Catch the Sky: Playful Poems on the Air We Share

This collection of poems focuses on the sky, from the “rosy, red arms” of sunrise that “caress the sky,” to the “pulsing hues” of the northern lights that “charge the nights.” As the day progresses, the poems also seamlessly transition through seasons, settings, and activities, celebrating myriad elements of the sky. Tall sunflower plants and fireworks fill summer skies. Palm trees and clouds adorn blue tropic skies. Lightning flashes in stormy skies. Helicopters and hot air balloons rise, while snow “flows down” and “buries towns deep . . . in silent sleep.” The poems are brief—almost all consist of four short lines with an ABCB rhyming pattern—making it a particularly user friendly introduction to poetry for young readers. But even in the brevity Heidbreder’s love of poetry is easy to see, with thoughtful lines, unique rhymes, and emotion in each poem. Dove’s simple, digital illustrations are two page spreads that tie together the separate poems on each page in a connected setting and context. For example, on pages with poems about kites and balloons, Dove’s urban skyline setting provides a shared background for both. These relatable, realistic settings and depictions further support the collection’s approachability.