Once Upon Ice: And Other Frozen Poems
Grade 4-8.  A sophisticated collection of winter poetry. The 17 poets (including X. J. Kennedy, J. Patrick Lewis, Nancy Willard, and Yolen) were given one of Stemple's spectacular photographs of ice formations to stimulate their own creativity. The photographer's work makes this book one to be savored for its art as well as its literary form. Each picture covers the entire page, muted to a tone-on-tone value. Sometimes, a small area of detail from the background is intensified to its true quality, and this highlighted image is the focus of the poem. Styles are as varied as the poets themselves?whimsical, descriptive, story-telling, emotional. Each poem is true to its photograph, giving a special dimension to both. Words like "creaking," "brittle," "chattering," "snaps," and "a-shiver" make the poems expressive read-alouds. The book has curricular connections to units on weather, seasons, matter, or creative writing. Reading it in winter will give readers a chill, even if they are in Florida or southern California.?Betty Teague, Blythe Academy of Languages, Greenville, SCCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.