HERE WE GO: A Poetry Friday Power Book

An NNSTOY Social Justice Book
An NCTE Poetry Notable

HERE WE GO: A Poetry Friday Power Book is a story in poems and a writing journal designed to help kids (Grades 4-8) think about social change. It contains 12 PowerPack sets featuring 4 diverse characters—Ameera, David, Jack, and Jenna—a group of kids working together to make an impact in their community. The book includes inventive activities that make it easy for kids to get inspired, while writing prompts extend learning. Resources for kids (as well as parents, teachers, and book club leaders) include recommended reading lists and websites, guidance for young activists, talking points, and places to publish.

What People Are Saying about HERE WE GO: A Poetry Friday Power Book:

“This interactive book and the abundance of resources provided will motivate students to take action through words and ideas to make their world a better place—a must have for today’s classrooms.” —Lynne Dorfman and Rose Cappelli, Authors of Mentor Texts

“I absolutely love this book! The invitations are inspiring and offer opportunities to think about the world and respond both personally and critically.” —Mary Napoli, Associate Professor of Reading, Penn State Harrisburg

“This book will allow all sorts of emotions and thoughts to bubble forth, including difficult and painful ones . . . and that will be a source of healing.” —Ed Spicer, Educator and literacy expert

“Really glad and excited that this book will be in the hands of young people.” —Jeana Hrepich, Core Faculty, Antioch University Seattle

Features poems by:
Naomi Shihab Nye, David Bowles, Carole Boston Weatherford, Kate Coombs, Margaret Simon, Eileen Spinelli, Ibtisam Barakat, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, Joseph Bruchac, Renée M. LaTulippe, David Harrison, Robyn Hood Black, and Janet Wong.

Resources in the back matter include:
A Poetry Writing Checklist, Places to Publish Your Poetry, Recommended Books about Writing Poetry, Books with Poems by Children, Poetry Websites You Need to Know, Poetry Performance Tips, Talking Points, Poetry Books about Activism for Children, Nonfiction Books about Activism for Children, and Activism Activities.

HERE WE GO: A Poetry Friday Power Book features the work of the dynamic team of Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, plus 12 poets: Ibtisam Barakat, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, Robyn Hood Black, David Bowles, Joseph Bruchac, Kate Coombs, David L. Harrison, Renée M. LaTulippe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Margaret Simon, Eileen Spinelli, and Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrations by Franzi Paetzold.

Sylvia M. Vardell is Professor at Texas Woman’s University and teaches courses in children's and young adult literature. She has published five books on literature, as well as over 25 book chapters and 100 journal articles. Her current work focuses on poetry for young people, including a regular blog, PoetryforChildren.blogspot.com, since 2006.

Janet Wong is a graduate of Yale Law School and a former lawyer who became a children’s poet. Her work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and other shows. She is the author of 30 books for children and teens on chess, creative recycling, yoga, superstitions, driving, and more.

Together, Vardell and Wong are the creative forces behind The Poetry Friday Anthology series and the Poetry Friday Power Book series. You can learn more about their books at PomeloBooks.com.

Books by Vardell and Wong have won numerous awards and accolades, including the ILA Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS), NCTE Poetry Notables, Children's Poet Laureate Pick of the Month, CBC Hot Off the Press, and NSTA Recommends.