Young Adult Poetry: A Survey and Theme Guide

by Rachel Schwedt, Janice DeLong

Overview

Teachers and librarians will find this one-volume reference guide an indispensable tool for identifying anthologies and poem collections that have particular appeal to young adult readers. Comprised of two main components, this resource features an annotated bibliography of 198 poetry volumes, and a thematic guide to over 6,000 individual poems. The carefully chosen anthologies and collections span reading levels from sixth to twelfth grade, and a tremendous breath of interest areas. Poets whose works are cited range from the classic to the contemporary, cover a broad ethnic and geographic spectrum, and range in style from humorous to tragic, rap to blues, free verse to rhymes, and limericks to haiku.

This survey of young adult poetry represents a careful selection and evaluation process undertaken by the authors in consultation with classroom teachers. The annotations help users identify themes in the works, grade level appropriateness, as well as format and content in the poetry collections and anthologies. The authors offer helpful suggestions for ways that these poetry works may be used in the English classroom and beyond; for igniting creative sparks with young writers, for science and social studies discussion, counseling sessions, and for sheer enjoyment. Librarians will value this well-organized resource as both a collection development tool, and—with its index of writers and titles and extensive theme guide—as a way of connecting young readers to wonderful poetry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313313363
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/2001
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

RACHEL SCHWEDT is Director of the Curriculum Library at Liberty University./e She has previously been an elemenentary and high school librarian. They frequently speak at teachers' conventions regarding the use of literature in the classroom./e

JANICE DELONG currently serves on the faculty of Liberty University where she teaches children's literature./e She supervises student teachers on both public and private school campuses. She has been a classroom teacher in primary, elementary, and middle schools.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Mel Glenn
Preface
The Guide: Annotated Bibliography of Poetry Collections and Anthologies
Thematic Guide to Poems
Index of Writers with Book Titles
Index of Book Titles
Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

Containing annotated bibliographies of 198 anthologies with suggested grade levels, this book also includes a thematic guide to poems and indexes of writers or compilers with book titles; of illustrators; and of other significant areas such as awards, countries, and people. Probably the most useful aspect of the book is the subject guide, which breaks topics down into specifics ("love"; "love, broken heart"; "love, crushes"; "love, first love"; etc.). Many familiar young adult authors and compilers appear, such as Jane Yolen, Richard Peck, Paul Janeczko, Lee Bennett Hopkins, and others. Some standard titles like The Oxford Book of Children's Verse in America are included; others focus on ethnic groups, sports, or animals, such as Nancy Springer's Music of Their Hooves: Poems about Horses and Lillian Morrison's At the Crack of the Bat. This book will certainly help with decisions about adding specific poetry anthologies to classrooms and library shelves, and, most importantly, knowing the grade levels for which they are intended.-Pat Bender, The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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