Search Results: poetry
Poetry Comics offers budding poets a lot of ideas to think about in an appealing visual format.
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The Poetry Issue of the Redeemed Reader Quarterly (February, 2023) delights in poetry, from nursery rhymes for the young to verse novels for older readers! As with all of our magazines, it includes a little something for every member of the family.
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Children have a natural love of poetry that can easily be encouraged.
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My husband still teases me about my first poem, which has hitherto never been published. There once was a goatWho lived in a boatHe went to town every week, And to all he would not speak.But the funniest thing about himWas that he had a beak. By Megan E. VanderHart, age 8 (Taking a bow.)…
Read MoreThank you to all who entered! **The Poetry Contest is now closed.** Poetry Contest for Kids and Teens Do you, as a young person, write poetry? Do you have a young poet in your home or classroom? We’re currently accepting submissions of original poetry for the: Redeemed Reader Poetry Contest for Kids and Teens It’s…
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Epic Poetry in School Do you remember reading (or being assigned to read) one of the following in school? The Iliad The Odyssey The Aeneid Beowulf Your teacher might even have assigned something like Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha or Evangeline. Perhaps you read Whittier’s Snowbound. Are you shuddering yet? Unfortunately, these lovely epic poems…
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Soul-Shaping Poetry Have you ever stopped to think about how much poetry has shaped the Christian soul? Poetry is an intrinsic part of our worship services, whether through a responsive reading of a Psalm or the “singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” Paul describes. Poetry occurs throughout Scripture, most notably in the Psalms, but…
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If you or your children aren’t sure how to develop a taste for poetry, especially if you haven’t decided whether you ought to feel obligated to do so, I have a short, painless book list for you. Even if you can’t access a library right now, most of these would be available digitally. They would…
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In honor of National poetry month, here’s a sample lesson from Wordsmith Apprentice to help reluctant writers produce original verse. “Poetry” is a scary word to too many schoolchildren–and their parents. That’s a shame, because poetry is the earliest form of literature, dating back to the smoky halls and sunlit amphitheaters of the ancient world. …
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Poetry is for Children Children love poetry. They really do. And it doesn’t need to be “children’s poetry,” either. Sure, they love the silly rhymes and rhythms of poets like Seuss and Silverstein. But they also appreciate Emily Dickinson’s down-to-earth observations, Robert Louis Stevenson’s reflections on childhood, Langston Hughes’s rhythms, and Henry Wadsforth Longfellow’s patriotic…
Read MorePoetry Contest Closed and Winners Announced Soon! Our Poetry Contest is officially closed–many thanks to all the contestants! We received some fantastic entries, more than 50 total. We are putting our heads together and plan to announce the winners this coming week. This will be a tough decision; there are some talented young poets among…
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A good poetry anthology is like going to a friend’s house with a basket, and being told, “Oh, you must read this one, and this one, and THIS one is my favorite!” as the bounty overflows. Going to another friend’s house with another basket will introduce you to some of the same treasures, but different ones too,…
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April is National Poetry Month, and we here at Redeemed Reader love to be in on any literary action. Therefore, Megan and I are sponsoring a children’s poetry contest! (Note: there will be prizes!) [Incidentally, I won the last Redeemed Reader Poetry Contest and have enjoyed my Notes From a Tilt-a-Whirl prize.] We are also…
Read MoreI’ve known David since the publication of my first novel, when we started seeing each other at children’s book events. He’s tall, thin, and genial, and one of the most dedicated writers I’ve ever known. Up until a few years ago he managed his family business full-time–while holding to a very active writing. publishing, and speaking schedule. …
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Contest: Do you have a favorite kids’ poem? Would you or your kids like to write your own? Post your new or favorite poems in the comments, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the poetry book of your choice, up to a $10 value. This might include the book pictured here OR …
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A beautifully-told cautionary tale about the allure of bright red fruit even when signs of danger lurk alongside.
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In evocative, lyrical prose, Jackie Hill Perry shares her spiritual journey in Gay Girl, Good God.
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Clover isn’t supposed to play on the other side of the fence, but what about climbing to the top to meet a new friend?
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The Redeemed Reader book offers insight into how to build discernment in children and provides practical tips, examples, and booklists for their literary journey.
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Don’t understand literature? Reading Between the Lines is an excellent crash course in a Christian—and scholarly—understanding of literature.
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Books Children Love is an outstanding resource: essentially a giant annotated booklist of great books for children.
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Joyful Noise is just what the title indicates: a joyful noise in delightful poetry form. Bonus: it’s all about bugs.
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Two children learn much about the Watcher who watches over them in this poignant picture book.
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Wagon Wheels, a classic from the I Can Read series, introduces young readers to the Black pioneer experience.
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SUBMIT TO THE QUARTERLY! Do you work at a library? We want to hear from you! Redeemed Reader Quarterly Love Your Library Issue (Fall, 2025) It’s your chance to see your name in print: Winners will receive a complimentary digital copy of the next Redeemed Reader Quarterly! Expected publication date is August, 2025. Don’t wait! All…
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The Trouble with Heroes examines the fraught relationship between a young teen and his late, larger-than-life father.
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A Day at the Beach delivers on its title: snapshots of a variety of 11-13 year-olds during a single day on the Jersey shore.
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Two new books about writing poetry, addressed to early-elementary grades, take different but equally unique approaches.
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Reprinted from the original, Gladiola Garden is a sweet poetry anthology featuring black children in its illustrations (and written by a black woman).
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100 Great Poems for Boys offers a solid variety of 100 great poems, from the heroic to the humorous, for boys of all ages.
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How Elegant the Elephant teams a beloved poet with a Caldecott-honor author to create a winning collection of animal poems.
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Glory, Too: Poems by Nikki Grimes is a beautiful anthology of poetry inspired by Scripture.
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Glory in the Margins: Sunday Poems is a striking, and deeply spiritual, collection of poetry worth savoring.
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A short list of favorite books about birds and bird-watching.
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Counting Winter is a clever picture book that manages to mix counting, nature study, and poetry into one irresistible wintry package.
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Beginning our annual coverage of possible contenders for the coveted Newbery Award.
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Even though your Redeemed Reader team is reading a plethora of books for children and teens, we do also read grownup books, too! A few years ago, we crowd-sourced an outstanding list of gift suggestions for adult readers. We benefited from that list ourselves. Today, we bring you part 2, based on our own reading…
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Joyful and thoughtful, A Wondrous Mystery offers 30 devotional readings drawn from Charles Spurgeon’s sermons.
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History Picture Books: The Soldier’s Friend, The Painter and the President, and Star and the Maestro
Three outstanding picture books introduce young readers to Walt Whitman, Gilbert Stuart, and Mozart.
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Long works (more pages) do not necessarily equal more rigor.
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These devotionals for teens are not all specifically for “teens,” but all are accessible to teens, all are grounded in God’s Word, and all have merit.
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Up High and Big Bear and Little Bear capture some of the everyday moments in father-son relationships.
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Julie Fogliano’s poetry for children expects them to read between the lines, to appreciate a delicate, spare language. And it works. She understands the essence of childhood.
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Small poetry books full of small poems and small drawings: just right for small hands and small listening ears.
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A Few Beautiful Minutes is a beautiful way to prepare for the April 8 solar eclipse.
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If fractals, Fibonacci numbers, and powers of multiplication aren’t exciting to you, you need these three books and a long walk outside. Growing Patterns by Sarah C. Campbell, photos by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. Boyds Mills Press, 2010. 32 pages. Mysterious Patterns by Sarah C. Campbell, photos by Sarah C. Campbell and…
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In The Sacred Sacrifice, Paris is proposing we use Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Lent and Easter much like we enjoy Handel’s Messiah during Advent and Christmas.
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Back Porch Book Chat: A casual conversation about books. Our guest today is Elizabeth Farquhar, a teen writer.
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Journey to Bethlehem is a lovely anthology of historic Christmas poetry, hymns, and devotionals. Starred review!
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The Lost Library is thin on theme, but warm hearted and family-friendly.
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Some of us love ancient literature, especially the great Homeric epics. Others shudder at the thought. I’m in the former camp, but I haven’t always been. I dreaded reading ancient literature in high school, especially Homer’s Iliad. I remember very little other than being unimpressed. Now, as I plan to teach not only The Iliad,…
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Poems about nail clippings, sausages, and page numbers?! Yes, and many more.
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Hope in the Valley captures one girl’s momentous summer as she processes grief, grapples with change, and finds her own voice along the way.
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Originally published at Redeemed Reader on June 6, 2014. Of course a professional book reviewer and librarian takes books with her to the beach—for herself AND her family. In case you’re of like mind, here are some beach-related books and Dewey numbers to check out before you head to the coast this summer. Kids enjoy…
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Lou Alice loves to make the world a little more beautiful. But what happens when she’s old and bedridden? *A Little More Beautiful by Sarah Mackenzie and illustrated by Breezy Brookshire. Waxwing Books, 2023, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: All ages Lou Alice is one of those lovely ladies who…
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Leeva at Last introduces us to a plucky young heroine who overcomes evil with good.
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With so many excellent editions of Mother Goose out there, how do you choose?
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I Must Betray You is one of those novels that straddles the line between Newbery age ranges and Printz age ranges. Will it get some love from either award committee? Or both? We’re back with Newbery Buzz Discussion #5 for 2023. To read the rest in the series or previous years’ discussions, check out the…
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In which we discuss books that are likely under consideration by this year’s Newbery committee.
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SUBMIT TO THE QUARTERLY! Redeemed Reader Quarterly Feasting Issue (Winter, 2025) It’s your chance to see your name in print: Winners will receive a complimentary digital copy of the next Redeemed Reader Quarterly! Expected publication date is November, 2025. Don’t wait! All entries must be submitted by midnight EST, Wednesday, October 8, 2025. RRQ Submission Details…
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Do you have a favorite family Advent tradition? Perhaps your family does a Jesse Tree together. Or maybe you have an Advent wreath on your dining room table. Do you wait until the day after Thanksgiving before turning on Christmas music? We have a great lineup of recommended family Advent devotional guides for you, no…
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“We take for granted the amazing combination of words and pictures in story books for children.”
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“Nursery rhymes” don’t stop with Mother Goose.!
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Welcome to the Hive! Enjoy these essays and reflections by the late Gladys Hunt, currently available only on Redeemed Reader! We are honored to bring them to you. We are also grateful to Mark Hunt and the estate of Gladys Hunt for granting us permission to share these with you. Here’s how it all began….…
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Home Library Management is a mini-series based on a presentation I originally gave to a homeschool group when I was a professional librarian years ago. These are updated thoughts based on my current experience as a home librarian surrounded by boys and overflowing bookshelves. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we walk through the library…
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We’re sorry, but the Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along materials are for our Fellowship members only. Both Golden and Silver Key Fellowship members have access! To find out more about membership, click here.
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In Marshmallow Clouds, two poets look at the world, both the sublime and the mundane, through expressive wordplay.
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High School British Literature: Dull and Difficult? When I arrived at college, I was absolutely, 100% convinced that British lit was my jam. But it’s safe to say that most of my peers, unless they were already diehard bibliophiles, didn’t share that same love of obscure Victorian novels. Fast forward 30 years, and it’s a…
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When Daddy Prays shows a child’s view of his pastor father, praying during all of life. Beautifully illustrated. *When Daddy Prays by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Tim Ladwig. Eerdmans, 2002. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books Recommended For: Ages 4-8 “When Daddy prays/ my fear of darkness disappears/ and angels tiptoe down the hall.”…
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For Every Little Thing invites children to celebrate each moment of the day through poems and prayers drawn from a wide range of religious and faith backgrounds. For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day, selected by June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling and illustrated by Helen Cann. Eerdmans, 2021. 96 pages.…
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The “Biggest Story” brand continues with a family-friendly Bible Storybook that provides food for thought even to grownups.
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The Cat Kid Comic club, a spinoff of the popular Dog Man series, invites young readers to experiment with their own comic stories and styles.
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Spring has officially begun, and the garden beckons. Do you garden with your kids? If they’re not interested, try a gardening book just for kids: invite them into this marvelous experience! Initially, everything seems a mess of dry, dead-looking twigs. Clear away the old growth, though, and signs emerge everywhere, revealing new life that’s been…
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Across the Rainbow Bridge puts Norse mythology in its original context of tales told around peat fires on long winter nights.
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How to Find What You’re Not Looking For explores family fault lines, interracial marriage, and finding a voice.
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Are you watching the Superbowl this month? Do you cheer for other sports at home? What about baseball? soccer? basketball? track? Do your sports fans also love sports books? Sports books for kids are a distinct sub-genre, a definite “hook” for many reluctant readers. A good sports book offers more than just a sports story,…
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Unlike the Newbery or Caldecott, given for an author’s or illustrator’s work on a particular book, lifetime awards look at the author’s or illustrator’s work over the course of an entire career. Nikki Grimes and Grace Lin each were awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 2022 ALA Youth Media Awards, and they are deserving…
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Back Porch Book Chat: A casual conversation about books. Our guest today is Stephenie Pyles
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A reader-inspired hunt for a roundup of favorite picture books for boys and girls who love action and humor A reader asks: “What I continue to look for is stories of a grand scale but at a 4-5 year old level. So many kids’ books feel too… soft and cuddly, I’d have to say. My…
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Deckawoo Drive: Home of Mercy Watson and her Neighbors Even though my children are all teenagers now, and long past the chapter book stage, we still enjoy seeing what the folks on Deckawoo Drive are up to. Mercy Watson lives on Deckawoo Drive with some very entertaining neighbors, and one of Kate DiCamillo’s strongest authorial…
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Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies makes readers think through how to be better stewards of words. *Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies, 2nd edition by Marilyn McEntyre. Eerdmans, 2021. 248 pages. Reading Level: Adults Recommended For: Teens and adults, ages 15 and up Words are entrusted to us as equipment…
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High School American Literature: Often Dark and Depressing When I arrived at college, I was absolutely, 100% convinced that British lit was my jam. American literature could stay on the shelf, for all I cared. Ironically, I adored my high school American literature teacher. I just didn’t enjoy what we read in class. Sadly, my…
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*Note, this post engages with sexuality and includes conversation and books that are suitable for teens and adults. I was hiking in Europe. A French friend was telling me about a messy hook-up pseudo relationship. I listened and sympathized and then said, thoughtfully, “That kind of thing wouldn’t happen for me because I believe that…
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Recovering the Lost Art of Reading invites readers to reconsider how and why they read; it offers ideas and suggestions for Christians who want to read for the true, the good, and the beautiful. *Recovering the Lost Art of Reading: A Quest for the True, the Good, and the Beautiful by Leland Ryken and Glenda…
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Favorite audiobooks and narrators for your listening pleasure over the holidays (and road trips any other time of the year!)
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In a simple, direct way, Kioshi’s Walk answers the question, “Where do poems come from?”
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The One Thing You’d Save asks middle-graders in a fictional classroom to consider the value they give material objects
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Learn about Aretha Franklin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Elgin Baylor in these new picture books biographies.
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The life of John Perkins offers the only true way to justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness for our tragic racist history.
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It’s always interesting to look back over the year and reflect. 2020 was an especially eventful year, and we thought it might be fun to see what YOU, our readers, enjoyed most from Redeemed Reader each month. What, in other words, were the most popular posts in 2020? Looking back, we can see the movement…
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The unspoken bond of family comes through in this gentle winter’s tale by Gary Schmidt and his late wife Elizabeth Stickney.
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In Chance: Escape from the Holocaust, a Caldecott-winning illustrator recalls his harrowing wartime childhood.
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Sing a new song every day of Advent with Hosanna in Excelsis, an Advent devotional that offers a different Christmas hymn each day of Advent. *Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David and Barbara Leeman. Moody, 2020. 128 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: All ages (families, schools, churches, etc.)…
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On the Horizon recalls two pivotal events of World War II through the eyes of witnesses, victims, and two children who would meet much later.
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Meeting George MacDonald I first met George MacDonald through the pages of his poetry and then, later, in his novels (the versions edited by Michael Phillips). I much preferred his poetry to his novels. And then I discovered his fantasy. I promptly told my college thesis advisor that I wanted to write my senior thesis…
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Isaiah Dunn’s life has been trending downward, but the power of words and the discipline of work may pull him back up.
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Reading about the Inklings, Hayley and Megan discuss The Fellowship, an excellent book for Tolkien and Lewis enthusiasts. The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015. 656 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: Ages 16…
Read MoreWant a screen-free activity for your family? Do your kids love getting actual mail in the mailbox? Not just junk mail or another bill for Mom or Dad? Wouldn’t it be great to get an ad-free magazine in the mail, tailored for Christian families and educators? With content for all ages, from preschool to adult?…
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Running Wild gives readers ages 6-10 new appreciation for the immense variety and careful design evidenced in animal motion.
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