Overview
Deck the halls, hang the stockings, and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with this festive book of poetry for beginning readers!
From the excitement of looking for hidden Christmas presents to the solemnity of Midnight Mass, the differing moods and meanings of Christmas are brought to life in these joyful poems, perfectly complemented by the vibrant, rich artwork of illustrator Melanie Hall.
About the Author:
Lee Bennett Hopkins was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1938. As a child Mr. Hopkins read little other than comic books and movie magazines until a teacher inspired in him a love of the theater and of reading. He credits this teacher with his lifelong interest in education.
Mr. Hopkins began teaching sixth grade at a public school in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in 1960. He enjoyed his job, and in his third year at Westmoreland School in Fair Lawn, he became the school's resource teacher, providing curricular support materials for the elementary school teachers. It was while serving in this position that Mr. Hopkins first used poetry to help children with reading problems.
In 1968 Mr. Hopkins became a curriculum and editorial specialist at Scholastic, Inc. His career as a writer soared. More than two dozen of his books were published during his eight-year tenure there. In 1976 Mr. Hopkins left his job at Scholastic in order to become a full-time writer and anthologist.
Mr. Hopkins is widely recognized as the nation's spokesperson for Children's Poetry. He has edited and written numerous books for children as well as several professional texts, including Pauses: Autobiographical Reflections of 101 Creators of Children's Books and Pass the Poetry, Please!, and his column, "Poetry Plus," is a regular feature in Creative Classroom magazine. Mr. Hopkins has been honored with the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for "lasting contributions to Children's Literature."
Mr. Hopkins served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) from 1975 to 1978; NCTE Commission on Literature (1982-1985); and NCTE Children's Literature Assembly (1984-1987); and he twice chaired the NCTE Poetry Award Committee. He is also the donor of both the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, presented by Penn State University, and the Lee Bennett Hopkins/International Reading Association Promising Poet Award.
The recipient of a Christopher Award and the University of Southern Mississippi's Medallion for "lasting contributions to childrens literature," Mr. Hopkins lives in Westchester County and Greenwich Village, New York.
A collection of poems by a variety of authors celebrating the various aspects of Christmas.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Lee Bennett Hopkins edits two compilations of timely poems in the I Can Read series, both illus. by Melanie Hall. Hanukkah Lights: Holiday Poetry celebrates the Festival of Lights with 12 poems. Sidestepping the issue of gifts entirely, the economical poems (the longest poem is 16 lines) capture the spirit of the holiday from a kid's eye-view: the comforting radiance of the menorah in the dark of winter, the wonder of being part of a generations-old tradition. Hall's softly textured paintings combine visual flights of fancy with cozy scenes of Jewish domesticity. The duo's Christmas Presents: Holiday Poetry, on the other hand, surrenders to the gift-giving tradition, yet also discusses the spiritual event at the holiday's core. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Twelve very short poems appear in this book, accompanied by full-color illustrations. Poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins has pulled together an excellent collection—the poems are short enough to be read by early readers (with some help for tougher words like "cupboards") but they are not empty rhymes. Each evokes the season or prompts some thought. "Waiting" by Maria Fleming perfectly captures a child's impatience waiting for Christmas to arrive (quite a feat for a 34-word poem!) while "Wonder" (by Mr. Hopkins) causes the reader to think what the first Christmas must have been like. Part of the "An I Can Read Book" series, this book's appeal is not limited to early readers; it would be perfect for a class unit on poetry and could be enjoyed as a family read-aloud. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8.—Dr. Judy Rowen