The poems in Climbing Shadows were inspired by a class of kindergarten children whom poet and playwright Shannon Bramer came to know over the course of a school year. She set out to write a poem for each child, sharing her love of poetry with them, and made an anthology of the poems for Valentine's Day.

This original collection reflects the children's joys and sorrows, worries and fears, moods and sense of humour. Some poems address common themes such as having a hard day at school, feeling shy or being a newcomer, while others explore subjects of fascination — bats, spiders, skeletons, octopuses, polka dots, racing cars and birthday parties. Evident throughout the book is a love of words and language and the idea that there are all kinds of poems and that they are for everyone — to read or write.

Cindy Derby's dreamy watercolour illustrations gently complement each poem. Beautiful, thoughtful, sensitive and funny, this is an exceptional collection. (From Groundwood Books)

Shannon Bramer is a Toronto author of poems, plays and short fiction. She has published a number of poetry collections and chapbooks and won the Hamilton and Region Best Book Award for 1999 book suitcases and other poems.

Cindy Derby is a San Francisco-based writer, illustrator and puppeteer. Derby has illustrated many picture books, including Climbing Shadows by Shannon Bramer.