Overview
Renowned poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins takes readers from sunrise to sunset as he presents whimsical and witty poems that pay tribute to the sun, moon, and stars. This beautiful collection brings together old favorites from the likes of Tennessee Williams and Carl Sandburg and new offerings from such poets as Georgia Heard and Tony Johnston. The brief poems inspire surprise, awe, and wonder as they give room and scope to stunning and thought-provoking paintings by illustrator Mariusz Stawarski.
Synopsis
Renowned poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins takes readers from sunrise to sunset as he presents whimsical and witty poems that pay tribute to the sun, moon, and stars. This beautiful collection brings together old favorites from the likes of Tennessee Williams and Carl Sandburg and new offerings from such poets as Georgia Heard and Tony Johnston. The brief poems inspire surprise, awe, and wonder as they give room and scope to stunning and thought-provoking paintings by illustrator Mariusz Stawarski.
Horn Book
This mesmerizing picture-book poetry compilation takes in the whole sky, from sunrise to the nighttime stars . . . each poem conveys the sense of wonder and awe people often feel when considering the cosmos . . . starred review
Editorials
Horn Book
This mesmerizing picture-book poetry compilation takes in the whole sky, from sunrise to the nighttime stars . . . each poem conveys the sense of wonder and awe people often feel when considering the cosmos . . . starred reviewChildren's Literature -
The number of poems praising the sun, the moon, and the stars and the night sky is plentiful, and in this compilation, Hopkins draws from a diverse group of poets who have given their own take on the glory of a sunrise to the beauty of the stars at night. James Guthrie, Tennessee Williams, David McCord, Avis Harley, and Carl Sandburg are in the list of fourteen poets who find their way into the text. As would be expected, the compilation begins in the morning, with the rising of the sun, and poems that focus on that time of day. Then, using Ashley Bryan's "Song," as a transition, Hopkins changes the book's focus to the moon and the evening sky. Throughout the book, beautiful illustrations, paintings created by Stawarski and inspired by his childhood in Poland, impress the readers with their strong colors and whimsical characters interacting with the sun, the moon, and the stars. I enjoyed one painting in particular, which shows a child playing "connect-the-dots" with the stars to create Taurus the Bull, Aries the Ram, the Big Dipper, and Leo the Lion. This could be a great text for students working on interdisciplinary projects in English and art. This is a book well worth having in a school or family library. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D.School Library Journal
Gr 1-3
Hopkins has gathered 14 poems about the sun, moon, and stars. Some are by well-known authors, like Carl Sandburg and Tennessee Williams, while others are less familiar. Almost all of the selections are short, wistful, free verse, and well crafted. The dreamlike tone is reflected in Stawarski's quasi-surrealistic illustrations. Done in rich textured blues, yellows, and oranges, they present a world in which logic holds little sway. The moon walks on two legs while some people watch a large star screen in the sky and others use ropes to pull down the night. Although formatted as a picture book, the interesting poems and unusual illustrations can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages. Nancy Elizabeth Wallace's The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars (Houghton, 2003) is another anthology about the heavenly bodies, but is aimed at a younger audience. A handsome addition.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT