How Poems Are Gathered and Published

There are so many ways that poetry is published for young people. When you have a topic you want to write about, you have a ton of possibilities for a way to approach a project.

Themed picture book collections. These are books with poems written by one poet and all relating to one topic. My Capstone poetry books, and most other poetry picture books, fall into this category. Each poem stands entirely on its own.

For instance, Swing Around the Sun (one of my favorite poetry picture books) is all poems about the seasons. Poems in Black and White is all poems about black and white objects. Read my Poetic Pursuits column (Part I and Part II) about what holds collections together. Mammalabilia is all poems about—surprise—mammals.

Anthologies. Anthologies are collections of poems written by many different poets. They are usually themed, as well. Lee Bennett Hopkins is the premiere children’s poetry anthologist. Behind the Museum Door, Wonderful Words, and My America are just a few of his numerous anthologies. Again, each poem stands on its own.