April is National Poetry Month! These artistic, unique books teach your kids about how they can use their love of language to think and learn outside the box.
Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations
By Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer
Ages 4-8
An eye-opening exploration of spring, where math and metaphor meet in the form of equations; tiny, perfect poems enabling readers to view the ordinary and see the miraculous. The science behind the signs of spring is revealed in a series of engaging sidebars.
Our Food: A Healthy Serving of Science and Poems
By Grace Lin and Ranida T. McKneally, illustrated by Grace Zong
Ages 5-8
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Grace Lin and science writer Ranida T. McKneally get kids talking about the science of food and what a healthy meal looks like. Cheerful haiku poems and a straightforward Q&A format make for a nutritious treat.
At the Sea Floor Café: Odd Ocean Critter Poems
By Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Leslie Evans
Ages 8-12
The eating habits of unusual undersea creatures are introduced through elegant artwork and witty poems. Science notes detail the behavior of each animal, and poetry notes detail the types and forms of poems included.
Struttin' with Some Barbecue: Lil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz
By Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Rachel Himes
Ages 9-12
In the early days of jazz, Lil Hardin Armstrong overcame race and gender barriers to become a successful pianist, composer, and bandleader, and the Chicago jazz scene’s first lady with her husband, Louis. This is her story.
