Review 5 star
Find It On Amazon Timeless Tales: Poems of Childhood by E.V. Eklund is an anthology of illustrated poems for young children. The poems cover a wide range of interests and should appeal to pretty much everyone. Simple topics including animals, fruits and vegetables, friendships, playtime, creativity and emotion, short fiction in verse, fun nonsense, and riddles all come accompanied by bright, detailed colored drawings of happy children, nature, and buildings that will stand up to children’s repetitive reading and intensive interactive eye for details. Emphasis is placed on learning practical things about the natural world—as in Cattail and The Jubilee of Trees—but imagination is also central to the collection and is showcased in poems such as By the Moon, and Butterfly Path. This is the kind of rare book that comes along only once in a great while. Reading Timeless Tales by E.V. Eklund reminded me of my own childhood and the children who populate this book will take it to heart eagerly. The effortless rhymes are easy to read--or read aloud--and the great diversity of themes will entice both old or young to read this again and again. Snippets of old classics (The Silver Skates) blend with moralistic fables (The Princess and the Donkey) and introductions to time (The Clock Strikes) and fantasy (Shrumpf Fairies.) The illustrations are so pristine and lovely that any child (or adult) could read the book for them alone. With similarities to Beatrix Potter, A Child’s Garden of Verses, and other classics, the poems are a solid foundation for children to explore imagination and education through reading. Review 4 star
Find It On Amazon A Symphony of Seasons by Connie Arnold is an elegant collection of about sixty poems from a Christian perspective. In addition to the seasons, the pieces touch on patriotism, Mother’s and Father’s Day, holidays, religious themes, and family. Written by a musician, the poems are stately, using structured forms like quatrains (a change from the free verse that is the basis of much modern poetry.) The book is organized into a prelude that contains introductory poems on all the seasons and dedicated Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter areas, winter divided into two sections. Photographer Gary Strader adds crisp, appropriate nature photographs for an outstanding all-around presentation. Connie Arnold has produced a great multi-purpose book, especially for music-lovers. It would make a lovely light coffee table book, a conversation starter, a gift for a graduating music student, or a devotional for someone spending a quiet time reading and reflecting on one poem per day. I often found myself putting the poems to tunes or humming when the word structure reminded me of the many piano recital pieces and church hymns I’ve heard in my life—a contemplative activity that put me in a good frame of mind to appreciate God’s timing and his work during the year. A ribbon bar of musical notes at the bottom of every other page possibly inspired me! Some of the most thought-provoking poems were, “As Winter Comes to An End,” “On a Winter Day,” “Advent Candles,” “Symphony of Creation,” “Good Friday,” “Summer Thunderstorm,” and “October’s Clear, Crisp Beauty.” Review 5 star
Find It On Amazon Abandoned Breaths: Poetry, Quotes, and Poetic Prose by Alfa is a collection of over a hundred heartfelt short pieces divided into four sections (Squall, Monsoon, Zephyr, and Exhalation) that chronicle the mysteries of love, breakups, and flawed human relationships. Many of the earlier poems are the most tragic, while the third section is more contemplative and the final one is the most empowered, but the structure isn’t too stiff or absolute. Each poem stands excellently individually as well, and many of the pieces can be applied to any time of life or situation. This is how memes can be raised from brief snippets of our daily lives into soaring music. Alfa’s subliminal skill and exquisite verbal artistry elevate this volume to a high level of accomplishment. Abandoned Breaths by Alfa is a truly exceptional book. The words slide over the senses like a waterfall of beauty, philosophy, and emotional integrity and the book is brimming over with rapier-like thoughts that allow readers to feel kindship with others by having their buried feelings expressed. Among the many melodious verses, some that lingered the most in my mind were, “Goodbye Dance,” “Patchwork Quilt,” “Season of the Monsoon,” “Testimony,” “Screaming,” “Metamorphosis,” “Eyes,” “Diamonds,” and “Lesson Learned.” But the lovely writing is matched by the simplicity that comes from complete honesty and this is what makes the book so strong. “He was a bruise . . . not a tattoo. Don’t ever forget that.” A stand-out collection that should be on the shelf of any poetry reader. |
AuthorThis is the companion for Sarah Scheele's newsletter blog. In it I share reviews for books I'd recommend/are similar to my own. Archives
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