Poetry Friday

 

I'm making my way through the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2014 and knew I had to feature this book on Poetry Friday!

 

 

Haiti, My Country by Haitian Schoolchildren by Roge

 

This book is gorgeous.  Poems by young people about the landscapes of Haiti and beautiful painted portraits of Haitian children grace each page. Some of the portraits made my heart ache and others made me smile. Lines such as:

Upon awakening we hear the song of our neighbour's rooster
A beautiful concert to the ears of merchants
Parading the streets of my country

 and

In this beautiful setting stretches dazzling greenery
where we find small curved houses,
flourishing mango trees at the end of lanes,
and ripening oranges

make me want to visit Haiti and write about the beauty of my own country. This picture book is a must for every classroom and library. Perfect for writing workshop. 

Head on over to Paul W. Hankins's blog for the Poetry Roundup!