You are not alone with this dilemma regarding reviewing poetry. I rarely have trouble writing book reviews but even though publishers sometimes send me poetry collections for review I find it too difficult to do, for the reasons you've given. It's too far out of my comfort zone: I don't have the skills or the background knowledge to do it well enough.
And similarly, I find it hard to discover poetry I might like. One favourite place that I stumbled on is the blog of Celestine at https://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/ where every visit offers solace; insights; and admiration for her craft. But I wouldn't know where to begin if I were asked to review a collection of her haiku...
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What a lovely photo!
Mem Fox is a wonderful children's author. If you can find them in the US, I'd like to recommend Pamela Allen's books as ideal for small readers. They are very simple but beautiful and wise, and they have longevity: I get asked to read them over and over to Preps and Year Ones and Twos..
Another favourite is Margaret Wild: I know the words to Seven More Sleeps off by heart now, having read them to our Prep classes every year since it was published, and I reckon I could do Little Humpty without the book too, except that the illustrations are so perfect.
Best wishes from Oz, Lisa
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