Prolific children's author Rosen admits right off that it's practically impossible to define a poem. Instead, he devotes an illuminating first chapter (more than one third of the book) to show what writers use poetry for: capturing a moment ("Who Has Seen the Wind?" by Christina Rossetti); playing with words ("Waltzing Matilda," by Banjo Paterson), and so on. Subsequent chapters provide supportive, practical advice for aspiring poets, including what to do with a poem (read it, read it out loud, act it out, combine it with other creative expression, ignore it); suggestions on where to find inspiration; prompts; exercises; and ideas for sharing. The text is upbeat and breezy, and information is set off in easily digestible chunks. There are even a few pages on traditional poetry conventions, such as iambic pentameter. Accessible and entertaining, this will be a very helpful book for aspiring young poets. Teachers will find plenty to supplement lessons and will especially appreciate the list of sites offering video content of poets reading their work.

This informative volume achieves exactly what its title purports to do and any library would do well to add it to their collection. Those teaching or studying poetry should also find it valuable, both for its insights regarding interpretation and creation and for its range of poetic examples by classic British and American poets. Loose black-and-white spot illustrations add kid-friendliness. Websites. Ind.