From picture books filled with eye-catching illustrations to murder mysteries, these authors experiment with various poetic forms or a combination of poetry and prose to tell stories. The lyrical books featured this week will engage and delight readers of all ages.

Ages 4–8

Anywhere Farm. Phyllis Root. Ill. G. Brian Karas. 2017. Candlewick.

“For an anywhere farm, here’s all that you need: / soil, / and sunshine, / some water, / a seed.” Rhyming text and warmly colored, detailed mixed-media illustrations tell the story of how an ethnically diverse group of inner-city children turn a vacant lot into a neighborhood garden. Questions and rhyming responses such as,“Where can you plant your anywhere farm?” (“An old empty lot / makes a good growing plot. / But a pan or a bucket, / a pot or a shoe, / a bin or a tin / or a window will do.”) and “What do you need?” (“Just one farmer—you—and one little seed.”), may inspire young readers to start their own anywhere farm.

—CA

The Curious Cares of Bears. Douglas Florian. Ill. Sonia Sánchez. 2017. Little Bee.

Florian’s lively story in rhyme follows a bear family’s capers through the seasons of the year. For example, “In springtime there’s carefully climbing up trees, / and stealing the honey from beehives of bees.” Sánchez’s colorful, action-filled digital and mixed-media artwork draws the reader into the bears’ playful activities. After they have slept their way through the frozen winter, the bears awaken, ready to follow their “curious cares” throughout a new year. Pair this book with Florian and Sánchez’s The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits (2016) for a rhythmic read-aloud.

—NB 

Double Take!: A New Look at Opposites. Susan Hood. Ill. Jay Fleck. 2017. Candlewick Studio/Candlewick.

Double Take! invites young children to join a boy, his black cat, and a blue elephant in taking a new look at opposites. Readers are prompted to carefully consider the details in the colorful, digitally-created, retro illustrations that accompany the rhyming text. What’s high and what’s low? What’s fast and what’s slow? Who’s near and who’s far? It is all a matter of perspective, as readers will learn from this playful and engaging concept book.

—CA

Race! Sue Fliess. Ill. Edwardian Taylor. 2017. Little Bee.

As the race cars line up for a try at the coveted Winner’s Cup, a tiny red car squeezes in at the last minute. “Cars start, / lights glow... / “Rev your engines... / GO GO GO!” On a course filled with obstacles galore, the cars “SKID! SCREECH! SLIP! SQUEAL! SOAR!” After a fender bender temporarily brings the action to a stop, the red car takes a shortcut through the grass to jump into the lead, and the story makes an unexpected turn, prompting readers to reexamine the illustrations for clues. Whether young children are listening to this action-filled book or reading it on their own, they are bound to enjoy the ride.

—NB

Ages 9–11

Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse. Tamera Will Wissinger. Ill. Matthew Cordell. 2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lucy and Sam’s excitement over a long-awaited family camping trip changes when Dad’s bad cold means their parents must stay home. They are disappointed and worried when Grandpa (who is definitely not outdoorsy, in their opinion) becomes their camping companion. Much to their surprise, Lucy and Sam have a great time, and they request a camping trip for all five of them next weekend. Cordell’s sketch-like, pen-and-ink illustrations with watercolor wash, add to this adventure story, which is told through poems from different family members’ points of view. Wissinger includes a section on the 44 poetic forms and stanza patterns she uses and writing tips about rhyme, rhythm, and poetry techniques.

—CA

The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry. Danna Smith. Ill. Bagram Ibatoulline. 2017. Candlewick.

Exquisite acrylic and gouache paintings set the scene as a young girl spends the day with her father (the falconer of the castle) grouse hunting. The story is told from the girl’s point of view in rhythmic four-line stanzas, each beginning with “This is” or “These are” and ending with “the castle.” For example, the bird is introduced with “This is our hawk: a sight to behold, / a master of flight, graceful and bold. / My father trains this bird of prey / who lives with us at the castle.” Each double-page spread includes a boxed inset with additional information on raptors and falconry. Back matter includes an author’s note on the history of falconry, a reading list, and an index.

—CA

Izzy Kline Has Butterflies: A Novel in Small Moments. Beth Ain. 2017. Random House.

Impetuous fourth grader Izzy Kline lives bite-sized and larger moments in this poignant story about family issues, first-day-of-school jitters, mysterious illnesses, annoying boys, and a school play. Over the year, Izzy learns not to be so quick to judge others and that relationships develop in complicated and unexpected ways. This middle-grade verse novel is written in vignettes that bring Izzy’s world to life and leave readers thinking about their own.

—NB

Ages 12–14

Forget Me Not. Ellie Terry. 2017. Feiwel and Friends.

With each move she and her mother make, Calliope Snow hopes that she can hide her Tourette syndrome long enough to make friends. When their tenth move brings them to St. George, Utah, Calli meets Jinsong, an Asian-American boy who lives in the same apartment building. Calli hopes that her friendship with Jinsong, the popular student body president at Black Ridge Intermediate School, will help her fit in as she becomes the new girl at school. The dual narrative—Calli in free verse and Jinsong in prose—is a moving and realistic story about a search for friendship and acceptance. In an author’s note, Terry, who has Tourette syndrome, provides a context for the novel and shares her hope that the book will help readers understand the neurological disorder.

—CA

Who Killed Christopher Goodman? Allan Wolf. 2017. Candlewick.

Inspired by a true story, Who Killed Christopher Goodman? follows the murder of an odd, but friendly, teenager in Goldsburg, Virginia, in the summer of 1979. Doc Chestnut and Squib Kaplan (who discover Christopher’s body on a morning run), and other classmates who interacted with Christopher during the last night of the festival, are plagued with thoughts that they may have played a role in his murder. Six narrators tell the story, which unfolds in poetry, prose, and a few play script entries. An author’s note clarifies what is fact and what is fiction in this beautifully crafted novel.

—CA

Ages 15+

The Sky Between You and Me. Catherine Alene. 2017. Sourcebooks Fire/Sourcebook.

Rae, a competitive barrel racer, dreams of winning the Rodeo Nationals. When she realizes that she has almost outgrown her deceased mother’s beloved saddle, her obsession with losing five pounds turns into an eating disorder that spins out of control. Not even her devoted boyfriend Cody (who is being pursued by another girl) or Asia (her best friend from childhood) can help. Rae must face her dangerous disease head-on and welcome an uncertain future that promises a better way of life. The book concludes with a page of statistics about eating disorders and an author’s note about her personal connections to the topic.

—NB

We Come Apart. Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan. 2017. Bloomsbury.

Jess is a rebel with a painful family secret. Nicu, a recent Romanian immigrant, is forced to work with his father to earn money to pay for his own arranged marriage. Trapped in their bleak lives, Jess and Nicu tell stories of abuse, discrimination, racism, and bullying in this verse novel. After the teens break the law (Jess for shoplifting with friends and Nicu for stealing a chocolate bar), they are placed in a Reparation Program, where they build a friendship that blossoms into romance.

—NB

Nancy Brashear is Professor Emeritus of English from Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, California. Carolyn Angus is former Director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California.