I “read” this book and worked on some of the exercises presented in it as well a few months ago. Somehow, my thoughts on it never saw the light of day, until now!

Kwame Alexander is a brilliant writer, there is no doubt about it! This book simply underscores or highlights that fact, and also proves that he is a great teacher!! Filled with writing prompts, examples, fun facts, and clear explanations of poetic forms and terms, this book is bound to get everyone’s inner poet poet-ing.

While the format does not make it ideal for libraries, with blank and journal pages and such, it makes for an ideal gift for budding poets everywhere. It is also perfect for those teaching poetry as they can easily use these prompts as ideas and as a starting point to get the creative juices flowing.

A must-have for the poet in your life (even if it is you)

Source: Publisher ARC from NetGalley/Personal copy

Kwame Alexander’s Free Write Poetry Notebook shows how to create rhyme and free verse. Kwame encourages readers to write their own on the provided notebook-styled lined and blank pages. Often, he gives starter words and suggestions, but sometimes he asks readers to create their own free verse or rhymes! Kwame talks about how writers cannot stop at first drafts. He shares how a piece of writing often takes a lot of refinement!

This book covers every type of poetry writing, plus some!!! It encourages the use of dictionaries and encyclopedias to free write. The graphical illustrations in this book are fun! Kwame includes several full-page quotes by famous writers. These might be frameable for a writing room or a special reading area, like a bathroom wall!

Kwame Alexander references many authors and poets. This book is like a reading list of great literature. Often, he includes a poem from another person, inspiring readers to seek out the book! Studying their works could be a wonderful extension of this book.

Maybe my favorite writing technique, he discussed, was about malapropisms! I laughed so hard at his examples and enjoyed the chance at creating some myself! Call this book humorous, passionate, and engaging!

Kwame suggests many writing techniques plus how to better use the ones we know, like metaphors and similes. A great activity from this book -- find your favorite book(s), write down the last sentence and then create free verse, to connect and start your own story. His ideas are refreshing and novel. This is a fun book for all ages!

This is an excellent activity book, particularly if you have a writer in your life. Kids particularly, but I actually think that a young adult would enjoy this, too. It takes you back to school a bit, but in a really fun, engaging way. And if you know someone who love Kwame Alexander, this is sure to be a good gift.

I liked this book fairly well and I think it could be a good resource to use in a classroom, but I wouldn't get it for my library for students to check out. I think it lends itself to defacing if students were allowed to take it home. But it would be a huge help for teachers when they're teaching writing classes to give students a fresher look at aspects of poetry and how to construct different poems.

This journal guides young readers through the world of poetry. Kwame makes is easy for readers to see themselves as poets.

If I knew a teacher who wanted to encourage their students to explore writing poetry, but felt like they didn't have a solid foundation themselves, I'd recommend this book to their Teacher Utility Belt. Good strategies, good exercises, and an openness that matters.

After teaching a writing class to 4th-6th graders this past school year, I know how hard it is to find materials that kids will respond to. I would love to see a hard copy because the format isn't really conducive to an e-book format -- but the content is fabulous. (I wouldn't expect anything less from Kwame Alexander, though.)

This looks like being an excellent book for any young person who wants to have a go at writing their own poetry. I think it would also be an excellent resource for anyone working on poetry/creative writing with young people. The chapters and examples are well set out, fun and engaging. Within the book there are blank pages which may make it unsuitable for some public libraries, although it is something I would stock as it's one of the better 'how to write...' books I have seen.

Oh my goodness! Kwame Alexander does it again. Inspiring another new group of young writers with his masterful work. This book was fun to read, gave plenty of space to think, write and doodle. I appreciate the authors approach to encouraging kids to write!

Kwame Alexander has amassed a large fanbase with his novels in verse. His skill at drawing in even the most reluctant of readers is uncanny. It only makes sense then, that he would follow-up this success with highly-engaging books on writing instruction.

This book is not written for teachers, or even parents. This book is written right to each kid, with playful kid-friendly language that will draw in kids in grades 3 and up. I loved the short exercises - which are a blast, but also extremely effective.

Hint to teachers - buy this book for your classrooms!

A powerful voice invites powerful voices. Kwame Alexander’s work inspires, and I love this new text’s invitation to words crafted from readers. A wonderful book for the classroom or reading (and writing) at home.

This free writing journal will inspire kids and adults alike to create their own poetry, to try the strategies and decides shared. It’s fun and not intimidating. It has the potential to make kids feel inspired!

Kwame Alexander is already such a huge hit, this interactive poetry journal is going to be such a delight to his fans. The prompts are fun and thought provoking and this is going to show any child that writing is within their skillset.

This book was received as an ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids - Sourcebooks Wonderland in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thought this book was brilliantly constructed and from the author I could not expect anything less. Kwame Alexander is a genius and while going through reading and even completing some of the suggested activities, I could not help but think that why wasn't this writing book around when I was young. If I had this book especially when I was in my creative writing class in middle school, I wouldn't want to be anything else. Now that the respected age group has a chance, we are definitely excited to promote this book and add it to our JNon-Fiction collection.

We will consider adding this title to our JNon-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.