John Lithgow

From listening to his grandmother recite epic poems from memory to curling up in bed while his father read funny verses, award-winning actor John Lithgow grew up with poetry. Ever since, John has been an enthusiastic seeker of poetic experience, whether reading, reciting, or listening to great poems. The wide variety of carefully selected poems in this book provides the perfect introduction to appeal to readers new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dylan Thomas are just a few names among Lithgow's comprehensive list of poetry masters. His essential criterion is that "each poem's light shines more brightly when read aloud." This unique package provides a multimedia poetry experience with a bonus MP3 CD of revelatory poetry readings by John and the familiar voices of such notable performers as Eileen Atkins, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Billy Connolly, Jodie Foster, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston. Every reader will enjoy reciting or listening to these poems with the entire family, appreciating how each one comes to life through the spoken word in this superlative poetry collection.

Sharing a backstage history of his early life and career--and paying tribute to his father, Arthur Lithgow--the author reveals why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it.

A boy imagines that he is a manatee, sprinkling seaweed on his raisin bran-atee and dignifying his watery domain with his wit, sophistication, and urbanity.

A boy imagines that he is a manatee, sprinkling seaweed on his raisin bran-atee and dignifying his watery domain with his wit, sophistication, and urbanity.

The development of a child from conception to birth, using both microimagery and the story of a young couple preparing for their first child.

Sent by her parents to find food, Mahalia Mouse finds herself trapped in a backpack and transported to a physics classroom at Harvard University, where she discovers an aptitude for science.

A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves.

The musical prodigy Farkle McBride tries a number of instruments before discovering that conducting the orchestra makes him happy.

Marsupial Sue, a young kangaroo, finds happiness in doing what kangaroos do.

Sue, a kangaroo, and some of her Australian animal friends put on a play called "The Runaway Pancake."