l to r: Amanda West Lewis and Oliver Averill

A Planet Is a Poem intertwines the worlds of poetry and science in 14 poems. Written by Amanda West Lewis and illustrated by Oliver Averill, each poem pairs a planetary body with a poetic form: a villanelle is dedicated to Venus and Saturn spins a sestina, while the sun gets an ode.

The book opens with a surprising note on rhythm to introduce similarities between poets and scientists: “Every poem is its own world filled with images, sounds, and rhythms. A planet is a poem. A poem is a planet.” The eponymous note teaches us about stressed and unstressed syllables, which may seem complex for the age range, but each poem subsequently builds on this rudimentary knowledge, with notes on poetic form packed into vibrantly illustrated spheres. As a poet in my 30s, I also delighted in the lesser-known facts presented, such as one about the ballad, the name of “which comes from the Italian word ballare, meaning ‘to dance.’”

Illustration: Oliver Averill.

Averill’s fiery pastels and tactile textures amp up the wonder and awe offered in this unique book. Fold-out flaps and detailed diagrams of planets include compare-and-contrast examples that will keep kids engaged. The interactive layout allows readers to build, step-by-step, their knowledge of both the arts and sciences.

West and Averill also guide young readers to write their own poems. Prompts are sprinkled throughout and detailed in the closing pages. One such cue invites “future astronomers” to create “a hip-hop poem,” offering a contemporary and original engagement across the disciplines of music, science, and the language arts. A glossary of space terms is also included after the writing exercises, encouraging kids to experiment with scientific language in poetry.

A Planet Is a Poem is a book that celebrates and embraces creativity, which makes it a valuable addition to any classroom. The arts and sciences tend to be separated in institutions of learning, but historically they share a sense of play, curiosity, and an urge to invent and create.