Poetry for Everyone2
An annotated list of poetry books for adults, teens and children at the Boxford Town Libraries.

Adult Collections
Different Hours: Poems by Stephen Dunn. 2000. (811.54 Dun)
Winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, this collection explores the different hours in our lives.

Habitat: New and Selected Poems, 1965-2005 by Brendan Galvin. 2005. (811.54 Galvin)
A finalist for the 2006 National Book Award, this collection is filled with poems that describe and celebrate the natural world.

Mary Oliver: New and Selected Poems Volume One. 1992. (811.54 Oli) and
Mary Oliver: New and Selected Poems Volume Two. 2005. (811.54 Oli)
Two collections encompassing the some of the work of Oliver, a poet of the natural world.

The Pleasures of the Damned: Poems 1951-1993 by Charles Bukowski. 2007. (811.54 Buk)
This collection contains tough and intelligent poems from this counterculture icon.

Poetry Speaks: Hear Great Poets Read Their Work from Tennyson to Plath. 2001. (811 Poe) and
Poetry Speaks Expanded: Hear Poets from Tennyson to Plath Read Their Own Work. 2007. (811.509 Poe)
Each of these volumes include brief biographical sketches and critical essays as well as text and CD recordings of poems in the poet’s own voice. Treats for poetry lovers!

The Pushcart Book of Poetry: The best poems from thirty years of The Pushcart Prize. 2006. (811.008 Push). Quite a variety of styles, subjects and poets comprise this snapshot of modern poetry.

Teen Collections
(Teens may also enjoy selections from the adult collections listed above)
America in Poetry: with paintings, drawings, photographs, and other works of art. 1988. (811.008 Sul)
A winning combination of poetry and art that offers personal and panoramic views of America.

 Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999. by Paul McCartney. 2001. (821 Mcc)
Inspired by his late wife Linda, this former Beatle has much to say through his poems.

Listen Up!: Spoken Word Poetry. 1999. (YA 811 Lis)
If you’re interested in performance poetry and poetry slams, read this—out loud, of course!

180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Everyday. 2005 (811 One)
Continuing with the success of Poetry 180, here are more thoughtful poems that offer “immediate gratification.”

Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times. 2003 (821 Sta)
An anthology of poems for when the world seems just too much!

Love to Langston. by Tony Medina. 2002. (J 811 Med)
A terrific introduction to Langston Hughes’ life and poetry by an author and poet who was deeply touched by Hughes’ poetry.

Song of the Water Boatmen & Other Pond Poems. by Joyce Sidman. 2005. (J 811 Sid)
A great collection of poems for the budding naturalist and with so many ponds around Boxford, this is a fun book to share on a nature walk.

Tap Dancing on the Roof: sijo (poems). 2007. by Linda Sue Park. (J 811.54 Par)
Sijo has a fixed number of stressed syllables, similar to haiku, but a sijo always has an unexpected twist or joke at the end. Fun!

Grades 1-3
Good Sports. by Jack Prelutsky and Chris Raschka. 2007. (J 811 Pre)
From baseball to karate and basketball to hockey these short poems celebrate the fun of participating in sports.

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook. by Shel Silverstein. 2005. (J 811 Sil)
“Bead a rook” and meet Runny Babbit and all his friends who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own!

A School Year of Poems. Selected by Walter B. Barbe. 2005. (J 811 Bar)
Thematic selection of poems that can be enjoyed by children and teachers throughout the year.

Preschool – Kindergarten
A Helpful Alphabet of Friendly Objects by John Updike. 1995. (J 811 Upd)
Short illustrated poems from A to Z that are enjoyable for both children and their grownups.

Here’s a Little Poem Selected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters. 2007. (J 811.008 Her)
Lively illustrations and topics a preschooler will adore make this a terrific first collection of poems.

Playtime Rhymes for Little People by Clare Beaton. 2001, (J 811 Pla)
Beautifully illustrated with fabric collage and embroidery stitching, this collection of nursery rhymes will inspire tots to join in!

Today at the Bluebird Café: A Branchful of Birds by Deborah Ruddell. 2007. (J811 Rud)
From backyard birds to exotics, these poems celebrate the wonderful world of birds!

DG 3/2008

Boxford Town Library, 10 Elm Street, Boxford MA, 987-887-READ   www.boxfordtownlib.org