A Planet Is a Poem by Amanda West Lewis, illustrated by Oliver Averill (Kids Can Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). An introduction explains that a planet is a poem, and a poem is a planet, setting the stage for the integration of science and poetry. There’s a poem for each planet, as well as for the sun (but, surprisingly, not the moon), the Kuiper Belt, Arrokoth (an object located in the Kuiper Belt), and one for future astronomers. Each poem is on a page that unfolds to a gatefold that contains additional information on both the subject of the poem and the poetic form, with illustrations that expand as well. It’s a clever concept that educates about both planets and poetry, but I’m hesitant to get this for my library, knowing how even one gatefold page tends to get destroyed pretty quickly. Back matter includes information about writing your own poem, with facts about Planet X to serve as possible inspiration; a glossary of space terms; and a list of sources and resources.

The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Ginnie Hsu (Clarion Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In a dozen poems, Erica Silverman describes projects around the world where a single person or small group has made a difference with conservation. Each poem is spread over two or three pages, accompanied by colorful illustrations and a paragraph describing the project. From rewilding the playground in Los Angeles to cleaning a beach and restoring a sea turtle habitat in India to creating a bee “highway” in Norway, these projects will inspire kids to find ways to make a difference. With plenty of resources in the back, this would make a great starting place for a unit on ecology that might inspire hands-on projects.