Blog
Day 1: Hey, Baby!
Happy National Poetry Month 2023! Curious about what I’m doing? Want to play along? Read more here. [Heads-up: If you’re visiting regularly, please know that the bold, blue text is what I’m writing fresh each day. The black text is the same each day:>) ] Whee! I’m so glad National Poetry Month is here! Did
Ready for National Poetry Month 2023? Start now!
It’s Poetry Friday, but I’m doing a separate Poetry Friday post so as not to overwhelm you with too many things! Happy almost National Poetry Month 2023! Curious about what I’m doing? Want to play along? Read more here. [Heads-up: If you’re visiting regularly, please know that the bold, blue text is what I’m writing
Ode to a Mandala–an Etheree
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) By the way, my first post for National Poetry Month is also live now. I decided to make two separate posts because this would be unbearably long and confusing otherwise! But I invite you to join me in Digging for Poems for April!
Geologists Day is April 2!
Did you know Geologists Day is April 2? Me, neither. But I’m so grateful to geologists. Some of the most fascinating things I know about the earth were revealed/discovered/figured out by these rock scientists. It’s the perfect time to pull out A Rock Can Be… to share with your students. I’ve got all sorts of
Swelling and Swirling — a definito poem
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Hi, everyone! It’s been a rough week with family medical issues, and I escaped into writing a poem this morning. [Edited to add: The definito form was created by amazing poet Heidi Mordhorst!] I’ve shared some definito poems before that connect to two of my
Lift-the-Flap Craft for Lion of the Sky
Celebrating World Water Day? Check out my post last week! One of my very favorite things is when a teacher uses a book I wrote as a jumping off point for a classroom activity. A bit ago, @mmtteacher on Twitter shared these images of her students’ lift-the-flap riddle-ku. They were inspired by Lion of the
The Poetry Friday Roundup Is Here!
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m so happy to be hosting today! I’m out all day today teaching at a Young Authors Conference, but I’m looking forward to visiting all of your posts over the weekend. First up, I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to
World Water Day is Next Week!
World Water Day is March 22, and I’m realizing how many of my books are about water! That includes all 3 of my spring 2023 books, Zap! Clap! Boom!, Finding Family, and Puddle Song (which published yesterday!). There’s also Water Can Be… and Secrets of the Loon. I do love water! If you include any
Waiting, a Poetryaction for The Lodge That Beaver Built
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Howdy, friends–I missed you last week. I’ve been dealing with a crazy busy schedule of books coming out, plus a family member with a health scare that’s had me pretty anxious. It was nice to get away from my own self and my own worries
Finding Family Is Out in the World!
Woohoo! I’m so excited to share that Finding Family is now out in the world! People have been so generous in helping to spread the word. Teacher, author-illustrator, and poet Jena Benton posted a beautiful Simply 7 interview with me yesterday, and her questions made me realize something that I had totally missed while working
A Finding Family Book Trailer and Teaching Guide!
In less than a week, my second picture book coming out this spring will be here! Here are two resources for you: a book trailer and a teaching guide. Hope you find them helpful! [My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom
Where Time Goes: Ekphrastic Poems from the Poetry Sisters
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Before my poem draft, I’m sharing a video about my membership Facebook Group (subscriptions handled through Patreon). If you’re writing poems or picture books for kids, you might find it interesting. Okay, the Poetry Sisters wrote ekphrastic poems this month–poems inspired by art.
An Activity Sheet for Severe Weather Awareness Week
Sometime in early spring, most states celebrate Severe Weather Awareness Week. If you’re talking with students about weather and storms soon, you might like to use this activity sheet for the life cycle of a thunderstorm. I made it to go with my forthcoming book (March 28), Zap! Clap! Boom! Just click, and a downloadable
The Idea and A Poem Grows Inside You
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Howdy, everybody! Thanks for all your well wishes–my back is feeling better! It’s been a super busy February so far with author visits, my 35th wedding anniversary <3, freelance deadlines, and endless promotion for my 3 spring books. But I’m really trying to hang in
I’m Late for National Umbrella Day, but…
[PS for Pre Script? Please see Rose Capelli’s wonderful review of Finding Family here.] Okay, I admit I missed National Umbrella Day on February 10. But it’s never too late to celebrate. Here’s the book trailer for my forthcoming board book, Puddle Song! I adore that giant rainbow umbrella on the cover (art by Monique
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Are You Looking For?
Go to my Poetry page for:
- National Poetry Month projects through the years
- Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
- Introductions to several favorite poetry forms