With over 150 poems spread across eight different categories (like Family and Friends, Feelings, and Science and Art), there is something for everyone.

I love that Sylvia Vardell has thoughtfully selected poems from poets across time and geographies. Linda Sue Park and Vikram Madan share the pages with Emily Dickinson and Jack Prelutsky among other poets. Backmatter includes great poetry activities to inspire readers to write poems, and also more about basic poetry terms and such. With so many wonderful poems within (some I know and love and so many others new to me), I cannot pick a favorite here, so it is easier to say, I love the whole, including the delightful little illustrations from Sonny Ross accompanying the poems.

Disclaimer: I got a digital review copy of this book from Netgalley originally and these are my honest opinions of the book. Please note that the review is based on a more recent reading of the book (library/personal copy)

A great start to any burgeoning poetry fan's collection. A good variety of poems selected - not all that well known, so even a fan could find something to love in here.

This is a sweet collection of poetry for young readers. The poems cover a variety of topics and poetic forms, and a diverse mix of poets, with bright, cheerful illustrations throughout. There are prompts and activities to help kids learn to write their own poetry as well. A lovely way to encourage a love of poetry in children!

#AWorldFullofPoems #NetGalley

This is a nice poetry collection for children that breaks topics into chapters like animals, families and science. The diversity in the poems is great, and there are bright illustrations throughout. I grew up with some favorite children's poetry books and I found myself continually comparing this one to those, which is perhaps unfair. I still have my childhood poetry books and have read them often to my kids. My youngest daughter has had one of them by her side at bedtime this week, actually. I still prefer those books, but this one will no doubt be a favorite for a new generation.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

This collection of poems will make you laugh, make you think, make you feel and take your breath away. This collection of poems will say what you’ve wanted to say but didn't know how. This collection of poems will take you on journeys, give you adventures and wild imaginings of fun.

Just my kind of book. One that I will use again and again and again!

A diverse (in topics, poetic forms, and poets) anthology with such a feeling of both intimacy and space at the same time--love it, and honored to be part of it. This is a great book for introducing kids and families to poetry.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely book of poems spanning every subject. Perfect for your childs library and pretty enough to have on display. The illustrations are stunning, They really did a beautiful job with the art work I really liked that the poems were kept short and sweet which is great for readers of all ages.

This is a lovely book with some really fun poems in it. We enjoy incorporating this book into our poetry time for homeschool.

What an absolutely wonderful book of poetry for children. This anthology touches on various aspects of important events in a child's life. 8 chapters with an index in the back of titles. Sylvia Vardell selected the poems and did an excellent job. As a teacher I could see starting a lesson in Science or health with one of these poems. She also has art, animals, feelings and education in general included in the mix. This would be a great gift for any child to get them interest in reading. The last chapter has exercises and ideas for writing their own poetry. Great for kids of all ages regardless if you read the poem to them or they read themselves. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An interesting collection of poems, including some by Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carroll and William Makepeace Thackeray. Obviously the illustrations and short poems are geared for children, but are fun to read for adults too. Organized into easy categories, would be a fun gift. Would recommend.

This book would be appropriate for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers under age six. There are a lot of poems in the book, and nearly all of them are by people who write poems specifically for children. Exceptions: Li Po, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Makepeace Thackeray, and probably a few others. Almost every poem has very short lines. Some rhyme, but not all. It is a good introduction to elementary prosody, and a survey of different types of poems (although not that many different types). It is nice to look at, because there are bright, cheerful illustrations on every page. There is enough content that it wouldn't get boring as quickly as certain other kiddie books that caregivers are stuck reading over and over again. There is an appeal to diversity and different types of families and residential situations. It would make a nice baby shower gift or toddler birthday gift. I particularly liked the final chapter, Poetry Activities, that encourages interaction with the poems rather than just passively absorbing them while an adult reads them.

This gorgeously illustrated title provides a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children.  The adults who share or read these poems will also enjoy the experience.


The poems are organized by subjects including Family and Friends, Feelings, Animals and Nature, Cities, Towns and Travel, Fun and Games, Science and Art, Body and Health and A World of Learning.  The range is vast and appealing.


I enjoyed so many of these poems, one I liked was I'm Bigger by Kristy Dempsey.  What older sibling won't enjoy this paean to having skills that the new baby lacks while also acknowledging love for that tiny creature? 


This book is inclusive.  For example, the section on family includes poems about everything from adoption to same sex families to the Korean tradition of a baby choosing an object that is tied to their future to a poem titled Abuelita.  Throughout this book, on all other subjects this book is equally inviting.


I highly recommend this title. It would make a wonderful gift for a new baby and their parents. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.