The California-based River of Words (ROW) has gained fame as an important nonprofit that trains teachers, park naturalists, grassroots groups, and others to incorporate observation-based nature exploration and the arts into young people's lives. One of the group's most important annual projects is to take the youth pulse from the United States and 22 other countries, by asking for writing on water and nature. This anthology collects the best of that writing, with accompanying artwork.

Divided into nine geographical areas (California, Pacific Northwest, Inland West, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest, Mid Atlantic, South, and International), the book presents writers from ages six to 18. In poems such as "I Love My Dog," "Seasons in Our Watershed," "History of a Cornfield," and "Swamp Shack," River of Words exhibits diverse voices, as well as some bilingual poems. A remarkable confluence of K-12 curriculum, children's literature, environmentalism, and poetry, this thoughtful book, in the words of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder, gives us "pleasure and hope."

Author: Robert Hass
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
Published: 03/18/2008
Pages: 320
Weight: 1.29lbs
Size: 7.60h x 7.84w x 0.72d
ISBN: 9781571316806
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/28/2008 pg. 140
School Library Journal 09/01/2008 pg. 208
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2009 pg. 177 - Recommended, Satisfactory