My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States [Hardcover]

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 HOPKINSis a distinguished poet, writer, and anthologist whose poetry collections include the highly acclaimedHand in Hand: An American History Through Poetry, illustrated by Peter Fiore, andMy America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States, andAmerica at War, both illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. 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 for his verse novelBeen to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life. He lives in Cape Coral, Florida.

Born in the United States,Stephen Alcornspent his formative, teenage years in Florence, Italy, where he attended the Istitutol(