"All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost,
the old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost?"
~J.R.R. Tolkien
April conjures images of spring, decorated eggs and gardens but did you know it is also the month to celebrate the beauty of poetry? Whether it be a collection of poems, prose poetry (yes, it's a thing! Prose poetry is written as prose, without the line breaks associated with poetry. However, it makes use of poetic devices such as fragmentation, compression, repetition, rhyme, metaphor, and figures of speech!) or a book in verse, any book featuring poems counts for April's reading challenge. Yes, even The Giving Tree - it is a classic after all.
Despite poems being featured in almost all children's picture books, for many people, school has instilled strong feelings about poetry – you either love it or can leave it...but is that because poetry has been historically difficult to relate to? While Wordsworth, Plath, Shakespeare, Poe, Neruda and other bards of old certainly paved the way for modern poetry, the artform has moved on. You don't have to muddle your way through their complex sonnets anymore; although, if you can or want to challenge yourself, go for it! Contemporary poetry like that of Amanda Lovelace, Rupi Kaur and Amanda Gorman is just as powerful and often much more relatable to a modern audience. This month's challenge is a great opportunity to discover or renew a love of poetry and prose.
Keen to dive into the April reading challenge? We’ve created a list of reading suggestions to help you get started. We'd also love to hear what you're reading, so let us know in the comment section, stop by your local Branch to tell a staff member, or give us a shout out on social media. Don't forget to tag any photos with #SDGReadingChallenge.
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