By the staff at Covered Treasures
“Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.”—Rita Dove
April is National Poetry Month! Reading poetry can engage all the senses and is one reason many children’s picture books are written in poetry form. This month we feature poetry for all ages, written by nationally known authors as well as some talented local poets.
You Are Here; Poetry in the Natural World
Ada Limon, Editor (Milkweed Editions) $25
This sparkling curated collection was edited by Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. poet laureate. It is in honor of the natural world and all it means to be humans living within it. The poems selected for inclusion can be appreciated by experienced poetry lovers as well as by those who are just beginning to learn to appreciate the art of poetry.
Coffee Cup Tales & Old Car Nuts
By Lon Wartman $16
The witty, truthful, and sometimes outrageous poems in this book came about through Wartman’s involvement with Tri-Lakes Cruisers Car Club. The Cruisers meet once a week at the Coffee Cup Café and the stories flow. The group is full of men and women from all walks of life who share a deep love of old vehicles, dreams of yesteryears, and backseat blues. Come along for the ride.
The Divine Book of Love
Mary Burnett Brown (Heartfelt Poetry LLC) $10
Brown’s poetry is a key that opens your heart to deep spiritual wisdom. Through her poetry, you will find peace and happiness. Her poems encourage you to pause for a moment and embrace all the beauty and love that are present in this world.
Having Lived
By Joseph Murphy (Kelsay Books) $13
This is a wonderful collection of strong, authentic poems that range from moving elegies and lyric poems of homecoming and longing to personal histories retold as narratives full of irony. Common to all these works is a collection of shared sentiments from our times. Murphy’s subtle grasp of our contemporary lives will have a wide audience appeal.
Red Sings from Treetops; A Year in Colors
By Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (Clarion Books) $19
Color comes alive in this whimsical, innovative picture book: blue dances on summer lakes, green drips from spring leaves, black wafts mysteriously through autumn evenings. Together an award-winning poet and a brilliant artist inspire us to look closer at the thrilling colors of the seasons. This book invites readers to notice colors and correlate emotion.
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
By Mary Oliver (Penguin Books) $20
Carefully curated, these 200-plus poems feature Oliver’s work from her very first book of poetry, No Voyage and Other Poems, published in 1963 at the age of 28, through her most recent collection, Felicity, published in 2015. This timeless volume, arranged by Oliver, showcases the beloved poet at her edifying best. Within these pages, she provides us with an extraordinary and invaluable collection of her passionate, perceptive, and much-treasured observations of the natural world.
Tiny, Perfect Things
By M. H. Clark (Compendium Publishing) $18
The whole world is a treasure waiting to be found. Open your eyes and see the wonderful things all around. This is the story of a child and a grandfather whose walk around the neighborhood leads to a day of shared wonder as they discover all sorts of tiny, perfect things together. With rhythmic storytelling and detailed and intricate illustrations, this is a book about how childlike curiosity can transform ordinary days into extraordinary adventures.
I Knew You Could Do It!
By Nancy Tillman (Feiwel & Friends) $18
This picture book is a celebration of everyday accomplishments as well as life’s milestones. It applauds anyone who has overcome hurdles and challenges, and cheers them into the future. It’s for anyone who needs an infusion of support and reassurance. The book is full of bright, wonderful illustrations that make you believe in the magic that cheers you on.
Conversations with Flowers
By Valerie Shereck (Austin Macauley Publishers) $8
This little poetry book is a tapestry where the author weaves reflections on nature, the sting of loss, the intricacies of relationships, and the myriad hues of life. These poems not only celebrate the rejuvenating power of faith but also resonate and linger long after the last word is read.
Until next month, happy reading.
The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.
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