We’ve partnered with the Academy of American Poets to celebrate National Poetry Month–check out their website if you haven’t before, but be aware you could lose a few hours reading! Here are 15 poems selected for children, for National Poetry Month, by The Academy of American Poets. Thank you, Academy! We hope you, our readers, enjoy spending time exploring these poems, embedded below, and that you feel inspired to produce your own. “El Florida Room” by Richard Blanco Richard Blanco is the Academy of American Poets’ Education Ambassador, and in 2013, he was selected to write a poem for Barack Obama’s second inauguration. In this interview from 2013, he shares his writing process, his poetic influences, and his thoughts about poetry’s place in America. “When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities” by Chen Chen Find more poetry resources for teen readers, including roundups of poems about gender, relationships, and identity. “A Way of Seeing” by Kwame Dawes Read more poems about family. “Heart to Heart” by Rita Dove Read more poems about different kinds of love. “A Small Needful Fact” by Ross Gay Read more poems exploring the themes of social justice, identity, and human rights. “Knoxville, Tennessee” by Nikki Giovanni Find more selections of poems for kids. “breaking away to the u.s.” by José B. González Read more poems exploring the themes of immigration and heritage. “Remember” by Joy Harjo Watch a video of the poet reading this poem. “Fast Break” by Edward Hirsch Read more poems about sports. Watch a video of the poet reading this poem. “Three Foxes by the Edge of the Field at Twilight” by Jane Hirshfield Watch a video of the poet reading this poem. “Amphibians” by Joseph O. Legaspi Read more poems involving nature as a subject or a metaphor. “How to Triumph Like a Girl” by Ada Limón Read more poems about animals. “Wrap” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil Watch a video of the poet talking about the poem that brought her to poetry. “Famous” by Naomi Shihab Nye Read more poems by Naomi Shihab Nye. “The Dogs at Live Oak Beach, Santa Cruz” by Alicia Ostriker Watch a video of the poet reading this poem. Which poem do you like the most? Share your thoughts below!
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Circus Olympus and Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
By Wholtone [Public domain], from Wikimedia CommonsThe wooden doors loomed in front of us as we struggled to put aside the thought of what was on the other side. Blackness seeped in and the door swung open, cueing the circus music to blast and multicolored lights to shine on. “Who is ready for some theater?!” was cried and we burst out through the aisle and onto the stage. My hands are shaking uncontrollably and my teeth are chattering. Deep breaths. There is no going back now. What is the worst that could happen? And then it begins. For almost my whole life, when someone asked me to act in front of someone, a surge of intense emotions would overtake me and I would cry so hard that I wasn’t able to breathe, speak, or act in a reasonable way. These feelings used to come up when I had to speak to someone I didn’t know too well, be in a video, or even introduce myself in a new class. It slowly lessened and grew more intense for bigger things, like being asked to act, play my cello or piano in front of someone I didn’t know, and so on. It barred me and bars me from doing many things, making me feel uncomfortable and ending up with me not being able to do things that I should. Multiple times, these emotions hit me especially hard. When I was eleven, my cello teacher tried to convince me to play in a recital during one of my lessons. I slowly began to start to feel more and more trapped and when she asked if I wanted to play for someone who just walked in the door for her next lesson all the stress that was building up burst out. I froze and started crying uncontrollably, unable to stop myself. I ended up not participating in the recital. The play whirls by, I slowly start to get more comfortable. The glare of the lights dim, my hands slow their shaking and my teeth stop chattering, my fear dissipates into giddy excitement. The moments tick by, each one nearing the goal of the end, but the seconds stop feeling like minutes and more like seconds. It is the last scene, then my last line, then the end. I did it. I had broken a barrier that had held me back for my whole life, or had carved a hole to step through. I proved to myself that I could, that I did, and that I didn’t let myself be held back by something that made me uncomfortable. Have you ever thought that there is no chance that you could do something? Has something ever held you back from doing something? Have you ever then made yourself do it, or succeeded in something that you thought you couldn’t? If so, then leave a comment below! I would love to hear your experiences.
Small Great Things, Reviewed by Clemi Roth, age 13
New York Times-bestseller Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is a fascinating novel about an African-American labor and delivery nurse, Ruth Jefferson, who works in a mostly white neighborhood in Connecticut. Ruth comes from a poor family and grew up as one of the only African-Americans in her neighborhood who graduated with a professional degree. Ruth, now a widow of a veteran and mother of a smart teenager named Edison, works long hours to pay for his elite education. After almost twenty years of experience as a nurse, she encounters a troublesome family. Ruth does a routine check-up on a newborn of a white supremacist family that was anger that an African-American touched their child. The parents demand she not touch their baby, Davis Bauer. When the baby falls ill and passes, the family accuses Ruth of killing Davis and sues her. Ruth has her medical license revoked and fights to get her licenses back. The book shares her personal struggles and her public fight for African-Americans all over America, showing how racism exists, and proving that she was only accused because of her race. This novel highlights important and deep rooted issues including race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion, all of which resonate today. Jodi Picoult has a unique writing style in Small Great Things. Picoult paints a vivid picture. She uses flashbacks to helps the reader understand the character’s back story. At one point, Ruth invites her caucasian attorney, Kennedy, to go shopping. While shopping, Ruth is followed around by a security guard and is asked for her ID before leaving. Kennedy gains insight into Ruth’s experiences as an African American woman living in a white society. Kennedy is struck with empathy and develops a stronger desire to fight for Ruth’s cause. I too had a realization when reading of how blatantly racist our society can be. A simple trip to the store can be uncomfortable and complicated for others simply because of their skin color. This moment in the novel demonstrates how powerful “little things” can affect someone’s life. Shockingly, Kennedy discovers an unlikely piece of evidence that uncovers the truth and changes everyone’s fate. When Kennedy finds this information, we see her empathy, compassion and loyalty to Ruth. I found this intriguing and was thankful for the unexpected turn of events. Before the end of the trial, Edison tries to protect his mother and ends up in jail, showing his unconditional love and his willingness to risk his college bound future. The deep love he shows for his mother is relatable for me and possibly other readers. The novel delves into important topics that are relevant today such as racism and white supremacy loosely connecting to events from this year, including the recent tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. This story raises awareness to the many people who do not understand what it is like to be in Ruth’s position and do not face the everyday challenges which she and other African Americans may experience. It demonstrates how people of color or other minorities are marginalized, and though all loose ends were tied up in the novel, in reality this may not have had lasting effect on society. I recommend this page-turning novel because and it was interesting to hear more than one person’s perspective on the various issues presented. I feel that this book is best suited for anyone from young adults to adults. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Ballantine Books, 2016. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
