We the People : Poems

Rating:
Summary: interesting collection of original poems
Review: We the people is an interesting collection of original poems, all written by author Bobbi Katz. What makes this volume unique is the perspective of the poems: each poem is told from the point of view of a historical figure. Not all of the figures are famous, but they do represent the time in which they lived. The poems begin with "The First Americans," and spans time, ending with a poem describing the dawn of the new millenium and its possible impact on the nation's youth. The poems will allow the reader to hear the voices of many individuals, including Mary Stahler, a pioneer woman in 1874 Kansas, and Harriet Tubman, who in 1861 reflects on her work with the Underground Railroad. The poems are accentuated by a timeline and stunning pictures created by illustrator Nina Crews. The illustrations combine actual photographs with a variety of media, such as watercolors and digital images.

Although We the people is a worthwhile volume of poetry, it does not have broad YA appeal. A YA with an interest in history of poetry would enjoy this book. Otherwise, the book will be supremely useful to students, from middle school through high school, because it will work in a variety of curricular settings and in the public library. The poems are well suited for performance and can used as supplemental information in history and biography assignments.

Rating:
Summary: interesting collection of original poems
Review: We the people is an interesting collection of original poems, all written by author Bobbi Katz. What makes this volume unique is the perspective of the poems: each poem is told from the point of view of a historical figure. Not all of the figures are famous, but they do represent the time in which they lived. The poems begin with "The First Americans," and spans time, ending with a poem describing the dawn of the new millenium and its possible impact on the nation's youth. The poems will allow the reader to hear the voices of many individuals, including Mary Stahler, a pioneer woman in 1874 Kansas, and Harriet Tubman, who in 1861 reflects on her work with the Underground Railroad. The poems are accentuated by a timeline and stunning pictures created by illustrator Nina Crews. The illustrations combine actual photographs with a variety of media, such as watercolors and digital images.

Although We the people is a worthwhile volume of poetry, it does not have broad YA appeal. A YA with an interest in history of poetry would enjoy this book. Otherwise, the book will be supremely useful to students, from middle school through high school, because it will work in a variety of curricular settings and in the public library. The poems are well suited for performance and can used as supplemental information in history and biography assignments.