Opening with a concise yet powerful introduction by Arnold Rampersad on the history of African American Poetry (Sterling; $14.95) and edited by Rampersad and Marcellus Blount, this volume in the Poetry for Young People series is a necessary and powerful addition to every child’s library. Each new poet introduced in the volume is accompanied by significant biographical information and, when appropriate, the poems include a small glossary to help young readers interpret the language. The collection includes a sampling of works by African American artists from the 1700s to present day, including but certainly not limited to Phillis Wheatley, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni and Elizabeth Alexander. Karen Barbour’s dramatic and colorful illustrations fully complement the compilation. Ages 10-13. – Kerri Poore
