"Picture Perfect Poetry"

It's Back-to-School time. As a reading specialist and administrator, I like many other educators found the time to make classrooms and offices inviting. New and old book titles decorated my space.  In my unretirement days, I continue this practice. My library has many titles waiting for my little grandgirls who can always find a new book to read. As a consultant, I search for new children's books to read and review. My 7-year-old grandgirl assists me when I need a child reader involved in a review. As a reader for several years, she can tell me when a book is inviting.

I am pleased to introduce Picture Perfect Poetry, An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for Students. My Poetry Friday friend, educator, and poet, Carol J. Labuzzetta, edited and published a gem of a poetry book for middle-grade students. Besides 5th-9th grade students, teachers, librarians, parents, and community members including homeschoolers will be delighted to read the never-published ekphrastic poetry in this book. Twenty-five author-photographers were inspired to capture a photo and write an accompanying poem for the book. An ekphrastic poem is a type of writing that involves creating original poetry or prose in response to a work of art, often a visual art. As an Indie publisher, Carol J. Labuzzetta spent considerable time producing this book so teachers and students could explore this type of poetry. Picture Perfect Poetry will become an excellent mentor text for the classroom library. 

An appealing part of the book is the addition of color. Each page pops with color. The photographs are beautifully presented, the layout is impressive, and the font format is universal. 

Ekphrastic Poem by Carol Labuzzetta

The book includes instructional resources found in the back matter. Different styles of poems are noted as well. Carol asked me if I would send a photograph without a poem to include in the book. It would become a prompt for writing. More extra photographs (without poems) are included for young writers to compose an Ekphrastic poem. 

Instructional resources are included in the back matter of the book, along with website references for each style of poem included in the anthology. In an interview with Jone MacCulloch Carol Labbuzzetta stated.

I wanted to provide a volume of Poetry that could be used as a mentor text, an instructional manual, or a self-instructive text for highly motivated students. Thus, I included back matter that could be reference easily by teachers, students, homeschool groups or anyone interested in writing poetry. 

Thank you, Carol, for your creativity, preparation, and perseverance in creating a unique poetry anthology centering on nature for young writers. I am honored that you chose three of my Ekphrastic poems for insertion in the book. Next week. I will share more on this gem of this book that blends poetry with photography. 

While this book was published during National Poetry Month due to medical issues, I was delayed in sharing a book review. Virginia's back-to-school opening is an opportunity to showcase Picture Perfect Poetry for classrooms and school libraries. Thank you, Carol Labuzzetta for bringing this amazing book into the world of Kidlit poetry.

It's Poetry Friday hosted by Rose Cappelli. She and her writing group studied line breaks and the revision process using a "Make it and Break it" exercise. She offers an inspiring beach scene photo to ignite her thoughts.