Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost edited by Jay Parini and illustrated by Michael Paraskevas is an outstanding presentation of 30 poems by one of America’s most beloved poets. The fine introduction gives middle grade readers a sense of how Frost’s life spent in rural landscapes impacted his love of nature and his development of a poetic conversational style. Frost’s ability to make his poems speak plainly and yet so powerfully is well-presented.
Editor Parini offers readers an inside look at these poems in his “What Robert Was Thinking” section in the back material. In just a few simple sentences per poem some of Frost’s inner thoughts and reaction to people, nature and life are revealed. For instance, Parini’s comment about “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” reads: “This poem takes on the silence of the snowy woods, which are like eternity. It’s a poem about not only death but also life and the need to press on even with miles to go before the speaker can lay down his head.” The reader finds out that the poem “Hyla Brook” is about inspiration that goes underground and is hidden for a time.
The illustrations are full of the emotions of Nature’s easy scenes with its brooks, cows, woodpiles pastures and tall birches. “Mending Wall” has a very effective double-paged illustration that captures the story of the ritual played out each Spring between two neighbors. The artist embraces each poem in splendid color, sometimes vibrant and sometimes soft.
Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost edited by Jay Parini and illustrated by Michael Paraskevas was named a 2018 Notable Poetry Book for Children by the National Council of Teachers of English. It is an elegant and fascinating book for readers 8-12 years of age (MoonDance Press, 2017).
Re-read the “What Robert Was Thinking” feature in the back material and identify the following ten poems: a poem that talks about inspiration, a funny poem about a cow, a sad poem about death on a farm and how it is dealt with, a poem about how hard it is to write, a poem about something permanent that can lift us up, a poem where the poet celebrates the wild energy of the wind, a poem that tells of an annual ritual based on the thought that good fences make good neighbors, a poem that talks about boys, birches and love, a poem about how hard it is to let things go and a poem that introduces readers to the poet’s life of simple pleasures.
The beautiful end papers of this book show a boy climbing a gorgeous birch tree. Take a look. Where is the boy going? What does he want to do? Have you ever climbed a tree? What did you hope to do or see or feel? Make a pencil sketch of you climbing your tree.
Select one of the 30 poems in this collection that really speaks to you to memorize. Have fun! Recite it for parents, grandparents, teachers and friends---but most of all for you.
