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.

Latest news, reviews, and honors:

Praise for The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades

This review of The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades can be found in the February 15, 2008 issue of Booklist:

"Through exuberant poems and quilted illustrations, first-time author and illustrator Van Wassenhove offers an unusual tour of the delicate Everglades habitat. ... The best entries, however, need no commentary, as in this vivid verse: “The Florida Keys / grow canopies / of mangrove trees / for manatees." Van Wassenhove’s creative application of quilting techniques to depict the rippled surfaces and shifting hues of a wetland environment will draw fascinated gazes."

The Monarch's Progress is an attractive poetry collection

In the February 15, 2008 issue of Booklist, reviewer Carolyn Phelan writes of Avis Harley's The Monarch's Progress:

"Cleverly written with obvious attention to craft, the poetry varies in form from rhymed couplets to acrostic verse to haiku and explores topics such as the physical differences between the larval and adult stages, the way monarch wings look when magnified, and the usefulness of having taste sensors in one’s feet. Accompanying each poem is a color-pencil drawing, often featuring precise lines and intense hues. ... This attractive poetry collection could be useful in either the science or language-arts curriculum."

Praise for Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet

Reviewer Hazel Rochman reviews Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet in the February 15, 2008 issue of Booklist:

"The leap to metaphor imagines what feet feel like on an elephant, a butterfly, or a fly with a Velcro grip on the ceiling. Far from overwhelming the poetry, the watercolor illustrations extend the words and help explain them. Even some older grade-schoolers will enjoy this; it may get them to do some writing in the classroom and on their own."