Climbing Shadows

February 18, 2019
Bramer’s poems, created as she got to know a group of kindergartners, explore an evocative range of emotional states, metaphors, and ideas. Understated, dreamlike paintings with offsetting white space accompany the poems. In one of the lighter poems, Bramer writes: “I’m not afraid of skeletons/ Are you afraid of skeletons?/ Skeletons are bones in the shape of a body/ Are you afraid of bones in the shape of a body?” The skeletons appear treelike, with green, spindly limbs. Elsewhere, a small child sits on a wide expanse of frozen water, gazing at a lone red flower: “My hands are cold—/ I lost my mittens/ And I love my family.” The works carry notes of wistfulness and wonder, astute observations, and poignant reflections on one’s place in the world. Ages 6–up.

April 1, 2019

K-Gr 2-Striking illustrations elevate this poetry collection for elementary school audiences. Over the course of 20 poems, Bramer covers a wide range of early childhood experiences with evocative, yet playful language, and a childlike perspective. From the comfort and security found in family members and favorite toys to the anxiety and isolation wrought by new experiences and social challenges, the poems effectively convey a complex array of emotions. Derby's impressionistic watercolor paintings vacillate between whimsical and vaguely haunting, with full-page, lush landscapes contrasting spreads with a single image in plenty of white space. The illustrations frequently outshine Bramer's relatively straightforward poems, amplifying the feelings and experiences contained in the text while adding depth and nuance. VERDICT This accessible anthology has potential as inspiration for early elementary students learning the basics of reading and writing poetry. While not a first purchase, it's a solid choice for larger poetry collections.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
This collection of 20 poems inspired by the poet's volunteer work in a kindergarten lunchroom is united by authorship; entries address a variety of topics and are expressed in multiple styles. The subject matter is generally accessible and of interest, including family vignettes ("The Snow Is Melting"), feelings ("afterschool"), animals ("a spider way of thinking," "Owl Secrets"), and toys ("My Cars Never Sleep"). Length and format vary too: "Little Yellow House" is only nine words long; others have several stanzas. Not all utilize traditional capitalization and punctuation. Some layouts are straightforward, left-justified and single- or double-spaced; others feature irregular spaces between lines or between phrases on the same line but are not quite concrete poetry. Figurative language is especially effective in "The Envelope," a litany of ways a child thinks of their mother. Most read well out loud, with appropriate scansion and without the pitfall of forced rhyme. Derby's sophisticated illustrations, done in watercolor, digital collage, and India ink, have a subdued tone and leave room for the imagination; some are simple, small vignettes on white space, while others feature gently washy backgrounds. The poetry here is well-done, and although there is no real topical or stylistic cohesion, the assortment offers something for readers with varying preferences. (Picture book/poetry. 6-9)

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May 15, 2019
Grades 1-4 Does children's poetry need to be silly, bouncy rhymes? In this collection of 20 poems, Bramer proves that children are indeed capable of sophisticated topics. Inspired by her work with kindergartners in a Toronto public school, the Canadian poet offers a range of subjects. While she does write about the joy of polka dots, how octopuses have three hearts (true) and dream of climbing trees (perhaps true), and the crunchy, spiny, tinkling / music of cracking bones when skeletons dance, she also addresses quieter and more serious matters of the heart. For instance, there's the hard day at school that makes you feel like melting into a puddle, the immigrant who can't go home, the rainy birthday party, and the dark nights when Mom has to go out. Although a few poems do use rhyme for fun, most are in free verse or take nontraditional forms. Derby's digitally enhanced watercolor illustrations lend a wispy backdrop to their deceptive delicacy. Readers looking for a change from conventional poetry will find this a thoughtful collection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)