Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems
The table of contents creates the first list here, naming the 45 list poems appearing in this slender volume. Then come the poems themselves, which celebrate children’s everyday experiences during the school year. The poems vary from simple lists to descriptive ones to those combining with other forms, such as concrete poetry. Well designed to display lists, the narrow pages are bound at the top edge, creating a long vertical space on each page or double-page spread. There are no illustrations, and none are needed. The placement of each large-type title creates a different look for each selection. The anthology includes verse by contemporary children’s poets such as Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Jane Yolen, Lee Bennett Hopkins, and Naomi Shihab Nye. Since list poems are a frequent starting place for classroom poetry-writing projects, teachers will welcome this fine anthology. Grades 3-6. --Carolyn Phelan