New Poetry Book Review

JERUSALEM SKY

Podwal, Mark. JERUSALEM SKY: STARS, CROSSES, AND CRESCENTS. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2005.

The beauty of Jerusalem is not well known by most children in the United States. Daily news stories paint dem views of the world. JERUSALEM SKY paints "hope." Mr. Podwal has taken this ancient city and given readers information about its beauty, history and the people living in Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM SKY is inspiration for any child or adult that reads its beautifully written verses. The words reflex the diverse worshippers who long to see God. His bibliography includes Marie-Rose Seguy's THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF MAHOMET'S and Zev Vilnay's LEGENDS OF JERUSALEM, two other outstanding works.

His use of "white space" accents each line. The lines break at various lengths and are staggered not flush left. The white space and line breaks develop a calm spiritual rhythm. Each verse tells you more and more about Jerusalem's history and the sky above it. I enjoyed how the verses give such vivid imagery.

_____Legend says that the Jerusalem sky

___________has a hole in it,

___________made by a jewel

_______that fell from God's throne.

___________Through this hole

__________hopes reach heaven.

Podwal used several double page illustrations to magnify the beauty of Jerusalem and its religious significance to many diverse people and nations. I like how he ties in the stars, crosses, and crescents. It's a universal book for children; regardless of their religious background, to read and to be inspired.

______Atop these majestic monuments to miracles,

________________synagogue stars,

________________church crosses,

________________mosque moons

__meet under the Jerusalem sky and merge their shadows.

Review

Booklist--Starred Review* Gr. 3-5. The religious history of Jerusalem is as omnipresent in the sky above, as it is in the city itself. In short, with beautiful poems and vivid, impressionistic artwork, Podwal captures the hope and tears the city evokes among followers of the three monotheistic religions of the world. Calling on both history and myth ("Some believe that halfway between heaven and earth, the Jerusalem sky is home to a city with walls of silver, gates of pearl, and streets of gold"), Podwal paints word pictures of Jerusalem's special nature and explains why Judaism, Christianity, and Islam hold it holy. For instance, "Christians tell of a wondrous star in the Jerusalem sky . . . . And they tell how thirty-three years later, a spring afternoon's daylight blackened into a starless sky." The pictures hint of Chagall, with readers using their softer sight to make out the images. The colors, though, are vivid: the pinks and golds of the city's stones, the oranges and greens from the groves, and the myriad blues of the sky. Put this in the hands of children, and talk to them about hope rather than hostilities