Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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Post-Putrid Poetry: Thank You!

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Well, that was a rip-roaring Poetry Month! Thank you so much for reading Louis’ story. The comments meant a lot to me as I shared some work totally unlike my more usual stuff. I also enjoyed the emails you sent, sharing students’ poems that were just “too gross to share publicly.” I admit that there […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 29: Poetry Heals: A Get Well Poem for Miss Sweetmallow

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The kids all looked bored. Then it was my turn. “I’ve been writing interesting poems in Miss Sweetmallow’s class. She said we could write about whatever we wanted, and that made poetry a lot more fun.” Bran and Marty cheered. “But then she challenged me to write a nice poem. I wasn’t planning to do […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 28: Family Recipe

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“This next one,” said Goldie, “is about my family. We had a family reunion last summer, and it was so much fun. So I tried to capture that here, and I wrote it like it was a recipe.” Family Recipe Take a three-legged dash for a dusting of fun Run through the sprinklers then roast […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 27: Bats on the Move

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Goldie writes poems so nice and sweet,like chocolate fudge, or some other treat. Goldie smiled at me as she came on stage. She obviously didn’t know I hate chocolate fudge. She stood right beside me, and she looked at me like, “Move it, Louis.” Then she whispered, “Move it, Louis.” That was my job. Introduce […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 26: Attacking Bubble Gum

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I had tried to think of some way to improve this, but I couldn’t. So, I stepped up to the microphone (the best part of this MC job) and said: You’ve seen the good. You’ve seen the best.Now listen and let your eyelids rest. OK, not my best introduction. Mr. Jones didn’t think so, either. […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 25: Talent Share Day

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It was Ridgeway Talent Share Day. Miss S still hadn’t been back to school, but there she was in the audience. She looked a little greenish, but she smiled when I caught her eye.The lights dimmed.It was time.Marty was first. I had written a little poem to introduce each person. He juggles tomatoes round and […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 24: Class Is a Gas

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 Dr. Louis Pasternak Skullstench: Stealth Poet Poetry Assignment #24: Free Verse Class Is a Gas My science teacher squirts perfume. “Every smell is particles. Smell that? You have tiny perfume particles in your nose and mouth.”   Sharp perfume stings our tongues. Then Farty Marty rips one and smiles at me. Particles from his intestines […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 23: Value Foods’ Hot Dog-Eating Contest

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Dr. Louis Pasternak Skullstench: Stealth Poet Poetry Assignment #23: The Narrative Poem Value Foods’ Hot Dog-Eating Contest Hot dogs Slog down Land in stomach Pound by pound SlickSlidy Go down easy Now I’m feeling Kind of queasy Going down They’re fine but then– Here they come          Back up again Trust me, they’re […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 22: Rules from Mom and Dad [Poetry Friday]

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Dr. Louis Pasternak Skullstench: Stealth Poet Poetry Assignment #22: An Opposites Poem Rules from Mom and Dad Chew with your mouth closed Always say please Sit still in your chair It’s not nice to tease Rules I Wish I Could Give Mom and Dad Don’t kiss me in public Don’t ruffle my hair Don’t beat […]

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Putrid Poetry: Day 21: Rabbits Recycle!

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Dr. Louis Pasternak Skullstench: Stealth Poet Poetry Assignment #21: A Poem Based on Research Rabbits Recycle! They sniff hay They chew it They poop it and then They sniff at their poop and start over again I made you queasy? Excellent! Here’s a rabbit poem for you! They really eat their poop. Don’t you have […]

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