From Publishers Weekly
The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis have been selected by someone who should know: Caroline Kennedy. While Caroline's two confirmed appearances on the Today Show, a first serial in Good Housekeeping, and further publicity should make this easily the bestselling poetry title of the season, it doesn't hurt that Jackie's taste was excellent. Charming poems from John Clare, Kipling, and a young Jimmy Kennedy are complemented by work from Langston Hughes, Robert Frost and Elizabeth Bishop and by 14 b&w family photos. Caroline Kennedy has organized more than 100 poems into seven sections ("America"; "Adventure" etc.), written short, intimate introductions to each and included a small selection of Jackie's own poems. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Introduced and with a running commentary by Caroline Kennedy, these are poems her mother shared with her and that she in turn shares with her own children. It's not surprising, therefore, that many are cute little poems about animals (though written with the adult audience in mind). Others are by Robert Frost (and the tape includes him reading at JFK's inauguration), Shakespeare, Yeats, Dickinson, and several excerpts from the Greek classics. Particularly striking, set against the backdrop of the 1960s when the Kennedy children were growing up, are the poems by Langston Hughes (a particularly memorable piece about a boy looking for the Jim Crow section of the carousel), Countee Cullen, and Jean Toomer. Unfortunately, Kennedy's commentary is wooden and often refers to works not on the tape. The Lord's Prayer, America the Beautiful, and passages from the Bible seem a little too "inspirational." Still, with the inclusion of four poems written by the former First Lady herself, this is bound to be a popular item; recommended for most public libraries. Rochelle Ratner, formerly with "Soho Weekly News," New YorkCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
The love of literature that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis shared with her family comes alive in this collection of over a hundred poems divided into seven sections that show a breadth of interest including the likes of Shakespeare, Yeats, and Dickinson as well as Cummings, Longfellow, and Millay. And, of course, the Kennedys' beloved Robert Frost. This is a lovely presentation. Caroline Kennedy introduces each section with a nice blend of grace and nostalgia as she reminisces about how the poems fit into the life of the Kennedy clan. No information is given about the seven narrators, who all read in a comfortably low-key manner, never giving the impression that they are overdoing their performances to make sure listeners know they are hearing Thespians Read Poetry. Claire Bloom gives the strongest performances, especially when she reads Keats. The CD package includes a numbered listing of each poem, author, and reader. All in all, a wonderful sampler presented with respect for the listener and the poets. P.B.J. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2002 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Her daughter offers a selection of the late former First Lady's favorite poems, plus a few of her mother's own verses, which, she allows, it would have embarrassed her mother to see in print. Surely she wouldn't have been embarrassed about her daughter's inclusion of three paragraphs from a book for children in which famous people wrote about their favorite childhood reading. The snippet encourages writing as well as reading "the great writers" and names several poets whose work, naturally enough, appears in these pages--Frost, Poe, Dickinson, Cullen, Cummings, Sandburg, Sassoon, and Belloc. Shakespeare, the King James Version, Homer, Keats, Shelley, Tennyson, Yeats, Hughes, and Bishop are among the other sources drawn upon for sections entitled "America," "First Poems," "Adventure," "Escape," "Romance and Love," and "Reflection." If the chestnut count is high, so is the quality, and the few surprises, such as Jean Toomer's "Brown River, Smile," are knockouts. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

People
"Great works that parents will enjoy reading to their children."

Book Description
A beautiful collection of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' favorite poems, lovingly collected by her daughter Caroline. "Read for escape, read for adventure, read for romance, but read the great writers. You will find to your delight that they are easier and more joy to read than the second-rate ones. They touch your imagination and your deepest yearnings, and when your imagination is stirred it can lead you down paths you never dreamed you would travel." --Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis loved literature, especially poetry. "Once you can express yourself," she wrote, "you can tell the world what you want from it. . . . All the changes in the world, for good or evil, were first brought about by words." Now, Caroline Kennedy shares her mother's favorite poems and the words behind her strong belief in the power of literature. The poems presented span the centuries and include works by such renowned authors as Rudyard Kipling, William Shakespeare, Homer, W. B. Yeats, Emily Dickinson, e. e. cummings, and Robert Frost. The book also includes a poem written by Jacqueline Kennedy. The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is illustrated with photographs of the Kennedy clan, and illuminated by Caroline's reflections on her mother's life and work. A wonderful volume for reading aloud or by yourself, a meaningful gift or keepsake, these poems offer an intimate view of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' world, and a poignant glimpse into her heart.

About the Author
Caroline Kennedy serves as president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. She is the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Right to Privacy and In Our Defense with Ellen Alderman. She lives in New York City.

FROM OUR EDITORS

"Read for escape, read for adventure, read for romance, but read the great writers," Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once advised. "You will find to your delight that they are easier and more joy to read than the second-rate ones." This collection of Mrs. Kennedy's favorite poetry, selected and introduced by her daughter, confirms that judgment. Yeats, Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Homer are all represented. The anthology also includes one poem by the late first lady herself.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis loved literature, especially poetry. "Once you can express yourself," she wrote, "you can tell the world what you want from it ... All the changes in the world, for good or evil, were first brought about by words." Now, Caroline Kennedy shares her mother's favorite poems and the words behind her strong belief in the power of literature. The poems presented span the centuries and include works by such renowned authors as Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Homer, W.B. Yeats, Emily Dickinson, E. E. Cummings, and Robert Frost. This volume also includes poems by Jacqueline Kennedy. The book is illustrated with photographs of the Kennedy family, and illuminated by Caroline's reflections on her mother's life and work. A wonderful volume for reading aloud or by yourself, a meaningful gift or keepsake, this book offers an intimate view of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' world, and a poignant glimpse into her heart.

FROM THE CRITICS

People Magazine

Great works that parents will enjoy reading to their children.

Publishers Weekly

The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis have been selected by someone who should know: Caroline Kennedy. While Caroline's two confirmed appearances on the Today Show, a first serial in Good Housekeeping, and further publicity should make this easily the bestselling poetry title of the season, it doesn't hurt that Jackie's taste was excellent. Charming poems from John Clare, Kipling, and a young Jimmy Kennedy are complemented by work from Langston Hughes, Robert Frost and Elizabeth Bishop and by 14 b&w family photos. Caroline Kennedy has organized more than 100 poems into seven sections ("America"; "Adventure" etc.), written short, intimate introductions to each and included a small selection of Jackie's own poems. (Oct. 3) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Introduced and with a running commentary by Caroline Kennedy, these are poems her mother shared with her and that she in turn shares with her own children. It's not surprising, therefore, that many are cute little poems about animals (though written with the adult audience in mind). Others are by Robert Frost (and the tape includes him reading at JFK's inauguration), Shakespeare, Yeats, Dickinson, and several excerpts from the Greek classics. Particularly striking, set against the backdrop of the 1960s when the Kennedy children were growing up, are the poems by Langston Hughes (a particularly memorable piece about a boy looking for the Jim Crow section of the carousel), Countee Cullen, and Jean Toomer. Unfortunately, Kennedy's commentary is wooden and often refers to works not on the tape. The Lord's Prayer, America the Beautiful, and passages from the Bible seem a little too "inspirational." Still, with the inclusion of four poems written by the former First Lady herself, this is bound to be a popular item; recommended for most public libraries. Rochelle Ratner, formerly with "Soho Weekly News," New York Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile