As a school librarian, my vision statement is: "Every student is a reader, an information seeker, a thinker, a tinkerer, and a lifelong learner." As such, they are MAKERS who engage in makerspaces. Makerspaces are hands-on activities that promote cooperation, motivate students to figure things out, and decrease stress.

So, you can imagine my delight in discovering Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's new book of children's poems.

Today's child grows up surrounded by technology. Think back to days of creating our own fun instead of relying on a screen to provide entertainment. Amy includes everything from thumbprint pictures, clay, and cookies to sock puppets, forts, and shadow shows—and more. It made me a bit nostalgic, but for children now, these ideas may be novel!

"Maker" begins the collection and sets the inventive tone. The poems that follow are of various forms, breaking the book up nicely as it moves along. (The layout of "Knitting" caught my eye in particular!) The clever collages of the Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson illustrator team are the perfect pairing for these energetic, imaginative poems.

Adding this one to our elementary school library immediately. ( )

This book is so cute, its poems about children making things with theirs hands. Each poem carefully crafted into a handmade poem. The poems vary from a child trying to make a knot, a boat, parachute, birdhouse and much more. This book would be so cute to have for little ones. ( )