The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight

By Jack Prelutsky

(1980) ISBN 1404610340

For readers, and yes, including those in the tween group, who want to get scares, laughs and some fun poetry at the same time, this will fit the bill.  There is a wide range in the source of the horrors ranging from the Mummy, Zombies, the Abominable Snowman, and some just regular ghosts, ghosts with national identities like the Banshee and not to be overlooked, the Headless Horseman promised in the title of this book.

The author and the illustrator Arnold Lobel  work well together in not merely creating scares but with the use of the asides in the text and the comic side of the illustrations, to move the reader beyond the regular level of horror story terror.  The reader is scared with the use of the story telling it is true but the main point of the author and illustrator seems to be a careful cautioning of readers as well as pointing out that ultimately there is always the possibility of survival beyond these fun, fun scares.  Hopefully readers will read these poems with some company present.

Nest, Nook & Cranny: Poems

By Susan Blackaby

(2010) ISBN 9781580893503

This work provides value on more than one level.  First of all it is a collection of poetry accompanied with clearly written discussions of the types of poetic forms that have been used in each individual work.  The book itself is arranged in short sections that are composed of different habitats in nature – desert, grassland, shoreline, woods area and that area referred to as wetlands.

The simple appearance of this volume can be deceiving.  While small in size, its value to students of nature as well as of poetry is almost without measure.  The explanations regarding the composition and intent of the poetry forms used alone makes it very easy to recommend this beautifully illustrated and written book.