Birds on a Wire - Hardcover

J. Patrick Lewis has written many books, and his short stories and poems have been published in magazines, literary journals, and anthologies. He lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Paul B. Janeczko is an author, a teacher, and a poet. Growing up, he didn't much like school, preferring sports. He was a reader, however, thanks to the Hardy boys. He lives in western Maine.

Gary Lippincott has a BFA degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has received numerous awards for his artwork at science-fiction and fantasy conventions. He lives in Royalston, Massachusetts.

Grade 3–6—The text of this book is a renga, a poem in which one author writes one verse (three lines) and another writes the next (two lines), linking the new verse to the previous one in some way. The poets describe with carefully crafted word images the places and people one might see walking down the main street of a small town. The connection between the verses is sometimes obvious and other times obscure. The cadence of the free verse poems feels like a slow amble and adds to the homey effect of the poetry. Realistic watercolors perfectly reflect the easygoing mood of the selections. Lippincott has managed to connect the illustrations in the same way that the authors connect the verses. Readers can find details from previous illustrations in the background of the next picture. In the introduction, Lewis and Janeczko explain the form of the poem and invite youngsters to try writing one with a friend. This lovely book will inspire readers to do just that. Birds on a Wire is more contemplative than this team's Wing Nuts: Screwy Haiku (Little, Brown, 2006). It shows the versatility of the authors and is a fine addition to most collections.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
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