BOOK RECOMMENDATION: OUT OF WONDER BY KWAME ALEXANDER
Are you looking for a book that will inspire both you and your students to fall in love with poetry this April? Kwame Alexander’s Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets and Poetry is a vibrant, creative resource that belongs in every teacher’s library. This beautiful collection, co-written with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth and illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is not just a celebration of poetry—it’s a gateway to helping students connect with language, creativity, and the art of expression. Not to mention, it is the dream text for teaching looking to teach poetry through mentor texts!
Out of Wonder features original poems that pay homage to famous poets such as Pablo Neruda, Langston Hughes, and Mary Oliver. It’s an excellent way to introduce students to a variety of poetic voices and styles and it shows students how they can use mentor texts to help create their own unique piece of writing. The book is separated into three parts, one that emulates the use of famous poets’ styles, the next about emulating themes & feelings, the last about responding to the poets with our own work. Just check out how he introduces these things in a way you can take and instantly put in your lesson!
This book is the perfect way to show students how we can use mentor texts in many ways and is chocked full of examples that the authors demonstrate for us! It is accessible for grades 4 & up and for subjects beyond just literacy, as you could use this book to discuss the lives and works of the celebrated poets and the historical and cultural contexts they represent. Out of Wonder isn’t just a book to read—it’s a tool for teaching, creating, and celebrating the beauty of poetry. Add it to your shelf & your poetry lessons and watch your students’ love for the genre grow!