Review of IN THE LAND OF WORDS: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS

Bibliography:

Greenfield, Eloise. 2004. In the land of words: New and selected poems. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060289945

Review:

Eloise Greenfield’s In the Land of Words: New and Selected Poems is an enjoyable collection of poetry that takes readers to “a place where words live, where our minds and hearts can go and find them when we want to write – or read”. In part one, Greenfield provides readers with insight in to why she wrote each poem. For instance, readers discover that Nathaniel is “real – but only in the world of my imagination” before they enjoy the “rap, rap, rap” rhythm of “Nathaniel’s Rap”. They are treated to a variety of poems ranging from the free verse of “Making Friends” to the rhythmic beat of “To Catch a Fish” in which they learn “it takes more than a wish to catch a fish”. Part two of In the Land of Words focuses on words themselves as used in books, riddles, jokes and twisters. The poems range from the outright silly in “Oh, Words,” an ode to “those wacky words, those crazy words that crack me up,” to the more serious “Books” which reminds readers that “I don’t know what will happen, / I never know what I’ll find, / when I step into a story / and leave my world behind”. Jan Spivey Gilchrist has created beautiful hand-stitched felt illustrations that capture the moods of the poems. While some are basic, such as the silhouette of a person stepping in to a book that accompanies “Story”, others are detailed. The felt image of the young girl in “Poet/Poem” depicts her thoughtful expression as she ponders “where are you, words?”. Gilchrist’s creative artwork, which is prominently displayed, draws readers’ attention to the girl’s intricate upswept hairdo and her flower-covered shirt. The combination of poetry, illustrations, and layout of the poems with a variety of font sizes and color is sure to entertain and to encourage children to explore words in their own world through reading, writing, and talking.