“Oyster” by Scottish poet Michael Pedersen is a jarring, irreverent poetry collection that wallops you with unexpected tenderness.
Poets and Poems: Jennifer Wallace and “Almost Entirely”
“Almost Entirely” by Jennifer Wallace contains 73 poems that look deeply at what makes us human, and what is within us that keeps reaching for the divine.
Poets and Poems: Tania Runyan and “What Will Soon Take Place”
The 54 poems of “What Will Soon Take Place” by Tania Runyan are inspired by an unexpected source — the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
Poets and Poems: Sinead Morrissey and “On Balance”
“On Balance,” the new poetry collection by Sinead Morrissey, reminds us that technology brings both the good and the tradeoff.
Rediscovering “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens
“Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens is one of his best and most beloved novels, one he initially described as “fine, new, and grotesque.”
What’s In a Reading Nook?
Bethany Rohde and her children take their reading nook into the outdoors for a new light on their reading time together.
Poets and Poems: Nikita Gill and “Wild Embers”
“Wild Embers” by Nikita Gill, comprising 113 relatively short poems, is a snapshot of a poet’s popularity on social media.
Poets and Poems: Caroline Bird and “In These Days of Prohibition”
“In These Days of Prohibition” by poet Caroline Bird forces us to see the meaning of ourselves and the life around us in different and unexpected ways.
Poets and Poems: Simon Armitage Translates “Pearl”
British poet Simon Armitage has translated the late Middle English poem “Pearl,” a beautiful poem about a father’s grief and how he resolves it.
Poets and Poems: Tara Skurtu and “The Amoeba Game”
In “The Amoeba Game,” poet Tara Skurtu explores her American and Romanian roots and writes about life, childhood, self-discovery, and identity.
Poets and Poems: Luke Kennard and “Cain”
In “Cain: Poems,” British poet Luke Kennard has brought the biblical character of Cain into contemporary life, with funny and poignant results.
Poets and Poems: Michelle Menting and “Leaves Surface Like Skin”
The poems of ‘Leaves Surface Like Skin” by Michelle Menting use the images and metaphors of nature to explore and explain the human condition.
The Lenore Marshall Prize: “Brooklyn Antediluvian” by Patrick Rosal
The Academy of American Poets has awarded the Lenore Marshall Prize to “Brooklyn Antediluvian,” an arresting and innovative collection by Patrick Rosal.
Top 10 Alphabet Books for National Literacy Month!
Great tips for teaching reading—from librarians, teachers, and literacy specialists—plus professional picks of 10 terrific alphabet books.
Top 10 Books that Inspired Me (and You)
If you could only choose ten books that inspired you, what would they be? Megan Willome shares her personal Top 10.
The First Poetry for Children: “Divine Emblems” by John Bunyan
In 1686, the English Puritan minister and writer John Bunyan published what we know today as “Divine Emblems,” the first book of poetry for children.
The Strangeness of “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens, one of the most quoted works of English literature, continues to speak to the human condition.
The Poetry of the Visiting Card: Miss Jennie Todt meets Catherina Gerhard
A visiting card in an 1899 edition of “Longfellow’s Complete Poems” leads to stories of German immigrants, St. Louis history, and even beer.
Of Color, Beauty, the Alphabet, and Fun: “A is for Azure”
“A is for Azure,” written by L.L. Barkat and illustrated by Donna Falcone, is a book about color, the alphabet, and literacy. It’s also full of childlike wonder.
“Housman Country: Into the Heart of England”
Peter Parker, in “Housman Country: Into the Heart of England,” explains why “A Shropshire Lad” became one of the most popular poetry books of the 20th century.