School People by Lee Bennett Hopkins
on 2018
ISBN: 9781629797038
Goodreads

School People is an anthology of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Ellen Shi. Thirteen of the poems are about school employees (bus drivers, nurses, music teacher, etc.) and the opening and closing poems are in the voice of the school itself. Poets selected include well known ones such as  J. Patrick Lewis, Hopkins himself, and Alma Flor Ada. Less known poets are also represented. The librarian and theater teacher are males; the principal is also a mother of a student, and the coach and bus driver are women. The poems are brief and  direct. Some rhyme, and many do not.  Digital artwork is light and fresh in the style reflecting the poems’ mood. Multiple skin tones on students and staff are shown. Primary classes k-2 will recognize themselves or others much like them in this book. Recommended by Margy Soule Coffin Library, Coffin School, Brunswick