Poetry
Each year Evanston Public Library decides on the 101 Great Books for Kids. This year we’ve poetry collections that are hilarious, meaningful, and gross but they all have one thing in common: They’re unforgettable!
36. Beware the Dragon and the Nozzlewock by Vikram Madan
Looking for funny poetry? You’ve come to the right place! From nozzlewocks to squishosaurs and everything in-between (whatever that means) you’ll be rolling in the aisles thanks to this hilarious collection. Call Number: J Graphic Madan.V
37. Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, ill. Ekua Holmes
A robust, incredible poetry collection for older readers recounting both Renée Watson’s own life and the lives of other Black girls and women everywhere. Call Number: x811.6 Watso.R
38. Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle, ill. Julia Patton
Prepare yourself. In this book you’ll find a world filled with fish farts, bee barf, hagfish, lobster pee and more. Uproarious and fact-filled, don’t say we didn’t warn you! Call Number: x811 Brune.L
39. Home by Isabelle Simler, translated by Vineet Lal
From lofty aeries, to straw apartment complexes, to a grassy lodge just big enough for a mouse, dive into these sumptuous images alongside fun poetry about all the different homes created by the architects of the natural world. Call Number: x811 Simle.I
40. The Mighty Pollinators by Helen Frost, ill. Rick Lieder
“Here come the pollinators, / small and mighty, / holding the world together.” Get up close and personal with the tiny critters that pollinate our world. Breathtaking photography coupled with beautiful verse. Call Number: x571.8642 Frost.H
41. The Mistakes That Made Us: Confessions from Twenty Poets selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, ill. Mercè López
Think of your most embarrassing moment or the mistake that seemed terrible at the time and turned out okay. Twenty poets relive their childhoods in a stellar collection of highs and lows. Call Number: x811 Latha.I
42. Windsongs: Poems About Weather by Douglas Florian
Whether it’s twisty tornadoes, arid deserts, flooded homes, or rainy days, there’s a poem somewhere in here for everyone everywhere. Catch wind of it! Call Number: x811 Flori.D
Find the full list of 101 Great Books for Kids here.
Committee Members: Patrizia Alm, Karina Andrus, Stephen Barnes, Betsy Bird, Lisa Dallas, Kyria Dickerson, Betsy Haberl, Jessica Iverson, Kennedy Joseph, Taylor Keahey, Leigh Kennelly, Martha Meyer, Jeny Mills, Olivia Mo, Katrina Moravec, Bill Ohms, Bridget Petrites, Julie Rand, Jennifer Shreve, Robin Sindelar, Elizabeth English Steimle, Kasandra Trejo, Lulu Tripp, Michael Warren, and Brian Wilson
