Poetry for Young People: The Seasons

Poetry for Young People

by John N. Serio, Robert Crockett (Illustrator)

An addition to an acclaimed poetry series, with works by Shakespeare, e.e. cummings, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni, features an introduction to each poem, full-page images, annotations that define unfamiliar vocabulary, and fascinating biographical information.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Kids, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of three works of haiku serve to introduce each season as we proceed through the year, savoring the moments through observations of poets.

I enjoyed the biographical snippets preceding each poem and the variety of poetry styles, both old and new. As lifespans were included I was able to think about which of the works my parents and grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on, may have enjoyed, so for me it connected me in this way to other generations.

James S. Tippett (1885-1958), Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), ee cummings (1894-1962), Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), John Ciardi (1916-1986), Hilda Conkling (1910-1986), W.B. Yeats (1865-1939), Bliss Carman (1861-1929), Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Elinor Wylie (1885-1928), Robert Frost (1874-1963), T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), William Carlos Wiliams (1883-1963), Langston Hughes (1902-1967), Walter de la Mare (1873-1956), Walt Whitman (1819-1892), William Wordsworth (1770-1850) and others. The water color illustrations, all by the same artists, add color splashes which are sure to appeal to younger readers who have not as yet discovered poetry and its ability to paint word pictures for our minds.

[Cathy Sheetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of many in a series of Poetry for Young People. The poets are primarily your classic white poets with a few others as well. Each seasons starts with a few Haikus.

Could be used for lesson on Haikus for 4th through 6th grade. Classroom library for 4th through 6th grade (possibly 3rd grade for a few of the books in the series if read aloud).

Other books that could be used in a study of poets and different kinds of poetry (all Poetry for Young People) - American Poetry, Langston Hughes, William Carlos Williams, William Shakespeare (sonnets and from plays), Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Most have 2 to 4 pages of biography about the poet as well as a short blurb or statement at the beginning of most poems describing something about the poem or why the poet wrote it.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite of the Poetry for Young People series--there were a few poems that weren't particularly impactful. But it was still a nice addition to our morning time. The girls particularly enjoyed encountering poems that they already knew.

[Emma Grace Blumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all really enjoyed reading these through each season change. It’s a diverse collection of poems and the short author profiles and definitions of more archaic words are very helpful. The illustrations are lovely as well.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of poems by famous poets, but I didn't feel especially inspired by this collection.

[Mattie Weck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always especially loved the way that they changing seasons express nature’s beauty in such a universal way. The language and illustrations found in this collection of poems provide vivid imagery that capture the essence of that beauty. The book includes brief explanations along with the poems that give the reader a firmer grasp on what exactly the poet is expressing. This is especially beneficial when reading these poems to younger students. The reading of these poems to younger students provides a different approach to learning about the seasons. Another valuable way to use this poetry collection in the classroom would be during a language arts lesson focusing on descriptive words. After discussing the function of descriptive words, students would then be asked to identify them within each poem. Along with recognizing the descriptive words, students would then be prompted to identify why the poet included them- in what ways does it appeal to the senses and convey the desired imagery.

[Ka Youa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many great poems that combined into one book from different authors. I think that students will have a fun time to do activity such as identify descriptive words and aspects of poetry as a class on the Promethean or Smart Board. They can explore the language, emotions, and illustrations by writing the words as a class on the board. Students can learn seasons in a different perspective and appreciate the seasonal changes as they read through these poems. They can also use this book when they learn about a haiku poem for each season.

I saw my second grade cooperating teacher used this book as a reference in her class to teach about a haiku poem to her students. Her students had the chance to look through some example of haiku poems when they were being introduced to haiku. I think the reading is mostly appropriate to any grade levels from second grade and above.

[Nicole Nunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would use this book in a second grade class room for a language arts activity on identifying descriptive words and aspects of poetry as a class on the Promethean or SmartBoard (or projector, whatever my school provides me with). Explore the language, emotions, and illustrations by writing the words as a class on the board.

[Ms. Mielke's Class Make sure you post how your sheets tell you to!!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Seasons is a very interesting book. It may take you to the next level of the seasons. It has many poems not just one. I think if you are into learning and leaning into deeper than just Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter read this book. -MM

[Mary McDaneld · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book specifically says "poetry for young people" on the cover and in the title. But the poems in this book are kind of difficult to read and they're pretty long. However, once read they are great literary devices that can be used in and out of the classroom.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good selection of poems
and information about the poems explaining them to children
i love the way this series presents the poems with beautiful pictures and explianations

[Julie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of poetry by different authors that all relate to the seasons.