Introduced by a biographical sketch of Whitman, this thematically organized volume collects twenty-six of his most famous poems and excerpts from longer poems. Brief (but distracting) explanatory notes follow the poem's title; word definitions appear at the bottom of the pages. Watercolors, both full-page and smaller vignettes, illuminate the verse. A handsome, accessible introduction to one of America's most celebrated poets. Ind.

The third installment in the hard-core Poetry for Kids series again weds top-notch scholarship with visual artistry in introducing children to the poetic wonders of another American treasure: Walt Whitman. Here, Whitman scholar Karbiener (Liberal Studies, New York Univ.) and illustrator Evans harmoniously capture the immediacy of Whitman's verse, and perhaps in no other instance does this series' 8-inch-wide format serve better, affording readers the rare pleasure of seeing Whitman's seemingly endless lines run clear across the page, unenjambed as he intended. In her preface, Karbiener explains that she seeks to provide a rough biographical sketch of Whitman, fleshed out in endnotes. For example, "Come Up from the Fields Father" depicts the moment a family receives the news its only son has been injured in battle: "O this is not our son's writing, yet his name is sign'd; / O a strange hand writes for our dear son—O stricken mother's soul!" Karbiener's notes on the poem describe how that "strange hand" often belonged to Whitman, who, as a volunteer during the Civil War, "wrote hundreds of letters that briefed families on soldiers' conditions." Evans' deeply expressive earth-toned watercolors match both the poet's exacting attention to detail and his proclivity for cataloging vast states of nature and cityscapes. Though Whitman's sophisticated 19th-century vocabulary may tax today's youth, this dynamic volume proves a seminal addition to any library. (glossed terms in margins) (Picture book/poetry. 10-16)

Gr 5-9--An outstanding introduction to Whitman's life and work. This collection of 26 poems and excerpts from longer poems is prefaced by a biographical sketch and a description of the time period. Students will be impressed by the poet's daring departure from traditional metered and rhyming poetry. Levin guides readers into understanding the importance of Whitman's oeuvre. He introduces each selection with pertinent information about its relevance to a larger work, its relationship to Whitman's beliefs, or the symbolism within it. Words that students might find difficult are defined at the bottom of the page. Beginning with the patriotic "I Hear America Singing," the collection includes excerpts from "Song of Myself," "O Captain! My Captain!," poems from Leaves of Grass, and a variety of other selections that are thought-provoking, descriptive, and full of emotion. Burke's pastel drawings add to the feelings Levin describes, and to the emotional impact of each poem. Several illustrations are historical in nature; others reflect ordinary lives and activities of the times. Still others show Whitman's sense of the miracles and mysticism of life. This superb volume can be used to teach literature or to show a variety of poetic devices and style. Students who have been taught to appreciate poetry will enjoy it on their own.--Betty Teague, Blythe Academy of Languages, Greenville, SC