April is National Poetry Month and while much is different about the April we are currently in, poetry has the power to enrich and inspire us no matter what our circumstances. Here are nine books available as e-books from the NYPL which celebrate poems and poets and the ways they bring beauty to (and reveal the beauty already hidden within) everyday life.

 

 

Children of Long Ago: Poems by Lessie Jones Little, illustrate by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, introduction by Eloise Greenfield

• Lessie Jones Little takes us back in time to the world of her childhood, full of rich sensory experiences, from the raspberries bursting with juice to church bells ringing in the distance.

Little Wolf’s Handy Book of Poems by Ian Whybrow, illustrated by Tony Ross

• These funny little “poems” (written as letters to Little Wolf’s parents who “do not like poetry”) are sure to make you laught out-loud, and will probably inspire young readers to try writing some of their own.

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

• No celebration of poetry is complete without a tip of the hat to Langston Hughes. Illustrated by the beloved Brian Pinkney, this book is an excellent first introduction for young readers.

Dear Hot Dog: Poems about Everyday Stuff by Mordicai Gerstein

• A poem about a hot dog? Why not! (And about brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating treats, playing outside…) This is a great book for kids who may think poems have to be “deep” or only about “important” things.

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale

• This book is such a unique blend of poetry, architecture and play. Each two-page spread shows an incredible feat of architecture and a child building their own creation with household materials. Poetic words wind their way around the images, connecting them.

A Full Moon is Rising by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Julia Cairns

• As the world goes through the experience of coronavirus together, we are provided an opportunity to help children see how we are all connected. This collection of poems looks at the way the moon travels from country to country, and the way in which the people of each place pause to take it in.

Salsa: Un poema para cocinar / Salsa: A Cooking Poem by Jorge Argueta, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

• A celebration of salsa! (Both kinds!)  The ingredients come together like an orchestra, forming a delightful flavor and melody.

Who Was Maya Angelou? by Ellen Labrecque

• The “Who Was…” series always does a stellar job of offering thorough, engaging stories from the lives of incredible people–and this book about the incomparable Maya Angelou is no exception.

Yum! Mmmm! Qué rico!: Americas’ Sproutings by Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael López

• Keep the poetic pot-luck going with this collection of haikus to the many delicious flavors the earth provides us.