Poetry Inside Out: A Creative Writing Workbook

Imagine being taught to write poetry by some of the world's greatest poets--Basho, the Japanese haiku-master; Dante, author of the Inferno; Spaniard Federico Garc'a Lorca; and others. That's just what young readers do with Poetry Inside Out. The book shows them, step-by-step, how to translate twelve poems from seven different languages, and in the process children learn poetic concepts like similes and metaphors while being inspired to create their own masterpieces. Easy-to-follow instructions take children through the process of translation, without their needing to know the original language, giving them the confidence to then shape their own poems.

Each master's poem also includes fun facts about the poet; a glossary to help the aspiring young poets create their translation, whether whimsical or true to the original; sample translations from recognized professionals and students who have participated in the Poetry Inside Out program in their schools; and activities that inspire children to write their own original poems. This latest book from the innovative Poetry Inside Out in-school writing program offers children, teachers, and parents alike an opportunity to deeply engage with fantastic poetry by learning how the masters worked their magic--from the inside out.

"Poetry Inside Out is a program that should be everywhere." -Robert Pinsky, Former United States Poet Laureate