Climbing by Amy Lowell

Twentieth-century poet Amy Lowell was known for her relatively straightforward verse and command of imagery--stylistic strengths that also make her work highly accessible, even to the youngest readers. As the speaker climbs an apple tree, the theme of persisting during a challenge seems clear enough; but then we discover that she is climbing toward a "sparkling" town above, and the scene changes from simple to metaphorical. Paolo Domeniconi's enchanting, reality-bending art is the perfect complement to the scenes described by Lowell, and children will eagerly imagine themselves to be in the protagonist's shoes.