Video

How poetry can help kids turn a fear of literature into love

December 18, 2017
Literature can be daunting for some young people, so how can we create a culture of avid readers? Poetry can be a non-threatening alternative introduction for fledgling bibliophiles, giving them more “white space” on a page without losing narrative elements. Author Jason Reynolds shares his humble opinion on how poetry can entice young readers.
More Episodes from NewsHour Poetry Series
Showing 1 to 20 of 101 Videos
  1. Image of the poet Phil Kaye on PBS NewsHour.

    Poet Phil Kaye remembers his grandfather and reimagines traditional masculinity

  2. Image of the poet Kevin Young.

    Kevin Young intertwines personal and public history in “Brown”

    Poets
  3. Image of the poet Donald Hall reading.

    Donald Hall, 89, saw poetry as ‘school for feeling’

    Poets
  4. Image of Imani Davis

    A poet who holds ‘the men behind the music’ accountable

  5. Image of Whitney Greenway

    How a poet purges all of the men who didn’t keep promises

  6. Image of David Gewanter

    In every vital moment, poetry is alive and well

    Poets
  7. Image of man walking a dog

    This poet's guide dog helped him discover a new world

  8. Image of the poet Alberto Rios.

    To Arizona’s first poet laureate, ‘the border is what joins us’

    Poets
  9. Image of the poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

    This poet wants brown girls to know they’re worthy of being the hero and the author

    Poets
  10. Image of the poet Rupi Kaur.

    How poet Rupi Kaur became a hero to millions of young women

  11. Still from PBS Newshour

    The practical reasons to welcome poetry into our lives

  12. Image of Marcus Wicker with text, "Brief but Spectacular"

    Turning silence on police shootings into poetry

    Poets
  13. Image of Major Jackson with text, "Poetry, and any kind of artmaking, requires us to be reflective."

    Poet reflects on America where ‘an angry man can shoot a teenager’

    Poets
  14. Image of William Brewer.

    Why this poet couldn’t avoid writing about the opioid crisis

  15. Image of Seattle skyline

    Navigating Seattle’s ever-evolving streets through poetry

  16. Image of Tracy K. Smith

    For newly named U.S. poet laureate, the power of poetry is opening ourselves to others

  17. Image of Juan Felipe Herrera

    How one poet is helping Chicago students find their voice through verse

  18. Image of Paul Muldoon reading

    This poet’s picnic offers a feast of words and music

    Poets
  19. Book cover of "Poems" by Emily Dickinson

    Finding Emily Dickinson in the power of her poetry

  20. Image of Clint Smith

    Why we shouldn’t forget that U.S. presidents owned slaves

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    5. 5
    6. 6