Poetry Comics, by Grant Snider

 Publication March 26,  2024

I'm impressed! Not only a well done, fun read with cool comic style illustrations, but it offers up much to think about, It deals with universal human emotions and feelings such as anxiety, ambition, creativity, and the sheer joy (and fears) of living. The cover is very representative of what you'll find within. Look closely. That's the same tree split into four sections, in this case seasons. That is how the book is organized, season by season. According to info shared at the end, Jennifer Tolo Pierce was the designer, so kudos to her. There are even hints about writing poetry (and dealing with what we'll call writer's block).

The poems are deceptively simple but, as I read, I realized how much thought had gone into not just the words but the illustrations, which were done in pen and ink with coloring done by Photo Shop. They perfectly capture not just the universal joys and fears of youth but can be equally applicable to adults reading. I know a few gave me pause, recalling how emotions tended to leap and frolic, rising and falling, occasionally crashing. People everywhere, no matter where or what creed or color, experience the same. Being human is the focus here. Being human and having fun while out and about enjoying nature or stretching your imagination and creativity. 

I wound up taking extensive notes, largely for my own benefit, but am opting not to share more than a few highlights here. One per section. In the spring section, the "Becoming" poem hit home, not only recalling the name of a recent Michelle Obama book but reminding us all that we're always evolving, always in the process of becoming. The summer submission that hit home for me was "Roller Coaster", a reminder that the road of life, cliche that it is, isn't always smooth and you will have both high and low moments, not to mention moments that feel like you're endlessly climbing or in a free fall,  For fall, the "Autumn ABCs" won me over for it's sheer skill, using an almost sentence like list written in alphabetical order rather than individual items for the various letters. It worked well, too! And, ah, winter. Probably "Into the Woods" reminded me of the old saying about all who wander aren't lost. It notes that sometimes being lost simply means you need to figure out where you're going. Thanks to #NetGalley and #ChronicleBooks for sharing this wonderful book with me early. It's a great reminder of taking time to enjoy where we're at and the world about us and would be a great gift for any age. Teachers will definitely want to add this to their bookshelves.