Children’s Book Corner is a column suggesting children’s books from a mother of 11 children, who has also explored writing for children. Today’s column highlights fun children’s book reads for April that will hopefully keep your young reader reading!

By Pamela Tuck

April is National Poetry Month. What do you think of when you think of poetry? Love, Creativity, Words that Rhyme? Well, according to the dictionary, Poetry is a “literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.”

That being said, let me express my feelings and ideas of poetry. Poetry was my introduction to the literary world. As a writer, I began my writing journey with a poem written about my grandmother for a poetry contest sponsored by my elementary school. To my delightful surprise, I won first place!

So, believing that I was a poet at age 8, I can honestly say that poetry empowered me to become a writer. I often expressed my deepest feelings and emotions in the form of poetry because it gave me the freedom of expression without boundaries.

I saw poetry as a freefall of emotions on a page without being subjected to the criticisms of authority (my teachers). Why? Because poetry meant whatever I wanted it to mean, without having to give logical explanations for it (even if it didn’t make sense).

That literary freedom was truly free expression of feelings. And what better time to be free to express ourselves than now? When we’ve been exposed and influenced by so many mixed emotions and concerns about the present global crisis.

However, expression of feelings is also a way of releasing, cleansing and renewing of our inner spirit. So, let’s embrace poetry and the month of April: the month of “showers that bring May flowers”. Just wait for the blossoms to bloom . . . believe me, they’re bound to come. We just have to have the patience to wait.

In a time when routine becomes mundane, let’s celebrate diversity. So, without further ado, I’d like to recommend a poetry book that encourages young ones to embrace each other’s differences while building self-esteem and a healthy self-image.

Drumroll please . . .

This book is recommended for grades: K – 2

This book contains 15 poems that demonstrate how beautiful brown is in all its different shades of skin color and in what children see, feel, taste, smell, and touch everywhere. It celebrates the diversity and the connections brown has in nature, culture, place, and language.

In the spirit of “April showers bring May flowers” my next book recommendation inspires the idea of making the best out of a disappointing situation.

Drumroll two, please . . .

This book is recommended for grades K – 3

This story follows an energetic baton-twirling girl, Jazmin, who is ready to lead the big neighborhood parade. But when the sky darkens and the thunder roars, it begins to rain on her parade . . . literally. As she steps outside, her frustration builds, and she shakes her fists at the rain and stomps her feet. Soon she kicks the rain down the street, and her frustration turns into fun as other children laugh and cheer her on as the Rain Stomper. By the time she finishes, the sun comes out and she is able to have her parade after all.

Hopefully, these suggestions will inspire you to continue to wait for the flowers to bloom after the rain . . . and as always . . . keep you and your child reading!

Categories: Art, Entertainment, & Lifestyle, Books