A Child's Anthology of Poetry

by Elizabeth Hauge Sword, Tom Pohrt (Illustrator), Victoria Flournoy McCarthy (Editor), Victoria McCarthy (Editor)

Overview

Finally in paperback, a timeless collection celebrating the joys of poetry for children of all ages—an indispensable introduction to literature and life that brings together essential classic children's poems with the best of modern and contemporary international poetry.

The simple pleasures of reading and listening to poetry can make unforgettable memories in childhood and help children develop an interest in language and storytelling. From Robert Frost to Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein to Emily Dickinson, this collection emphasizes the fun and diversity of poetry, providing young readers with a well-rounded, inclusive selection of poets.

Under the guidance of a special advisory board of esteemed poets, and featuring artwork by Tom Pohrt, the well-known illustrator of Crow and Weasel, A Child's Anthology of Poetry includes favorite poems such as William Blake's "The Tyger" and Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky," in addition to more recent classics such as Elizabeth Bishop's "Sestina" and Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz." Full of surprises and lyric charm, this delightful volume will be treasured by generations of readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780880013789
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/28/2006
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	344
Sales rank:	441,570
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.11(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Hauge Sword was raised in New York City. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she previously worked for ABC Sports and was a field producer for ABC Radio. She teaches elementary-school children and runs a computer consulting business. Sword lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Read an Excerpt

Hiding

I'm hiding, I'm hiding,
And no one knows where;
For all they can see is my
toes and my hair.

And I just heard my father
Say to my mother-
"But, darling, he must be
Somewhere or other;

Have you looked in the inkwell?"
And Mother said, "Where?"
"In the InkWell?" said Father.But
I was not there.

Then "wait!" cried my mother-
"I think that I see
him under the carpet.
"But It was not me.

"Inside the mirror's
A pretty good place,"
Said father and looked, but saw
Only his face.

"We've hunted,"sighed Mother,
"As hard as we could
And I am so afraid that we've
Lost him for good."

Then I laughed out aloud
And I wiggled my toes
And Father said -- "Look, dear,
I wonder if those

Toes could be Benny's?
There are ten of them, see?"
And they Were so surprised to find
Out it was me!

--Dorothy Aldis

Editorial Reviews

The Ecco Press releases its first children's title with A Child's Anthology of Poetry, edited by Elizabeth Hauge Sword with Victoria McCarthy, illus. by Tom Pohrt. From Keats to Li Po, Shel Silverstein to Czeslaw Milosz, this far-ranging collection of verse crosses geographical and cultural boundaries ($20, 336p, all ages ISBN 0-88001-378-8 Oct.).

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

nger for reading aloud. Adults will remember these poems, and their joy at finding them in a collection will be in their voices as they share the lines with children. The choices range widely, from nonsense verse to narrative and lyrical poetry. An occasional poem (such as Keats' "Ode to a Grecian Urn" ) is beyond the grade-school audience, but everyone will find lots of old accessible favorite voices here (from Blake, Dickinson, and Wordsworth to Frost, Lear, and Langston Hughes). A few new pieces have been slipped into the canon, including a poem each by Maya Angelou and Octavio Paz, but the focus is not on the contemporary. This is an anthology to read aloud across generations.

Hazel Rochman