The simple pleasures of reading and listening to poetry are unforgettable memories of childhood, and, for young minds, poetry is the gateway to an interest in language and storytelling. By bringing together essential classic children's poems with the best of modern and contemporary international poetry, this book is an introduction to literature and life for the young reader. From Robert Frost to Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein to Emily Dickinson, this collection emphasizes the fun and diversity of poetry, providing readers with a well rounded, inclusive selection of poets. With the guidance of a special advisory board of esteemed poets such as Deborah Digges, Gerald Early, Louise Glick, Jorle Graham, Edward Hirsch, Garrett Hongo, Maxine Kumin, Cynthia MacDonald, William Matthews, Thylias Moss, Ishmael Reed, Sarah Rosenstock, and Mark Strand, the editors have fashioned a volume that encourages parents not to underestimate the ability of their children to understand and absorb the music of the written word. It features artwork by Tom Pohrt, the well known illustrator of Crow and Weasel, and includes favorite poems such as William Blake's "The Tyger" and Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky" as well as more recent classics such as Elizabeth Bishop's "Sestina" and Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz."