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The Flag of Childhood: Poems from the Middle East -
Selected by Naomi Shihab Nye
Simon & Schuster, $3.99. 2002 Reviews:
- Joanne Draper (Children's Literature)
Originally published in 1998, this collection of 60 poems from the Middle East demonstrates that despite cultural and religious differences, young people are basically the same no matter where they're from. The poems range from descriptions of commonplace occurrences, such as getting class pictures taken and sunsets, to heart-breaking images of war and its aftermath. The language used is simple and lyrical, and creates a sense of joy--even though some of the stories it tells are sad. A new introduction by Naomi Shihab Nye, written after the tragedies of September 11, 2001, implores readers to learn all they can about each other's lives, for this is one way to achieve lasting peace and understanding. In a world where so much is uncertain, the thoughts and feelings shared in these poems will be reassuring. 2002 (orig. 1998), Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 8 to 12.CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2003)
In 1998, Naomi Shihab Nye brought the voices of men and women from 19 Middle Eastern countries to young adult readers in the United States in The Space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from the Middle East (Simon & Schuster), Aladdin Paperbacks, The Flag of Childhood is a gathering of selected poems from that volume published in response to the events of September 11, 2001. In her introduction, Nye writes that people keep saying "everything has changed." She responds: "I would like to think that nothing has changed...our need to know one another and to care about other people's lives...our ability to grow in our perceptions, to know more than we used to know, to empathize with distant situations and sorrows and joys...the power of words to convey truths, across miles and water and time." Over 50 poems in this paperback collection do indeed convey truths, imbedded in the perspectives of the individual writers whose unique experiences translate into feelings older children, teens, and adults can surely all recognize in one way or another: hopes, dreams, anger, fear, desire, and the need for dignity. These writers are not just citizens of nations far away, but citizens of the world we all share. Nye writes: "We must remember that the one flag we all share is the beautiful flag of childhood that flies with hope in every country." CCBC categories: Poetry; Issues In Today's World; Contemporary People, Places, And Events. 2002, Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 11 and older.
| Language | Call Number | LCCN | Dewey Decimal | ISBN/ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (eng) | - |
0689851723 9780689851728 |