Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Welcome, and I’m so pleased that you’re here!
As I post this on Thursday afternoon, it’s the book birthday for my new picture book, Line Leads the Way. I love this little tale of perseverance, vulnerability, imperfection, and library love. The charming illustrations by Alice Caldarella bring the different shape characters to life with so much personality! And although I wrote many work-for-hire, educational series titles for Capstone back in the day, this is my first book with their trade imprint, Capstone Editions. Whee! 
However, due to some postal problems, I just held my first copy of the book yesterday! Here’s my sad (and highly imperfect) attempt at an unboxing video. They’re harder to create than they look!
Anyhow, I’d be so grateful if any of you who’ve read it would leave an honest review on Amazon. It can be super short! Any reviews help a book get shown to more people. Thank you so much!
Also, here are a couple of quick videos (less than 30 seconds each & made my my daughter Maddie) to give you a taste of the book.
Adding this on Thursday evening: And Randy has covid. Oi. I worked my part-time grocery store job today. Hopefully I was only spreading smiles and good cheer! And I’m supposed to do a library storytime Saturday morning. I’ve got to get more covid tests so Maddie and I can test. And we’re about to have visiting family. Wow, this is the best book publication day ever. (Not.)
Okay. Enough whining. On to my poem! Were you wondering if I’d forgotten? Hehe. Months ago, I thought, “I should write a whole series of poems related to shapes, in honor of the characters in Line Leads the Way.” But, those poems have been slow in coming. In fact, the only one that’s made an appearance is this poetryaction about how friendship is like a circle! I wrote it in reaction to How Big Is Love?, a board book by Emma Dodd. We’ll see if any more shape poems come parading through my brain eventually!
Thank you for being my Poetry Friday friends. A circle totally describes this loving community.
Mr. Linky is rounding us up today, so please fill out the
doohickey below to both leave your link and to check out all the other links you can explore. Thanks for being part of Poetry Friday! Saturday, I’m presenting a back-to-school library storytime, but I’ll get to read all of your posts over the weekend!
28 Responses
Congratulations on your new book–it looks fabulous. And I hope everyone in your family is healthy soon!
Thanks, Buffy!
💙ing all your videos and cheering you on with this wonderful new book Laura, which looks and sounds charming, delightful, and sensitive!!! I’m looking forward to reading it. Sending hugs your way and hopes that your husband heals and you all don’t catch it, xox.
Thank you, Michelle! (Testing negative so far.)
I like the poem so much, Laura. Very sweet. And the new book looks super fun! Congrats.
Thank you, Susan!
Oh, jeez! What a bummer of a Book Birthday! I hope there’s a happy ending with a light COVID case for Randy, no COVID for you and Maddie, and a joyous visit with relatives. In the meantime, feel our circle of community sending you positive thoughts and best wishes for the success of your book. (I can’t wait for my copy to arrive — I think it will be perfect to use with my after school kiddos!) Thanks for hosting us!
Thanks so much, Mary Lee. Sometimes it just goes like that, I suppose. And thanks for ordering LINE! I hope you enjoy it :>D
Thanks for hosting! I hope, like a circle, your family recovers and is well again from pesky Covid. Your book looks fun and I look forward to reading it. Congratulations, Laura!
Thank you, Janice–me too! :>)
Oi! indeed–I hope Randy feels well again fast and that you stay out of those woods! Congrats on this fun book, Laura, and thanks for rounding us up.
Thanks, Heidi. I appreciate the good wishes! Maddie’s fiance arrives Monday night. It’s a long-distance relationship, and it’ll be pretty devastating if covid makes it go pear-shaped. Fingers crossed!
Laura, I think “Line Leads the Way” is going to be a fabulous book for children, classrooms, and libraries. The characters are adorable and the videos are exciting little snippets. I am sorry that Randy has COVID and the news came at an untimely time. Thanks for your poetryaction poem. It is a gem that I will read to my grandgirls. I will also share your videos to the little grandgirls, too. I am sure they will enjoy both the videos and your poem. I hope Randy feels better and that no one else gets the dreaded COVID. Concentrate on the positive. I will send you my post shortly.
Thank you, Carol! After feeling sorry for myself for several hours yesterday, I’m mostly back on track. Had to cancel my storytime for tomorrow. But yes, mostly focusing on NOT getting covid nor giving it to Maddie (We’re both negative so far). Thank you, as always, for your advocacy and sharing! You are a wonder.
Hoo boy — Life! Thanks for a fun Roundup for us even with everything else going on. Hope Randy is over Covid quickly. CONGRATS on the new book; your Circle poem is wonderful, and I love the last line. Maddie did a great job with the videos! Hope LINE LEADS THE WAY to some less stressful days real soon.
Hehehe–I see what you did there :>D Thanks for the good wishes, Robyn!
Really looking forward to your new book!!!
Thanks, Marcie!
I canNOT resist library love. I will be sharing this beauty with my ES library friends next week. Thank you, Laura! I’m sending you a protection thought to surround you so that you don’t also get covid and if you do–it’s a light case. Best of luck with this launch!
Thank you so very much, Linda! The sharing is MUCH appreciated. So is the protection thought–please include our daughter Maddie, as her fiance arrives for a visit Monday night. I’m worried it will be sidelined.
Dear Laura, thank you for your friendship circle poem! So many congrats on LINE, and yay for Maddie’s videos! Hang in there and know this circle that is Poetry Friday is swaddling you. xo
Thank you, Irene. I always feel the hugs from this group <3
Good morning Poets,
Dipping my toe in the pool for the first time and already forgot to add my title, “Transitions.” ; Ha! I was so excited to hear about Poetry Friday at my recent writing retreat at Highlights. I look forward to savoring your poems today, one little delicious bite at a time. Thanks for hosting Laura. I love all the ways you used a circle image. I will always think of a hug that way now. Beautiful! I can see already this will be a place of great inspiration. Have a great weekend and happy writing! Cathy
Thank you, Cathy! So glad you’ve jumped in! I really enjoyed your post!
Thank you for hosting this week, Laura! Your new book looks adorable, and kudos to Maddie for creating those videos! I love “Friendship is a Circle” and all the love it holds. Here’s hoping Randy is feeling better soon and that you and Maddie stay well.
Thanks, Catherine! Here’s hoping! :>)
Clearly the creativity isn’t limited to one person in your family! I love the videos and am excited to read “Line Leads the Way”! Congratulations on the book birthday even if it took an unexpected turn. I hope Randy feels better soon, that you and Maddie escape illness, and that the anticipated visit goes off without any additional hitches. Take care and thanks so much for rounding us up!
Thanks, Molly, on all counts!