Poetrees by Douglas Florian
(For tree lovers. Check out the “Glossatree” at the end. I’m a big fan of Florian’s paintings, which sit beautifully between the abstract and the literal.)
Doggy Slippers by Jorge Lujan and Isol
(For animal lovers. Mexican poet Lujan asked children to share their thoughts about their beloved pets and he turned their words into poems. Isol is one of my favorite contemporary illustrators. I love the way everything looks slightly misregistered on the page—as if your 3D glasses fell off.)
A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul B. Janeczko and Chris Raschka
(For type lovers. What is a concrete poem? This book offers a few playful examples. We are HUGE fans of Chris Raschka’s work around here—especially Yo! Yes! and his collaborations with Bell Hooks.)
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
(This book is completely nostalgic for me. I still have the copy my father gave me on my 7th birthday. The drawings still make me laugh and squirm. Silverstein was never one to shy away from the big topics. Loneliness, fear, jealousy, death: it’s all here.)
