The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Thirty-three poems by twenty-five poets are connected by the concept of how to do something. 

Thoughts: This is a fun collection filled with the nonsensical and the sensible. The collection offers a mix of older and newer poets. I think the idea of how-to poems will inspire librarians and teachers to have children try their hands at writing their own. My favorite poems are "How to Build a Poem" by Charles Ghigna, "How to Tell a Camel" by J. Patrick Lewis, "To Make a Meal" by Calef Brown, "Rules" by Karla Kuskin, "How to Be a Tree in Winter" by Irene Latham, and "Tired Hair" by Douglas Florian. The painted and digitally edited illustrations are soft and charming. My favorites are "How to Tell a Camel" and "How to Be a Tree in Winter." 

Themes: Poetry, Elementary

The Poets: Charles Ghigna, J. Patrick Lewis, Elaine Magliaro, Allan Wolf, Marilyn Singer, Christina Rosetti, Calef Brown, Monica Shannon, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Karla Kuskin, Douglas Florian, Irene Latham, Marjorie Maddox, Kwame Alexander, April Halprin Wayland, Anna E. Jordan, Robert Louis Stevenson, Margarita Engle, Ralph Fletcher, Charles Waters, Martin Gardner, Nikki Grimes, Steven Withrow, Helen Frost, Pat Mora

(Illustrated by Richard Jones. Candlewick, 2019.)