A breath of fresh writing

I just read the most beautiful book. A new one, by Eileen Spinelli, for probably second grade and up. It's called "Where I Live" and it's the first example of a novel written in poems that actually works without any strain. It begins like this:

This is where I live--
in the yellow house
with the white shutters.
I'm the one who helped plant
the maple tree in the front yard,
the one who waters
the daffodils in the spring,
who rakes the leaves in autumn.
My room is on the second floor.
See my window?
This morning I looked out
and saw my best friend, Rose,
waving to me.
"Wanna ride bikes?" she called.
The sun was shining,
the sky was so blue,I thought I could swim in it.
My heart was happy.
It's a good day when the sky is blue
and the sun is bright
and Rose and I have plans.

And the illustrations by Matt Phelan
are just right.

I love being a librarian.