Reviews

Following its treatment of Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, Sterling adds two more titles on American masters to the Poetry for Young People series: Carl Sandburg, edited by Frances Schoonmaker Bolin, illustrated by Steven Arcella, and Edgar Allan Poe, edited by Brod Bagert, illustrated by Carolynn Cobleigh. Each poem is accompanied by definitions of difficult words ($14.95 each, 48p, ages 7-up ISBN 0-8069-0818-1; -0820-3 May).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up?While both volumes offer a spacious format; a wide variety of poems; and colorful, interpretive illustrations, Sandburg is by far the stronger of the two. Poe suffers from the editor's explanations of what each poem means and from the inclusion of 8 prose passages placed in verse form, along with the 13 legitimate poems. Bagert's commentaries dampen rather than spark the imagination, and the doctored prose creates confusion between Poe's poems and tales. The realistic paintings are of uneven quality; the small vignettes are more effective than the full-page renderings. The 33 poems in Sandburg vary in length and theme, but most are the staples of anthologies, e.g., "Fog," "Arithmetic," and "We Must Be Polite." The surrealistic illustrations, which appear to be rendered in pastels, are appealing; the soft edges and warm tones work well with Sandburg's imagery. Both books include a biographical sketch of the poet, footnotes providing definitions of difficult words, and a title index.?Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library
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