A World Full of Poems

by D.K. Publishing

A gorgeously illustrated introduction to poetry for children, featuring poems about everything from science, sport, and space, to friendship, family, and feelings.

This thoughtfully crafted anthology is perfect for children new to verse, and for young poetry fans seeking out new favourites. Explore poetry from a diverse selection of contemporary and historical poets, covering a broad range of topics - from personal subjects like emotions and family, to the wonders of the natural environment. Carefully selected works encourage children to see the poetry in everything, and to embrace the beauty of their everyday lives. Prompts and activities inspire children to create their own poetry, and devices like rhyme, repetition, and alliteration are introduced and explained in a fun and accessible manner.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Picture Books

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Heather Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic advance reading copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book would be appropriate for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers under age six. There are a lot of poems in the book, and nearly all of them are by people who write poems specifically for children. Exceptions: Li Po, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Makepeace Thackeray, and probably a few others. (A list of poets and authors in the book is at the end of my review.) Almost every poem has very short lines. Some rhyme, but not all. It is a good introduction to elementary prosody, and a survey of different types of poems (although not that many different types). It is nice to look at, because there are bright, cheerful illustrations on every page. There is enough content that it wouldn't get boring as quickly as certain other kiddie books that caregivers are stuck reading over and over again. There is an appeal to diversity and different types of families and residential situations. It would make a nice baby shower gift or toddler birthday gift. I particularly liked the final chapter, Poetry Activities, that encourages interaction with the poems rather than just passively absorbing them while an adult reads them.

Contents:
[Family and Friends]
New Baby - Ralph Fletcher
What Will You Choose, Baby? - Linda Sue Park
I'm Bigger - Kristy Dempsey
Happy Adoption Day - Jane Yolen
Double the Trouble - Janet Wong
Three - Chrissie Gittins
At Our House - Virginia Euwer Wolff
Abuelita - Margarita Engle
A Suitcase of Seaweed - Janet Wong
Our Blended Family - Doraine Bennett
Granny's Teapots - Michelle Schaub
Something I Did - Janet Wong
Dad - Andrew Fusek Peters
A Day to Honor Fathers - Carole Gerber
Louder Than a Clap of Thunder! - Jack Prelutsky
Sincerely - Robyn Hood Black
How to Make a Friend - Jane Heitman Healy
Friend - Philip Waddell
Compliment Chain - Mary Lee Hahn
Friends - Renee M. LaTulippe

[Feelings]
A Way Around - Naomi Shihab Nye
Alone - Ros Asquith
Anger - John Foster
Pout - Sara Holbrook
I'm Nobody! Who Are You? - Emily Dickinson
Question - Ros Asquith
I Woke Up This Morning - Karla Kuskin
Me in a Tree - Julie O'Callaghan
Poem for a Bully - Eileen Spinelli
When I'm Angry - Brenda Williams
I Wish I Had More Courage - Toon Tellegen
Don't Be Scared - Carol Ann Duffy
Rush - Jesse - Nikki Grimes
Lost - Kate Coombs
Look for the Helpers - Michelle Heidenrich Barnes
Too Shy - Linda Kalp Trout
How to Love Your Little Corner of the World - Eileen Spinelli
A Happy Kenning - Clare Bevan
Although - Tony Langham

[Animals and Nature]
Petting Zoo - Laura Purdie Salas
At the Zoo - William Makepeace Thackeray
Animal Talk - Charla Ghigna
Watch Your Step - Leslie Bulion
Zoophabet: Ants to Zorillas - Avis Harley
Let's Celebrate the Elephant - Irene Latham
Eletelephony - Laura Elizabeth Richards
The Crocodile - Lewis Carroll
Dressing Like a Snake - Georgia Heard
Trust - Padma Venkatraman
April Is a Dog's Dream - Marilyn Singer
The Moon - Robert Louis Stevenson
When the Rain Falls - Susan Taylor Brown
An Autumn Greeting - George Cooper
The Best Paths - Kristine O'Connell George
Clouds - Kate Coombs
Fish Rain - Marilyn Nelson
Who Has Seen the Wind? - Christina Rossetti
Summer Storm - Irene Latham

[Cities, Towns, and Travel]
Map of Fun - Naomi Shahib Nye
Direction - Alonzo Lopez
If Once You Have Slept on an Island - Rachel Field
First to See the Sea - Nicola Davies
Gran's Visit - Sally Murphy
Peace by Piece - Celia Berrell
Greetings - Leslea Newman
City Rain - Rachel Field
City Lights - Lee Bennett Hopkins
City Home - Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Stories - Allan De Fina
Skyscrapers - Rachel Field
Dream Train - B.J. Lee
Rickety Train Ride - Tony Mitton
Riding the Subway Train - Allan De Fina
Canoe - Juanita Havill
Night Flight - Ted Scheu
Traveling Together - Laura Purdie Salas

[Fun and Games]
All Kinds of Kids - Elizabeth Steinglass
What do you do on a nature walk? - Kate Williams
Brothers - Peter Cole
What Can You Do With a Football? - James Carter
Ice Skating - Sandra Liatsos
Tumbling - Anonymous
My Bike - Julie Larios
Song of Kites - Anonymous
Teammates - Elizabeth Steinglass
Let's Go - Merry Bradshaw
My Shadow - Robert Louis Stevenson
A Circle of Sun - Rebecca Kai Dotlich
What I Love About the Summer - Douglas Florian
Speak When This Way Talk Do I - Kenn Nesbitt
The House of This Minute - Kate Coombs
I'm Much Too Tired to Play Tonight - Jack Prelutsky
I Can... - Tony Langham
Nobody's Birthday! - Marilyn Singer
unBIRTHDAY - Vikram Madan

[Science and Art]
NOW... - James Carter
When You Are a Scientist - Eric Ode
Da Vinci Did It! - Renee M. LaTulippe
Fireworks - Celia Warren
Our National Engineers Week - Suzy Levinson
Questions That Matter - Heidi Bee Roemer
Go Fly a Kite - Laura Purdie Salas
Testing My Magnet - Julie Larios
Recycling - Susan Blackaby
garbage - Valerie Worth
Old Water - April Halprin Wayland
World Water Day - George Ella Lyon
What Do the Trees Know? - Joyce Sidman
You Ask Why - Li Po
Bluebirds - Jen Bryant
Clay - Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
My Colours - Colin West
Crayon Poem - James Carter
Make a Joyful Noise - B.J. Lee
Singing and Sashaying - Pat Mora

[Body and Health]
My Corner - Cheryl Moskowitz
Summer - Walter Dean Myers
Trudging - Anonymous
Just a Skin Thing - Coral Rumble
Bath Time - Eric Ode
Bubbles - Jacqueline Jules
What Is a Foot? - Jane Yolen
barefoot - Valerie Worth
I Sit on My Bottom - Michael Salinger
Catching a Yawn - Avis Harley
Loose Tooth, Whose Tooth? - Carole Boston Weatherford
Tooth - Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Grandfather's Chopsticks - Janet Wong
Global Gorging - Terry Webb Harshman
Breakfast - Linda Sue Park
I Eat My Peas With Honey - Anonymous
A Dream without Hunger - Michael J. Rosen
To Yahola, On His First Birthday - Alexander Posey
Growing - Tony Mitton
Winter Counting - Joseph Bruhac

[A World of Learning]
Mrs Kenning - Paul Cookson
Underwear Scare - Terry Webb Harshman
Sophie - Steven Herrick
My Needs - JonArno Lawson
Homework! Oh, Homework! - Jack Prelutsky
Time - Mary Ann Hoberman
Nature Knows Its Math - Joan Graham
Bilingual - Alma Flor Ada
One to Ten - Janet Wong
Ratty Writing - James Aitchison
Good Books, Good Times! - Lee Bennett Hopkins
The Library - Sara Holbrook
Stop! Let's Read - Kristy Dempsey
So I Picked Out a Book - Karla Kuskin
Secret Worlds - Margarita Engle
Dive into a Book - J.R. Poulter
Surprise - Beverly McLoughland
My Book! - David L. Harrison

[Poetry Activities]

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice poetry collection for children that breaks topics into chapters like animals, families and science. The diversity in the poems is great, and there are bright illustrations throughout. I grew up with some favorite children's poetry books and I found myself continually comparing this one to those, which is perhaps unfair. I still have my childhood poetry books and have read them often to my kids. My youngest daughter has had one of them by her side at bedtime this week, actually. I still prefer those books, but this one will no doubt be a favorite for a new generation.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Christine V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geared towards elementary aged children, this is a refreshingly contemporary poetry anthology (say that 10 times fast!) containing mostly new-to-me poetry with just a sprinkle of classics. I loved the arrangement by theme!

[Katrina Lybbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of children's poems. Nice tips on how to write your own poems included.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 9-year old and I enjoyed taking turns reading these aloud. A nice mix of subjects and styles.

[Alli Tripp · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of poems, designed for children they are all positive or fun poems and it concludes with ideas to learn more about poetry, try writing poems, and the basic structures and popular types of poems overview

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book: I fell in love with DK’s A World Full of Poems as soon as it came out of the envelope. The gorgeous cover art fits perfectly with the interior illustrations and poetry. As a large hardcover book, it feels sturdy and should last many years with proper care. The built-in bookmark adds a convenient perk.

About the Poems: In DK’s A World Full of Poems, Sylvia M. Vardell selected diverse topics and styles of poems. Though the poetic forms vary, the poems are grouped into eight themed sections: Family and Friends; Feelings; Animals and Nature; Cities, Towns, and Travel; Fun and Games; Science and Art; Body and Health; A World of Learning.

In the section on feelings, I liked that the poems validate negative emotions, but do not promote releasing such emotions in negative ways. In fact, many of the poems encouraged children to help others and cultivate kindness. I also liked that poems suitable for physical movement were included. Though only one included movement directions, there were others that lend themselves to physical actions.

I think A World Full of Poems is suited best to elementary age children and younger. Most of the poems are simple and fun, designed to cultivate a love of poetry in a child. A few higher-level poems by well-known authors (Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lewis Carroll) pepper throughout the book.

Like many of the poems, the illustrations by Sonny Ross tended toward simplicity. However, bright colors fill the pages and my kiddos enjoyed paging through this book. We have read and discussed several poems together and the girls were very attentive. I am looking forward to integrating this book into our homeschool curriculum.

Final Thoughts: The DK A World Full of Poems: Inspiring Poetry for Children compiled by Sylvia M. Vardell makes an amazing introduction to poetry for younger children. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated title provides a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children.  The adults who share or read these poems will also enjoy the experience.


The poems are organized by subjects including Family and Friends, Feelings, Animals and Nature, Cities, Towns and Travel, Fun and Games, Science and Art, Body and Health and A World of Learning.  The range is vast and appealing.


I enjoyed so many of these poems, one I liked was I'm Bigger by Kristy Dempsey.  What older sibling won't enjoy this paean to having skills that the new baby lacks while also acknowledging love for that tiny creature? 


This book is inclusive.  For example, the section on family includes poems about everything from adoption to same sex families to the Korean tradition of a baby choosing an object that is tied to their future to a poem titled Abuelita.  Throughout this book, on all other subjects this book is equally inviting.


I highly recommend this title. It would make a wonderful gift for a new baby and their parents. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Vidya Tiru · Rating 5 out of 5]

With over 150 poems spread across eight different categories (like Family and Friends, Feelings, and Science and Art), there is something for everyone.

I love that Sylvia Vardell has thoughtfully selected poems from poets across time and geographies. Linda Sue Park and Vikram Madan share the pages with Emily Dickinson and Jack Prelutsky among other poets. Backmatter includes great poetry activities to inspire readers to write poems, and also more about basic poetry terms and such. With so many wonderful poems within (some I know and love and so many others new to me), I cannot pick a favorite here, so it is easier to say, I love the whole, including the delightful little illustrations from Sonny Ross accompanying the poems.

Disclaimer: I got a digital review copy of this book from Netgalley originally and these are my honest opinions of the book. Please note that the review is based on a more recent reading of the book (library/personal copy)

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely wonderful book of poetry for children. This anthology touches on various aspects of important events in a child's life. 8 chapters with an index in the back of titles. Sylvia Vardell selected the poems and did an excellent job. As a teacher I could see starting a lesson in Science or health with one of these poems. She also has art, animals, feelings and education in general included in the mix. This would be a great gift for any child to get them interest in reading. The last chapter has exercises and ideas for writing their own poetry. Great for kids of all ages regardless if you read the poem to them or they read themselves. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book features poems about family and friends, as well as a wide range of themes, including science, art, body and health, and learning.

In the first poem about family and friends, I felt that the background was an appeal to the realization of a diverse society and a world where people can move freely around the world.

Although the book is said to be aimed at children, the first half of the poem, which focuses on family, is a theme that adults should read and think about.

The items in Animal & Nature have a sense of rhythm and are suitable for parents and children to read together.

[Aisha Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry book includes a range of topics such as family and friends , feelings, animals and nature and so much more. It provides children with activities to engage and interest them in the world full of poems. The poems are written by a broad range of poets from all over the world and shows a good sense of diversity. I would recommend this book to KS1 and lower KS2 as the activities show children how to write their own poem. The illustrations of the book are captivating as a range of different colours are used. There will be at least one poem or more than one that a child can connect with and relate to which may inspire them to write their own.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically I didn't finish this all on the day I listed, but I read most of it then so I'm counting it!

Love the art and layout, the combination of a few classic poems with a bunch of newer ones, and the focus on different kids' experiences. Lots of universal experiences are featured here, but some more specific ones too, which I think is great for helping kids to feel seen while helping other kids see and understand different perspectives / experiences.

Also features a section at the back with activities for helping kids write their own poetry, seeking out more poetry they like, etc.

[Katy Kahlich]

This book full of great poetry helps children with voice, pitch, volume, and inflection throughout the poems. It also helps students get better at reading because there are small and different types of poems in this book. Also, poetry can teach young kids about speech patterns and that can help them with cues to the words on each line and page. Most of the poems also had some sort of illustration which is good for students who are more visual learners.

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A diverse (in topics, poetic forms, and poets) anthology with such a feeling of both intimacy and space at the same time--love it, and honored to be part of it. This is a great book for introducing kids and families to poetry.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems will make you laugh, make you think, make you feel and take your breath away. This collection of poems will say what you’ve wanted to say but didn't know how. This collection of poems will take you on journeys, give you adventures and wild imaginings of fun.

Just my kind of book. One that I will use again and again and again!

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet collection of poetry for young readers. The poems cover a variety of topics and poetic forms, and a diverse mix of poets, with bright, cheerful illustrations throughout. There are prompts and activities to help kids learn to write their own poetry as well. A lovely way to encourage a love of poetry in children!

#AWorldFullofPoems #NetGalley

[Aubrey Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book of poetry for young people! This collection is appropriate for many ages, although there are more simple poems than complex ones. I appreciated how there were sections of poems of similar topics, so it was easy to find interesting/relevant poems for the group of book club participants I was working with.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of poems, including some by Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carroll and William Makepeace Thackeray. Obviously the illustrations and short poems are geared for children, but are fun to read for adults too. Organized into easy categories, would be a fun gift. Would recommend.

[Kylie]

I thought this book was good overall. It would be a good addition to any children’s library. I absolutely loved some poems/sections and thought others were real duds. The commentary on each section was really cool and I enjoyed the ideas at the end too.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations, how simple the pages are and how big the text is for kids to see and read for themselves.
I do find it funny that there’s no poems about moms in the friends and family chapter, meanwhile there’s 3 about dads 💀🙃

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO rare to love so many poems in an anthology for kids!
James and I read this one-poem-a-week for nearly a year.
Wish I owned this one.

[Santi Artanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every little thing can be a poem. And, poem can capture many moments of life. Such a nice and enjoyable book.

[Chase Wash · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A World Full of Poems" is a book full of poems. The illustrations were beautiful. The poems are all pretty surface level, so this is a great choice for anyone who is just getting into poetry.

[Sari Fordham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gets kids into poetry. We just came across this a little late. My kid is 9 and the poems are meant for a younger audience.

Best age:4-7.

[Bookworm4Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best poetry book I own, I can't decide what ones I like the best

[Dhanya Jothimani · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Grab & Go bag children’s books collection (Part II - 5/5) of Toronto Public Library - A collection of poems with few beautiful illustrations. I enjoyed the illustrations more.

Also, learnt about this meteorological phenomenon called rain of fish! Read in Kafka on the Shore but I thought it to Haruki Murakami’s magical realism!

[Anna Weihe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful book full of poetry and beautiful illustrations. I personally love this book because of all vast topics covered. I would have this book as an option for students to read independently. I could also use this book as a way to read out load, one poem, a day in my future classroom. Copyright date: 2020, Award: NCTE Notable Poetry list, Genre: Poetry