Roses are red, violets are blue,
we hope December is being good to you!
Welcome to the first #PoetryFriday of December! This week’s featured books will entice readers of all ages.
The Museum on the Moon entwines history through verse that will awe curious minds and bring back memories for those of use who watched the Apollo missions on television. This book would be great paired with Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks.
Linda’s review of A Work in Progress begins with “I placed this in the ‘adult’ category, too, hoping that many adults will read this heartfelt story of young Will Chambers, along with children or alone.” Yes, this is another poetry book for all of us. The author explains that the book is based on his own personal struggles. It does not have trigger warnings, but the story addresses body image, body dysmorphia, and disordered eating, and may not be the right choice for your reader.
Summary excerpts come from Goodreads. Click the cover to add this book to your TBR.
POETRY COLLECTION
From the amusing to the poignant, The Museum on the Moon introduces readers to the mysterious objects left on the lunar surface since humans arrived in 1969. Part history, part poetry, heartwarming and haunting, and illustrated with breathtaking graphite drawings, The Museum on the Moon is a moving exhibit of humankind's most famous quest for knowledge and our place in the universe.
Six missions―Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17―landed American astronauts on the moon. On each mission, the astronauts carried items that are now artifacts―personal mementos, tools and equipment, and other things, like human waste products, unavoidable. Because the moon has virtually no atmosphere, these things remain on the moon, just as they were, and will presumably continue to be there for years to come. The moon truly is a museum!
Linda @ Goodreads – The Museum on the Moon creates an enticing beginning, starting with parts of the historical Apollo program. Poems take us on through history, poems in rhyme, poems in free verse, but accompanied by brief paragraphs of explanation of those “next steps” in our moon history and full-page illustrations. Don’t miss this new book about our beloved moon!
NOVEL IN VERSE
Will is the only round kid in a school full of thin ones. So he hides…in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isn’t the only feeling that dominates Will’s life. He’s also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesn’t have a chance with, because of his size—but he can’t help wondering what if?
As he resorts to increasingly drastic measures to transform his appearance, Will meets skateboarder Markus, who helps him see his body and all it contains as an ever-evolving work in progress.
Linda @ Goodreads – I placed this in the ‘adult’ category, too, hoping that many adults will read this heartfelt story of young Will Chambers, along with children or alone. Jarrett Lerner slams us into Will’s story starting with a word, one word. The struggles in his life because of the feelings ignited by that one word will touch everyone, whether it’s past memories or current events happening right now, the journey is one that made me worry about Will’s, and others’, ability to survive. The moments of hope are short-lived until they aren’t by the blessing of an interaction with another boy. Will’s story has all the emotions, perhaps will be a mirror for many kids who can recognize the “work in progress” they are living. Don’t miss reading Will’s story!
Cindy on behalf of Kiss the Book, review by Lisa Librarian – Oh my! A body image book about a boy – I loved it! Written in the style of a doodle book, Will’s story is told like a journal with plenty of drawings. Wimpy Kid readers will relate. It’s not heavy-handed, but honest and poignant, yet hopeful. Will is a big bully to himself, with all his negative thought and drawing himself as a monster. Written in verse, the text flows beautifully – I can hear Will’s internal struggle. A Work in Progress would pair well with Lisa Fipps’ Starfish. Will’s parents do step in with help when they discover what is going on. A great mental health read. Certainly buying for my library, but probably not for everyone.