, such as swinging on a swing, making snow angels, and seeing fireworks. The limerick to each poem made for easy and enjoyable reading, and in my opinion this would be a great storytime book to read to any and all children. Overall a really great book that anyone can enjoy.

[Becs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations accompanying poetry intended to capture a child's attention. The illustrations certainly accomplish that with ease, each with a different nature-based focus, but unfortunately the poems are so basic that this resulted in a large number of them feeling quite superficial and not especially captivating.

A really pretty collection, but otherwise quite disappointing.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Courtney Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be honest from the start: I do not get poetry. I have nothing against it and I think people who love and appreciate it are awesome, I just have never understood it myself. I just can never find myself interested in reading poetry or enjoying it in any way, but I am trying to broaden my horizons and read things outside of my usual medium, so I figured children’s poetry was a good place to start.

This is an anthology collection of children’s poetry, mostly circling around nature and weather. A lot of these poems are very pretty and read nicely, but they’re nothing I would remember or carry in my head after reading. What I did love, however, is the art by Richard Jones. This is a gorgeous book, and I had more fun looking through the art than anything else. All the pieces fit perfectly with the poems they are paired with, and it adds so much to the overall reading experience.

A really pretty book for any parent to get for their child or to give as a gift.
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[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was bittersweet to receive Paul Janeczko's latest collection just after his death and the fun I had reading this underscores how much he will be missed by those who love poetry and sharing poetry with children.

Here is another joyous collection with a fun and unusual premise - how to poems! Featuring mostly contemporary poets, the subjects range from how to make pancakes to how to say thank you in sign language the title poem explaining how to meet a hedgehog. Some serious, comic, the poems are by a wonderful range of poets including Nikki Grimes, Marilyn Singer, Kwame Alexander and Karla Kuskin.

Richard Jones illustrates the book with charming and whimsical paintings that add a lovely warmth.

Ideal for quiet browsing or classroom enjoyment. Use for a poetry unit, writing prompt or to help celebrate Poetry Month.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure from where the recommendation for this one came but I am grateful! I loved every poem in this collection and most of the illustrations as well. That hardly happens, loving every poem! I will include the one that was probably my favorite...

How to Catch a Poem by Irene Latham

Step into the trees
on a summer night -

follow starshine
and cricketsong.

Be still, keep quiet;
watch for the flicker.

(No chasing,
let it come to you.)

Reach. Hold it in the safe
cave of your fingers

until the wings tickle.
Marvel at the glow

then

let it go.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another poetic treat by the amazing Paul B. Janeckko. The illustrations are whimsical and top notch! A perfect offering for Poetry Month.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable collection of poetry. My favorites are about the hedgehog and the marshmallow.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun poems for all ages.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice mix of poetry, but I am not a big reader and nothing really grabbed me.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful new anthology of poems, all organized around How-T0s of various kinds: Mix a Pancake, How to Be a Snowflake, A Lesson from the Deaf, and of course, The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog. I LOVE the illustrations by Richard Jones, and all the writing inspiration that could come from this book!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Richard Jones. 45 pages. PICTURE BOOK/POETRY COLLECTION. Candlewick, 2019. $18. 9780763681685

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book with an excellent selection of poems, perfect for sharing or an independent reader. Would be a brilliant gift. Highly recommended for ages 6-11.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of instructive poems has a nice mix of familiar and unfamiliar poems. It's not my absolute favorite poetry book, but it's decent and my kids really love the illustrations.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of random poems, all of them very different from each other. ‘The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems’ is a hardback book with a matt outer cover. It is a little bigger than A4 in size and is filled with text and lots of lovely, colourful illustrations on thick matt pages. The hardback cover actually looks extra special due to the copper coloured shiny title and the beautiful pattern along the spine.

Inside the book there are double page speads, or single pages of poems, each accompanied with some kind of illustration swhich often change the colour of the page itself. The poems are all very different and rather than this book being a collection by one author, this is a compiled selection from various poets, both modern and from the past, including one poem by Robert Louis Stevenson! Every poem is on a different subject with all of them being very random and no real connection to any of them. ‘The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog’ is one of the poems inside the book and is one of many that rhyme, while there are others that don’t.

I’m not sure what to think of this random collection. All of the poems are fun to read, with some being far more engaging and interesting than others. Most of them are very short, some only lasting a few lines, but all of them feel fun to read and many have a good pace and no complicated words that would confuse kids. Although I said this is random selection, the poems do feature a ‘how-to’ theme of sorts, although some of the poems don’t really feel like they do this so much, such as ‘Fireworks’. I have to say, some of the poems I really enjoyed and these were often the more rhyming kind (I love reading rhyming poetry!) but there were plenty of really good ones and I couldn’t help but smile at the very last poem which has a short but to the point message.

The illlustrations are beautiful and so fun. They look like a mixture of block printing and paints that have been sometimes collaged onto each other but most of the time it just looks like fun paints, with no black outlines and this makes the nature in many of the images feel more real and alive. I love how cute and fun many of the pages look (including that hedgehog!) and there is a surprising amount of detail in many of the illustrations which I enjoyed. This also made it more fun to read some of the poems such as one called ‘How to Make a Meal’ which has some funny instructions and an even funnier picture to go with it! Every poem’s writer is credited on each page, uder the poem, which is a nice additional touch too.

Although many of the poems were really good and I do like the feel of many of them, at times it felt just too random and a few of the poems just didn’t feel so fun to read. Having said that though I found some of them very interesting, like the poem explaining the simple way to tell apart a Dromedary camel from a Bactrian, and the poem explaining some sign language in such a simple way. Overall I do think it’s a lovely collection for kids to read, maybe along with adults who can make sense of some of the poems and explain them to kids, although I’d warn that it is a bit random and I’m not sure kids will ‘get’ or enjoy every simgle poem.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul B. Janeczko has collected a group of poems that are cute and in some cases just fun. One of my favorite poems came near the end of the book. It is called How to Catch a Poem by Irene Latham. One of the biggest complaints I hear each year when I tell students we are going to write poetry is, "I don't know how to write a poem". This year when I did my unit I asked students to sit outside or near a window and observe and make a list of things to write about. It was funny because when they submitted poems they often said it just came to them. Irene's poem will definitely be read to them before we start the unit this next year.
Another poem I enjoyed was one that taught me something. I can never remember which camel has one hump and which has two. J. Patrick Lewis took the guessing out by giving us a visual with just two letters. If you turn a D and a B on it's back you have the first letter and the number of humps for each type of camel a dromedary has one hump and a Bactrian has two. I love it when visuals help me remember something.
Finally, there were the poems that took me back to my childhood. I grew up in the country in Indiana. Playin' Jacks by Anna E. Jordan took me back to a time when my sisters and I would sit on the kitchen floor playing jacks. The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson reminded me of the swing my father put up for us attached to one of the largest branches. It brought back memories of trying to swing so high we could touch the leaves. How to Bird-Watch by Margarita Engle took me back to sitting or laying on a blanket in the yard watching the birds in the tree. I sit in my yard swing now and still do that. Irene Latham's How to Be a Tree in Winter was such a visual I could see the bare branches reaching for the sky. Ralph Fletcher wrote How to Make a Snow Angel. My sisters and I would wait each year for the snow to be deep enough to make snow angels. I remember doing this at school as well when we went outside for recess. Helen Frost, who has been a favorite author of mine for several years wrote Best Friends which brought back memories of calling across the field to our cousins who lived down the road from us. I felt as if someone had followed me through my childhood and taken pictures of my life and written about them in this book.
I want to have my students sit with their eyes closed as I read these poems. I don't want them to analyze these poems because to me that ruins them. I want them to tell me what pictures popped into their head. Could they see themselves in any of them? So many teachers of middle and high school students find it strange that I will use picture books in my classroom. Why not? Simple books like this are both simple and complex at the same time. I am proud to put this book on my shelf this next year. I am proud to share these with my students. I hope you will pick up a copy and share it with your children or grandchildren and teach them how to enjoy poetry.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poet Paul Janeczko has selected 33 poems from a variety of poets and collected them in a volume of how-to instructions. As the title poem reminds readers, one must take care when encountering a hedgehog. While that meeting might be unlikely and some of the verses and topics may be even more unlikely, others are more practical and down to earth ("Toasting Marshmallows" by Marilyn Singer and "Mix a Pancake by Christina Rossetti," for instance). Others might provide some much-needed suggestions for writing ("How to Build a Poem" by the always word-perfect Charles Ghigna) and ponderings on the most unlikely existence of a quiet creature in Elaine Magliaro's "How to Be a Mole" in which she considers how this animal must "spend your days in a world / of unending night" (p. 7). These, plus Allan Wolf's tender ode to trees ("How to Take Care of Your Tree"), tender until the very last line ("Now chop him up for firewood" (p. 28) are among my particular favorites. The illustrations, created in paint and then edited digitally, are excellent accompaniments for the verses, all of which might help readers regard poetry in a new light. Should I need help in dealing with a hedgehog, a pancake, a mole, or a dying tree, among others, this book will be a useful and entertaining reference.

[Jordan Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Poetry
Theme: many themes
Grade level: K-2
Awards: None

Summary: This is an adorable poetry book that has poems about things such as nature, sports, food, space and monsters. Each poem is different but has the same style and type of illustrations.

Personal Response: While reading this poetry book I decided I wanted to buy my own copy. These poems are unique and involve a bunch of different interests a student may have. Also, some of them are funny which is always a plus.

Other info: Theme poems have a variety of characteristics. The first poem has a bunch of repetition, the second one has letters involved in the poem and most of them rhyme. The language in these poems is very specific. Each word is chosen carefully and put in the poem to represent a part of the story being told.

Connections: The first way I could use this book in my classroom depends on what poem I choose. For example, If I choose the hedgehog poem about leaving nature alone. I could have the kids record what all they see in nature and I could talk about how it's best to leave it alone. Another poem I could use is the poem about marsh-mellows. We could do a science experiment about catching a marshmallow on fire.

[Hank Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems", selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Richard Jones, is a delightful collection of poems that can teach children how to do certain tasks and appreciate the world as a whole. The book contains many practical lessons, such as how you can tell a dromedary from a Bactrian camel, how you can speak in from of people, and, of course, how you can meet a hedgehog without scaring it too much. Other poems take on a more appreciative nature, such as enjoying a swing session, appreciating making snow angels, and admiring fireworks. The illustrations by Jones match each poem perfectly. Despite the detailed backgrounds, my focus always goes to the topic of the poem. In a poem about walking on Mars, I am drawn to the astronaut. In a poem about making a meal, I am drawn to the wonderful assortment on the plate. In a poem about keeping monsters away, I am drawn to the silhouette of a strange figure. I like this book because children of all ages can enjoy it, and because the messages are simple and positive. This collection of poems is very engaging, and would be best suited for younger students, such as those in Kindergarten and the First Grade.

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know you've been wondering, "What if I meet a hedgehog? What is the proper greeting?" Well, wonder no more, folks. Poet Allan Wolf tells us how in the a poem that happens to be the title of this new collection by the late, great Paul B. Janeczko. The book includes all kinds of other how-tos, such as the clever "How to Tell a Camel" by J. Patrick Lewis, which helps us learn dromedary from Bactrian. Marilyn Singer gets it just right in "Toasting Marshmallows." There's practical advice, such as Christina Rosetti's "Mix a Pancake" and Margarita Engle's "How to Bird-Watch." And there's fanciful advice, such as Monica Shannon's "How to Tell Goblins from Elves," Rebecca Kai Dotlich's "How to Scare Monsters." Irene Latham prepares us for the future with "Walking on Mars," and Ralph Fletcher bring us to the ground in his multi-step poem "How to Make a Snow Angel." Each poem is illustrated and given personality by Richard Jones. This collection contains poems by the Who's Who of children's poetry and lets the readers imaginations roam. A reader of any age will be empowered by knowing all of the how-tos in this book.