They Only See the Outside

On the Notable Poetry Book List from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

This empathetic collection by renowned Kalli Dakos is a unique reflection of what makes up some of the collective experiences of life.

This collection of insightful and endearing poems explores what kids experience on the inside that cannot be seen from the outside. From topics that readers experience every day, like the agony of waiting for recess, to the monotony of homework, to things that aren’t easy to talk about, like death and bullying, the poems are incredibly relatable. 

Kalli Dakos is a children's poet and educator. She visits schools across the United States and Canada to encourage children and teachers to write about their own lives. She has written many collections of school poems that include six ILA/CBC Children's Choice Selections, such as If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, and has an office in Ogdensburg, NY. Visit kallidakos.com.

Jimothy Oliver is an illustrator who produces commissioned work for clients worldwide. He has worked as a freelance illustrator since 1995 including a stint working as an in-house illustrator at Elsevier in London. He lives in the UK.
 

Introducing a New Me
Don't Tell Me
On the Day My Dog Died
Talking to the Mirror in the Bathroom
We Giggle the Same
The Fight
Goodbye Grandma
Ode to My Stress Ball
Something Splendid
I Heard You When You Lied
If You Have to Say Goodbye
J.T. Never Will Be Ten
Were You Ever Fat Like Me?
Even Me
Countdown to Recess
Homework
I Called My Teacher Mommy
A Fire Drill in My Underwear
They Put a Band-Aid on My Head
When They Call Me Bad Names
I Will Never Crumble
When a Friend Moves Away
I Cannot Leave on the Last Day of School
The Shark on the Playground
The Most Important Time
Four Wishes
The Book That Made Danny Cry
Why I'm Late for School
Looking in the Mirror at Didn't Do
They Only See the Outside