Blog
poetryaction and bookalikes for One Plastic Bag
This wonderful nonfiction picture book by Miranda Paul just came out–don’t miss it! It really made me think about the power of a single person. This book is about a woman who makes a tremendous difference in an environmental way.? I took a single line from it (the one about knowing too much) and put
Why Don’t We Float Away? [why-ku]
Howdy! Today, I’m sharing (late, since I woke up and thought–Ack, did I do a post for this morning?) another pair of why-ku from Why-ku: Poems of Wonder About the World. A Note from the Poet: [Carnival] Sometimes you just have to let your weird brain take over when you write poems. The image of
Meet My Collaborator, Mary Lee Hahn
I have just finished creating the sixth (and final, for now, at least) book in my 30 Painless Classroom Poems series. Most of you probably already know my collaborator for this one, but if not, I’d like to introduce you to Mary Lee Hahn, who created a fantastically thoughtful activity guide for Why-ku: Poems of
Why Can’t I Fly: Why-ku by Laura Purdie Salas [Poetry Friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! It’s been a busy week, and I’ve been under the weather. Sniffle, sneeze. Cough-cough-cough. But I’m pleased to share a pair of why-ku from my latest 30 Painless Classroom Poems book, Why-ku: Poems of Wonder About the World. Mary Lee Hahn wrote the activity guide for this one! I’ll share about her
Onion [15 words or less poems]
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)! I just got a nifty little macro-lens for my iPhone. The other day, I was filling our onion powder spice jar, using a funnel. When I set the funnel down on the stove, tip up, I saw there was this little rim of
poetryaction and bookalikes for Star Stuff
This is one of the best biographies I’ve read in a while. I really loved it. And I connected to it personally because my dad worked at NASA for most of his career. I find star stuff fascinating. We watched shuttle launches in person, and I saw the Challenger explosion on my lunch break
poetryaction and bookalikes for Taking a Bath With the Dog
Happy Monday! In making this list poem poetryaction, I realized there’s really nothing like listing things that cheer me up to put me in a good mood:>) Check out my Pinterest boards of poetryactions and bookalikes if you’d like to see more:>)
Books and Trails
When I presented at the fantabulous Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, WI, last fall, I was just mesmerized by all the creative and beautiful integrations of books and nature and art! So, boy, was I excited to see that WATER CAN BE… has been chosen by the Jim Halls Foothills Learning Center (in Boise, ID) as
Just a Rock [poetry friday]
Happy Poetry Friday! Well, it’s my 27th wedding anniversary, and I feel like I should be posting something more romantic. But here I am, with a villanelle about rocks, because the first Poetry Friday of each month is my Poetry Seven post. But Randy is my rock, and we’ve been through our share of T.
poetryaction for Junkyard Wonders
I often don’t like picture books that teach overt lessons. But this one was lovely, and I wanted to work the main point, the lesson, into my poetryaction. Check out my Pinterest boards of poetryactions and bookalikes if you’d like to see more:>)
poetryaction and bookalikes for Toucan Can!
I don’t celebrate silliness enough, and I don’t know why. When I do read something silly that is expertly done, I like it. But then it will be many months before I look for more. I tried to borrow Juliette MacIver’s wonderful silly style for my poetryaction! Here I am reading my poetryaction: [soundcloud
poetryaction and bookalikes for Yuck!
Yuck! Kids know how fun it is to be grossed out! This book shows the foods different young animals like to eat, and they all seem pretty disgusting. Then it ends with a reversal about what those animals think about human food. This made me think of one of my favorite childhood/teen sandwiches–grilled peanut
poetryaction for Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla
I was excited to share on Wednesday about Water Can Be… making it onto the Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended list. And one of the reasons it’s such an honor is because of the OTHER books loved by the award committee. Katherine Applegate’s Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla earned
Flowers [15 words or less poems]
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)! I love taking close-up pics with my phone. Just ordered a little macro lens–can’t wait to try it. Maybe I’ll be able to do non-blurry close-ups! This image makes me think of: 1) Easter 2) fairy princess dolls or My Little Pony dolls
Charlotte Zolotow excitement!
Congratulations to Jenny Offill, author of SPARKY,? for winning the Charlotte Zolotow award for outstanding writing in a picture book! I’ve read and done a poetryaction for SPARKY (the funny story of a quite unusual pet!), but it hasn’t posted yet. The award committee also chose 5 Honor books and 9 Highly Commended titles, and
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