Poetry For Young People: Edna St. Vincent Millay (Poetry For Young People)

Rating:
Summary: Poetry, Art and a Life all in One
Review: I opened this book at weekly Storytime...my son likes to play with the trains while my daughters listen to the story.. I thought, "I'll just look at this for a moment" and I was transfixed for the entirety of storytime.

Yes, as the other reviewers have stated the illustrations are amazing, the poetry.... mind opening. Another facet of this book is the brief and compelling biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay.

I knew very little about her... now that I know the little that I know from this book, I am hungry for more of her work as well as more of her life.

Excellent book -- I am going to look into other titles in this series as well (The Poetry for Young People ) to see if the others are as above average as this one.

Each illustration could be the focus of additional conversation: I see myself reading these poems repeatedly with my children. They are simple, elegant and timeless.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully illustrated book of Millay's selected poetry!
Review: Mike Bryce's illustrations in this collection of Edna St. Vincent Millay's work truly capture the spirit and mood evoked by the poet. With the turn of each page, the reader is brought into various scenes and landscapes, introduced to the thoughts and passions of real, believable individuals which Bryce's illustrations have effectively brought to life. On one page, an old steam train rushes forth in the night, sending burning embers dancing into the night sky. Another page transports the viewer to the dunes of some tranquil distant shore, where the eel-grass whispers in the gentle breeze. A few pages later, and the reader is cast in a dying garden, where the gardener attepts to grow a a patch of hate. The gardener herself is wrought with anger as she tries in vain to achieve her plan; alas, her garden of hate "falters and fades". A following page entreats the reader to wild swans flying over the town, their wings glowing in the twighlight sky. Very captivating imagery! The poetry itself is a welcome addition to my bookshelf of historically important poets, and an essential book for any young reader, as it presents Millay's thoughts and reflections on a world that sometimes depicts all but roses and sunshine. A must for every personal library!

Rating:
Summary: Touching poetry accented with gorgeous illustrations
Review: Since I am an illustration student at RISD, I frequently review children's book art. I find this particular marriage of Millay's poetry and Mike Bryce's illustrations to be delightful. I will give the illustrator my best compliment: I will look forward to purchasing your next children's art work.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful.
Review: The illustrations and the poetry create feelings and emotions which go beyond the pages. Mike Bryces illustrations pull you into the poetry with a style that is breath taking. The poetry will linger in your mind the illustrations in your heart. You will find yourself going to it time and time again.

Rating:
Summary: Great... but not the best for a young reader...
Review: This will be a reallly personal review.
I first discovered Edna in my senior high school humanities class. When I first read it I thought, "That's so real! That's me! I can relate to that!" She so eloquently put what I wanted to say but was not capable of in my late teens and early 20's into words.
Now that I am past the dating years and finally read a short bio on the author I realize that all I really liked about her writing was that she was a modern day "fast girl" (if you catch my drift). I really feel betrayed because I thought I was so literate and now I wonder what liking her poetry so much said about me.
So now I feel for the author beacause she chose to live in the fast lane and then dull the pain and escape into drugs and alcohol... which maybe was the better choice for her if infamous was on her list of things to become.
Though I do recommend her reading strongly in general because it's romantic and interesting and delightful, I don't think it's appropriate for "young people" with lines like "What lips my lips have kissed"... Unless ofcourse instilling Catholic schoolgirl guilt into your child is at the top of your priority list... or you want to give her poems to read to her boyfriend... or something... use your discretion...