My America : A Poetry Atlas of the United States

InMy America,Lee Bennett Hopkins weaves together fifty poems -- grouped by geographic region -- to create a remarkable portrait of the United States. Here is America in all its stunning variety, from the dramatic seacoast of the Northeast and the rippling cornfields of the Plains States to the shimmering deserts of the Southwest and the majestic redwood forests of the Pacific Coast. But here, too, are the ties that bind this nation together -- the hopes and dreams of those who live in our cities and towns and on farms.The voices of beloved poets like Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, Nikki Giovanni, and Lilian Moore blend with new voices to sing not just of landmarks like the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, and the Everglades, but of daily life across the land. Complementing these personal, moving visions of America are maps of the regions and fascinating facts for each state.Stephen Alcorn's brilliant, textured artwork makes this book a feast for the eyes as well as for the imagination. Impressive for its breadth, depth, and beauty,My Americais a volume readers will savor as they read it time and time again. It is fitting homage to our wideranging, ever-changing land.

Lee Bennett Hopkins, distinguished poet, writer, and anthologist, is one of the most sought-after speakers in the area of children's literature. His poetry anthologies include Hand in Hand: An American History Through Poetry, which was selected for five honor lists and which School Library Journal hailed as a "handsome volume...a boon to classrooms from sea to shining sea." Mr. Hopkins's numerous awards include the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for "lasting contributions to children's literature," and both the Christopher Award and a Golden Kite Honor award for his poetry autobiography Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life. He lives in Westchester County and Greenwich Village, New York.