Let’s take a peek at the first two titles in the new Illustrated Poets Collection just released in August by Bushel & Peck Books.
Both The Illustrated Emily Dickinson and The Illustrated Robert Frost were edited by poet and educator Ryan G. Van Cleave, Creative Writing Coordinator at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.
They each contain “25 Essential Poems” paired with David Miles’s gorgeous full color collages (he had me at those beautiful eye-catching covers). 
In his welcoming series introduction, Van Cleave offers friendly suggestions for making the most of the books. He encourages readers to simply “enjoy the poems” rather than puzzle over the poet’s intentions or dwell on other people’s interpretations.
Next, it’s good to engage with the poems by asking questions such as:
- What do you notice about this poem?
- How does this poem make you feel?
- What else have you read/seen/experienced that connects with this poem?
Finally, it’s important to “be your own boss” – read the poems in order or jump around as one sees fit. Share them with others or savor them by yourself. Read them aloud or “whisper their words in your heart.”
Ultimately, “there is NO wrong way to experience a poem.” This reminds me of Lee Bennett Hopkins saying that a poem is meant to be experienced rather than analyzed, and I think this goes a long way in making poetry less intimidating for the average reader.
The 25 poems in each book are presented in three sections:
For Dickinson: The Natural World, Ideas & Imagination, and Heart & Spirit.
For Frost: Exploring Nature, Innocence & Inspiration, and Choice & Change.
Each poem is featured in a double page spread with a sidebar consisting of three components, Engage, Imagine, and Define. Readers “engage” via questions about poetic form or themes (what do the woods represent, why was personification used ?). Imagine offers activities for creative play (give the poem a theme song, view the poem as an advertisement, if the poem lived next to you, would it be a good neighbor?). Define offers help for less familiar words.
Van Cleave’s backmatter includes “Ten Things” to know about each poet, a “Commentary of the Poems” (synopses + key aspects to take note of), suggestions for further reading and a bibliography.
As project artist and book designer, David Miles has created visually appealing and accessible introductions to two of America’s most eminent poets for ages 7-10. His collages, composed of stock and public domain images, are a refreshing blend of old and new: images of flora and fauna are sometimes set against the background of classic paintings, and he’s not above injecting elements of whimsy here and there. I especially like the elements of Victorian ephemera in the Dickinson book, and the predominance of natural landscapes in the Frost book.
The art, along with the generous 9” x 11” trim size, make for an inviting “first look” at the poems, especially for the poetry-phobic reader. Collages, by nature of their unique juxtapositions, are an interesting form of visual poetry that can effectively illuminate choice aspects of the text.
Van Cleave includes the seminal poems one might expect along with other age appropriate gems.
Dickinson:
- “A Light Exists in Spring”
- “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”
- “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers”
- “Tell the Truth but tell it slant – “
- “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”
- “There’s a certain Slant of light”
Frost:
- “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
- “Fire and Ice”
- “The Road Not Taken”
- “Mending Wall”
- “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
- “Birches”
Enjoy a pair of sample poems from each book with their full text (bolded words are clarified in sidebar). I selected them because they were less familiar to me, and it was lovely to experience them in these books.
From The Illustrated Emily Dickinson:
HE ATE AND DRANK THE PRECIOUS WORDS -- by Emily Dickinson He ate and drank the precious Words -- His Spirit grew robust -- He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was Dust -- He danced along the dingy Days, And this Bequest of Wings Was but a Book -- What Liberty A loosened spirit brings --
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THE MURMUR OF A BEE by Emily Dickinson The Murmur of a Bee A Witchcraft -- yieldeth me -- If any ask me why -- 'Twere easier to die -- Than tell -- The Red upon the Hill Taketh away my will -- If anybody sneer -- Take care -- for God is here -- That's all. The Breaking of the Day Addeth to my Degree -- If any ask me how -- Artist -- who drew me so -- Must tell!
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From The Illustrated Robert Frost:
DUST OF SNOW by Robert Frost The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part of a day I had rued.
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GATHERING LEAVES by Robert Frost Spades take up leaves No better than spoons, And bags full of leaves Are light as balloons. I make a great noise Of rustling all day Like rabbit and deer Running away. But the mountains I raise Elude my embrace, Flowing over my arms And into my face. I may load and unload Again and again 'Till I fill the whole shed, And what have I then? Next to nothing for weight, And since they grew duller From contact with earth, Next to nothing for color. Next to nothing for use, But a crop is a crop, And who's to say where The harvest shall stop?
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THE ILLUSTRATED EMILY DICKINSON: 25 Essential Poems (Series Book 1)
edited by Ryan G. Van Cleave
illustrations by David Miles
published by Bushel & Peck Books, August 2022
Poetry Collection for ages 7-10, 64 pp.
*Includes Dickinson facts, Commentary on the Poems, Suggestions for Further Reading and Bibliography
AMAZON || BOOKSHOP
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THE ILLUSTRATED ROBERT FROST: 25 Essential Poems (Series Book 2)
edited by Ryan G. Van Cleave
illustrations by David Miles
published by Bushel & Peck Books, August 2022
Poetry Collection for ages 7-10, 64 pp.
*Includes Frost facts, Commentary on the Poems, Suggestions for Further Reading and Bibliography
AMAZON || BOOKSHOP
NOTE: Bushel & Peck Books is dedicated to fighting illiteracy all over the world. For every book sold, they will donate to a child in need — book for book.
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The lovely and talented Michelle Kogan is hosting the Roundup this week. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere. Enjoy your weekend!
*Interior spreads illustrations copyright © 2022 David Miles, introductory text and supplemental material copyright © 2022 Ryan G. Van Cleave, published by Bushel & Peck Books. All rights reserved.
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***Copyright © 2022 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
