Rising Form I and II Students - Landon School

Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
Black-and-white scratchboard illustrations express the emotion and beat of the poetry, the laughter that hides pain, the celebration and the
struggle of the African American experience, and the music of the weary blues. The poems are as powerful today as when they were first
published, 60 years ago.
A Fury of Motion: Poetry for Boys by Charles Chigna
While the first ten poems are about sports, the remaining thirty-plus cover a variety of topics, including a haircut, a firefly, different seasons,
playground showdown, ants, eternity, family, death, and dreams. There is a good balance of funny and serious, rhyming and free verse.
The poems are targeted at teens, but are appropriate for younger children as well.
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems from the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye
Beginning with a work inspired by the events of September 11, Naomi Shihab Nye brings together 60 of her poems in 19 Varieties of
Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East including "Different Ways to Pray," "The Palestinians Have Given Up Parties" and "Football" focus on
the Middle East and the Arab-American experience.
The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle
A story about the boyhood of the nineteenth-century Cuban slave Juan Francisco Manzano, who secretly learned to read and wrote poetry
about beauty and courage in his world of cruelty and brutality.
Residence on Earth by Pablo Neruda
Residence on Earth is on of Neruda's greatest work. One reviewer called this bilingual publication "a revolution... a classic by which
masterpieces are judged". (A good choice for students studying Spanish)
Technically, It’s Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits
An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical—and not so typical—middle-grade concerns in this unique collection of hilarious
poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes, and his annoying older sister.
The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems by Billy Collins
Using simple, understandable language, Collins captures ordinary life–its pleasure, its discontents, its moments of sadness and of joy.
When a City Leans Against a Sky by Allan De Fina
This collection of poems celebrates the many "lives" of a city. Insightful observations capture the ambience and diversity of a city's sights,
sounds, and cultural mixes. The everyday becomes extraordinary through momentary pauses, showing that life in the city can be an
experience, not just an existence.
GREEN BEAR BOOKS
Natural History/Environment
Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It by Elizabeth Royte
An investigation into the commercialization of drinking water traces the process through which companies acquire, bottle, and market
water, in an account that addresses such issues as the risks of water-decontaminating practices.
Earth Hero’s: Champions of the Wilderness by Carol Malnor and Bruce Malnor
Earth Hero’s brings to life the lives of great environmentalists in a fresh and moving way. You can feel their idealism and reverence for life
in the stories of these remarkable men and women. The passion and profound impact of the heroes of yesterday will inspire the young to
be our leaders tomorrow.
Earth in the Hot Seat: Bulletins from a Warming World by Marfe Ferguson Delano
This book is a celebration the Earth and clearly explains the dangers and challenges of global warning. This beautiful volume explains the
science of this global threat succinctly and visually, and is a call-to-arms to help the Earth. Enjoy the many fun features, from climate
connections in global hotspots, to amazing before and after snapshots, to questionnaires answered by climate scientists and celebrities.
If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World’s People by David J. Smith
There are currently more than six billion people on the planet! This enormous number can be difficult to grasp. But let’s imagine the whole
world as a village of just 100 people. In this village; 22 people speak a Chinese dialect , 20 earn less than a dollar a day, 32 are Christian,
17 cannot read or write, 39 are under 19 years old. This book will help you better understand the world's peoples and their ways of life.
These statistics -- some surprising, some shocking -- and David Smith's tips on building "world-mindedness" will encourage readers to
embrace the bigger picture and help them to establish their own place in the global village.