Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
I want to share one more poem from In the Middle of the Night, plus ask y’all a favor. Here’s the poem, one of the few unrhyming ones in the collection. I just love acrostics, and I wrote this poem after my editor, Rebecca Davis, suggested including a couple of poems from the parents’ room. While I wrote this, I was picturing a tomboy bottle of perfume who dreamed of not being constrained by her fragile container.
Dreamy
Pretty and breakable–that’s me. But
Every night I dream of
Running, jumping,
Falling lid over bottom, rolling
Under the dresser,
Misting out roses and lavender while I
Explore the world.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved, from In the Middle of the Night (Wordsong, 2019)
Now for the favor. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a fabulous blog tour for this book. I’m so grateful to all the various bloggers who participated, and they and I spent loads of time on questions, answers, classroom activities, etc. I’m hoping you might be willing to follow one of these links and read and comment on a post. Thank you so much!
Mile High Reading: With Dylan Teut, I discuss my writing process and where I find ideas
Reflections on the Teche: Margaret Simon shares some beautiful and vengeful night poems written by her and her students
A Year of Reading: Mary Lee Hahn reviews the book and shares a charming doll story
Check It Out: With Jone MacCulloch, I talk about research, number of poems, and writing challenges
Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme: Matt Forrest Esenwine interviews my sometimes disgruntled furniture and office equipment
Great Kid Books: With Mary Ann Scheuer, I share my writing process, my writing space, and my own Tommy Turtle
Simply 7 Interview: I chat with Jena Benton about how I became a writer and one book illustration that wasn’t what I expected
My Juicy Little Universe: Heidi Mordhorst examines the language in the book from an educator’s point of view and shares several interior images/poems
Live Your Poem: Irene Latham and I talk about the difficult, the delicious, and the unexpected of this book
Reading to the Core: Catherine shares awesome poems by 4th graders
KidLit Frenzy: Alyson Beecher shares a review plus her own misgivings about poetry
Beyond LiteracyLink: Carol Varsalona discusses the language, illustrations, and ideas in this book in a beautiful review
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Carol at Carol’s Corner!
12 Responses
Ooh, what a nice idea to share your whole tour here! Yay!
Thanks, Tanita!
I ‘think’ I did read a few of the posts, will go back to check, Laura. I’m visiting my favorite Indie today, hope to find your book! Love this about the perfume bottle, breaking out with roses and lavender!
Thank you, Linda–on all counts! What would poets (and indie booksellers) do without supporters like you?!
Isn’t that what you’re doing these days, Laura? Misting out roses and lavender while you explore the world? Of course you’re not NEARLY so breakable! I definitely visited all of these blog tour sites, but you’re probably right that I didn’t leave many comments. I’ll try to revisit some of them. I also hope that you saw I gave your three books a special mention in my post today, Laura. Sorry I couldn’t do more this time around. xo
Aw, thank you, Michelle–I did see that, and my phone wouldn’t let me reply (there were stickers in the way somehow!). No obligation to visit all of them! I appreciate everyone who stopped by one or two. I just feel bad when someone hosts and puts time into it and then nobody comments–that’s all:) I have had to say no to quite a few things lately, and I’m not even going to do a National Poetry Month project this year, so I had to say no to me, too. I’m planning to visit and appreciate OTHER people’s poems and blogs in April, including yours. Thank you again for the invitation–I wish I could have done it Make it to May–that is my mantra right now.
Laura, as you know I continue to send out your book on Twitter because I love it so much. I just added quick comments on Instagram and Facebook also.
Thank you oodles, Carol! I am struggling to keep up with social media along with writing deadlines, school visits, and book festivals and such. It makes me feel so blessed to have friends and book love spreaders like you helping to share this book. xox
I enjoyed all of the tour stops. It was one of the best blog tours I’ve followed.
Thank you so much, Kimberly–it was so heartening all along to see your comments. And yay! I know a lot of work was involved for me and the hosts, so it’s lovely to hear that!
Laura, I’m honored that I was part of this incredible line up of bloggers. Your book is full of fun and inspiration. In fact, I shared “Empty Pocket” with teachers at our monthly Language Arts meeting on Friday. They loved it! Congratulations on all your wonderful books out this spring, and thank you for all you do for children, teachers, and poets!
Thank you, Catherine:>) Empty Pocket is one of my favs–when I share it with kids, I ask for a few to share something that’s in their pockets, and then I sub out a few words to personalize it. Fun1