At the time I compiled this, I had edited two collections of short stories: STAY TRUE: Short Stories for Strong Girls (Scholastic) and I BELIEVE IN WATER: Twelve Brushes with Religion (HarperCollins). The contributors to these two anthologies and several editors from different publishing houses attempted to answer this perennial question. Included are comments by Gregory Maguire, Jacqueline Woodson, M.E. Kerr, Virginia Euwer Wolff and many others.

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In 2002, I asked a group of authors, editors, and other book people this question. Here are their responses, along with some recommended titles. There are answers from Jane Yolen, Nikki Grimes, J. Patrick Lewis, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, Paul Janeczko and many others.

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As with my collection of comments on what makes a good poem, I asked authors, editors, and other book people this question. Here are their responses, along with some recommended titles.

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1. Pay attention to the world around you—little things, big things, people, animals, buildings, events, etc. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, feel?

2. Listen to words and sentences. What kind of music do they have? How is the music of poetry different from the music of songs?

3. Read all kinds of poetry. Which poems do you like and why?

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