Robot, Unicorn, Queen: Poems for You and Me

Shannon Bramer’s Robot, Unicorn, Queen: Poems for You and Me is dedicated to “all the magnificent little poets in the world & in my life.” The writer explains that many of the poems were written during the pandemic when her son Gabriel was dealing with virtual learning in grade one. When in-school learning resumed, Bramer worked as a lunchroom supervisor for grade two students. These children provided suggestions which were the inspiration for many of the poems in this collection. In her “Author’s Note”, Bramer tells readers: “Children remind me of poems: each one unique, each containing a universe within them that is vast and wondrous.” (p. 48)

As the title of this poetry collection suggests, the poems are unique windows on childhood. Children see the world in their own way and imagine how to deal with the situations that confront them, such as new siblings, loneliness, nature, and the seasons. Irene Luxbacher’s beautiful and lyrical illustrations add vibrant and exciting pictures depicting how children see the world.

Beginning with “Born”, Bramer invites young children to see their experiences through the lens of poetry. It begins by listing the many different kinds of people, “Gentle people. Soft people. Space people. Sky people.” (p. 6) Every person is an individual with their own strengths! As the poem ends, the child realizes that his new sibling is a gift to the world, “I already love you, born today.” (p. 6) This simple but touching poem is a great beginning to the collection. Other poems focus on specific aspects of the natural world in, “I did what the toad told me to do”, “Sewing a Starling,” and “The End of Summer”.

Bramer is at her best when she is exploring the emotions felt by young children. In “I Feel Free”, the young child feels happiness when her mother gives her a pizza and a wink but feels sad when she sees her friend’s now empty house. In “Lice Hotel”, the young child is mortified that there are lice in their hair! “I was scratchy, tired and full of dread/Going home to my mom/with a Lice Hotel on my head”. (p. 35) In “poem, poem, poem”, the young child tells readers what she loves – her Nan, her home, a crack in a blue stone, the beach, shells, and writing poems!

Robot, Unicorn, Queen is a wonderful collection of 22 poems which will resonate with young readers and their caregivers and provide many topics for discussion. There are variations in length, structure, language choice, and punctuation which will introduce readers to the joys of poetry. The illustrations provide colourful, imaginative and dreamlike images to delight all readers!