The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, edited by Jack Prelutsky

As I come to the end of maternity leave, I realize that I've read very little in the way of "grown up" books this summer.

However, I did discover a great book that both Eleanor (that's the little one) and I both enjoyed. It's The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, edited by Jack Prelutsky. This TOME (it's huge) of poems includes works from Lewis Carroll (the guy who wrote Alice in Wonderland), Roald Dahl (the guy who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), William Blake (a crazy 18th century dude), and even popular nonsense rhymes like the ones everyone sings on the playground and can't remember who wrote them.

Eleanor loved the poems. Or I think she did. She smiled a lot, and often they lulled her to sleep. I sure liked them. Here's one of my favorites:

The Night is a big black cat

The Moon is her topaz eye,

The stars are the mice she hunts at night,

In the field of sultry sky.

- G. Orr Clark

For parents, kids, or lovers of poetry, I'd highly recommend this book.