"Sponsored by The Helen Zell Writers' Program at the University of Michigan."

A picture-book biography of celebrated poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize A 2021 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book A 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book A 2021 Association of Library Service to Children Notable Children's Book Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) is known for her poems about “real life.” She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty—showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression—all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, receiving the award for poetry in 1950. And in 1958, she was named the poet laureate of Illinois. A bold artist who from a very young age dared to dream, Brooks will inspire young readers to create poetry from their own lives.

"The poems in this book use images and subjects drawn from 20th and 21st century American popular culture to find transcendent meanings in the natures of beauty, time, and especially, art (including literature, music, visual art, dance, and food)"--

In her remarkable second collection, poet Suzanne Buffam sketches an ideal world as yet unrealized.

Poetry for Suzanne is an anthology of some of the best poetry to be found on the Internet. For some of the contributors this is their first time as published poets, while others have already enjoyed critical success and recognition of their work.Poetry for Suzanne initially came about as a vehicle for the members of the Poetry 4 Suzanne Internet workshop/forum to come together in one published volume. It was later decided that the book should be dedicated to the Macmillan Cancer relief fund, with all proceeds from the sale of this book being donated to that charity.In the following pages you will find poetry to break your heart, poetry that will make you think and poetry that will leave you utterly (especially my contributions) confounded. But whatever your taste in poetry you will find it within these pages.

Poems.

"With candor, power, and poignancy, Suzanne Lummis illuminates the glorious absurdities of our lives, especially the pride and paranoia that arise from living in an urban landscape. Nobody can ride a metaphor bareback better than this poet, and nobody delivers her work to the page with as much sass and wry humor. If Los Angeles were to have its own poet laureate, my choice would be Suzanne Lummis."--David St. John