Jane Yolen is one of the most prolific picture book authors, not to mention being a pretty prolific author of longer form books! But it’s been a good bit of time since she last released a poetry collection, though I definitely come across one her poems quite often in science fiction and fantasy magazines and anthologies. With this book, though, she returns to this particular stage in a grand fashion.

The book is divided into several sections, each with an “In” and an “Out” subsection. I’m afraid I didn’t catch the difference between In and Out, but I’m not exactly a frequent reader of poetry. The sections are things kids would think of often: school, animals, (at) home, after school, and sports, with a final category a bit outside a kid’s experience: career poems. The career poems aren’t deep adult thoughts, but more often from the point of view of Yolen as a child, wanting to write. Very accessible.

My favorite section was Animals. Her poems for pets are just especially funny and cute. I’ll have to memorize a few for my kid, because I’m sure she’ll love the ones for cats and bunnies, her favorites. I wasn’t able to read this book to my kid. I think that every time I brought it out, the size was intimidating. Is sure looks thick for a kids’ book, but each page only have a dozen or so lines, so it goes fast. I think by 2nd grade, most readers will be well up to the challenge. And they’d probably feel super proud, in the end, for reading something so big!

I actually did the audiobook version of this, and the reading by Cassandra Campbell is wistful and playful. She’s also really got the overwhelmed kid voice down.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

There's a nice varied collection of poetry here, aimed at readers a bit older than the picture book set.
Yolen has written poems about the home, poems about school and sports, all covering activities both indoors and outdoors. The last section of the book features poems for each month.

In and Out the Window (illustrated by Catherin Peterslund; Philomel 2024) is a creative collection of children’s poetry by Jane Yolen. Poems are divided into thematic sections with further division into the categories of “In” and “Out” of a window. The volume shares poems about many aspects of children’s lives. Different sections featured include “At home,” “Animals,” “School,” and even “Career
Poems.” In between these sections there are also what I’m calling “poetry poems”: “Why to Write a Poem,” “How to Write a Poem,” and other poems address when, where, and who.

As a teacher, I personally really liked these poetry poems best. They nicely tie into the subject matter that followed and I feel could be influential to starting a discussion about writing our own poems. For example, here’s a writing tip from “When to Write a Poem.”

It can rhyme, all the time,
that is never a crime,
and it’s always a plus for ‘refrain.'”

This is just one example — each of the “poetry poems” as I call them have a similar little tidbit that can be applied to a child writing their own poems.

The subjects in the rest of the poems are great inspiration. There are so many fantastic ones that I hesitate to name my favorite after one reading of the book. For example, I’ll share “In My Locker” as a good inspiration poem for a child. As can be expected, the narrator of the poem lists the items in his or her locker, and each item seems to have a story behind it. As a child reads this, they can think of their own place (locker, backpack, purse) and start listing out what they have. Just as Yolen’s creative poem does, any child’s creative listing can build into a poem. (I even tried my hand a few poems after reading this book, although no, I’m not sharing them here!)

The poems in In and Out the Window are just right for the child audience whether you’re just reading them or planning on writing you’re own poems. The book models to the young reader how to look at the examples that are inside and it also encourages the reader to look outside the window for more inspiration. I highly recommend Jane Yolen’s newest volume of poetry.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a lovely way to introduce children to poetry and to encourage them, whilst reading this, to write their own. It would be perfect to read a couple of the small poems each night [leaving time to talk about them and perhaps even writing one together], discovering the joy in small verse and in the lovely illustrations that are sprinkled without. Absolutely lovely.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Yolen, Cathrin Peterslund - Illustrator, and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Philomel Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This poetry book is perfect for young/middle grade readers! The poems are easy to read and relatable to things children are experiencing like family, books, animals, and school (which were some of my favorite to read). There are illustrations scattered throughout the book that add appeal for young readers. It reminded me of reading Shel Silverstein poems as a child.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group YR Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have loved Jane Yolen's writing for years, and I adored many of the poems in this collection. I think what makes poetry great is that it can appeal to different people at different times. In and Out the Window has lots of short, approachable poems for kids of all ages.

In and Out the Window is a sweetly written and well curated collection of poetry by Jane Yolen. Due out 12th March 2024 from Penguin Random House on their Philomel children's imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

Although this collection is aimed at young readers, there are beautiful and lyrical moments for all ages to be found here. Poetry is often a joy to read and these poems, from a beloved and prolific author, are curated carefully and very well.

The poems are accompanied by simple and appealing line drawings by Cathrin Peterslund. They enhance and support the text very well. The whole is appealing, engaging, and comforting.

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and a beautiful edition for gift giving purposes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Reviewing poetry is always so hard for me. They are little pieces of art that flow through my mind.

I liked most poems, but not all. I think this is pretty normal whe are not all poems inspire you.

Every moment of one’s life can be chronicled in poetry if the right person is holding the pen. In this book, Jane Yolen has condensed some of the most meaningful times and places into a collection of poems that capture the essence of familiar experiences. Beginning with home and animals and progressing to school, sports, and more, readers will recognize many of the subjects of the poems included in this novel. For each segment, the poems are focused on “in” and “out,” and these give the book a structure that it might not otherwise have. Much like Shel Silverstein, these poems vary in length, structure, and rhyming scheme, offering some humor and lightness alongside more heartfelt and meaningful inclusions. There is a large amount of white space in the book, and occasional illustrations pepper the pages, both of which offer readers a visual respite as they progress through the novel. Though the book can move quickly because of its design, the poems often invite reflection and encourage pauses to give the words ample time to resonate. Additionally, several poems invite readers to create their own poetry and offer suggestions as to when, where, and how to do that. There is no one right answer for building poems, and this book is a charming introduction to poetry for middle grade readers who have some life experiences behind them. From school to home to the dream of a career, these short snippets flavor one’s days and offer new perspectives to feelings readers might encounter, themselves. This is an accessible inclusion to poetry collections for young readers.

A sweet and simple collection of poems written for children with language that appeals to children, by a long-time favorite of children.
“In and Out the Window” by Jane Yolen - (3.5 Stars) (Pub Date: 3/12/2024)

Good Things: In “former-lit-student lingo’, the language is accessible to the intended age group. In ‘real-me’, the language is simple, direct, and just complex enough to be engaging, but not so complex that vocabulary becomes an issue. An early/middle elementary reader could tackle this alone, and the accessibility of the word choice would make for a great read aloud.

Opportunities: While the language is accessible, it’s also very basic. The rhyming and cadenced poems are a specific style and that style and form does not change through the small collection. It reads very much like a side project for an otherwise amazing children’s author. I also felt that the illustrations were not a value-add.

Final Thoughts: For fans of Jane Yolen, this collection is a must and for educators and parents, it serves as a good solid example of the kind of poetry that children might write themselves for themselves.

I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read of this story by netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Philomel Books The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #inandoutthewindow #janeyolen #poems #childrensbook #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #arcs

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Publishing Review 2/5/2024

Great introduction to poetry for elementary aged children. You could do memorization of poem each week or use them for copywork. There are several poems about everyday places, people, animals, and events.

Jane Yolen's collection of poems gathered in this new release, "In and Out the Window" will introduce readers both young and old, to the joy of poetry. Most poems are short and are gentle observations of the world around us. Gathered in collections mirroring a child's world, these poems cover the mundane and turn it into the sublime. Home, Out, School, and Animals are just a few of the categories of short, child-friendly poems. Scattered throughout the compilation are black and white drawings that add a touch of whimsey to the pages. This will be a great collection to add to a classroom library in preparation for poetry month or just to have around for future poets. The shortness of the poems and the common everyday topics will engage even the reluctant reader.

This is a fun compilation of poetry about day to day activities and events. I really liked that these were simple and easy to read, but also had a lot of meaning. I have always liked Jane Yolen and this is a good collection to have for families.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Jane Yolen was a staple of my childhood, and is still a staple in the library I work in. This collection of poems is lovely and heartwarming.

Good poem collection for anyone to introduce them to poetry. Something you could start with a poem each day or read in one setting.

I love Jane Yolen, and many of her books circulate reliably in my school community. However, this one is going to be a pass for me. It just doesn't seem relevant or compelling for my current students.