Synopses & Reviews
What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessingsand#160;isand#160;aand#160;collection of poems to provide comfort, courage, and humor at difficult or daunting momentsand#160;in life.and#160;It conjures forth laments, spells, invocations, chants, blessings, promises, songs, and charms. Here are pleas on how to repair a friendship, wishes to transform oneand#8217;s life or to slow down time, charms to face the shame of a disapproving crowd, invocations to ask for forgiveness, to understand the mysteries of happiness, and to bravely face a dark andand#160;different world. These words help us remember or grieve; they bolster courage and guard against evil; they help us celebrate and give thanks. This elegant giftand#160;book also includes a red ribbon for readers to mark their favorite poems. Poet extraordinaire Joyce Sidman won the Newbery Honor Medal for Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night and continues to write poetry for children that has been called "fresh," "inspiring," and "accessible" to her young audience. She is intrigued by the idea of "words of power"and#8212;chants and charms that were once believed to have real influence in everyday life. Caldecott Honor-winning Pamela Zagarenski's beautiful art capturesand#160;a world ofand#160;emotion and the essence of Sidman's words.
Review
“Alternately raw, poignant, quiet, and loud…Readers will have no trouble finding little pieces of themselves in this beautifully orchestrated collection.” School Library Journal (starred review)
Review
“Gripping and provocative in its portrayal of vastly different lives and experiences, strong sense of place, and sheer exuberance.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“[An] exceptionally well-selected collection.” The Horn Book
Review
"Poems of bravery, love, heartbreak, justice, and peace unite to offer readers of all ages solace, inspiration, and strength."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Profound, lushly illustrated poems explore some of life's more trying moments. . . . A winning combination of word and image sure to challenge readers both to contemplate big subjects and to act."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"An evocative book that pulls readers to a special place--their hearts."
and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"Readers just edging toward adult poetry and those filling their notebooks with their own lyrics will find this elegant little title perfect for poetic dreams."
and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Poetry fans will savor the wordplay and whimsy, as teachers appreciate both its craft and wide appeal. Poetry fans will savor the wordplay and whimsy, as teachers appreciate both its craft and wide appeal."
and#8212;School Library Journal
"Each poem speaks directly from Sidman's heart to the reader's, addressing subjects of deep importance . . . Zagarenski's illustrations beautifully extend the poems with her dreamy style and deft use of white space, symbolism, and images from Sidman's text."
and#8212;The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
Synopsis
They are inspiring talented stunning remarkable wise
They are also fearless depressed hilarious impatient in love out of love pissed off
And they want you to let them in.
Synopsis
A one-of-a-kindand#160;poetry gift book of hope, wisdom, and power from Newbery Honor-winning poetand#160;extraordinaire Joyce Sidman and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Pamela Zagarenski. and#160;
About the Author
Naomi Shihab Nye has received a Lannan Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Witter Bynner Fellowship from the Library of Congress, and four Pushcart Prizes. Her collection 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her collection Honeybee was awarded the Arab-American Book Award. She is currently serving on the Board of Chancellors for the Academy of American Poets. Naomi Shihab Nye has edited several honored and popular poetry anthologies, including Time You Let Me In, What Have You Lost?, Salting the Ocean, and This Same Sky, and she is the author of the novels Habibi and Going, Going. She lives with her family in San Antonio, Texas.