Blog
A Pen Magnipoem and Digital Review Copies of My Next Picture Book!
Guess what? My next picture book, Line Leads the Way, is available on Netgalley! If you’re a book lover, a blogger, a reviewer, a librarian (big library tie-in in this book!), or a teacher, Capstone Editions and I would be thrilled if you would like to access the digital review copy, read it, and share
Onion Magnipoem
Hi, and welcome! During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get up
A Paper Towel Magnipoem and Quick Clips from a Q&A about Oskar’s Voyage
Hi, and welcome! During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get up
A Water Drop Magnipoem
Hi, and welcome! During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get up
Pothos Leaf Magnipoem
Hi, and welcome! During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get up
Tiny Spoon Magnipoem
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students
Zipper Magnipoem
Hi, and welcome! During National Poetry Month, I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get up
Poetry Month Fun and a Quarter Magnipoem
Hey, teachers, it’s National Poetry Month! Starting today–because life–I’m posting a magnipoem each day that I can. That’s a poem inspired by my simply looking at an object under a magnifying glass for 1 minute each day, and then jotting a poem. Feel free to try this with students (you can have them just get
King of the Pond and My Poetry Month Project
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Whew, it’s been a week! This month, we wrote pantoums. There’s so much repetition! I think I like reading them more than I like writing them! I do love Rush’s “The Larger Bowl,” and play it on my kalimba and sing. Here’s a
How This Book Got Started
Kids and grown-ups alike are usually curious about how a book gets its start. Here’s half of what I have on my Oskar’s Voyage page (I have similar info on each book page): It was the best research of my entire life! Speaking of research, you know Melissa Stewart’s amazing blog, right? (If not, get
Underwear, a Poetryaction
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Ooh, you guys, I was on the radio this morning talking about Finding Family for the MN Reads segment on The North 103.3 FM with Luke Moravec. That was nerve-wracking, and I have no idea how I sounded! I’ll be listening to it tonight after
How Does Oskar Feel?
One of my favorite things about books is how they prepare us to handle real life. I think illustrations, in particular, can be super helpful in promoting emotional awareness and helping kids learn how to decode facial expressions and body language. Here’s a downloadable activity sheet that illustrator Kayla Harren and I created featuring Oskar,
Smoky Mountain Campground, a Poetryaction
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Thank you for all the Oskar’s Voyage love last week <3 Carol, it was so lovely to see you in the gallery of the Zoom that illustrator Kayla Harren and I did on Monday. Thank you! I’ve been sick with the crud this week. Ugh.
The Trip That Inspired the Book
The photos and videos I took on a 2019 voyage were absolutely the bedrock of the text and later the illustrations for Oskar’s Voyage. Here’s a montage of images from that amazing journey! And find more resources on my Oskar’s Voyage page! Oh, and if you’re in the Twin Cities, I so hope you can
Poetry Friday Is Here–and So Is Oskar!
Welcome to Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m so happy you’re here! Also, thank you to everyone who commented last week. I appreciate the hugs and reading suggestions :>) This week, my first 2024 picture book came out. Whee! Oskar’s Voyage is running around loose in the world now. Like Oskar
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