Children's poetry collections come in many shapes and sizes. So how do you choose a volume your children will not only read now, but might even treasure as adults? First, consider the staying power of the poems. When in doubt, time-tested favourites are your best bet. Second, make sure the quality of the pictures is unmatched. No matter how good the poems, black and white photos (or no photos at all) will rarely hold a youngster's interest for long.

Rosen's handsomely illustrated, cream-of-the-crop volume earns top marks in both of these crucial areas. Collecting all-time favourites from writers like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley and Keats, Classic Poetry entices your young reader into a world of imagination and song. Even the most reluctant won't be able to resist the lively rhythms of William Blake's "The Tyger" or Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." Accompanying this wonderful selection of verse is a wide array of colourful pictures guaranteed to hold the attention of even the squirmiest tots. A short biography of each featured poet is included as well. --Martha Silano