From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-Schoonmaker's careful selection and meticulous editing, and Wallace's luminous full-color paintings (some dramatic, some serene, and all in harmony with the verses featured) will make Longfellow's work more approachable to children. The poems range from lengthy works (e.g., "Hiawatha's Childhood") to ballads (e.g., "The Wreck of the Hesperus") and shorter pieces (e.g., "The Arrow and the Song"). Biographical information and some background on the selections are included. Unfamiliar terms are discreetly defined on the pages where they occur. A slim, attractive introduction to a classic American poet.Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Presented in picture book format, this unfocused collection of poems and extracts from this 19th-century poet gathers up a few chestnuts, but also (unintentionally and unjustly) suggests ample reason to avoid the rest of his oeuvre. Preceded by a dense introduction, the more accessible selections``The Arrow and the Song,'' the ever-charming ``Children's Hour,'' and the wonderfully lurid ``Wreck of The Hesperus''are scattered gems among such deadening material as ``Woods In Winter'' (``with solemn feet I tread the hill,/That overbrows the lonely vale''), ``A Psalm Of Life,'' and ``Hymn To The Night'' (``Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer!''). In addition, ``Evangeline'' is represented by a mere six lines, and even ``Paul Revere's Ride'' is incomplete. Painting in a realistic style, Wallace shows more facility depicting landscapes than people. Even though Longfellow's famous poems are readily available elsewhere, few readersafter plowing through this uninspired handfulwill feel an urge to read more. (Poetry. 9-14) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
EVERYMAN'S POETRY LIBRARY: This new series of the world's greatest poetry features the hallmarks of Everyman Classics: top-quality production and reader-friendly design along with helpful notes and critiques. Each edition is also a great value, especially for those readers beginning to explore the work of this remarkable poet.


Card catalog description
An illustrated selection of twenty-seven complete or excerpted poems by the renowned nineteenth-century New England poet. Also includes information about his life.


From the Publisher
Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards.

ANNOTATION

An illustrated selection of twenty-seven complete or excerpted poems by the renowned nineteenth-century New England poet. Also includes information about his life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Children instinctively love poetry, with its appealing mixture of rhythm and rhyme. And Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, with his suspenseful narrative verse, deceptively simple structure, and powerful images of 19th-century United States, makes an especially suitable subject for the critically acclaimed Poetry for Young People series. Brilliant, specially commissioned artwork brings to life all the atmosphere, drama, and emotion of his writing: the vital energy of "The Village Blacksmith," the urgency of "Paul Revere's Ride," and the sorrow of "The Wreck of the Hesperus." An opening essay tells of Longfellow's life: his childhood in Maine, his family history (the Longfellows played a major role in New England politics), his success as a professor of foreign languages, and his often-tragic personal life. More than just a biography, it reveals the inspiration for many of Longfellow's most popular works. Nearly 30 poems appear, most in their entirety, including "The Arrow and the Song," "The Rainy Day," "Woods in Winter," "The Forest Primeval" (from "Evangeline"), "Hiawatha's Childhood" (from "Song of Hiawatha"), "A Psalm of Life," and the abolitionist "The Witnesses." As always in this series, supplementary word definitions give children the knowledge they need to fully understand the poems. 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 X 10.

SYNOPSIS

This classic series of poets is printed in deluxe cloth editions. These selections represent the finest works of the world's most eminent poets.

FROM THE CRITICS

Sharon Flesher - ForeWord Magazine

Schoonmaker has made appropriate selections; while the adult reader may miss the full story, these shorter excerpts are not likely to tax the attention spans of the video games generation.... If this volume is indicative of the quality of the entire Poetry for Young People series, then the whole collection is worth owning.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Schoonmaker's careful selection and meticulous editing, and Wallace's luminous full-color paintings (some dramatic, some serene, and all in harmony with the verses featured) will make Longfellow's work more approachable to children. The poems range from lengthy works (e.g., "Hiawatha's Childhood") to ballads (e.g., "The Wreck of the Hesperus") and shorter pieces (e.g., "The Arrow and the Song"). Biographical information and some background on the selections are included. Unfamiliar terms are discreetly defined on the pages where they occur. A slim, attractive introduction to a classic American poet.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Kirkus Reviews

Presented in picture book format, this unfocused collection of poems and extracts from this 19th-century poet gathers up a few chestnuts, but also (unintentionally and unjustly) suggests ample reason to avoid the rest of his oeuvre. Preceded by a dense introduction, the more accessible selections-"The Arrow and the Song," the ever-charming "Children's Hour," and the wonderfully lurid "Wreck of The Hesperus"-are scattered gems among such deadening material as "Woods In Winter" ("with solemn feet I tread the hill,/That overbrows the lonely vale"), "A Psalm Of Life," and "Hymn To The Night" ("Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer!"). In addition, "Evangeline" is represented by a mere six lines, and even "Paul Revere's Ride" is incomplete. Painting in a realistic style, Wallace shows more facility depicting landscapes than people. Even though Longfellow's famous poems are readily available elsewhere, few readers-after plowing through this uninspired handful-will feel an urge to read more. (Poetry. 9-14) .