Years ago, a program called Poetry in Motion placed poetry posters in transit systems of various cities all over the United States, including Philadelphia. You may have seen one of the poems on a bus or the El. It was an ingenious way to introduce poetry to a wide readership (and turn a routine trip into a moment of enjoyment and reflection).

Poetry appreciation ties nicely with our new selection for Picture Book Highlights, a series of posts in which we put the spotlight on a brand-new picture book that has been ordered for all of our libraries: Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer.

When Daniel walks through a city park on a Monday, he sees a sign for an upcoming event on Sunday: Poetry in the Park. He then wonders, what IS poetry? One by one, the animals he meets in the park—a spider, a squirrel, a chipmunk, a frog, and more—tell him what poetry means to them. And by the end of the week, Daniel has a poem of his own to share at the event.

This is a story about the power of words, of noticing your surroundings, and the ability to find poetry everywhere around us. Illustrated with oil and collage, the art has a rich, textured, layered feel. After reading this book with your little one, consider making a poem together!

Visit your neighborhood library to find this book and more!