JABBERWALKING (Candlewick, 144 pp., $22.99; ages 10 and up) is a bursting, bubbling, brain-bending adventure into poetry by the former poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera…Interspersed with fun but useful techniques to turn your ‘burbles’ into ‘Jabber poems,’ ‘Jabberwalking’ is a riotous explosion of a how-to book. Herrera flings open the door, inviting even the most reluctant poets to join him.
—The New York Times Book Review
Using the made-up words of Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” as a jumping-off point, former U.S. poet laureate Herrera shows children how riotous verbal exuberance births poetry…Poetry manuals can make students roll their eyes, but this one may open their hearts.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Herrera provides space for budding poets to learn how to write and encourages them to practice using the first secret of this collection: “You do not have to know where you are going! Or what you are saying!” Deeply personal and profoundly unique, this is a highly recommended purchase for every young adult yearning to be heard.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
In the right hands, all the wacky assignments and Herrera’s autobiographical "Jabber Notebook" entries will ultimately spawn incandescent thinkers who will leap to the "flamey / Stars!"—or so Herrera hopes. An uncommon DIY for exuberant rule breakers.
—Kirkus Reviews
Including several biographical vignettes (some recalling encouragement from his mother) and frequent black-line cartoons, this book may be the best opportunity most of us will ever have to experiencing a Herrera presentation. And although the casual preteen browser may be left confused, in the hands of a gifted educator, this book has the potential to inspire and encourage young writers.
—Booklist
In a loose and jazzy style (and with a nod to Lewis Carroll), the former U.S. Poet Laureate offers instructions for “Jabberwalking,” or writing poetry while in motion…An enticing explosion of paint colors on the book jacket and a lot of white space on the large square pages will help sell this to teens who might not think of themselves as poets.
—The Horn Book
The author provides oodles of inspiration for students to write their own nonsense word, free-verse poetry.
—Learning Magazine
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