I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The late author and poet Margaret Grote has her collection of poems shared and illustrated thanks to her son David and his cousin and children’s book illustrator Marcia Wheelan Coles in the book “I Like Mud: and other poems for the young and young at heart”.
The Synopsis
In the final year of her life, award-winning poet Margaret Grote (1922-2005) handed a collection of poems to her son, David, with instructions to “do something” with them. David jumped right on it, and 17 years later approached his cousin, Marcia Wheelan Coles, a children’s book author and illustrator. Truth be told, these whimsical and sometimes poignant poems were gathering dust in David’s closet until Marcia brought them to life with her beautiful artwork. Growing up during the Depression, Margaret came to appreciate life’s simple pleasures, a theme recurrent in these poems. Mother of four, she was an artist, photographer, writer, and poet. She taught fourth grade for 35 years. Her love of children is on full display in these pages, and although the writing is meant for children, young-at-heart adults will also love this collection. Somewhere, Margaret is smiling, knowing that her son finally kept his promise and that her work lives on, bringing joy and laughter to a whole new generation of children
The Review
This was a truly moving and engaging collection of poetry. The balance that can be found in the simple and eloquent imagery and themes the collection evokes in young readers with the nostalgia and childhood wonder that adults can find in the book. The poems tackle everything from the color pink and friendship to the bond between a child and their dog and the ways in which children consistently question the universe.
The beautiful illustrations and the way the poems speak to a variety of different readers made this a remarkable poem collection. The warmth and thoughtful approach to the poetry and the heartwarming story behind the author’s son carrying on his mother’s legacy like this made the book such a delight to behold.
The Verdict
Memorable, emotional, and engaging, author and poet Margaret Grote’s “I Like Mud” is a must-read collection of children’s style poems and poetry. The heart behind the poet’s words and the delight and joy that the heart of each poem brought allowed parents and children alike to be drawn into the poems themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10