Judging a Book by Its Cover: 5 Poetry Collections to Read with Stunning Cover Art
We all know the old idiom: don’t judge a book by its cover. While this saying holds true (both in a literal and metaphorical sense), I know sometimes we can’t help but feel especially drawn to a particularly stunning cover when browsing the bookstore shelves. Many readers do tend to gravitate towards striking visuals so it's no surprise that the covers can really be that deciding factor in whether they initially grab their attention.
While there are a myriad of reasons to pick up a poetry book at any given time, here are five collections to check out based on their cover art. And once the cover grabs you, don’t waste any time getting started on reading those incredible words on the inside!
Ugly Music by Diannely Antigua
Antigua’s debut collection immediately turns heads with the art of Angela Singer on the cover. The piece, Deofrith III, is described as “vintage recycled taxidermy, mixed media” and features a deer with brooches and other shiny objects masking its face. You could likely look at it a hundred times and see something different every time.
Ugly Music was released in 2019 by YesYes Books.
Mining for Stardust by Kai Coggin
Coggin’s cover sets its sights on the stars…literally. The image used was originally taken by the NASA Hubble Telescope and features the Eagle Nebula “Pillars of Creation” — which just recently returned to the headlines with an updated portrait captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, shared by NASA just days ago. The star-filled images are truly a sight to behold.
Mining for Stardust was released last year with FlowerSong Press.
Headless John the Baptist Hitchhiking by C.T. Salazar
I could find myself getting lost in Salazar’s cover, which interestingly is of a USGS topographical map of the Mississippi River. Per the image description online, “small, blocky shapes of towns, fields, and pastures surround the graceful swirls and whorls” in the image, featuring the blue-green, rootlike river running through the rusty-colored land. It’s definitely an image one could return to time and time again.
Headless John the Baptist Hitchhiking was released this year by Acre Books.
Focal Point by Jenny Qi
What’s better than a sunset? A sunset that graces the cover of a poetry book, of course. The cover art was also done by the author herself. It’s dreamy and dramatic, as well as absolutely breathtaking. Need I say more?
Focal Point was released last year by Steel Toe Books.
Constellation Route by Matthew Olzmann
Olzmann’s covert art is hauntingly beautiful. The digital 3d piece, titled Golden Boy, is by Adam Martinakis and features an open-mouthed figure with gold strands seemingly coming from every direction. It’s certainly an image I could likely stare at for hours on end.
Constellation Route was released this year by Alice James Books.
(Disclaimer: while I compiled this list based only on books I currently have on my shelf, there are, of course, so many, many more I could and would have included if time allowed.)
What poetry book covers do you love?
