Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost

by Robert Frost, Jay Parini (Editor), Michael Paraskevas (Illustrations)

A collection to be read, experienced, and treasured.

Whether capturing a cold New England winter's evening, or the beauty of an old, abandoned house, four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Frost left an indelible mark on our consciousness. This stunning celebration of his best-loved work includes 35 poems specially chosen for children ages 8 to 14 by author and historian Jay Parini.

Illustrator Michael Paraskevas brings the poems to life with his pitch-perfect scenes, infused with majestic color and quiet simplicity. Poems include “Mending Wall,” “Birches,” “The Road Not Taken,” “Fire and Ice,” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,”

This gentle introduction also includes commentary, definitions of key words, and an introduction to the poet’s life.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Classics, Picture Books, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

Flinty, moody, plainspoken and deep, Robert Frost was one of America's most popular 20th-century poets. Frost was farming in Derry, New Hampshire when, at the age of 38, he sold the farm, uprooted his family and moved to England, where he devoted himself to his poetry. His first two books of verse, A Boy's Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914), were immediate successes. In 1915 he returned to the United States and continued to write while living in New Hampshire and then Vermont. His pastoral images of apple trees and stone fences -- along with his solitary, man-of-few-words poetic voice -- helped define the modern image of rural New England. Frost's poems include "Mending Wall" ("Good fences make good neighbors"), "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" ("Whose woods these are I think I know"), and perhaps his most famous work, "The Road Not Taken" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- / I took the one less traveled by"). Frost was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times: in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. He also served as "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress" from 1958-59; that position was renamed as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (or simply Poet Laureate) in 1986.

Frost recited his poem "The Gift Outright" at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy... Frost attended both Dartmouth College and Harvard, but did not graduate from either school... Frost preferred traditional rhyme and meter in poetry; his famous dismissal of free verse was, "I'd just as soon play tennis with the net down."

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost is the latest in a Poetry for Kids series, with previous books featuring poetry by Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman. This book contains 30 of Frost's poems, prefaced by an introduction of Frost's life and inspiration for his poetry, and followed by short explanations of each poem's meaning in a section titled 'What Robert Was Thinking'. There are definitions included with each poem for words children (and adults) may not be familiar with.

This book is part of an established series so obviously there must be a children's market for this type of book but personally I would have preferred to see this book marketed as a gift book. Without the 'for Kids' branding I think the market would have opened right up for this book.

The audience for this book is listed as 8+ but I know I wouldn't have appreciated this book as a child. At 8 I was reading Roald Dahl, not poetry books, and I don't think that's so unusual.

My fear for this book is that it may be used in schools to teach poetry at kids instead of to kids, and that could ruin Robert Frost for them. I say this because the only poetry I've ever hated with a passion have been poems taught to me. I always baulked at a teacher telling me emphatically what the poet meant by each word, line by line. I wanted to have the opportunity to think about the poem myself and decide what it meant to me, and always wondered if the poet actually intended the poem to be interpreted the way my teacher said was the only way, the right way.

Digressing, that reminds me of a story about Alfred Hitchcock helping his granddaughter write an essay for film school about his movie Shadow of a Doubt. Her grade? C. So the story goes, he shrugged and said, "That's the best I can do".

Anyway ... I grew up adoring The Road Not Taken but that was mostly because my Nan used to quote it all of the time and I'd often read the photocopied poem stuck to a wall in her house with Blu-Tack. I don't know I would have liked it as a kid without my Nan's influence.

Michael Paraskevas' illustrations are absolutely wonderful! They complement the poetry beautifully. I think adults will like them better than kids though. It's only as an adult that I appreciate artwork like this.

I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - MoonDance Press for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the concept behind the Poetry for Kids books, beautifully illustrated selections for children ages 8 to 13, Grades 3 to 8.  Robert Frost is one of America's most beloved poets of the last century, whose poems were inspired by everyday sights and life of the country in New England. 

Included are Frost's best known poems “Mending Wall,” “The Road Not Taken,” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” 

Each volume includes information for parents and teachers, including commentary, definitions of key words for each poem, and an introduction to Frost's life.

Robert Lee Frost won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, and was named Poet laureate of Vermont. 

I have not read Frost extensively and most of the poems were new to me. I appreciated the simplicity of his images, the concrete portrayal of his world, from which he drew lessons and truths. Such as in this poem:

Snow Dust

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I rued.

Or these lines from Choose Something Like a Star: "So when at times the mob is swayed/To carry praise or blame too far,/We may choose something lie a star/To stay our minds on and be staid."

The 35 were poems chosen by Jay Parini, author of Why Poetry Matters and a biography on Frost. Illustrator Michael Paraskevas's work has appeared in most major magazines, he has written and illustrated 24 children's books, and has created animated series for television. 

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Rachel Herschberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

We purchased this book of poetry on a visit last fall to Robert Frost’s home, Stone Cottage. It contains many of my favorite poems by Frost and the colorful illustrations appeal to children. I enjoyed reading a poem to our children on school mornings while they ate breakfast. One of my 3-year-olds was sure to remind me if I forgot.😊

[giftedteacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Frost's poetry is timeless, and these illustrations enhance his words. The book is appropriate for adults or children, especially children who are introspective. I think that my students will enjoy it; it could be a nice addition to a classroom poetry collection or a good gift book.

I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Betweenpaperbackworlds · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨ There was this sadness about some of the poems as well as happiness of nature and never wanting nature to change but loving the beauty of such a thing. The art in this book is my absolute favorite. I just think some poems were very long winded and hard to wrap my brain around.

[Maggie Carr]

Book Riot Read Harder 2021 : Read A Book of Nature Poems (leaving unrated)

Poetry is not a genre that I overly enjoy. Asked for help to find a book in our library collection and this was among those selected. The illustrations are gorgeous but I felt disconnected by the selection then mortified-- hold up(!) "Poetry for kids" yet there is a very, very morbid poem about a boy who tragically severs his hand in a saw accident and dies. Ummmm. Nope. Definitely not what I was looking for in a pre-bedtime read. 😣

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I set myself an objective at the start of 2017 to read more poetry and classics and whilst this book is primarily aimed at children I really enjoyed it - the illustrations used really bring the poems to life and they were really my favourite part of the book, I really adored a few of them poems, a few I wasn't a fan of and some that were just ok so overall I have given the book four stars - definitely worth a read and a great introduction to the works of Robert Frost.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry; beautiful illustrations, really, these illustrations serve Frost's poems like no other presentation I've seen. If I were introducing Frost to kids, this is hands down the way to do it.

[Kristina Aziz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what exactly makes this Robert Frost "for Kids". It's Illustrated, and has definitions of seldom used words spattered throughout the book. But can't we then call it 'Illustrated Robert Frost'? I felt like the collaborators of this book were trying to ,market to an audience that they don't know how to market to which, despite the book title is not necessarily the kids, but their parents who will be paying actual real dollars for this book if they believe in it enough.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost
Author: Robert Frost
Editor: Jay Parini
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Publisher: Quatro Publishing Group
Published: 10-1-2017
Pages: 48
Genre: Chiltren;s Nonfiction
Sub-Genre: Poetry, Culture, United States Poets
ISBN: 9781633222205
Reviewed For NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 5 Stars


Listed as being for grades 3 to 8, but I think children even younger would enjoy reading and having it read to them. Beautifully illustrated each page is artwork in itself and a testament to the talents of Michael Paraskevas. Some of your own favorite childhood poems, at least they were mine all bound in a volume to cherish and pass on from one generation to another.


My rating of "Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost" is 5 out of 5 stars.


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[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost is one of those poets who is accessible to kids (if my kidhood is a good example); the rhythm of his words is easy to slip into. I know nothing about literary criticism of poetry, but Frost's work has always struck me as more sophisticated than it appears on the surface; there's more there there. A young reader, or someone who just wants to enjoy the words and how they're put together, can read it for the pure enjoyment of the language, while of course others can delve into analyzing what it all means beyond the literal.

"What Robert Was Thinking" section at the end gives a very brief synopsis and clarification for each poem included - not overburdening the poetry with too much Meaning and Allegory and Symbolism, just distilling it down and occasionally asking a leading question or two.

As always, my primary focus is on the pictures. The painterly illustrations by Michael Paraskevas are sometimes lush, sometimes spare, whichever befits each poem, and always more than just pretty, enhancing the poetry and inviting the reader deeper into the world of each verse. The invitation is emphasized by the fact that so many of the paintings are without humans, or with one human walking away, or walking in the distance, whose face cannot be seen. They're lonely landscapes and interiors - waiting for the reader to walk in.

This isn't just for kids.

The usual disclaimer: with thanks, I received this book via Netgalley for review.

[Kejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of Robert Frost's poems, edited by Jay Parini and illustrated by Michael Paraskevas. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to him because of his collection of poetry. This collection of poems is appropriate for children aged 8 to 13. This book contains a compilation of Robert Frost's poems, each page contains a poem that depicts different scenes and communicates different concepts. Each poem has a unique theme and manner of writing. This book's illustrations take the form of large-scale creations that take up the entire page. To illustrate the setting depicted in the author's poem, the illustrator employed vibrant colors. For simple reading, the editor will carefully note several key terms and their definitions beside each poem. To emphasize the main idea, the author uses symbolism, personification, and rhetoric in practically every poem. This collection of poems, in my opinion, is ideal for children to read. The magnificent scenarios portrayed in the book, as well as the use of language, are worth learning. This book of poetry can be used to teach kids how to read poems and can also be used to discuss the book of poems with them.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Robert Frost, but this book is not for kids. Oh, it is nicely illustrated, and the poems chosen are good, The Road not Taken, Stopping by the Woods on a snowy day and Mending Walls, which I always thought was called "Good fences make good neighbors."

Frost didn't really write for kids. He wrote for adults, and if kids got it, good, and there is nothing wrong with reading these poems to kids. The ones I mentioned above are all ones that my mother read to me, and I read on occasion even now.

This is not to say that this is not a good book for children, but that this is more like a book that parents could read to children. And discussed with children. And, understood, with the help of their parents, what the words, and ideas mean.

Oh, there is a little information, at the back, but kids would need more than that.

So, this might be a good collection, but it isn't kids.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book this is! A joy to read and look at. It contains 35 poems by Frost, all beautifully illustrated. There’s an introduction to the poet’s life, commentary and some helpful definitions. It’s marketed for children, and I’m sure many children will enjoy it, but I agree with another reviewer who pointed out that the book should rather be marketed as a gift book, or simply as an illustrated book pf poetry, rather than emphasising that it’s “for kids”. Readers of any age could enjoy it – I certainly did. It also says it’s for 8 to 14 year olds. Well, there’s a world of difference between 8 and 14 and I’m pretty sure not many cool young teenagers will be attracted to the definitely “uncool” illustrations. I hope it manages to break out of the confines of being defined as a children’s book – it most definitely deserves to.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My local library branch had a poetry display and I saw this book and grabbed it because I wanted to read some more Robert Frost poems. I basically knew 3 poems: "Mending Wall," "The Road Not Taken," and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." I enjoyed being able to read a wider ranged of his poems. This volume includes 30 of his poems, which I suppose the editor considers suitable for children. I particularly liked three of the poems that I had never encountered before: "Going for Water," "The Tuft of Flowers," and "The Cow in Apple Time." In the back matter, titled "What Robert Was Thinking," the editor writes a short sentence explaining the symbolism of each poem. This is a good introduction to Frost's poetry, accompanied by Michael Paraskevas's lush paintings.

[Ariana Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tult of flowers
This poem was short, but beautiful. The author, Robert Frost wrote about the nature surrounding him. He started by describing the blades of grass, and used a great amount of detail. I started to sense a feeling of sentimental value within the words he used. He talked about loneliness and memories claiming it was feelings of the nature around him. I think it was his personal feelings he had and used what was around him to explain how he felt. This poem reminded me to appreciate the nature and its beauty around me. One thing i really enjoyed was the dictionary he added on the left side of the cover page. It could have been seen as a dictionary or a thesaurus. It had words within the poem and included his interpretation or another word similar to the one he had used.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Frost's poems are brought to life with gorgeous illustrations in this poetry book! Thirty of Robert Frost's 'best' poems are compiled in here, as well as an introduction that tells more about his life.
I love that at the end of every poem there are definitions of a few difficult words that pop up in the text. It's really helpful to make sure that you fully understand the poem.
I know I already said the illustrations are gorgeous, but really they are SO BEAUTIFUL! The paintings are so stunning and illustrate the poems perfectly!

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do! Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Frost's poetry, and our family has even visited one of his home's in Vermont and stayed at a cabin in a wood where he would go and play tennis. However, he uses every day language in his poetry steeped in metaphor, and my kids had a really hard time understanding the poems, especially with the old style of language he uses. Because of that, I read many of the poems to my children but not all and had to finish it on my own. Also, Out, Out—, fortunately was not one I read to my children, and after reading it on my own, I was thankful.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of Robert Frost poetry geared towards kids. I’m not entirely convinced the poems were selected for kids but there are vocabulary words explained for each poem and a one or two sentence explanation of each poem in the back of the book. Some of the poems may be a little obtuse for younger kids and one seems very graphic and a poor choice. The poems are complemented by beautiful illustrations seemly commissioned for each poem. The layout is very good. The poems don’t overlap the illustrations and the font is easy to read.

[Lori Shriver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Poetry for Kids; Robert Frost, and immensely enjoyed this book which includes 35 poems edited by author and historian Jay Parini and illustrated by Michael Paraskevas. An introduction to the poet's life, a commentary and definitions of key words are included.

This is the perfect read in that each poem is paired with a scene that relays its charming magical-ness, making this book attractive not only to children, but adults who love Frost's poetry too.

[Teresa Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed reading and hearing the poetry of Robert Frost. One of his poems was memorized for a 4th grade class project by my oldest daughter. She is grown now with children of her own and can still recite the poem. That shows the lasting value and allure of his poetry.
This poem book was an absolute delight. I would recommend it for all libraries - public, school, and home.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books of poetry for kids. This one on Robert Frost is beautifully illustrated and some of his more familiar works. It also has the glossary of words that might be unfamiliar to children and gives definitions right with the poem. This series is perfect for introducing young children to poetry and it's great for read along and sparking discussions with the pictures.

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice "intro to poetry" for kids. Most of the poems were short which is great for holding attention spans. There are also nice short little glossaries by each poem for words that kids might not be familiar with. None were too obscure as to confuse someone unfamiliar with poetry. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to introduce children to the beauty of poetry.

[Tracy Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely way to introduce this poet to my children, ages 5-13. We appreciated the great illustrations, the handy definitions off to the side for unfamiliar words, and the “What Robert was Thinking” pages at the back. We marked about a dozen pages with tabs to find our favorites quickly in the future.

[Sarah Lancaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: K-6th
Genre: Poetry

I remember reading this book last year and really enjoyed it! I love Robert Frost and remember reading his poems in Elementary school! This book of poems is great for helping students learn poetry!

[Emili]

I chose to have a poetry genre because I read a study about the positive impact poetry can make on a child. This a great way for children to be able to become more aware of shared cultural terms and ideas as well.

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely selection of Robert Frost’s nature poems. Most are pretty short, with several longer ones towards the end of the book. The artwork is absolutely adorable. This would be perfect inspiration for writing out a poem and ideas for artwork to accompany it.

[Maya Engbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Poetry
Grades 3-6
I love Robert Frost's poetry and this Poetry for Kids really enhances his work with the added illustrations. This is a great poetry book for the classroom and can be used in many ways. Such a great book of poems!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Frost is one of my favorite poets. When I saw this book at the library in the kids section I had to get it. I love reading poetry with my son. He doesn't always understand the poems, but he's learning.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and a great selection of Frost's poems.

Just skip the part at the very end that tells you what each poem is about.