Programs
April 3, 7-8 p.m.
Virtual Program
Sing, Goddess: An Introduction to Homer’s “Iliad” Presented by Gabrielle Roehr
“The Iliad” is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences.
April 3, 5-6 p.m.
Montgomery branch
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop (grades 6 – 12)
Practice poetry writing skills in an interactive, positive, and supportive atmosphere at the Montgomery branch.
April 12, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
North Plainfield branch
Teen Poetry Poetry Slam Workshop (grades 5 – 12)
Learn to write and perform slam poetry at the North Plainfield branch in time for National Poetry Month!
April 13, 7-8 p.m.
Virtual Program
Meet Edgar Allan Poe Portrayed by Robert Gleason of American Historical Theater
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809, in Boston, and died in 1849, in Maryland. He was a short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor who was famous for his cultivation of mystery and the macabre.
April 25th, 7-8 p.m.
Virtual Program
Geoffrey Chaucer: Poet of the World Presented by Pr. Seth Lerer
This program will explore the “General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales”. This poem is perhaps the best-known and most important work of English poetry of the Middle Ages.
April 26th, 7-8 p.m.
Warren branch Program
Express Yourself – Poetry!
Celebrate creativity during national poetry month and share your words!
April 27th, 1-3 p.m.
Peapack and Gladstone branch
“Dead Poets Society” Thursday Matinee. Rated: PG
Starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, and Gale Hansen.
Poetry Books for Children and Teens
“Away with Words!: Wise and Witty Poems for Language Lovers” by Mary Ann Hoberman
Poems celebrating the joy of wordplay.
“Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship” by Irene Latham & Charles Waters
Paired poems about topics including family dinners, sports, recess, and more explore the different experiences of race in America.
“Cast Away: Poems for Our Time” by Naomi Shihab Nye
The National Book Award Finalist and Young People’s Poet Laureate shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to those less fortunate.
“Family Poems for Every Day of the Week: Poemas Familiares Para Cada Día de la Semana” by Francisco Alarcón
A collection of poetry by the late Francisco X. Alarcón, acclaimed Chicano poet, celebrating the days of the week and everyday childhood experiences.
“For Every One” by Jason Reynolds
Originally performed for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, this inspirational poem is bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Reynolds’ rallying cry to the dreamers of the world.
“Honey for You, Honey for Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes” collected by Michael Rosen
Thirty familiar and rediscovered nursery rhymes are brought to life in whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Chris Riddell.
“If This Bird Had Pockets: A Poem in Your Pocket Day Celebration” by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
In honor of Poem in Your Pocket Day, a child imagines the poems animals might carry in their pockets, if they had pockets.
“My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry and Speaking Your Truth” by
This guide encourages teens to find their voices, step up and speak their truths, and articulate what matters to them most.
“The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems” selected by Paul B. Janeczko
A whimsical instruction manual to feats both practical and fanciful, including how to mix a pancake, how to make a snow angel, how to be a mole, and how to build a poem.
Poetry Books for Adults
“The Hyacinth Girl: T. S. Eliot’s Hidden Muse” by Lyndall Gordon
Explores Eliot’s lifelong love for Emily Hale, an American drama teacher to whom he wrote extensive and deeply personal letters, and discusses her role as the muse for his poetry.
“Jersey Breaks: Becoming an American Poet” by Robert Pinsky
Pinsky reflects on how writing poetry helped him make sense of life’s challenges, such as his mother’s traumatic brain injury, and on his notable public presence, including an unprecedented three terms as United States poet laureate
“The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence” by David Waldstreicher
“A noted historian offers the deepest account to date of Wheatley’s life and works, correcting myths, reconstructing intimate friendships and deepening our understanding of the revolutionary era.
“Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World” by Padraig O Tuama
This generous anthology pairs fifty illuminating poems with poet and podcast host Padraig O Tuama’s appealing, unhurried reflections.
“Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years” by Joy Harjo
A magnificent selection of fifty poems to celebrate three-term US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s fifty years as a poet.
Online Research Resources
Access provided by
Gale Virtual Reference Library