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My Word of the Year: Essential
First off, congratulations to ALL the creators and publishers of the books honored by ALA yesterday! I sat at my laptop, listening and cheering along with the crowd there, and it was just as exciting as usual. Extra congratulations to Matt de la Pena for Last Stop on Market Street, which won the Newbery–a picture
The Periodic Table — a Crown Sonnet by the Poetry Sisters [Poetry Friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! It’s that time again–we Poetry 7 are sharing poems! In November, we wrote ekphrastic poems, which I struggled mightily with. Now, we’re beginning 2016 by sharing our crowning achievement of 2015: a crown sonnet–hehe. One of the topics I suggested to the group (last spring) was the periodic table, and I was
Antlers [15 Words or Less Poems] & Live Writing Video
Whee! It’s 2016, and this is the first 15 Words or Less Poems Day of the year! I’m glad you guys are here. Are you ready to wake up your poetry brains with our weekly exercise (guidelines here)? I took this picture at the Bell Museum of Natural History on Randy’s birthday a couple of
It All Comes Back to Books
I went to the Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota a few weeks ago, and everywhere I looked I felt connected to friends–both human friends and book friends. In a special exhibit on peregrine palcons, they had an Audubon print of one, and looking at the detail and ferocity and truth
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2016! This year on my blog, I’m hoping to share more behind-the-scenes/inside-my-head posts about my own writing process and my life as a book-lover. I hope you’ll join me. Isn’t this a beautiful Rilke quote? I love its calm but celebratory feel. It inspires me to want to try new things with my
Cougar [15 Words or Less Poems]
Welcome to the final 15 Words or Less Poems Day of 2015! Ready to wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less? (guidelines here) Here’s a picture I took at the Bell Museum of Natural History on Randy’s birthday last week. This image makes me think of:
Merry Poetry Friday Christmas!
Happy Poetry Friday, and Merry Christmas! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m sharing a favorite old Christmas song today. When I was growing up, this was one that my mom played on the piano, and that we sometimes did during our family Advent Sunday night celebrations. We were not a particularly religious family,
A Pear‑y Pretty Chandelier [15 Words or Less Poems]
Hi, 15 Words-or-Less-ers! Merry Christmas Eve, if you’re celebrating! Ready to wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less? (guidelines here) Here’s a picture I took at the theater where we saw So You Think You Can Dance Thanksgiving weekend. It’s hard to tell in this picture, but those colored crystals make up
BookSpeak, Old-School!
Last week, school librarian Karen Bentall shared a wonderful photo of a BookSpeak display in the Oak Ridge Elementary School library in Arlington, VA. Wow! It’s beautiful! I asked if I could share this cool artwork here and if she could tell me a little more about it. Here’s what Karen said: Smart
My Biggest Fan
If you know me, you know that my husband, Randy, is always bragging on me, supporting me, and celebrating my writing. Today is Randy’s birthday, and I’m spending the whole day celebrating with him! He gets so short-changed, having his birthday right before Christmas. And even at Christmastime, he finds ways to cheer on my
A Holiday Wordsmiths Gathering
A couple of weeks ago, my writing group, the Wordsmiths, did our little holiday get-together. Great food (can you say whiskey truffles?), laughter (lots), small & lovely gifts, and talking about books and works in progress. We were missing two comrades-in-pens, but other than that, what a lovely afternoon! Thanks, Joyce Sidman, for hosting. It
Poetry Friday Anthology for Science–remix!
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’ve shared Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell’s awesome Poetry Friday Anthology for Science here before, and now there’s a new edition. Teachers requested a non-grade-level-edition for kids, and Janet and Sylvia delivered. Introducing The Poetry of Science: The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science for Kids!
Great Gourd! [15 Words or Less Poems]
Hi, 15 Words-or-Less-ers! Ready to wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less? (guidelines here) Here’s a picture I took at the grocery store just before Thanksgiving. These gourds were huge! Granted, that mini-pumpkin with the crow on it is pretty small, but it was between tennis ball and baseball size. These gourds
Poetryaction for Blizzard
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Well, we’re going from fire to ice. Yesterday, I shared an image for 15 Words or Less that some of you wondered what it was. I thought it resembled frozen flames, and y’all saw fire, ice, hearts, hands, and more in it. For those of
Ice on Fire [15 Words or Less Poems]
Hi teachers and writers! I’m offering something new in January for people who want to write (published, pre-published, no desire to be published–you are all welcome!) but who aren’t getting the writing done that they want to. It’s a low-cost Closed Facebook Group that will be full of encouragement and checking in to set and
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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