INNER CHIMES

Twenty pleasant poems about writing and enjoying poetry, mostly from standbys like X. J. Kennedy, Nikki Giovanni, Eleanor Farjeon, etc., and none more than a page long. The title comes from Eve Merriam: ``It doesn't always have to rhyme,/but there's the repeat of a beat, somewhere/an inner chime...'' Format is clean and bright, with decorative color illustrations on almost every page; on close examination, much of Zalben's art is clumsy- -she has an odd fondness for awkwardly congealed waves—but the general effect is cozy and appealing. Not essential, but a good contribution to the poetry unit. (Poetry. 6-10)