Amazing Places

by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Editor), Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator), Christy Hale (Illustrator)

In this collection of original poems, acclaimed anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins brings together fourteen selections that celebrate through poetic imagery some of the amazingly diverse places in our nation. These include Denali National Park, the Oneida Nation Museum, San Francisco's Chinatown, the Grand Canyon, the Ringling Circus Museum, Harlem, the Liberty Bell, Fenway Park, and more. The poems as a whole take readers on an exciting multiethnic travelogue around the United States and encourage a positive appreciation of our country's historical, environmental, and cultural heritage. The inspiring and insightful poems were created by some of the best-known authors writing for children, including Alma Flor Ada, Jaime Adoff, Joseph Bruchac, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Nikki Grimes, J. Patrick Lewis, Jane Medina, and Linda Sue Park. Captivating illustrations by award-winning illustrators Chris Soentpiet and Christy Hale feature well-researched settings that infuse the poems with vibrant life and atmosphere. Readers of all ages will want to visit each amazing place again and again.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Travel, Childrens, Geography, Middle Grade

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Lee Bennett Hopkins was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a Guinness Book of Records citation for compiling the most anthologies for children. He has also received the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, and the National Council of Teachers of English Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. He lives in Florida.

For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...

Reviews

[Cheryl]

I esp. liked "The Moccasins" by Kristine O'Connell George which reminds us that artifacts were once used by real people, for example a well-worn pair of simple leather moccasins by a child much like the child viewing them.

The included map reveals that much of the country is not represented - a fun enrichment activity for family or classroom would be to find, or write, poems about some other amazing places around the country, or world.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen poems by poets you love fill this book as the earlier Amazing Faces did, including love for our country from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to San Francisco’s Chinatown, Boston’s Fenway Park to the Watkins Museum of History (Langston Hughes childhood home-Lawrence, Kansas). Considering the increasing division in beliefs recently and before the next election, I especially liked the poem by Alma Flor Ida, native Cuban, who wrote of her family’s visit to Chinatown. Many people are included in this book, as well as nature’s wonders, trees in the Grand Canyon and the mighty Mississippi. This would be a lovely mentor text when studying different cultures and geography, and writing poetry in reflection of favorite topics. The illustrations by Chris Soentpiet and Christy Hale are full color portraits, vibrant with life in the ‘amazing places’.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of fourteen original poems from a diverse group celebrate places reflecting America's historical, environmental, and cultural heritage. An evocatively illustrated, inspiring travelogue.

[Brittany]

1. Read the title Amazing Places. Show the map on the inside of the front cover. The title of this book is Amazing Places, here the author has included a map. Why do you think some of these states are colored in, while others are not? Why would the author include a map on the front cover?
Turn to the poem titled “Niagara”. Point out the unusual format of the text. The text on this page is not like the other pages. Why would the author choose to change the text on this page and not the others?
2. I chose two opening moves to use for this book- Draw attention to readers’ tools such as charts, maps, diagrams, index, Alert children to unusual features of the text, such as its structure or narrator
3. I chose this book because it showcased poems about a variety of places the students may or may not be familiar with. It would be used as an introduction to poetry about places the students’ have been or visited, whether a fun vacation or a trip down the road. The illustrations are engaging and add to the interest of each page.

Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2006). Engaging readers in thinking and talking about texts through interactive read aloud. Teaching for comprehending and fluency: Thinking, talking, and writing about reading, k-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishing.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely illustrations paired with poems about different places of significance in the United States. I am sad to say I have only been to two of these places! I must add the rest to my list.

The last few pages have additional information about each location, and there is a long list of sources included.

[Rachel Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to poetry collections, spotlighting some of America's famous places, with a lovely afterward containing more information about each of the places spotlighted. This would make a lovely mentor text for English classes or Creative Writing classes looking to write poetry about something different. Loved it.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this poetry collection set in differnt US national landmarks. Each poem was short and easy to follow and the whole book moved. elementary and up with the afterward preschool one on one.

[Amanda Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this poetry book! Some of the poetry is so vivid and beautiful, while some of the others I probably wouldn't look at again. I wish it had places from all around the world, instead of just the United States. (poetry).

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of poems by great writers. I loved the explanations in the back of the book. However, the illustrations weren’t my favorite (I think they won’t appeal to modern children much.)

[Alexis Fillmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be fun to teach about places around the world. Great imagery and different types of poems.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Tyler Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famous and Important places throughout the United States are all throughout this collection of poems. Each place is talked about by someone who has first-hand experience or knowledge of the location that they write about. Some of the poems are written with rhyming, while a couple are written in concrete or shape form, where the words in the poem are written in a design that makes the shape of an object that is in the location. These poems are multicultural with the mention of Chinatown in San Francisco, and Niagara Falls in Canada.

Classroom Connection: The students can write a few sentences, and try to make the last word in the sentences rhyme to form a poem about their favorite place. After they decide their favorite place to travel to and then write a few sentences about who they go to the place with, and what they like to do there. Once all the students are done they can have a walk through of every ones favorite places and make connections with others who have similar places.
Another idea would be to break students down into small groups and have them pick one of the places mentioned in the book. After they are broken down into small groups and have a location, students should use books, and the internet to research the history of the location, and other things that can be done at the place, besides what is mentioned in the poem. Teacher should facilitate what the students are looking for, and how they are going to present their findings. This can then be connected to a geography lesson, and all the students can use a United States map to find the location and discuss where things are located.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of fourteen poems celebrate various places throughout the United States. The poems celebrate moments spent in these places, from a visit to Chinatown in San Francisco to camping in the Denali National Forest. Each area has its own flavor, captured both in words and in the rich illustrations that accompany each poem. There is a dynamic mix of nature and man-made places that take the reader on a journey that will inspire future visits and exploration.

The poets included in this anthology are exceptional and include Nikki Grimes, John Bruchac, Janet S. Wong, Alma Flor Ada, J. Patrick Lewis, and Prince Redcloud. The diversity of these authors is exceptional and their voices weave together into a rich tapestry that remind all readers that this is what our nation is all about. The beauty of these different perspectives on these beloved parts of our nation adds yet another layer to the effectiveness of these poems. More information on each place is offered at the end of the book.

The illustrations are rich and filled with diversity too. Some images evoke nature and the movement of water and wind while others are filled with fine lines that create very realistic and detailed images. People of different races filled the pages, none of them placed in the more stereotypical settings but instead diversity is expanded as children explore museums and sites from different backgrounds than their own.

Chock full of diversity on a variety of levels, this book embraces the rich tapestry of America. Appropriate for ages 7-9.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen poems celebrate the wonders of the United States, some natural and some man-made, but all wonderful in their own way. Readers are able to take a visual road trip through the lines. The experiences range from a camping trip in Denali ("Camping" by Janet S. Wong) in which there is delight in toasting a marshmallow by the campfire to running away to join the circus ("Runaway" by Jane Medina) and concluding with my personal favorite, the Niagara Falls. Prince Redcloud describes the falls as "cascading / crashing / dipping / dropping / plunging / tumbling" (unpaged). The illustrations, created in pencil and then colored digitally, certainly bear evidence that the illustrators have spent time at these unique places. There are thumbnail sketches as part of the back matter for interested readers as well as a list of sources. The book might be useful prior to heading off on a cross-country road trip or possibly upon returning to allow travelers to savor those moments they have experienced. Certainly, these verses will put the wanderlust in just about anyone reading them.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion to Amazing Faces, this anthology focuses on poetry inspired by fourteen diverse United States landmarks. Among the poets included are Janet Wong, Joseph Bruchac, Alma Flor Ada, Nikki Grimes, Rebecca Kai, Dotlich, Jaime Adoff, and more. The poems are as varied as the poets. Some of the verses are at well known sites like the Grand Canyon, Fenway Park or at the Liberty Bell; others in not as well known sites like a circus museum in Florida. However, taken as a whole this collection gives voice to the American experience. A thoughtful picture book that will be useful in introducing American culture.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An armchair travel book that allows the reader to travel quickly from one end of the country (Alaska) to the other, at a fairly fast pace. Each destination is represented by a poem written by a different poet and a beautiful color illustration.

At the end of the book is more information about each of the destinations that were written about.

Places I've been (in this book): Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Mississippi River, Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida and Niagara Falls.

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology features lovely poems by a group of amazing and diverse poets! The poems are terrific, and so is the backmatter, which gives more information about each of the places. The art is not my personal taste, and I would have loved to have seen more places across the U.S. covered. Still, the diversity in both poets AND in the forms and styles of the poems themselves is wonderful. Partner this book with Bennett's MY AMERICA and my own WILD, WACKY, WONDERFUL: 50 STATE POEMS, for more poems celebrating our country.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Places is another wonderful compilation of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrators, Chris Soentpiet and Christy Hale beautifully capture the spirit and essence of each "Amazing Place". Naomi shared that her favorite poems are: "Tree Speaks," "Midway Magic" and "Runaway". I enjoyed reading each poem in this collection, several aloud and many several times over! My daughter was so excited to choose this book at our library, because of the magical illustrations, she is making her plots and plans to visit some of these "Amazing Places" across our great country! :)

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had to read this book at the beginning of summer, when I was making my vacation plans. The poems in this anthology take you to wonderful locations like Chinatown (San Francisco), the Grand Canyon, Fenway Park, and many others. The poems are illustrated with digitally colored art by Chris Soentpiet and Christy Hale. This is a super collection of poems and I'm so glad that it will be in my classroom library this year!

[Iowa City Public Library]

From Morgan:

"Amazing Places selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins immediately caught my eye as not only do I love poetry, but I also love traveling. These poems are about places all around the United States. It was fun to look at the map endpapers and figure out which poems I had been to. I’ve been to six of the poem places, how about you?"

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right on poems about amazing places throughout the US. Having just returned from the Grand Canyon & having taken photos of trees growing from the rim, Nikki Grimes' poem, Tree Speaks, really spoke to me!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookaday #8. Diverse poets write poems about different locations in the United States, many of which I have been to. What earns the 4th star is the back matter which features an informational paragraph about each place, and the sources for this information.

[Miss Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of poems written by famous authors about special places across the U.S. that they enjoy or love. The pictures confused me, because they didn't always seem to match the poems.
I enjoyed the poems but the illustrations were disappointing that they didn't fit.

[McArthur Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here are poems about amazing places located right here in the U.S. Travel across the country in the comfort of your own house. Chinatown! The Grand Canyon! The Liberty Bell!

[Darlene Ivy]

collection of poems by various writer describing the rich variety of the US in terms of ethnic diversity, geography and recreation

[Bethany]

Poems of different places around the country - would be great for an introduction to summer vacations.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute poems about places across the United States. I wished there were photographs instead of illustrations.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Sunday Trip to Chinatown by Alma Flor Alma
Fenway Park by Charles Waters

[Kelli Coombs]

Poetry #1

Such a good book that takes the reader all over the U.S. and shares stories and facts about truly amazing places.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrate 14 great parts of America with 14 wonderful poems.