A Child’s Introduction to Poetry

I am not a fan of poetry.

I admit it, loud and clear!  In fact, I probably would never read my children poetry, except that it’s scheduled into Sonlight, the home school curriculum we use.  And thankfully it is.

A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by Michael Driscoll is a relatively new offering by Sonlight.  I don’t own it, yet.  My girlfriend loaned it to me, when I realized that the poetry book scheduled this year for my older two was the same one I had read to my younger two children last year.  I just could not read it again.

My friend raved about A Child’s Introduction to Poetry, which she had read with her son, and graciously loaned it to me.  I read it to my 13-year-old and my 12-year-old – and we all enjoyed it!

The first part of the book covers types of poetry – from ballads to sonnets to free verse, and everything in between.  It gives a background to a particular style, and then offers one (or more) example of it.  The book includes a CD, so you can listen to someone else reading it – a help if you’re not a poetry aficionado, like I’m not.

The second part of the book covers some famous poets – including Homer, Edgar Allan Poe, Maya Angelou, just to name a few.  Again, Driscoll includes background on each poet, and one (or more) example of his or her work.

Both sections include glossary boxes on the page, defining unfamiliar words within the poems, and a short blurb to help the novice interpret and appreciate the poem.

Highly recommended for ages 8 and up.