A Poke in the Eye: A Collection of Concrete Poems. Selected by Paul B. Janeczko. Candlewick Press, 2001.

K – 12th grade
(Book reviewed by Arlyn Miller, founder and director)

No matter how many volumes of poetry I bring into a classroom, A Poke in the Eye is always one of the first to be snapped up by students of any age. As editor Paul Janeczko notes, “Concrete poems are different from regular poems; in fact, they’re a lot more playful…. The arrangement of letters or words on the page, the typefaces chosen, and the way the space is used, add meaning to the poem beyond that contained in the actual words.” The concrete poems in this volume are particularly witty and innovative. One of the things I love about this book is that it gets kids thinking about the way poetry looks on the page - something they aren’t used to thinking about when writing other genres such as short stories and essays. A Poke in the Eye will inspire students to write poetry, from the eager poet to the tentative writer alike. Chris Raschka’s magnificent illustrations add to the impact of these compelling and engaging poems.