Starred Review Newbery medalist Kwame Alexander has come up with a fresh and joyful way to interest children in poetry. "A poem is a small but powerful thing," he says in his thought-provoking preface while noting that, throughout his life, he's been inspired by poetry. So here, in this beautiful book, along with his coauthors, poets Chris Colderly and Marjory Wentworth, Alexander offers a collection of 20 poems. The hook? All are written in tribute to well-known poets, such as Maya Angelou, e. e. cummings, Sandra Cisneros, Robert Frost, Gwendolyn Brooks, and William Carlos Williams, among others. Sometimes that means recreating a style, as in "Contemporary Haiku," which celebrates the Japanese poet, Basho. Sometimes it means adhering to a certain spirit, as in "A Field of Roses," which reminds readers of Emily Dickinson. But even without such links, most of the poetry eezy, thoughtful, amusing ands on its own. As good as the words are, they might still be topped by the book's visuals. Holmes takes collage work to a new level, with gloriously colored art that, the closer you look, tells further stories within stories. Each illustration captures not just the feeling of the poem but wakes readers up to life's excitements and small joys. Exemplary words and pictures make this a multicultural masterwork.

Powerhouse poet Alexander, along with friends Colderley and Wentworth, offers a culturally rich collection of poetic tributes that extends the legacies of poets from around the globe. With mixed-media illustrations by Caldecott honoree Holmes that are just as vibrant as the words and stories that accompany them, the anthology brings readers through a time- and world-traveling adventure of the poetic imagination. Eras, places, and cultures represented include ancient times, 20th-century, contemporary, Japan, Uganda, African-American, Native American, Latino, and white, too. This cross-cultural exploration embraces the timeless power of poetry, as Alexander's preface makes clear, "to reach inside of you, to ignite something in you, and to change you in ways you never imagined." The tributes to such legendary poets as Rumi, Emily Dickinson, and Maya Angelou both serve as homage, transparent in their honest gratitude for their inspiration and wisdom, and emulate their distinctive styles. "Snapshots," Colderley's poem celebrating Nikki Giovanni, reads in part, "poetry is…barbecue…cotton candy…purple skin beets from Daddy's garden… / blues…the Birdland jazz club…Sunday morning gospel…chasing justice…freedom…," capturing Giovanni's subject matter and stylized punctuation use. This book is sure to be an educator's lucky charm for a survey-of-poetry unit and is also a perfect entryway for families to wonder and explore together. Brief notes introduce the three sections, and thumbnail biographies of the poets celebrated are appended. A magnificent exploration of the poetic imagination. (Picture book/poetry. 8-14)

Twenty poems, each "celebrating" a notable poet, variously mimic poets' styles, incorporate their feelings and themes, or acknowledge and thank them. The celebrated poets represent a wide range of cultures and time periods. Vibrant, arresting mixed-media collages complement and extend the themes and rich imagery presented in the poems. Educators teaching poetry or introducing influential poets will welcome this stellar title. Biographical information appended.

Powerhouse poet Alexander, along with friends Colderley and Wentworth, offers a culturally rich collection of poetic tributes that extends the legacies of poets from around the globe. With mixed-media illustrations by Caldecott honoree Holmes that are just as vibrant as the words and stories that accompany them, the anthology brings readers through a time- and world-traveling adventure of the poetic imagination. Eras, places, and cultures represented include ancient times, 20th-century, contemporary, Japan, Uganda, African-American, Native American, Latino, and white, too. This cross-cultural exploration embraces the timeless power of poetry, as Alexander's preface makes clear, "to reach inside of you, to ignite something in you, and to change you in ways you never imagined." The tributes to such legendary poets as Rumi, Emily Dickinson, and Maya Angelou both serve as homage, transparent in their honest gratitude for their inspiration and wisdom, and emulate their distinctive styles. "Snapshots," Colderley's poem celebrating Nikki Giovanni, reads in part, "poetry is…barbecue…cotton candy…purple skin beets from Daddy's garden… / blues…the Birdland jazz club…Sunday morning gospel…chasing justice…freedom…," capturing Giovanni's subject matter and stylized punctuation use. This book is sure to be an educator's lucky charm for a survey-of-poetry unit and is also a perfect entryway for families to wonder and explore together. Brief notes introduce the three sections, and thumbnail biographies of the poets celebrated are appended. A magnificent exploration of the poetic imagination. (Picture book/poetry. 8-14)

Wisdom from Lucille Clifton (-Poems come out of wonder, not out of knowing-) inspires the title for this collection from Newbery Medalist Alexander (The Crossover) and collaborators Colderley and Wentworth. Together, they supply poems honoring-and in the style of-20 poets, including Rumi, Langston Hughes, and Gwendolyn Brooks. The results range from simple description (-a trendsetter, and a rule breaker,- writes Colderley about William Carlos Williams) to Alexander-s fresh and startling love song à la E.E. Cummings (-It is such a happy thing to yes the next with you/ to walk on magic love rugs beneath the what-). Caldecott Honor-winner Holmes-s (Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer) textured-paper collages use bold, angular forms and sunlit colors to spotlight poets and their subject matter, such as the dancers in a poem inspired by Ugandan poet Okot p-Bitek, their outstretched fingers echoed in the rays of the sun above. The exercise of celebrating poets in their own voices leads naturally to the idea of the classroom writing prompt-which Colderley, writing haiku in the style of Basho, seems to anticipate: -Pens scratching paper/ Syllables counted with care/ Poets blossoming.- Ages 8-12. (Mar.)