April is National Poetry Month!, A Pocketful of Poems
by Nikki Grimes and Javaka Steptoe. Tiana has a pocketful of words: green words like spring, night words like moon, and words with wings, like angel. Each word is the inspiration for a pair of poems--one, lyrical free verse and the other, haiku. The paired poems reflect Tiana's lively spirit and urban outlook and are showcased in Javaka Steptoe's inventive collages, which include a wide range of materials, from faucet handles to pumpkin seeds to a hand-sculpted, gilded alphabet. A fusion of two remarkable creative talents, A Pocketful of Poems is an engaging portrait of a down-to-earth girl who has a way with words, as well as a tantalizing introduction to poetry. Author's note on haiku. Ages 6 to 10. Library Binding.

Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5