Paul Janeczko

A collection of concret poems

By: Paul Janeczko

Illustrated By: Chris Raschka

This collection of over thirty concrete poems advances readers through a welcomed trip on a play on words and white spaces. He celebrates a culmination of carefully selected concrete poems by several authors.


One featured author, John Hegley spotlights concrete poetry, I Need Contact Lenses, where he shapes his poem in a shrinking manor to depict a vision screening, telling readers that ; I/ NEED/ CONTACT/ L E N S E S / like I need a poke in the eye.

This clever, word rich book honor concrete poems in their finest showcases poems – associated with their titles- Eskimo Pie , where the words form the shape of the favorite treat or in She Loves Me…Where each line takes on the image of each seed plucked from a dandelion- with perfect words she loves me/ she loves me not/ she loves/ she loves me/ she/ she loves/ she.

Chris Raschka has beautifully illustrated the pages with watercolors and torn-paper collages that pull the readers deeper into the poem. He balances Janeczko’s words with just enough pictures and white spaces.

This is a must have in your childrens' poetry collection.

Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. 2001. A poke in the I. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.