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North Carolina: On Her Way to the Graveyard: a 50 State Poems Poem
Happy Poetry Friday! This week, I’m sharing a poem from my new 30 Painless Classroom Poems book, Wacky, Wild, and Wonderful: 50 State Poems. Note: Cape Hatteras is the outermost point of land on the Outer Banks Islands. These flat, sandy islands lie about thirty miles off the coast of North Carolina. Cape Hatteras is
Swirly Jack [15 words or less poems]
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)! I took this pic while Randy was washing Captain Jack Sparrow, who was just a teensy bit ripe! Maddie usually bathes him, but she’s been away since early September, so… Jack wouldn’t hold still, but I kind of liked this effect. This image
Broken Yolk [poetry friday]
Hi, Poetry Friday peeps! Last week, I shared my triolet, “Rowing to the Future,” the first in a series of monthly poems I’m writing along with my Poetry 7. This week, I thought I’d share the other triolet I wrote. Broken Yolk Each dawn spills from a fractured night. Sun’s flaming yolk escapes the break
Pineapple [15 words or less poems]
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)! I often take fruit to potluck gatherings so that I’ll have something healthy to eat (between cupcakes). I love the patterns of pineapples, both the outside and the inside, when I spiral cut them. This image makes me think of: 1) chainmail on
Lullaby and Kisses Sweet–a New Lee Bennett Hopkins Anthology
Yippee! Lee Bennett Hopkins has a new anthology coming out on March 3, and it’s the cutest board book I’ve seen in ages. It’s called Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love with Your Baby (Abrams). Lee notified everyone that the book is on sale for a great price right now in pre-order on Amazon,
I’m EMBRACE-ing 2015!
Each January, I choose a word of the year. This year, my word, my theme, is EMBRACE! I plan to try to embrace my writing life. If I can’t embrace it, I’m going to try to ditch it–either not do it (and quit feeling guilty about not doing it), outsource it…something. I love picture books,
I’m Nerdy!
WATER CAN BE… was named a Nerdy Book Award winner in the Poetry category. Woohoo! This means a lot, not only because of the way these awards are chosen, but also because of the fabulous other Poetry winners. This was also a big surprise. I had thought that WATER, if it got any votes at
Rowing to the Future [poetry friday]
Happy first Poetry Friday of 2015! I’m excited for a fresh new year. 2014 was not a bad year in most ways, but I just like the feeling of moving forward. Even though the past several years seem to be moving forward all too quickly. But–in a lovely way to end the year–I joined forces
poetryaction for Ben Franklin’s Big Splash
The author uses a LOT of alliteration in this book–and I’m a fan of alliteration, but there were so many “s” sounds and words that I tried to avoid them in my poetryaction. Fail. All I really did was swap out “s” for “sh,” I fear. Oh, well. Fun book, and I had
poetryaction for Caminar
I don’t usually remember specific plot points of books. Instead, I tend to remember flashes of small moments, images that, if a book is really powerful, come back to mind at seemingly random times. Caminar, which I just read, and Red Midnight, which I read quite a few years ago, both have scenes that
poetryaction to Sometimes You Barf
Happy Poetry Friday! Maybe you overindulged yesterday and can relate to this book. I personally have a brickle hangover. And Captain Jack got sick yesterday and guess who was on clean-up duty. Yup, me. Ugh. Anyway… We’ve all been the kid or sat next to the kid or been teaching the kid who barfed
Tights [15 words or less poems] and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas if you celebrate Christmas. And whether you do or don’t, I’m glad you’re here! Our day has turned a little topsy-turvy, and I don’t know whether I’ll be able to stop back in later or not, but I’ll try. I hope you have a joyful time, whatever your day holds! And if you
poetryaction for Circle, Square, Moose
They’re back! I loved Zebra and Moose in Z Is for Moose, and now they’re back in another adventure! —————————————————————————————————————————– Poetryaction: After reading a picture book, sometimes I jot down a quick poem based on something in the book. It could be inspired by the entire book, the setting, a character, or even just
poetryaction and bookalikes for Big Bug
I love books that give me a new perspective, that help me see the bigger picture–and both Big Bug and Me and My Place in Space (an older favorite of mine) do that! —————————————————————————————————————————– Poetryaction: After reading a picture book, sometimes I jot down a quick poem based on something in the book. It
Happy Holidays and poetryaction to Camp Rex
Good morning, my wonderful kidlit community. I feel like we are a beautiful forest, stronger because we grow together. Thank you for being part of my kidlit world:>) And now, for today’s Kidlit Combos: I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! is a wonderful rhyming picture book. So much fun! And a great pairing with Camp
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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