Friends & Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children

by Kristen Wixted (Editor), Heather Kelly

FRIENDS & ANEMONES: Ocean Poems for Children, is a fun and informative collection of original poems and art by New England authors and illustrators. Hands join fins in an adventure through kelp forests to meet sea otters and whales. Attend an underwater birthday party! Voyage through tempests to bottom-of-the-ocean volcanos and mysterious creatures in the deep, deep darkness. This book is a valuable ecological and poetry resource for parents as well as librarians and teachers.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous collection of ocean poems by many distinguished poets and artists from The Writers' Loft will relate to young and old alike. Readers learn about a variety of sea creatures including balloon fish, giant squids, manatees, and sea turtles through many different poetic forms. Throughout the book there are reminders of the importance of keeping our oceans safe and clean. Part of the proceeds go to The Rozalia Project, a nonprofit organization focused on ocean clean up. This would be a welcome addition to any home or classroom library.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly beautiful collection of poems and illustrations! What a resource for parents and teachers to share the wonders of the sea - and poetry - with children. The best books to own are ones that have layers, that you will spend time with and make discoveries with each reading. Friends & Anemones is one of those books!

[Candace Spizzirri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection of poems about the ocean for kids! Well, and adults too. I loved it! The illustrations are absolutely stunning. The back matter is awesome and includes a Seek and Find, a discussion of the types of poems that are included in the anthology, and information about how to protect our oceans. A delight!

[Amanda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of illustrated poems celebrating the beauty of the ocean and highlighting our collaborative responsibility as ocean protectors.
Readers young and old will be enchanted by 70 pages of whimsical poems and riddles by well-known authors such as Peter Reynolds, Jane Yolen, Kip Wilson, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Josh Funk, Matt Forrest Esenwine, as well as emerging New England authors and illustrators.
​FRIENDS AND ANEMONES contains a variety of different poetic styles, which makes this anthology a perfect text for the language arts classroom. It is also filled with fascinating STEM facts which slip right into life-science lessons. But mostly it is simple, sometimes-silly, sensational reading fun.

[Bob (Tea Bow) Thibeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a rare pearl containing an assortment of poems from over sixty-five illustrators and authors around New England with Peter Reynolds, Jane Yolen, Kip Wilson, Josh Funk, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Matt Forrest, just to name a few! This book would be comfortable in a home, library, or classroom bookshelf. The assortment of sea life is as diverse as the poems themselves, range from funny, silly, serious, enlightening, and just creepy enough to keep children engaged with beautiful illustrations throughout. Each one custom-made and approved by the author. No children's library should go without it.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of poems about the ocean written by some of the best children's writers including Jane Yolen, Josh Funk, Lynda Mullaly-Hunt, Brian Lies, and Matt Forrest Esenwine. From short to long, sweet and silly, always enlightening, come on in, the water is fine!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of ocean-themed poetry and illustrations by an assortment of writers and illustrators associated with the Writers' Loft. I especially liked the seek and find in the back of the book and the explanation about why oceans need to be protected.

[Sharon Giltrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what is more beautiful in this collection of ocean poems - the poetry or the illustrations. Both are stunning and you will need more than one read to really appreciate them all. A great ode to our oceans and the creatures that live in them. Great job team and great work to the editors.

[Audrey Day-Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun ocean adventure, beautifully illustrated. WOuld be at home on any bookshelf or school library.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book full of fun and whimsical poems. The art is amazing too!

[Deb S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of ocean themed poems to inspire and educate readers of all ages. Engaging text coupled with vibrant illustrations make for a perfect read aloud experience.

[Shirley Fadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and lovely poems with enough variety to delight any child. A perfect gift for my daughter's classroom!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't get tired of this anthology, it's perfect for homes or classrooms because of the variety. Kids will have fun learning about ocean critters. (A smattering of content addresses the garbage that gets into their habitats.) The poetry and art styles vary widely, keeping kids coming back for more. Beyond learning what's stated, this collection is a springboard to get kids interested in researching further on a specific animal. The back pages have additional activities and information. Overall, a great investment for how much interesting information you get. It's educational because you learn how different poems can be, all the while being engaged with animal facts.

Big-name authors like Peter H. Reynolds, Jane Yolen, and Josh Funk are intermixed with many other talented authors and illustrators.