Poetry is one of the best gifts we can give children. A poem a day enhances a child’s life with the sounds of words, with rhyme and rhythm, with the enchantment of images and metaphors, with the invitation to see reality with new eyes.
Our culture is very rich in outstanding poets and excellent poetry. Some poets write primarily for children, but even our most recognized poets have at some time or other written poetry that children can enjoy.
The Cielo abierto Poetry Collection is composed of seven poetry anthologies. These rich anthologies include selections from the folklore along with the work of the best Spanish-speaking poets from the United States, Latin America and Spain. Each of the selections has been carefully chosen to awaken children’s love of poetry and to deepen their appreciation for the musicality and richness of the Spanish language. Original poems by Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy are also included.
It is impossible to assign a specific age to poetry, since the same poem can be enjoyed by children of different ages at different moments. Yet, there is a certain progression of language and reading difficulty in the series reflected in the order in which the titles are listed.
Grade levels have been mentioned next to the titles as an orientation, but should not be seen restrictively.
The titles are:
- Gorrión, gorrión [PreK-2] 64 pages
- El verde limón [K-3] 48 pages
- Dulce es la sal [K-3] 48 pages
- La rama azul [2-5] 64 pages
- Nuevo día [2-5] 64 pages
- Huertos de coral [5-8] 128 pages
- Ríos de lava [5-12] 128 pages
READERS’ RESPONSES
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