Laura Purdie Salas

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Poetry Friday – “Good-bye, Hello!” by Laura Purdie Salas (a back-to-school poem)

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I sold this poem to Highlights several years ago, and I’m so excited that it’s finally in the magazine! When I was a kid, I looked forward to the start of the school year SO much! Sure, I liked the free time of summer, but I loved school even more. And don’t even get me started on how much I looked forward to school starting when my kids were little! Goodbye, Hello! Goodbye, blue sky Hello, walls Goodbye, sidewalks Hello, halls Goodbye, seesaw Hello, seat Goodbye, messy Hello, neat… Read the rest here and listen to it on Highlightskids.com’s Poetry Player. –Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved by Highlights Poet Irene Latham (with whom I might get to sign at NCTE!) has the Poetry Friday Roundup today! Enjoy!

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Comments

    • THanks, Susanna! It’s such an iconic publication, so I’m thrilled to be there:>)

    • THanks, Susanna! It’s such an iconic publication, so I’m thrilled to be there:>)

    • Thanks, Matt–I wrote it for something else, but then it did seem like it had a Highlights feel to it:>)

    • Thanks, Matt–I wrote it for something else, but then it did seem like it had a Highlights feel to it:>)

    • Thanks, Diana. I had fun trying to capture what the start of the school year meant to me as a kid:>)

    • Thanks, Diana. I had fun trying to capture what the start of the school year meant to me as a kid:>)

  9. Very nice. I didn’t realize it could take so long to see your work. I am happy for you that your wait–and ours–is over.

    • Several years is very common with picture books. Magazines are *sometimes* quicker…not always. This is not a career for the impatient (which I am–very!).

  10. Very nice. I didn’t realize it could take so long to see your work. I am happy for you that your wait–and ours–is over.

    • Several years is very common with picture books. Magazines are *sometimes* quicker…not always. This is not a career for the impatient (which I am–very!).

  13. Laura so wonderful that they published your pome
    this is a relay fun poem I love how you used hello good by 🙂

  14. Laura so wonderful that they published your pome
    this is a relay fun poem I love how you used hello good by 🙂

  17. Love each part. You’ve hit them all, Laura. While some might not understand, I loved “Good-bye, lonely/Hello, us.” Some of our students are so happy to get back, & have spent a lot of time at home alone. Congrats on the publication!

    • Thanks, Linda. As a teen with more independence, I wasn’t lonely over the summer. But when I was in elementary school, summer (especially by the end of it) was a pretty lonely time for me. I could not WAIT for school to start! I’m glad that felt authentic to you–I know it goes against the common perception of summer.

  18. Love each part. You’ve hit them all, Laura. While some might not understand, I loved “Good-bye, lonely/Hello, us.” Some of our students are so happy to get back, & have spent a lot of time at home alone. Congrats on the publication!

    • Thanks, Linda. As a teen with more independence, I wasn’t lonely over the summer. But when I was in elementary school, summer (especially by the end of it) was a pretty lonely time for me. I could not WAIT for school to start! I’m glad that felt authentic to you–I know it goes against the common perception of summer.

  19. Laura, this is a delightful and engaging poem for the Highlight crowd and it has a message of positivity. Congratulations!

  20. Laura, this is a delightful and engaging poem for the Highlight crowd and it has a message of positivity. Congratulations!

  23. My granddaughter has a subscription to Highlights so I’ll be sure to look for your poem the next time I visit her. Such a fun poem that I know many kids can relate to!

  24. My granddaughter has a subscription to Highlights so I’ll be sure to look for your poem the next time I visit her. Such a fun poem that I know many kids can relate to!

  25. What a fabulous poem, Laura! And it’s perfect for the beginning of school. Nice to see it finally in print, and so lively with the illustrations. Congratulations!

  26. What a fabulous poem, Laura! And it’s perfect for the beginning of school. Nice to see it finally in print, and so lively with the illustrations. Congratulations!

  29. Laura! I am THRILLED to be signing with you at NCTE. 🙂 And your poem is a delight. Congratulations! I think my favorite is “Goodbye lonely, hello us.” 🙂 I’ve just watched our youngest (9th grade) make that transition, so yay!

    • Thanks, Irene–me, too!

      And I’m so glad you like that line. It’s counterintuitive to some people, but summer was kinda lonely until I was old enough to go places on my own.

  30. Laura! I am THRILLED to be signing with you at NCTE. 🙂 And your poem is a delight. Congratulations! I think my favorite is “Goodbye lonely, hello us.” 🙂 I’ve just watched our youngest (9th grade) make that transition, so yay!

    • Thanks, Irene–me, too!

      And I’m so glad you like that line. It’s counterintuitive to some people, but summer was kinda lonely until I was old enough to go places on my own.

    • Thanks, Myra! School forces kids to be somewhat organized (or at least contained in the space of a desk, locker, etc.), but it’s a bigger challenge for teachers:>)

    • Thanks, Myra! School forces kids to be somewhat organized (or at least contained in the space of a desk, locker, etc.), but it’s a bigger challenge for teachers:>)

  37. Charming poem, Laura, and perfect for this time of year. I’m glad that it finally made it into print. (The first poem that I wrote that was accepted was for publication was at Highlights, about 15 years ago…if that one ever makes it into the magazine it will be a delightful surprise!)

  38. Charming poem, Laura, and perfect for this time of year. I’m glad that it finally made it into print. (The first poem that I wrote that was accepted was for publication was at Highlights, about 15 years ago…if that one ever makes it into the magazine it will be a delightful surprise!)

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