Happy Poetry Friday, friends! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
I had a lovely World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, reading to and chatting with students in 5 states and 1 Canadian province. It was fun to share Oskar’s Voyage with them–and if you missed that, there’s an opportunity for a more in-depth Zoom below!
Now, onto this week’s poem. While I was at NCTE last November, I got to hear Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond give a lovely talk about her book Blue (gorgeously illustrated by Daniel Minter), which won the 2023 Orbis Pictus Award. I finally read the book recently, and it’s wonderful!
I decided to write a poetryaction. I probably chose Lake Superior as my topic because I’m immersed in Oskar’s Voyage stuff right now! But the big lake is really one of my favorite blue things :>D (You can see all my poetryactions here.)
That’s it for me this week. For tons of fantastic poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with passionate poet and educator Carol at Beyond Literacy Link.
23 Responses
Thanks for the virtual visit. I loved learning about how your research led you to all of the parts of Oskar’s Voyage. I also love the book Blue and will try this prompt out with my students.
Thank you, Margaret! It was so fun to chat with your students!
Laura, how lovely that you got to speak to those six classes–and one was Margaret’s class! Can’t wait to read Oskar’s Voyage. I also love your poetryaction prompts. I’ll be thinking about the blue things I love. And what a lovely pairing with the book Blue. I love “Blue basket of dreams”
Thanks, Denise–that was my favorite line, too :>) Isn’t that book wonderful?
Thanks, Laura! I’m going to try to attend the Zoom launch. So glad you had a good World Read Aloud day. And your poem is lovely as always.
Is that Zoom just for school students or can I attend also?
Please attend! It’s aimed at classrooms, so we’ll be speaking to the student level, but book lovers of all kinds are so welcome! We have space for about 95 attendees–and I’d love to see you there!
Laura, what beautiful thoughts about Lake Superior! I have never visited it, but after a review like this, I am packing my bags!
Since I grew up in Florida but have lived my whole adult life in Minnesota, I do miss the ocean. But Lake Superior is its own kind of amazing, too. I just wish we were closer to it!
Aww…penpal to the sky! I gaze out at our blue Lake Tahoe and see it in a new light now. Thanks, Laura!
The universal in the particular–the joy of poetry. Thanks, Patricia!
Laura, I think speaking to that many classes is amazing. I am sure they all loved visiting with you. This week’s poetryaction is a simple nod to the beauty of one of the Great Lakes. the last two lines provides information while adding beautiful poetic thoughts. I would love to participate in your upcoming zoom event.
Thanks, Carol–and, yes, please register for the Zoom! It’s “aimed” at classrooms, but any book lovers and friends are welcome!
Laura: Thank you for this wonderful poem about Lake Superior, which I love so much. We used to camp all along the north shore each fall. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Superior from atop a steep hill in Duluth. It was so huge, and I had not yet seen an ocean, so I was completely overwhelmed. Ahhh… the memories! Now I feel a little homesick, but I am so happy to have had my adventures there. Thank you for jogging that memory, that basket of dreams.
Yes, that view! Even I, having grown up in Florida and loving the ocean, was a bit overwhelmed by Lake Superior :>) Happy reminiscing :>)
I like your love for Lake Superior, “Pen pal to the sky”!
I lovelovelove this book, and I love all of your blues for Lake Superior!
Love your poem and especially “Pen pal to the sky,” Water is so wonderful and important, thanks Laura!
the jeans I’ve worn out at all the seams
the stripes of notebook paper
the berry
the beads
the Shenandoah as I drive home
YES — another one — to “pen pal to the sky”! Thanks for spreading so much goodness in the world to all these lucky students and to lucky readers of your books, Laura. Congrats on your newest! Happy Valentine’s Day this week. xo
Beautiful, Laura. Each line of your poem says a lot, but I think I like ‘pen pal to the sky’ the best.
I love “flasher of diamonds” and all the blue tributes to Lake Superior. Congrats on your newest book!
I love the idea of a poetryaction!
And I love the line “Blue basket of dreams.” Lovely!