A collection of poems that explore childhood experiences—from the whimsical to the poignant—by Shannon Bramer, with magical art by Irene Luxbacher.
Shannon Bramer’s follow-up to her much-loved poetry book Climbing Shadows is a collection of poems that explore a range of childhood experiences. Many poems reveal what it feels like to be a child—to pretend and dream and play with abandon, as well as to hurt and regret and feel sorrowful. The poems are varied in form, and while some are simple and direct, others invite children to see the potential for play and discovery in words and language.
In the opening poem a child welcomes their newborn sibling, while the last poem is a surreal lullaby. In between we find poems about a child who listens to a toad, who feels left out, who loves the beach, who must practice piano, who accidentally breaks their mother’s favorite plate, who doesn’t want to eat their lunch, whose pet budgies have died, who visits their father on weekends, and more.
Readers young and old will see themselves in these beautifully illustrated poems—a collection full of laughter, tears and wonder.
Key Text Features
author’s note
Illustrations
poems
table of contents
writing inspiration
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
A collection of poems that explore childhood experiences—from the whimsical to the poignant—by Shannon Bramer, with magical art by Irene Luxbacher.
Shannon Bramer’s follow-up to her much-loved poetry book Climbing Shadows is a collection of poems that explore a range of childhood experiences. Many poems reveal what it feels like to be a child—to pretend and dream and play with abandon, as well as to hurt and regret and feel sorrowful. The poems are varied in form, and while some are simple and direct, others invite children to see the potential for play and discovery in words and language.
In the opening poem a child welcomes their newborn sibling, while the last poem is a surreal lullaby. In between we find poems about a child who listens to a toad, who feels left out, who loves the beach, who must practice piano, who accidentally breaks their mother’s favorite plate, who doesn’t want to eat their lunch, whose pet budgies have died, who visits their father on weekends, and more.
Readers young and old will see themselves in these beautifully illustrated poems—a collection full of laughter, tears and wonder.
Key Text Features
author’s note
Illustrations
poems
table of contents
writing inspiration
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Oct 3, 2023 |
| Specifications | 48 pages | 7 in x 9 in |
| Keywords | non-rhyming poetry; poetry for children; writing poetry; visualizing; connecting; everyday life; free verse; rhyming; read aloud; writing workshop; empathy; imagination; child as narrator; narration from different points of view; figurative language; imagery; personification; metaphors; simile; onomatopoeia; author's note; |
| Written By |
SHANNON BRAMER is an author of poems, plays and short fiction. She has published Climbing Shadows: Poems for Children, illustrated by Cindy Derby, and several poetry collections for adults, winning the Hamilton and Region Arts Council Book Award for suitcases and other poems. Her collection Precious Energy has also been highly acclaimed. Shannon’s plays include Chloe’s Tiny Heart Is Closed (for children) and The Hungriest Woman in the World. She lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
IRENE LUXBACHER is an artist and author living in Toronto, Ontario, who has received many awards for her work. She has written and illustrated Deep Underwater, an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award finalist, and Mr. Frank, which was selected as a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her illustrations for the Malaika series by Nadia L. Hohn have been highly acclaimed, and her illustrations for The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. |
| Written By |
|
SHANNON BRAMER is an author of poems, plays and short fiction. She has published Climbing Shadows: Poems for Children, illustrated by Cindy Derby, and several poetry collections for adults, winning the Hamilton and Region Arts Council Book Award for suitcases and other poems. Her collection Precious Energy has also been highly acclaimed. Shannon’s plays include Chloe’s Tiny Heart Is Closed (for children) and The Hungriest Woman in the World. She lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
|
IRENE LUXBACHER is an artist and author living in Toronto, Ontario, who has received many awards for her work. She has written and illustrated Deep Underwater, an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award finalist, and Mr. Frank, which was selected as a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her illustrations for the Malaika series by Nadia L. Hohn have been highly acclaimed, and her illustrations for The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. |
| Audience | ages 6 to 9 / grades 1 to 4 |
| Key Text Features | author’s note; Illustrations; poems; table of contents; writing inspiration |
| Common Core | CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2 |
Winner, David Booth Children's and Youth Poetry Award, 2024
Commended, NCTE Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels, 2024
Commended, Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids, 2023
Accompanying each poem is a stunning illustration from Luxbacher that uses a mix of watercolor and collage. The images are bright and soft, evocative of playfulness, and simultaneously hazy like a warm memory.
” —School Library JournalUnique windows on childhood … Robot, Unicorn, Queen is a wonderful collection.
” —CM: Canadian Review of Materials