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mrs_bookdragon's review
5.0
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced ebook. This book is all the stars and more. I loved the poetry with the commentary. I loved the illustrations and quotes. I loved how different the poems were, yet all stayed in the same theme. It’s a must read and I enjoyed it. Definitely adding to my wish list for my students.
graggirl's review
5.0
This book introduced us to a huge variety of different forms of poems while enlarging our view of empathy, diversity, and humanity. It was excellent! We plan to revisit in the future but we took it in bite size chunks to make it all the way through.
annebennett1957's review
5.0
I loved, loved, loved this artistic poetry book with it's color poems written in different poetic types (and described in tiny font at the bottom of each page. Every poem was more favorite than the next. My only problem once again revolves around audience. I, an adult, loved this book. But its target it children. What ages? Upper elementary? Would they select it??
bet27's review
4.0
I'm impressed with this book -- not only does it address an important topic with such a calm openness that invites thought and discussion and action, it also teaches about poetry as a whole and in multiple forms, as well as include quotes from other writers and thinkers, mini personal reflections, and simple suggestions of ways to put the ideas into action. I don't know how they managed to pack all that in and still offer up an easy to engage with book. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for other books these authors create together. And I can't wait to try my hand at a few of the new-to-me poetry forms. Thanks for all the effort to bring this book to publication! I've already recommended it (in detail) to at least four people.
djlanatron's review
5.0
These two could keep writing poem books together forever and I will be extremely happy. The art for this one is incredible too!
lauriehnatiuk's review
5.0
I was waiting for this book from authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters the moment I heard about it and WOW WOW WOW!. Many may remember this duo from their earlier work Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship this is a book that demands to be in classrooms, libraries and readers young and old.
Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z is simply that, a collection of poems using a word or words from each letter of the alphabet to create a better world and yet it is so much more than that. The words representing the letters of the alphabet are both common and also some that may be unfamiliar. The choice of the words included show the deep thinking of the authors - BEAR WITNESS, NETIQUETTE, SHERO - oh the conversations, discussions and ACTIONS that I see just seeing those words!
The book includes a table of contents with the words covered by each letter of the alphabet, with some letters having more than one work. The very first poem is an abecedarian poem outlining the purpose and the heart of the book that lays ahead. From there readers are introduced to the word, a poem, the type of poem, a quote, a comment and a try it. There is so much on a two page spread and yet it is not overwhelming at all. The quotes range from current books Jonathan Auxier's Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster to proverbs.
And then if this isn't enough you have the art work of Mehrdokht Amni (Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter). The placement, the colour choices and the illustrations are just stunning.
Highly highly recommended.
For even more details please read Paul Hankins review.
Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z is simply that, a collection of poems using a word or words from each letter of the alphabet to create a better world and yet it is so much more than that. The words representing the letters of the alphabet are both common and also some that may be unfamiliar. The choice of the words included show the deep thinking of the authors - BEAR WITNESS, NETIQUETTE, SHERO - oh the conversations, discussions and ACTIONS that I see just seeing those words!
The book includes a table of contents with the words covered by each letter of the alphabet, with some letters having more than one work. The very first poem is an abecedarian poem outlining the purpose and the heart of the book that lays ahead. From there readers are introduced to the word, a poem, the type of poem, a quote, a comment and a try it. There is so much on a two page spread and yet it is not overwhelming at all. The quotes range from current books Jonathan Auxier's Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster to proverbs.
And then if this isn't enough you have the art work of Mehrdokht Amni (Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter). The placement, the colour choices and the illustrations are just stunning.
Highly highly recommended.
For even more details please read Paul Hankins review.
lahars_little_library's review
5.0
I LOVE this for so many reasons. It’s brief but clear introduction to poetry forms, the incredible artwork, the inspirational stories and quotes, and how it spurred me to begin writing more than just free verse poetry. If I taught in a upper elementary or middle school classroom I’d use Dictionary for a Better World, to spark discussion and challenge my students. They should publish this in poster form too!