Poetry Friday: Mourning the loss of Katey Howes

I wasn’t sure if I should believe it, when I saw a couple of Facebook posts mentioning the passing of children’s author Katey Howes. I searched for an official obituary, but couldn’t find anything from any sort of reliable source – yet more and more people were talking about it.

Sure enough, the truth became apparent and the realization that the world of children’s literature had unexpectedly lost one of our kindest, most supportive members hit home.

Katey was one of the first kidlit creators I met many years ago at an SCBWI conference and, as many others will tell you, she was a very helpful, encouraging soul. I wouldn’t say we were friends, necessarily, but we kept in touch with what each was doing and would ocassionally connect via social media.

So it came as a shock – an unbelieveable one – when I first heard the news that she was no longer with us.

Even though Katey loved writing picture books with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) focus, she loved poetry, too, and was very good at writing it. This is why I thought I’d share a couple of spreads from her 2022 book, A Poem Grows inside You (The Innovation Press).

Beautiful on both art and text, the book is a lyrical celebration of the creative process – of being open to ideas and nurturing them and letting them grow:

^{(Click to enlarge)}

.

I know I’m not alone when I tell you how much the kidlit community – and the world – will miss her talent, her spirit, and her wonderful books.

Rest in peace, Katey.

Michelle Kogan is celebrating the May birthdays of a couple of famous poets, and you can read her post at today’s Poetry Friday roundup at her blog MoreArt4All.

---

~~ I am booking author visits
for the 2024-2025 school year! ~~

Not having raised my rates EVER, I regret to say I will need to increase my rates slightly this coming school year; if you think your school might be interested in having me visit, plese contact me before the end of THIS school year and I will lock in my current rate for you! (You don’t need to book me or sign a contract; simply let me know you’d like to lock in the current rate, and that’s it!)

Check out all the presentations I offer, then email me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com!

I love chatting with elementary and middle school classes about writing: why poetry is fun to read and write, the importance of revision, and how imagination and creativity can lead to fantastic careers! My presentations are tailored to fit the needs of the classes and students’ ages. One day I might be sharing details of how a picture book like Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017) was created; the next, I’ll be discussing dinosaur breath or crafting origami sea turtles!

Student presentations include:

• The Making of a Picture Book
• How a Child Saved a Book
• “Once Upon Another Time”
• The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
• “I Am Today”
• “A Beginner’s Guide to Being Human”
• “Everybody Counts: Counting to 10 in Twelve Languages”

Adult presentations include:

• The Making of a Picture Book
• The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
• Free Yourself with Free Verse
• Tight Language, Loose Narratives: Crafting a Non-Traditional Picture Book
• The Journey of a Children’s Author

Learn more at MattForrest.com!

=====================================================

Order PERSONALLY-SIGNED copies of my books
from my local independent bookstore!

=====================================================

I’m now on BOOKSHOP!

=====================================================

I’m also very happy to be part of the BOOKROO family!

=====================================================

Ordering personalized signed copies online? Oh, yes, you can!

You can purchase personally-signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Astra Young Readers, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly EVERY book or anthology I’ve been part of!

Click here to view all my books and to order!

Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send a comment to the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH requesting my signature and to whom I should make it out. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They’ll contact me, I’ll stop by and sign it, and then they’ll ship it! (Plus, you’ll be supporting your local bookseller – and won’t that make you feel good?)

======================================================

Thank you to everyone for your support!

FLASHLIGHT NIGHT:

• NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017” AND “Staff Pick!”
• KIRKUS Starred review!
• Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Books!
• “Best Reads of 2017,” Unleashing Readers
• Finalist, 2019 New Hampshire Literary Awards
• Positive reviews from Horn Book, School Library Connection, School Library Connection, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf-Awareness!

DON’T ASK A DINOSAUR:

• “Rollicking rhyme!” – Booklist
  • “A wild romp!” – Parenting NH Magazine
  • “Cute…intriguing…4 out of 5 stars”     – Tulsa Book Review
  • “Rhythmic…funny and informative”     – Unleashing Readers

======================================================

Did you like this post? Find something interesting elsewhere in this blog? I really won’t mind at all if you feel compelled to share it with your friends and followers!

To keep abreast of all my posts, please consider subscribing via the links up there on the right!  (I usually only post once or twice a week – usually Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day) . Also feel free to visit my voiceover website HERE, and you can also follow me via Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and SoundCloud!