Blog
Poems for Two Voices #ClassroomConnections
I love poems for two voices, and this form is really fun for students to perform, discuss, and write. Here’s a poem for two voices from In the Middle of the Night. Try reading the poem out loud with two students or two groups. One is the voice of the flip flops, and the other
I Love You, Giraffe
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I didn’t think I’d make Poetry Friday this week, but then… I wrote “giraffe eyelashes” in my gratitude list one night after an episode of The Secret Life of the Zoo (I adore that show!). The next day, I received some notecards I ordered from
A We Belong Video #ClassroomConnections
Ages ago, Lerner asked me to make a short video introducing my next picture book, We Belong, to educators and parents. I did it, and they used it at NCTE (I missed NCTE so much!). Now, I get to share it with you! Why did I write it? What are my hopes for it? All
Turtleneck, Free Author Visit Zoom, Storytime, and One Little Word–Whew!
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So much to tell you this week, but our home is in disarray (covid has struck again, and yes, we are fully vaccinated and boosted). So I’ll keep this brief and not overwhelming :>) 1. Friends–I’m doing a virtual library storytime on Monday, Jan 10,
Storytime + Talking Writing Process with First Graders and The Write Time
Friends–I’m doing a virtual library storytime on Monday, Jan 10, at 6pm Central Time. Family and friends with kids in the 4–9 range, hope to see you there! I’ll be sharing picture books about water, winter, and getting yarn from sheep. Learn about states of matter, animal adaptations and behaviors, and the miracle of sheep
Bell Song [Poetry Friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was a song around bells in some way. I wasn’t able to meet up with my poetry sisters last Sunday, but I did put together a draft on Monday or Tuesday. The sound of bells always
Idioms All Around
I love wordplay (no surprise there), and I’m always surprised at how many idioms I come across related to any topic I research. When I was writing If You Want to Knit Some Mittens, I toyed with the idea of putting a bunch of sheep and knitting puns and idioms into the book. I didn’t
A Winter Riddle-Ku
It’s almost winter! I find myself writing about the seasons over and over again. I circle back to that topic the same way the seasons themselves circle around each year. That’s so comforting to me. Here’s a riddle-ku from Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons. Can your students guess the answer without looking
Without
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) My father-in-law passed away last month, and he had a good passing. He was surrounded by family and love in the days before he died in his sleep. I’m sad for the loss of him but also reminded how every loss inspires us to live
Crafting Is Not About Perfection #ClassroomConnections
Whenever I knit, I learn all over again that crafting is not really about making something perfect. It’s about touching yarn or other materials. It’s about transforming something from one thing into another. It’s about letting nagging worries slide away and losing yourself in something meditative or creative. It’s all about the process. Sometimes the
Ode to Bare Branches
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I hope you’ve had a beautiful Thanksgiving! Today, the day after Thanksgiving, we’re helping our older daughter move into her new apartment. I’m so happy for her, but honestly, if I never see another U‑Haul or moving box again, that’s too soon. Anyway,
Roundup of Fall Small Reads [Poetry Friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Oops, I’m checking in late here! But I want to give y’all a link to my Small Reads for Fall roundup page! This was the main part of my November e‑newsletter for educators, Small Reads. Check the right sidebar to find the subscription link! You’ll
Behind-the-Book Tidbits and Writing Process Thoughts for If You Want to Knit Some Mittens
Thank you so much to those of you who were able to come to my online launch event last week with Red Balloon Bookshop! It was just lovely to see some familiar names in the Chat–really warmed my heart. Since I had gathered info and thoughts in preparation for the event, I thought I’d create
Sheep Is a Solid Word [Poetry Friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) A quick invitation before my poem today! Click on the graphic for details and free registration. So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was a Wordplay poem, my choice–whee! Now, lots of poems have wordplay in them, of course, but what I’m talking
Her Fur Is Soft as Mittens, But… #PoetryFriday
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m late getting this together, but I have three big things to share! 1) Thank you! A huge thank you to all of you who sent both donations and good wishes to my friends Steve and Vicki Palmquist last week. I am so grateful for
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