A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World

by Matt Forrest Esenwine, Jamey Christoph (illustrator)

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Nonfiction

56 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

As a radio broadcaster, Matt spent a good deal of time writing and producing commercials and comedy bits. He also wrote poetry, which was published in various national journals and anthologies including the Donald Hall tribute, "Except for Love" (Encircle, 2019). Little did he know all this short-form writing would lead to his debut picture book, the Kirkus-starred "Flashlight Night" (Astra Young Readers, 2017), which was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017 and even showed up on Encyclopedia Brittanica’s list of “11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination.”

Matt now has more than a dozen books to his credit including "I Am Today" (POW! Kids Books, 2022), which received the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, and "Once Upon Another Time" (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®), a book that ALA’s Booklist called “a necessary addition to picture book collections.”

Meanwhile, Matt's children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like "The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" and "The Poetry of US," (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015 & 2018), "Construction People" and "School People" (Wordsong, 2020/2018) and 'Highlights for Children' magazine.

Matt may be an adult, but he refuses to be a grown-up. Feel free to connect with him at https://www.MattForrest.com!

Reviews

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated poetry collection centered on the theme of rainbows and possibilities. Each spread holds a sidebar of facts making this compilation a dazzling array of science, art, and poetry that encourages readers to seek out rainbows in different places and different forms.
Talented contributors include Nikki Grimes, Renée LaTulippe, Joyce Sidman, Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Jane Yolen, to mention just a few. Perfect selection for both April Poetry Month and Earth Day.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is poetic nonfiction at its best! The collection of poems, all about rainbows, features a variety of poetic forms by a diverse group of poets. Each poem is accompanied by a scientific explanation that provides information on such phenomena as moonbows, parhelia (sun dogs), and the rainbow hibiscus. Colorful illustrations complement each poem, bringing it to life. Recommended resources and a glossary are included as back matter. This would be a wonderful addition for the classroom or home library.

[Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC - fantastic illustrations with a bright, colorful theme. I like the animal illustrations best. As often happens with collections from a variety of authors, some of the contributions are better than others.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly awkward collection of poetry, concerning all things rainbow – the weird rainbow you see around the shadow of your plane if it's all at just the right angle above the clouds – a kind of Brocken spectre, fact fans; rainbow-coloured birds and bugs and mountains; and even a nebula in Orion. The thing is some of the subjects are rather on the esoteric side, and so the assumption has to be the verses are made to order, specifically for this – and they don't always come out the success they might have been had the natural order for a verse done naturally about a naturally appealing topic been there.

None are dreadful, mind – and certainly there are strong contenders for fine work, where rhymes sneak up on you and present themselves in all-ages-friendly fashion. One piece about a moonbow over the Zambezi has a very nice structure (sort of, but not quite, a villanelle), and generally they're of a 'perfectly-alright' standard. I liked the way the book snuck the science and the background information into sidebars, allowing the verse and the accompanying artwork to be enjoyed as best and interruption-free as they could. Other creatives with text doing two things at once could learn from this approach.

So all told, while this doesn't quite convince that the rainbow is the heaven-sent inspiration for all of this, it does have a variety in subject that might appeal. And while there's never a sense of this wasting your time, it's not the proverbial pot of gold at the end of, er, itself. Three and a half stars.

[Luna Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Universe of Rainbows is a dazzling celebration of color, curiosity, and creativity that invites young readers to see the world through both poetic and scientific lenses. This beautifully crafted picture book brings together an extraordinary group of children’s poets, including Nikki Grimes, Joyce Sidman, Irene Latham, and Matt Forrest Esenwine, to explore the many forms rainbows take in nature, far beyond the familiar arc in the sky.

Each poem captures a different “rainbow” found in our universe, from Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring and Peru’s Vinicunca mountain to crystals, finches, star light, and even a single drop of water. The variety of poetic forms, including haiku and free verse, keeps the collection fresh and engaging, while the language remains accessible and lyrical for young readers.

What truly elevates this book is its seamless blend of poetry and STEAM learning. Informational sidebars provide clear scientific explanations that deepen understanding without interrupting the wonder of the poems. Jamey Christoph’s vibrant illustrations are a perfect complement, bursting with color and playful detail that bring each concept vividly to life.

Ideal for classrooms, libraries, Poetry Month, and Earth Day, A Universe of Rainbows encourages curiosity, observation, and appreciation for the natural world. As a 2026 NCTE Notable Children’s Poetry Book, it stands out as both an educational resource and a joyful reading experience, one that celebrates diversity, discovery, and the beauty found in every spectrum of our world.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!!!!
Rainbows are so meaningful to our family for so many reasons. I was excited to find this book. This book is amazing. This story celebrates poetry in its many styles by over 15 authors. Each one brings to life the beauty and meanings of rainbows that are found in nature and more. The illustrations, by Janey Christoph, do an amazing job of bringing these words to life. I love that it includes throughout the book the science of the rainbow scene.
Your family will love sharing this book together.We found our own favorite poems, like Petals of Paradise and Echoes of Rain. Beautifully put together it is sure to be a new treasure with your family. A book meant to be read again and again. Enjoy it together.

A million stars!

[Buffy Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS features poems on a wide variety of rainbows, including those made by light and water, those found on animals and plants, rainbows in rocks, and even rainbows in space. The poems on each topic are written by many of my favorite kidlit poets and showcase a variety of poetic forms. Each poem is accompanied by an easily-understood sidebar that explains the science behind the different rainbows and Jamey Christoph’s dazzling illustrations enhance the poems. This is a wonderful book to bring poetry and science together for a classroom or home library. Creative kids will want to observe rainbows in nature and try writing rainbow poems of their own.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do "a drop of water. Peru's Vincicunca mountain. The star Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion" have in common? So begins this intriguing book about rainbows. This picture book is a collection of poems paired with lovely illustrations and scientific information. Our elementary understanding that sunlight passing through rain in the sky creates rainbows is on the first page, but what follows goes much more in depth. A thoughtfully curated, beautifully composed, and incredibly informative book for kids.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Universe of Rainbows is a beautiful anthology of well-respected poets, all writing to the theme of rainbows! Bright digitally-created illustrations light up each page. Although aimed at 6–10-year-olds, this book would be a really fun gift for all ages. I learned a lot from the side bars and who knew there were so many rainbow-colored creatures in Australia!? Recommended resources and glossary make up the interesting backmatter. An especially great purchase for school and public libraries.

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm proud to be part of this anthology! I read bits of it as a digital ARC, but I've only now been able to sit down and savor it. The poems range from witty to wise, from lyrical to surprising, from scientific to awe-inspiring...I love the design and Jamey Christoph's art, too. I think every reader will get something from reading this. Poetry paired with prose scientific sidebars is one of my favorite formats, and this anthology accomplishes it brilliantly. Thank you to Eerdmans Books and Matt Forrest Esenwine!

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: This poetry collection features twenty-two authors/poets and a mix of poetry forms that explore the various colors found in nature.

Comments: Each poem is presented on a two-page spread, accompanied by a side column of nonfiction text that briefly explains the topic.

The illustrations were created digitally.

This book could be shared in April as an Earth Day and a Poetry book.

(April is Poetry Month, and April 22nd is Earth Day.)

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Mirka Hokkanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of poems that combines beautiful illustrations and nonfiction passages into a great package. Perfect for classrooms. I also like it because the different types of text offer additional reading beyond the original hook that a child is interested in. So a kid interested in learning about where rainbows appear in nature can also read poems and gain an appreciation for lyrical writing.

[Marilyn]

This book is a treasure. It has so many delightful illustrations that it drew me right in. I realized it would make a good book to show in genealogy club because it's nonfiction. I could invite the students to choose a person, place, idea to write a short poem about and illustrate it or take a photo of something related. It's a quick way to write about your family's history and put a photo or drawing with it.

[Lydia Lukidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS is a magical blend of STEM and poetry. First off, young readers get to about beloved rainbows, some of which they may know about but others which are more mysterious like rainbows on rocks or in space. Secondly, the lyrical language is beautiful and moving, and also inspires children about the power of the written word. Bravo! I highly recommend this book.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful poems to be read and reread. Fascinating and so much to learn about in these nature and science poems.