This was one of my childhood books, and I never forgot it. I read it over and over until it fell apart. Not every poem was a favorite, but I can recite "The Jaguar" by Ted Hughes to this day. ( )

Classic Poems to Read Aloud selected by James Perry is an anthology of poetry from around the world. The author made an attempt to include both classical poems as well as unknown poetry. In the same manner, he attempted to present not only English and American points of views but he also included Africa, the Caribbean, and India. Personally, I thought the collection attempted to do too much. In addition, the poems content is sometimes mature such as “When You Are Old” by W.B. Keats. I think adults can appreciate a poem of becoming older because they have lived out their lives and can look back on events and people whom they shared their lives with. But children cannot appreciate such reflections; consequently I felt the author sometimes forgot his target audience. It is not to say the poems are not worthy, but rather the themes sometimes inconsequential for young children. On the positive side, the book has some colorful art representing different cultures. The illustrations have some pictures of children of color, animals from different parts of the world, and faraway places. However, most of the pictures are small and black and white.
Ages 5 and up ( )

This collection provides a rich feast of poetic works for young people. The editors have mixed classic poems with less well-known entries, and yet all the poems work well together. The collection is appropriately multicultural and wide-sweeping in terms of subject matter, and the beautiful glossy illustrations lend a visual magic that serves to enhance the meaning of the surrounding poems. ( )