Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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[Poetry Friday] National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

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J. Patrick Lewis, U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate,?has yet another new book out, this one a glorious anthology for National Geographic called Book of Animal Poetry. Where do I begin? Well, the poems, of course. There are 200 of them, by classic poets, modern poets, names you’ll recognize (including several Poetry Friday regulars,’such as?Kelly Fineman and […]

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[Poetry Friday] Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs

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It seems like only yesterday that I was sharing Jane Yolen and Pat Lewis’ Take Two: A Celebration of Twins. Well, they’re back and better than ever. Their new collaboration is Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs (Charlesbridge, 2012). If you have a somewhat morbid sense of humor (and most kids do), you will love this book! […]

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Poetry Friday: What’s Looking at You, Kid? (by J. Patrick Lewis)

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I usually share stand-alone poems on Poetry Friday, but this week, I’m featuring a rhyming picture book called What’s Looking At You Kid?(Sleeping Bear Press, 2012). J. Patrick Lewis has a new take on riddles, one of his favorite forms, judging by Spot the Plot and Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie. This delightful picture book features […]

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Poetry Friday: John Ciardi’s Shark Dentist (by J. Patrick Lewis)

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U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis has a couple of new books that I just read, and today I’m sharing a poem from one of them, Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). Each poem is a remake or spoof of a classic poem by a well-known poet, […]

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Poetry Friday: Take Two! Part 2 (J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen)

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OK, this post is not all about me, but I have to share my fantastic poetry news: BookSpeak! Poems About Books is on NCTE’s Notables list for 2012! I am so excited! Mary Lee at a Year in Reading shared the list Thursday. Lots of terrific poetry on it, which makes me so happy! And […]

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Poetry Friday: Take Two! (J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen)

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J. Patrick Lewis, U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, and Jane Yolen, epic children’s writer of everything,?must write about four books per day–all of them awesome. I recently received two of Pat’s books, and last Sunday, I made a mug of orange mandarin tea and snuggled in for?a good read: Take Two! A Celebration of Twins (Candlewick, […]

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Poetry Friday: Chocolate-Covered Ants (by J. Patrick Lewis)

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It is a well-documented fact that J. Patrick Lewis can write a poem about anything! And so today, in honor of National Chocolates Day (who knew?), our U.S. Children's Poet Laureate shares this poem about chocolate-covered ants. I was looking for a photo to put here, but then I realized I don't enjoy looking at chocolate-covered ants. […]

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One Book I Love: Tugg and Teeny

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Seriously, is there anything that J. Patrick Lewis can not write? The Children’s Poet Laureate has plenty of non-poetry books, too. And Tugg and Teeny is his series of easy readers from Sleeping Bear Press. Tugg’s a gorilla, Teeny’s a monkey, and they’re best friends. And they are adorable! In both Book One and Book […]

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Poetry Friday: Let Me Die a Young Man’s Death (J. Patrick Lewis)

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  If you’re a fan of J. Patrick Lewis’ poetry for kids (and if you’re not, what on Earth is wrong with you?!), I hope you’ll enjoy digging into his recent collection for adults, Gulls Hold Up the Sky (Laughing Fire Press, 2010). To me, the hallmark of Pat’s poetry is his eclecticism and facility […]

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NCTE Award: Congratultaions, Pat Lewis!

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                                   I hope all my writing and teaching  friends had a fabulous time at the Orlando convention for the National Council of Teachers of English. I know there were loads of terrific sessions, and I was especially sad to miss the poetry panel, led by Sylvia Vardell. It was a great lineup, and I […]

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