Fresh voices in contemporary poetry

The only imprint in children's publishing in America dedicated to poetry, Wordsong captures the vibrant, unexpected, emotional connections between text and young readers. Our books range from the silly to the serious and are infused with the wordplay and imagery that allow readers to view the world in new and thoughtful ways.

Browse the Spring 2012 List

Latest news, reviews, and honors:

Rules of the Game

"[T]his is indeed a rare treat. ... Sandford’s charcoal pencil drawings...impart a classy timelessness to the book that’s a nice match to its subject. For the right reader, this could be an eye-opening glimpse of poetry doing what prose cannot."     —Booklist

"[Maddox’s] carefully constructed word pictures offer dramatic snapshots of infield flies and collisions between fielders, sacrifice bunts, balks and pitch-outs, stolen bases, and grand slams. ... Compact yet full of meaning, these selections offer glimpses of the game's pleasures and poignant moments. Sandford's black-and-white pencil drawings add to the drama, focusing viewers' attention on the gangly pitcher's calculating gaze or the single-minded pursuit of the pony-tailed infielder. Maddox's whimsical wordplay will be savored by casual sports fans and hardcore baseball addicts alike."     —School Library Journal

Mirror to Nature, A

Starred review "Pairing lyrical poems and crisp photography to great effect, this collection is a gem. ... The images and words resonate—readers will find themselves responding to Yolen’s introductory invitation to ‘linger over these photos, contemplate the poems, see if together or separately they make you think again, make you reflect.’"     —Publishers Weekly

"The poetic forms are well matched to the mood in the pictures. ... Drawn by the rich play in words and pictures, kids will see reflections, strange and beautiful, in the natural world."     —Booklist

"The pages and photographs are vibrant and lively, the poems best for reading aloud. [A] good volume—along with other titles by this mother-son team—for teachers wanting to connect science and poetry."     —Kirkus Reviews

"As with Color Me a Rhyme (2000), Count Me a Rhyme (2006), and Shape Me a Rhyme (2007, all Boyds Mills), this book is an excellent complement to nature studies. ... Teachers and students should find this thoughtful combination of wordplay, nature factoids, and photographs worthwhile."     —School Library Journal

Becoming Billie Holiday receives second starred review

School Library Journal awards Carole Boston Weatherford's Becoming Billie Holiday with a starred review in its October 2008 issue:

“Weatherford’s language is straightforward and accessible–almost conversational. She captures the woman’s jazzy, candid voice so adroitly that at times the poems seem like they could have been lifted wholesale from Holiday’s autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. ... This captivating title places readers solidly into Holiday’s world, and is suitable for independent reading as well as a variety of classroom uses."