You're a Poet

January 15, 2025
Taylor weaves lessons on writing verse into several stories about a young pig. In five lighthearted tales, Piglet learns what poems are, then discovers ideas for constructing them based on observation and imagination. Each of Piglet's adventures concludes with more information on the kind of poem he's learned to write, as well as tips for readers. In the first story, Piglet and his mom enjoy a hilly hike. When Piglet drops a stone in a puddle, words likesunshiny andsploshing splash out. When he recites them, his mom exclaims, "Piglet...that's a poem!" After several more word bursts occur, Mom emphasizes that poems contain a poet's "true words." Taylor then introduces a mapping technique for arraying descriptive words around a subject. In the next tale, Piglet accompanies his best friend, Squirrel, on a family vacation to the beach. The ocean is thunderous on a wild, windy day, then quietly calm the next. The friends think of metaphors to describe the sea on each day, correctly speculating that they've created a poem. Taylor's ensuing lesson, "A Comparing Poem," helps readers identify two opposite qualities, then encourages them to think up four metaphors for each. Subsequent sections introduce personification ("A Making-a-Person-Out-of-Something Poem") and direct address ("An I-Would-Give-You Poem"). Usher's watercolor illustrations provide charming details for both Piglet's lively excursions and the clearly expressed, jargon-free writing exercises. Appealing pictures, an engaging throughline, and solid guidance will inspire young poets.(Informational picture book. 5-8)

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March 1, 2025
Grades 1-3 Combining a story and a how-to guide effectively invites young children to think about their world in a creative way, demystifying poetry and making the writing process more organic. Piglet and his mom are walking on a sunny day when he tosses a pebble into a puddle and, instead of water, words splash out! As the terms describe the puddle, Mom declares that Piglet has written a poem. Piglet experiences more "puddle poems," playing in sand and rolling down a grassy hill. Following each story chapter are step-by-step instructions for readers to try out the given form of poetry. Piglet's life becomes the framework for several types: a trip to the beach with best friend Squirrel inspires a "comparing" poem, and he thinks of an "if I was" poem after hanging a new swing with Dad makes him wonder about being a tree. The author maintains a child-centered voice throughout. Adults may need to add terms to the "Making-a-Person-Out-of-Something poem" if they wish to formalize the poetry instruction. Cheerful watercolor-and-ink illustrations give the book an accessible, nonthreatening appearance.

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