Fresh voices in contemporary poetry
The only imprint in children's publishing in America dedicated to poetry, Wordsong captures the vibrant, unexpected, emotional connections between text and young readers. Our books range from the silly to the serious and are infused with the wordplay and imagery that allow readers to view the world in new and thoughtful ways.
The June 2009 issue of Voice of Youth Advocates features a review of Michael Salinger's Well Defined:
"Salinger, a performance poet, offers short, funny and readable poems in this slim volume, which aims to help students with vocabulary words often found on standardized tests. ... Adding to the humor are Henderson’s—creator of the Magic Whistle comic book series—simple line illustrations. ... The poems are as well-intentioned as they are well-written."
School Library Journal reviews Marjorie Maddox's Rules of the Game in its May 2009 issue:
"[Maddox's] carefully constructed word pictures offer dramatic snapshots of infield flies and collisions between fielders, sacrifice bunts, balks and pitch-outs, stolen bases, and grand slams. ... Compact yet full of meaning, these selections offer glimpses of the game's pleasures and poignant moments. Sandford's black-and-white pencil drawings add to the drama, focusing viewers' attention on the gangly pitcher's calculating gaze or the single-minded pursuit of the pony-tailed infielder. Maddox's whimsical wordplay will be savored by casual sports fans and hardcore baseball addicts alike."
The March 1, 2009 issue of Kirkus Reviews features a review of Jane Yolen's A Mirror to Nature:
“The pages and photographs are vibrant and lively, the poems best for reading aloud. [A] good volume—along with other titles by this mother-son team—for teachers wanting to connect science and poetry.”
Becoming Billie Holiday receives second starred review 
School Library Journal awards Carole Boston Weatherford's Becoming Billie Holiday with a starred review in its October 2008 issue:
“Weatherford’s language is straightforward and accessible–almost conversational. She captures the woman’s jazzy, candid voice so adroitly that at times the poems seem like they could have been lifted wholesale from Holiday’s autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. ... This captivating title places readers solidly into Holiday’s world, and is suitable for independent reading as well as a variety of classroom uses."
The Freedom Business receives a starred review 
The September 1, 2008 issue of Booklist features a starred review of Marilyn Nelson’s The Freedom Business:
“In an extraordinary slave narrative recorded in 1798, Venture Smith remembers his capture in Guinea as a child... Smith’s original, first-person account, published in 1798, appears opposite from Nelson’s stirring poems, which are written in Venture’s voice and both intensify and comment on Smith’s experiences. ... Dancy’s blurry sepia background art…includes ink lines that evoke chains and ropes and then broken bonds. It’s surprising that this essential part of American biography and history isn’t more widely known. Suggest this as a crossover title to adults."
A starred review for Birds on a Wire 
Booklist awards J. Patrick Lewis' and Paul B. Janeczko's Birds on a Wire with a starred review in its August 1, 2008 issue:
"In the Japanese verse form called renga, a cousin to the haiku, two or more poets take turns, each playing off the previous verse so that the narrative is propelled in constantly new and surprising directions. ... This lovely picture book is an impeccable synthesis of text and image, each simultaneously playing off the other and themselves in a manner both insightful and visceral, that demands and rewards multiple readings, viewings, and contemplations."
Library Media Connection features a review of JonArno Lawson's Black Stars in a White Night Sky in its April/May 2008 issue:
"Lawson has compiled a collection of poetry that spans many topics about life and includes a variety of writing techniques. There is something for everyone from the young to the old in this brilliant work. ... The imagery and language used in many of the poems bring them to life. The illustrations complement Lawson's text beautifully."
