I love National Poetry Month. I love publishing new picture books. I love readings and signings and blog contests to promote those books. And I love teaching poetry and writing to students.
But trying to do all of these in one month? WHEW!
As I was looking over some of my documents, considering what to share for Poetry Friday today, I came across a poem I wrote back in March – that I never got around to posting here! So I’m going to take care of that right now.
I wrote it as a response to one of Michelle H. Barnes’ monthly challenges on her blog; she had interviewed the incredible Nikki Grimes, who had suggested that readers write a golden shovel poem. A golden shovel takes a line from someone else’s poem and then uses each word in that line as the last word of each line of the new poem.
Uncertainty sneaks in.
It’s always the case
when dealing with what I
want to lose, or wish I forgot.
Things left behind, they find a way to come back, to
remind me you never can tell
what’s going to hold onto you.
.
It’s only a second draft, so I could probably spend some more time polishing it, but this was an exercise in writing – not a quest for perfection. Remember what I always say: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading! Sometimes polish and shine is necessary, but the act of writing itself needs to be allowed its freedom, which is why I occasionally share poems here that are not-quite-finished.
Every great masterpiece has to start somewhere – and sometimes, it can be pretty hideous when it first starts breathing. It can take a few days, a few months, a few years before it’s ready to debut in public. Just keep at it, and write – no one ever said everything needs to be a masterpiece, and no one ever said you had to share your writing with anyone. Write for yourself, first and foremost…and then see where it takes you.
Looking for today’s Poetry Friday roundup? You’ll find it at Rebecca Herzog’s little home on the web, Sloth Reads – where she is not only hosting today’s shindig, she’s also offering a book giveaway!
“DON’T ASK A DINOSAUR” is now available everywhere!
Only a couple more signings lined up at this point – so if you are in the Southern NH-Eastern MA area, I hope you’ll stop by and say hi!
TOMORROW, Sat., May 19, 11:30am-3pm: Barnes & Noble, Salem, NH, National Storytime at 11am, followed by Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People reading/signing
Sat., June 2, 1-3pm: Books-A-Million, Concord, NH, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People reading/signing
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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)
As we’re winding down and heading into the weekend, I wanted to share not only a little appreciation for teachers across the country (see above), but also my appreciation for folks like teacher/librarian Jone MacCulloch, who inspire students everyday to read and write poetry.
Each spring, Jone offers to send a postcard from one of her students to any of us in the Poetry Friday community who would like one…and a few days ago, I discovered this in my mailbox:
(click to enlarge)
There’s something about the name, “Journiful John Horse” I just want to keep saying over and over. I’m so intrigued by this legendary tale, a true classic piece of Americana – that little Avery just created!
For all of today’s Poetry Friday links, please head on over to Jama’s Alphabet Soup – for bluebirds, blueberry muffins, and the complete poetry roundup. And if you have not had a chance to check out my recap of the recent NESCBWI Spring Conference, I hope you will!
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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)
One of the biggest benefits of the conference, which took place April 20-22, is networking: agents, editors, and fellow writers all converge on this one location to meet, chat, and dine with each other, which is worth the price of admission itself. The varied workshops and high-profile speakers are huge draws, too, of course, but the importance of the social aspect of this conference cannot be overstated.
That said, I always like to share a few choice tidbits of wisdom gleaned from the experience; some of it inspirational, some incidental. This list is by no means exhaustive, and even what you read here is a snippet of what you would have learned had you actually been there. So if you are an SCBWI member, please consider attending your next local conference!
Jane & I have known each other for 7 years now, but there’s been no photographic proof until now!
Writing is a vocation as much as it is an avocation. Jane Yolen reminded us of this fact during the Opening Ceremonies Friday evening. We write (or illustrate) not only because we are drawn to it as an occupation for which we each feel particularly suited, but because we enjoy it – and would be doing this even if it were not our profession. .
Learn to be happy, find the joy, recognize the encouragement! Author Rita Williams-Garcia was Sat. morning’s keynote speaker and related her experiences of going from wannabe writer to award-winning author with humility and humor. She explained that early on in her career, she was so focused on writing and “being an author,” she was missing out on the happiness that comes from sharing your books with the world and the joy of children being inspired by your work. She has since learned how to embrace life, career, and all that goes with them. .
Cast a wide net. Author/illustrator Dan Santat is a familiar face here at the conference, and is always inspiring. During one of his workshops, he was explaining how and why he enjoys different projects: one might be a picture book all his own, another might be a middle grade chapter book or
Perennially, one of the longest lines during book-signing is Dan’s!
graphic novel written by someone else. He said that he keeps hearing people talking about “finding your style” or “finding your voice” – but what happens when that style or voice is no longer en vogue? It is best, Dan suggested, to stretch yourself and be marketable across a wide range of genres and styles – if you plan on maintaining a career by working in the industry for the long haul. .
You can always tell which conference day it is, based on breakfast attendance. This is something I’ve noticed each year, and I just find it amusing. Saturday morning, the ballroom is filled to capacity! The foyer is a buzz with attendees smiling and chatting, grabbing coffee, fruit, pastries, and cereal, and finding their seats before the keynote begins. Everyone is full of energy, catching up with friends and acquaintances and gearing up for a weekend of inspiration and education! Sunday…half of those people are still in their rooms trying to wake up, while those of us who do make it to breakfast – while still happy and amiable – are visibly much, much slower. Definitely a two-coffee morning. .
Dr. Seuss used way more White-Out than anyone ever realized. This was a revelation that illustrator Matt Phelan shared during Sunday’s keynote. He had visited a children’s illustration exhibit at a museum where some of Dr. Seuss’ original works were on display and one rather large piece had what Matt described as an “inordinate amount of White-Out all over it.” He said this immediately humanized the man, as he realized that even a master such as Theodor Seuss Geisel made plenty of mistakes along the road. .
Matt also credited his success to the “Gift of Ignorance,” a reference to Orson Welles’ explanation of how he created the cinematic masterpiece, “Citizen Kane.” Welles’ claimed that he made a movie unlike any other because he had never made movies, and no one ever told him how to make
Hanging out with friends and fellow authors at Saturday night’s annual Volunteer Dinner.
one or not make one! Matt likened it to walking along a cliff: if you know you’re on a cliff, you’re going to be safe and careful and do everything you’ve been told in order to save yourself. If you don’tknow you’re walking along a cliff, you are much more likely to be carefree and less fearful. .
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” This quote from the late poet Maya Angelou was shared by one of the speakers – although I cannot for the life of me remember who! After racking my brain trying to recall, it occurred to me that the name of the person relating the quote is not as important as the truth that lies within the quote.
Again, I encourage you to join SCWBI if you are serious about becoming a published children’s author or illustrator. And do whatever it takes to attend a conference, even if it’s just for one day! The workshops, the networking, the inspiration are worth far more than the cost of attendance.
How much time, effort, and money are you willing to put towards seeing your publishing dreams come true? I know I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not attended my first SCBWI conference back in 2011. In fact, I owe my entire career to LUNCH.
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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)
Ah, yes…May 4th. And although Star Wars has nothing to do with poetry, dinosaurs, or flashlights, it has everything to do with my Geek roots (note the capitalization) and my love of science fiction – so I couldn’t let the day go by without wishing you salutations of the season. (And yes, I’m looking forward to the Ron Howard-directed “Solo,” due in theatres this year!)
Now, then, where where we? Oh, yes…
The 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem!
A little seed’s adventure is complete…the 2018 Progressive Poem has wrapped up! Each day over the course of April (National Poetry Month), 30 different writers/bloggers added a line to the poem, and early this week, it all came to an end.
Here’s my annual recorded version of the poem, followed by the text so you can follow along, if you’d like…
Sorry about that giant cranium, by the way – I have no control over the size of the photo! (But it’s a reasonable facsimile of the real thing, in case you’re wondering)
Poet’s Jasmine, Blooming Lovely
Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.
Oh, what wonderful dreams she’d had!
Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
the pulse of a thousand stars, sweet Jasmine
invented a game.
“Moon?” she called across warm honeyed air.
“I’m sad you’re alone; come join Owl and me.
We’re feasting on stardrops, we’ll share them with you.”
“Come find me,” Moon called, hiding behind a cloud.
Secure in gentle talons’ embrace, Jasmine rose
and set. She split, twining up Owl’s toes, pale
moonbeams sliding in between, Whoosh, Jasmine goes.
Owl flew Jasmine between clouds and moon to Lee’s party!
Moon, that wily bright balloon, was NOT alone. ……………………………………………………Jas grinned,
………………………………………………………….stretched,
………………………………………………………………..reached,
……………………………………………………………………..wrapped
…………………………………………………………………….a new,
………………………………………….. around ………tender …………………………………………………………rootlet
a trellis Sky held out to her, made of braided wind and song.
Her green melody line twisted and clung.
Because she was twining poet’s jasmine, she
wiggled a wink back at Moon, and began her poem.
Her whispered words floated on a puff of wind,
filled with light and starsong. “Revelers, lean in –
let’s add to this merriment a game that grows
wordgifts for Lee. He’s a man who knows
selection, collection, and wisely advising
these dreamers, word-weavers, and friends.”
Jas enfolded Moon-Sky-Owl into the cup of her petals,
lifted new greens to the warming rays of spring. Sun
smeared the horizon with colour, as Jasmine stretched.
She felt powerful. She felt fresh. She bloomed and took a breath
and filled the earth with a fragrance all her own. .
To see how the poem came to be, check out the following posts:
I have TWO names to announce today – each of whom has won a personally-signed copy of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books)!
One person was selected at random for sharing the news about the book’s release; out of all the folks who commented on the original Book Birthday blog post, shared it, Tweeted about it, etc., only one name could be chosen…and that was…
KIMBERLY HUTMACHER!!
Congratulations, Kimberly – and thank you so much for your support!
Our second winner took advantage of a writing challenge I call “Poetry…Cubed!” If you’ve ever seen “Chopped!” on The Food Network, this is the same premise, applied to poetry:
Use 3 images as inspiration to write a poem. .
Include a reference to all three images in the poem. .
Email your poem to me so I can share them throughout the month. Out of all poems submitted, one writer is chosen at random! And that winner is…
JOYCE RAY!!
Congratulations, Joyce, and thanks for participating! As I always remind folks, this little poetry contest is about participation, not perfection – so please continue to #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading!
My friend Brenda Davis Harsham is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday roundup at her blog, Friendly Fairy Tales – where she is sharing a springtime haiku in addition to all of today’s poetry links.
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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)
Before we get to today’s poems, I want to encourage you to check out this past Tuesday’s post, in which I shared some 5th grade student poetry from a middle school in Redditch, England! For kids who have been struggling with literacy learning, I was so happy to learn how much they dove into this writing project, following a Skype visit I had with them earlier this year.
They should be very proud of themselves – not only for the writing itself, but for being willing to share their work with all my readers!
I also need to remind you that you only have FOUR DAYS left to enter my Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books) giveaway!
To celebrate the release of my newest picture book, I wanted to offer several opportunities to win copies. One way to win a copy of DAAD, signed by both me and my co-author, Deborah Bruss, is to simply share the news!
.
Each one of these counts as an entry, which means you could have as many as four entries…and if you add in the other 2 contests, that’s SIX different opportunities to win THREE copies! Just be sure to tag me when you share these links, so I can count you. I’ll draw ONE NAME at the end of the month. Good luck, and thank you!
Today, I have more “Poetry Cubed!” poems to share – and each one of them is also an opportunity to win!
If you’ve ever seen “Chopped!” on The Food Network, you know that chefs try to outdo each other by creating dishes using specific and sometimes rather strange ingredients. So for this contest, I’ve taken the premise of the TV show and applied it to poetry! Here’s how it works:
Use the 3 images below as inspiration to write a poem. (1 poem, to the 3rd power – “cubed!”) .
The poem can be any form, any genre, any number of lines, rhyming or not. Most importantly, remember: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading! This is about having fun and being creative! .
Include a reference to all three images in the one poem – either via concrete imagery or something more abstract. (And since this is poetry we’re talking about, we play fast and loose with this rule!) .
Email your poem to me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com and I’ll share them here throughout the month. Out of all poems submitted, one writer will be chosen at random to receive a personally-signed copy of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
Here are the three images (click on any to enlarge):
Today we have two more poems to share: .
untitled cherita
after the celebration
birthday gifts sorted
thank-you cards await
in a shadowy corner
he shines his new lampe de poche
“Merci, Mémé!” he whispers
This time, instead of very different imagery, we have two poems both playing with the contract of light and dark – and both make specific references to birthdays. (By the way, a ‘cherita’ is a poem consisting of 1 line, then 2 lines, then 3 lines, and is usually narrative. Find out more about the form HERE)
One final poem – not at all like these! – from another reader who preferred to remain anonymous:
untitled
Hold the light; hands
scaly
and ancient search
dry earth
one more day
– anonymous
I’ll continue taking entries until the end of the month – which is THIS MONDAY – so send in your poems to Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com! Good luck!
The incredibly talented (and very busy!) Irene Latham is hosting today’s Poetry Friday roundup at her blog, Live Your Poem – where she also shares poetry and answers questions about her contributions to this year’s ARTSPEAK! project.
“DON’T ASK A DINOSAUR” is now available everywhere!
This is going to be a busy weekend, with THREE APPEARANCES over two days – including a wild DOUBLE DINO DAY tomorrow, with author Sara Levine:
Sat., April 28, 10:30am: Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People reading/signing (with Sara Levine, Fossil by Fossil: Comparing Dinosaur Bones reading/signing)
Sat., April 28, 2pm: Barnes & Noble, Framingham, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing (with Sara Levine, Fossil by Fossil: Comparing Dinosaur Bones reading/signing)
Sun., April 29, 2pm: MainStreet BookEnds, Warner, NH, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur, School People, and Flashlight Nightreading/signing and discussion
A little seed is on an adventure…the 2018 Progressive Poem is underway! Here’s the list of all the writers/bloggers participating, so you can follow along:
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
I am back from our local SCBWI chapter’s annual spring conference (my wrap-up will be forthcoming next week), and although I’m currently spending time with two exes – ex-hilarated and ex-hausted – I could not let National Poetry Month go by without including some more student poetry…this time, from across the Pond!
Early this year, I chatted via Skype with a group of fifth-grade students at a middle school in Redditch, England about poetry and writing in general. Before we wrapped up, I suggested to them that they think about something they really love or enjoy and write something about that. After all, the first step in writing a poem is understanding your subject, so this was an easy way to get them into it. They could write list poems, non-rhyming, anything – I just wanted them to get their thoughts on paper.
I had no idea what they were about to do!
Their teacher, Oliver Cooke (aka, Olly) contacted me a couple of months later and told me that – as a way to help encourage some of the students who struggle with literacy – they were asked to write poems about things they love, and that Olly would send me some of them. They jumped into it! I’ll let Olly explain, in his words:
“They were very, very excited at the prospect of a real poet reading their work and even the small possibility that you would post it on your blog. This has inspired them to write poetry and they have engaged really well!”
Well, if posting their work on my blog is going to inspire them to write and become more engaged, I suppose I’d better post their work, shouldn’t I?? (click on any of them to enlarge)
Hmmm…I think what we can deduce here is that most students love a) summer; b) springtime; and c) football (soccer). Odd, no mention of algebra. I think my favorite is the “Gymtime” poem on the bottom left corner; the writer has a nice sense of rhythm and wordplay, and the “time line” / “limp time” rhyme – while not a perfect rhyme – makes the poem sing! And most importantly, it provides a nice way to end the poem.
If you’re a teacher or educator, you should know I never try to get students who are just learning poetry to rhyme. They’ve heard nursery rhymes, read rhyming picture books, listened to songs…they’re already familiar with it! I prefer helping them to understand their subject: thinking about it, studying it, considering connections one can make to it. I’d rather have a thoughtful poem borne of reflection, introspection, or juxtaposition than a poem that simply rhymes. Meter, rhyme, form – all that can come later.
Also remember my mantra: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading! Don’t worry about what others might say – just write! Yes, in school you have to be proper with your grammar and syntax and conjugation and sentence structure and all that hullabaloo…but writing can be a great deal of fun when you don’t worry about all those rules and just write for yourself. A time and place for everything, as they say.
A huge THANK YOU to Olly, his colleague, teacher Emma Horsley, and their students for sending these to me! Keep up the great work, and I hope to chat with you all again.
Meanwhile, The Dinosaur Tour blog tour rolls on! Several kidlit bloggers are sharing DAAD reviews, interviews, and contests this month and next. Here’s a list of all the bloggers participating:
A little seed is on an adventure…the 2018 Progressive Poem is underway! Here’s the list of all the writers/bloggers participating, so you can follow along:
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
The rumors are true! The news isn’t fake! The dinos are loose, and they can’t bake a cake!
Ok, well, that’s not actually part of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books) – but the couplet just popped into my head as I was putting this post together, so I felt obligated to include it.
But yes, it IS, indeed, true that my second picture book is now in stores everywhere!
If you’d like to win a copy signed by both me and my co-author, Deborah Bruss, be sure to check out this past Tuesday’s post, where you have FOUR chances to win! Today, I have more “Poetry Cubed!” poems to share – and each one of them is also an opportunity for someone to win a signed copy!
If you’ve ever seen “Chopped!” on The Food Network, you know that chefs try to outdo each other by creating dishes using specific and sometimes rather strange ingredients. So for this contest, I’ve taken the premise of the TV show and applied it to poetry! Here’s how it works:
Use the 3 images below as inspiration to write a poem. (1 poem, to the 3rd power – “cubed!”) .
The poem can be any form, any genre, any number of lines, rhyming or not. Most importantly, remember: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading! This is about having fun and being creative! .
Include a reference to all three images in the one poem – either via concrete imagery or something more abstract. (And since this is poetry we’re talking about, we play fast and loose with this rule!) .
Email your poem to me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com and I’ll share them here throughout the month. Out of all poems submitted, one writer will be chosen at random to receive a personally-signed copy of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
Here are the three images (click on any to enlarge):
Today we have two more poems to share: .
Spring Is What You Make It
It was an awesome birthday party
despite the April storm.
Perhaps because the lights went out,
we made foolish fun,
pretending retro times of pre-electric,
but we still didn’t miss the outhouse
with the creaky door.
Most guests brought out the sleighs
and harnessed the horses,
picked up others who had neither.
The sleighs skimmed over the roads
with daring, hoping this recent storm
had laid enough inches needed
for a holiday sleigh ride.
The lure of sleigh bells
kept us searching for more lanterns,
lighting them for the guests
who put the horses in the barn,
stomped their way across the yard,
up the stairs of the porch.
Cups of cider warmed them,
and from the fact that so many came,
and in a winter wonderland,
we were warmed by their gusto.
I thought I would have a surprise,
like a spectacular dinosaur cake or
an adventure video game that returns
to that dino age (like Jurassic Park).
But this time traveling really happened,
and now that I’m ten,
I’ll ask for snow again for my birthday next year.
(NOTE: Many areas of the country – including Linda’s and mine – have been hit with April snowstorms, which makes one wonder if the definition of “spring” got changed and no one told us)
. senryu
birth, death, in-between
happiness and pain, you find
a light of millions
– Anonymous
.
Once again, two vastly different approaches and imagery to three very simple pictures. Gosh, I love this contest! (And in case you’re wondering, we have a friend who prefers not to attach name to text; hence, the lack of identification)
There is less than a week and a half left to the month, so be sure to email your poems soon – I’ll share more poems next Friday, and then announce the winner on May 4!
For today’s complete poetry roundup, head on over to The Opposite of Indifference, where Tabatha Yeatts is hosting Poetry Friday. Oh, and it might take me awhile to reply to any comments, as I’m spending the weekend at the New England SCBWI conference in Springfield, Mass., starting today…but I will definitely be reading them all and reading all your “Poetry Cubed!” entries!
The Dinosaur Tour blog tour is rolling full-steam ahead! As part of our book’s kickoff, several kidlit bloggers are sharing DAAD reviews, interviews, and contests. It’s been a busy week, since the book officially debuted this past Tue., so here’s a list of all the bloggers participating:
A little seed is on an adventure…the 2018 Progressive Poem is underway! Here’s the list of all the writers/bloggers participating, so you can follow along:
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
The day has finally come: Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books) is now available online and in bookstores across the land!
My co-author, Deborah Bruss, and I kicked off the The Dinosaur Tour book tour at Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, NH and Toadstool Bookshop, Keene, NH this past Saturday. (That’s right: two signings in one day, and the book hadn’t even been officially released yet!)
The folks at Toadstool were celebrating Children’s Author Day, and we were joined by local illustrator Ryan O’Rourke, who was celebrating the release of Alphabet Boats (Charlesbridge) by Samantha Vamos – which is also officially out today. And as you can see in the first pic below, I also shared the new poetry anthology School People (Wordsong), of which I am one of 14 contributors, and Flashlight Night (Boyds Mills Press, 2017).
The Dinosaur Tour blog tour is rolling full-steam ahead! As part of our book’s kickoff, several kidlit bloggers are sharing DAAD reviews, interviews, and contests. I want to thank Momma’s Bacon for reviewing our book today – and for a list of all the bloggers participating, you can check out this list:
April 6: Michelle H. Barnes(Interview w/month-long writing prompt)
April 8: Kate Narita(Book trailer & activity sheet spotlight)
April 11: Deborah Kalb(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
April 13: Yours Truly! (Interview w/illustrator Louie Chin)
April 16: KidLit Exchange(Blog post re: process of illustration) April 17: Jama’s Alphabet Soup(Even though she’s not an “official” part of the blog tour, I wanted to thank her for giving DAAD some Book Birthday love on her blog today!)
April 17: Momma’s Bacon(DAAD review)
April 17: Yours Truly!
April 18: Bonnie Ferrante(DAAD review)
April 19: KidLit Exchange (DAAD review)
April 19: Brenda Davis Harsham(DAAD micro review)
April 25: Bonnie Ferrante(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
May 2: Unleashing Readers(DAAD review) May 30: Bookseedstudio(DAAD review/interview)
Tonight, Deb and I will be celebrating the National Book Launch for DAAD just outside of Boston, at Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA. It’s aDual National Launch Party, as we’ll be there with author/poet Holly Thompson, who will be reading and discussing her new picture book, One Wave at a Time(Albert Whitman & Co.), a thoughtful, touching story about loss and healing.
If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us at 7pm for lots of fun, plenty of books, and…
…cake!
That’s my homemade vegan chocolate cake – the best chocolate cake you’ve ever tasted – baked in Deb Bruss’ dinosaur pan and hand-decorated by my step-daughter, Jessica. Imagine the overwhelming sense of melancholy that will befall you, knowing what you missed out on, should you decide not to attend.
(HEY MATT, DON’T FORGET TO MENTION THE GIVEAWAY.)
Oh, that’s right – the GIVEAWAY! In addition to my Poetry Cubed contest and Michelle H. Barnes’ month-long “TLD” writing prompt, I have yet another way for you to win a signed copy of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur:
Share the news!
It’s simple, really – you can do any one of the following:
Each one of these counts as an entry, which means you could have as many as four entries…and if you add in the other 2 contests, that’s SIX different opportunities to win THREE copies! Just be sure to tag me when you share these links, so I can count you. I’ll draw ONE NAME at the end of the month. Good luck, and thank you!
“DON’T ASK A DINOSAUR” is now available everywhere!
The Dinosaur Tour book tour is underway! Here’s the most up-to-date schedule:
TONIGHT 7pm:Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur Dual National Launch Party!!(with Holly Thompson, One Wave at a Time reading/signing/discussion)
Thur., April 26, 10:30am: Pillsbury Free Library, Warner, NH, Dinosaur Storytime with Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People!
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
Can you believe TWO interviews in one week? Yes, it’s been a busy National Poetry Month at the ol’ Triple-R; in addition to all the poetry posts, my new picture book Don’t Ask a Dinosaur, co-authored with Deborah Bruss, debuts this Tuesday – and the Dinosaur Tour blog tour stops HERE today!
Earlier this week, I posted an interview with Amy Losak about H is for Haiku (Penny Candy Books), a new children’s poetry collection written by her late mom, Sydell Rosenberg. Today, I have an interview with Louie Chin, the illustrator for DAAD – plus more entries in my “Poetry Cubed!” contest.
The first thing I need to do, Louie, is thank you for the fantastic job you did on Don’t Ask a Dinosaur! I know you’ve done some work for Highlights’ High Five magazine, but since this was your first picture book, what did you do to prepare, and how long did it take you?
Thank you for the kind words, Matt.
Yes, this is my first picture book! I’m glad it got to be with you and Deborah. In order to prepare for the book I had to look up all the dinosaurs. I knew some of them but there were so many that I never heard of. Funny enough, I saw the trailer for the new Jurassic World movie and noticed a Carnotaurus. I learned that from working on the book!
I think it took me around 3 months to finish the book. It was slow at first trying to plan and layout the book, but once I got to really start drawing, it was a blast!
Illustrator Louie Chin
Before we get too far, let’s back up a bit. As someone who studied studio art in college, I know how difficult it can be to try to make a living drawing or painting. (Heck, it’s hard enough trying to make a career out of writing!) What was your career path? Had you always wanted to be an illustrator?
I always wanted to do something in the arts. Growing up I read a lot of comic books and watched cartoons (still do!). I wanted to draw comics as a career. Needless to say, it’s very difficult to do that!
I did a wide range of things but I always drew, whether is was a side gig or hobby. I worked as an after-school teacher/ counselor, manager at a Startup company, designer at a children’s wear company – just to name a few.
Having illustrated for more adult-oriented publications like the New Yorker, did you find it difficult to get into the mindset of drawing for children? How do you approach the tasks?
It was not difficult at all! Working with children in my early 20’s was a great time for me. I wanted to be an art teacher at the time and always wanted to work on a children’s book. I approached working on the book with the mindset of what I thought the students I taught would like.
I’m also a fan of children’s books because they have wonderful artwork! I collect Miroslav Šašek and old Golden Books. They came in handy when I wanted inspiration.
Getting back to the Dinosaur book, I have to tell you how impressed I was that you not only made the species of dinosaurs look the way they’re supposed to look – but you imbue a great deal of emotion into them. Sometimes they’re happy, sometimes they’re annoyed, sometimes they’re surprised! Was it difficult to get those expressions just right?
Drawing the dinosaurs was really fun. There are so many ways they are depicted when you do research on them. It was fun taking characteristics from all the research and making my version of them. I didn’t really think about the dinosaurs themselves when drawing their expressions. It was more about the situation they were in that guided me. Overall, I felt that the dinosaurs wanted to be helpful. If they were successful, that’s another story!
By the way, I have to ask you about this kitchen scene! On the refrigerator, the name “Audrey” is spelled out in magnets. Deb & I need to know…who is that??
I’m surprised you noticed! Audrey is the daughter of a good friend who lives in LA. I was there for a period while I was still working on the book. I thought it would be fun to slip a little Easter egg in after visiting them. She’s a bit too young to appreciate it at the moment. I’ll have to wait a couple of years to see what she thinks about it.
Both my 8-year- old son (to whom I dedicated the book) and his 4-year- old sister love dinosaurs and this book; my daughter actually has a small dinosaur identical to the one the little girl has in the book. So I have to thank you for including them, even though you had no idea you did that!
I think when I first sketched out ideas for the book I drew the sister with a dinosaur doll. It was instinctual. The little dino wasn’t included in all the pages but our wonderful editor, Jordan, suggested that it would be fun to have the little fella hiding in the pages.
Early sketches in preparation for “Don’t Ask a Dinosaur” (click to enlarge)
Finally, what’s next for Louie Chin? Any new projects on the horizon?
I’m (thankfully) always working on new projects for other people or myself. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to do more children’s books because it’s been a passion of mine for a long time!
OK, so I lied…one more question: what would be your ultimate project, if you could choose to do one thing?
Hmm! I think any project that would allow me to travel all over would be great. I also want to do something with the MTA (mass transit system in NYC)! I’ve taken the subway all my life and it would be nice to do something and have people see it everyday.
Well, Louie, thanks again for joining me here and for all your hard work on Don’t Ask a Dinosaur – Deb & I really appreciate it!
Many thanks to all the bloggers who are joining “THE DINOSAUR TOUR” to celebrate the launch of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur! Here is the complete list of particpating blogs:
April 6: Michelle H. Barnes(Interview w/month-long writing prompt)
April 8: Kate Narita(Book trailer & activity sheet spotlight)
April 11: Deborah Kalb(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
April 13: Yours Truly! (Interview w/illustrator Louie Chin)
April 16: KidLit Exchange(Blog post re: process of illustration)
April 17: Momma’s Bacon(DAAD review)
April 17: Yours Truly! (I’ll be sharing a couple of spreads of the book here – and gearing up for our National Book Launch that night in Cambridge, MA!)
April 18: Bonnie Ferrante(DAAD review)
April 19: Brenda Davis Harsham(DAAD micro review)
April 25: Bonnie Ferrante(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
May 2: Unleashing Readers(DAAD review) TBD:KidLit Exchange (DAAD review) May 30: Bookseedstudio(DAAD review/interview)
I hope you’ll stop by these various blogs, as you’ll learn something new at each one, plus you’ll have multiple opportunities to win copies of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
Because a book launch does not make one busy enough, I also thought National Poetry Month would be a good time to host another round of “Poetry…Cubed!”
This is based on The Food Network show “Chopped!“, where chefs try to outdo each other by creating dishes using specific and sometimes strange ingredients. For this contest, I’ve taken the premise of the TV show and applied it to poetry! Here’s how it works:
Use the 3 images below as inspiration to write a poem. (1 poem, to the 3rd power – “cubed!”) .
The poem can be any form, any genre, any number of lines, rhyming or not. (Heck, I’ll accept a monoku, if you think you can do it!) But please remember: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading! This is about having fun and being creative – unlike the “real” Chopped, which is a life-and-death-of-your-career sort of thing. .
Be sure to include a reference to all three images in the one poem – either via concrete imagery or something more abstract. (And since this is poetry we’re talking about, we play fast and loose with this rule!) .
Email your poem to me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com and I’ll share them here throughout the month. Out of all poems submitted, one writer will be chosen at random to receive a personally-signed copy of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
Keep in mind, I can only format poems to a small degree – so please try to refrain from lots of unusual breaks and text placement. I’ll do my best to format your poem per your wishes, but WordPress will only allow me to do so much.
Here are the three images (click on any to enlarge):
And yes…I’m playing with some Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and Flashlight Night (Boyds Mills Press, 2017) imagery here!
I’ve had numerous entries come in this past week: .
Lights Out!
Lightning flashes
Thunder rumbles.
Rain pounds on the roof.
Happy Birthday, my little monster!
Here is your present,
Brightly wrapped
And tightly taped.
Use those claws of yours.
Rip it open!
Don’t worry about the paper!
Oh no!
The lights go out.
The room turns dark.
I can’t see a thing.
A drawer scrapes open.
There is thumping and bumping.
Light shines in my eyes!
My little monster giggles.
I forgot about the flashlight,
But my little monster did not.
Once again, it’s amazing to see how three images can conjure such different reactions. Want to enter the contest? Send me your poem, and I’ll enter you in the drawing, too!
And one final thing…SPEAKING OF POETRY…I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to visit Robyn Hood Black’s blog, Life on the Deckle Edge, for today’s complete Poetry Friday roundup! Not only does she have all the links to today’s posts, but she is hosting a very SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION for a very special person…
Happy birthday to Lee Bennett Hopkins – a man to whom so many of us owe so much. Lee has befriended, supported, encouraged, and mentored a veritable Who’s Who list of children’s poets, from Jane Yolen and Charles Ghigna to newer folks like Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Yours Truly.
It may be Friday the 13th, but we consider ourselves pretty lucky – or rather, fortunate! – to have Lee in our lives. Lee’s two newest anthologies are World Make Way (Harry N. Abrams) and School People (Wordsong), the latter of which includes one of my poems. If you’d like to learn more about Lee and why the world is a better place with him in it, I’d encourage you to peruse this recent blog post.
New dates continue to be added to the Dinosaur Tour! Here’s the most up-to-date schedule:
Sat., April 14, 11am:Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
Sat., April 14, 2pm:Toadstool Bookshop, Keene, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
Tue., April 17, 7pm:Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur Dual National Launch Party!!(with Holly Thompson, One Wave at a Time reading/signing/discussion)
Thur., April 26, 10:30am: Pillsbury Free Library, Warner, NH, Dinosaur Storytime with Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People!
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
National Poetry Month is underway and I’ve got a lot going on: poetry, interviews, student writing, a national book launch for my second picture book! Today, in addition to my contribution to the 2018 Progressive Poem, I have an interview with Amy Losak about H is for Haiku (Penny Candy Books), a brand-new children’s poetry collection written by her late mom, Sydell Rosenberg.
Amy Losak Click to enlarge)
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat, Amy! First of all, congratulations on the book – it’s been a long time coming. Can you please share with my readers what the book is about?
Matt, thanks very much for your kindness and interest! H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z(Penny Candy Books, illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi)is an alphabet collection of short poems – haiku and senryu –written by my mother, Sydell Rosenberg. Syd was a charter member of the Haiku Society of America in 1968 and served as HSA secretary in 1975. Mom was a New Yorker, so she called her short poems “city haiku” (in a classic book released in 1974, The Haiku Anthology, edited by Cor van den Heuvel and published by Doubleday Anchor). Some of her poems in this new picture book have an urban “flavor” or “feel,” yet they also are universal – and timeless.
In addition, mom’s senryu will be featured in a new anthology from National Geographic, The Poetry of US, edited by former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis. It will be released in late September.
That’s terrific! I know a number of folks who will have poems included in that book, myself included, so it’s an honor to be in it with her. I remember when we first met online, you were in the process of finding a publisher for this book. How long did it take you to go from searching to finally nailing down a deal?
In truth, this has been a long and often arduous journey. Mom had completed at least a couple of kids’ poetry manuscripts, including a haiku A-B-C reader. She submitted them to publishers in the 1980s, perhaps even in the 1970s. (I have some of her saved rejection letters somewhere).
At mom’s funeral in 1996, I remember that my brother Nathan, sister-in-law Debbie, and I promised to fulfill her dream of publishing a picture book. But I didn’t start to get “get serious” until around 2011. Then it became an act of almost Herculean mobilization, because her work is disorganized. And emotionally, I wasn’t ready to tackle a project of this magnitude sooner.
But I finally began to wade through a welter of her papers, notebooks, etc., that had been thrown into boxes and bags after she died. I managed to assemble a lovely cache of her work, including poems from those old manuscripts. I contacted arts education and literacy organizations with proposals about partnering on programs to use her haiku as teaching tools. I connected with a terrific nonprofit arts education organization in New York, Arts For All (arts-for-all.org).
For several years, we have had a successful collaboration. Mom’s haiku and senryu are used to teach the basics of painting, drawing and collage; music; and theater in a Bronx school and a Queens school. I’ve also conducted readings of her adult and kids’ poetry at the Queens Botanical Garden and The Poets House in NY, respectively. And a few years ago at the Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York, teaching artists even created a gorgeous, golden structure: a haiku PoeTree!
But my ultimate goal has always been this book. I first began submitting mom’s manuscript directly to publishers in early April of 2015 – I believe on April 1 (no fooling!). I signed the contract with the wonderful Penny Candy Books (the principals are Chad Reynolds and Alexis Orgera, who also are poets) on October 31 in 2016 (yes, Halloween). When you add it all up, it has taken decades to reach this destination.
I have to give thanks to the extraordinary encouragement of many people: family, friends, colleagues, poets and children’s authors. I am deeply grateful for this wellspring of support – it’s been invaluable.
There are a lot of folks writing haiku these days. What do you think your mom’s poetry offers readers they may not have experienced before?
Haiku is global in scope and popularity today. Poets around the world are producing glorious work and supporting each other’s creative spirits. My mom’s style changed somewhat over her thirty-odd years as a “haijin” (haiku poet) – at times, her work got sparer. The poems in HIFH are more like, I think, miniature stories. I refer to them as “word-pictures” that capture nature and human nature “in nuggets.” They are gentle, and gently humorous — observant “slices” of life to make readers smile.
Back in the ’80’s, you helped create promotional materials for the PBS TV series, “Voices & Visions”…how did your business and broadcast experience help – if it all – during the process of getting this poetry collection off the ground?
This assignment was early in my career as a publicist, thanks to the mentorship and guidance of my two female bosses at the time, Charlotte Klein and Betty Travis. They were senior public relations executives, I helped promote this TV series about American poets – which “distance learners” could take for college credit — on behalf of The Annenberg/CPB Project. I loved the creative challenges and opportunities Charlotte and Betty gave me.
But I had no inkling then that, decades later, I would undertake this “mission” of publishing my mother’s work, not to mention writing (and sometimes publishing) my own short poetry too. And yet, in hindsight, perhaps my career helped lay the groundwork.
I also worked on the press kit and media relations outreach for the 1980’s PBS series, “Anne of Green Gables,” thanks to my mentors. I grew up with L.M. Montgomery’s books (my parents took us on a jaunt to Prince Edward Island when I was a teen), and Anne’s poetic sensibility resonated with me. I thought of her as a “kindred spirit.” I still do! (See my blog here: https://www.pennycandybooks.com/blog-1/losak)
Which poem is your favorite from this collection, and why?
I confess I have several. One that I have come to love is: .
So pale — it hardly sat
on the outstretched branch
of the winter night.
.
This award-winning haiku was published twice in the journal, Haiku West (1968 and 1975) and was also published on mom’s tribute page in the December, 1996 issue of Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America. I am captivated by the mystery of this poem, because “it” isn’t specified. “It” can be anything the reader imagines – the friendly moon, certainly (Sawsan’s lovely interpretation in the book), but other things too. This haiku is serene, simple… yet striking.
Indeed, it is, Amy…and I agree, the ambiguity is key. There are wonderful, unique visuals in several other poems, as well, like children with umbrellas compared to rows of mushrooms and flamingos’ legs “melting” in the lake water. My favorite poem happens to be on the very first page:
One last question: if you could tell someone unfamiliar with haiku why they should purchase this book, what would you say?
Syd’s haiku (and haiku in general) will open children’s eyes – awaken their senses –to the expansive possibilities in the “small moments” of their everyday lives. Haiku is about happiness, discovery, fun, play…and awareness.
Well, thank you again, Amy, and best wishes for success with this book!
Thank you, Matt! I hope readers – kids and adults alike – find joy in H Is For Haiku, and use the collection as a springboard for reading more great haiku and writing their own, too!
Again, H Is For Haikuis now in stores everywhere – so Happy Book Birthday, Amy! One week from today, I’ll be interviewing illustrator Louie Chin, for our book birthday of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books), so please keep an eye out for that!
A little seed is on an adventure! The 2018 Progressive Poem is underway, and our little heroine has just invented a game. What type of game? We’re not sure at this point, because she’s feasting on stardrops with Owl and has invited Moon to join her – but he has other ideas.
I’ve had to think quite a bit about what I should add for my line; the seed has invented a game, but she’s not playing it – which is a conundrum as far as a narrative goes. Interestingly, this is probably the tightest narrative we’ve had in all the years of the Progressive Poem – we usually go on these vast, epic, poetic journeys of discovery!
When the poem began on April 1, I saw the imagery of the seed…of the morning… of stretching…as symbolic of new beginnings and adventure. I was hoping this year’s poem would take us into uncharted territory – and that’s what it appears to be doing! My main concern, to be honest, was that I didn’t want the plot to become too similar to Frank Asch’s Moongame. So without being too specific, I tried to move the poem forward and leave the next writer something creative to work with.
Here is the poem so far, with my line at the end… .
Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.
Oh, what wonderful dreams she had had!
Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
the pulse of a thousand stars, sweet Jasmine
invented a game.
“Moon?” she called across warm, honeyed air.
“I’m sad you’re alone; come join Owl and me.
We’re feasting on stardrops, we’ll share them with you.”
“Come find me,” Moon called, hiding behind a cloud.
Secure in gentle talons’ embrace, Jasmine rose
Being the only guy taking part in this year’s Progressive Poem, I was inclined to include something about motorcycles, power tools, or bikinis…but I restrained myself.
Take it away, Brenda! Here’s a list of all the folks participating, so you can follow along!
“THE DINOSAUR TOUR” blog tour continues TOMORROW, April 11, at Deb Kalb’s place! My thanks to all the bloggers who are joining in the celebration of the launch of my new book, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur, co-authored with Deborah Bruss.
The complete list of blogs taking part in the DINOSAUR TOUR:
April 6: Michelle H. Barnes(Interview w/month-long writing prompt)
April 8: Kate Narita(Book trailer & activity sheet spotlight)
April 11: Deborah Kalb(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
April 13: Yours Truly! (Interview w/illustrator Louie Chin)
April 16: KidLit Exchange(Blog post re: process of illustration)
April 17: Momma’s Bacon(DAAD review)
April 17: Yours Truly! (I’ll be sharing a couple of spreads of the book here – and gearing up for our National Book Launch that night in Cambridge, MA!)
April 18: Bonnie Ferrante(DAAD review)
April 19: Brenda Davis Harsham(DAAD micro review)
April 25: Bonnie Ferrante(Interview w/Matt & Deb)
May 2: Unleashing Readers(DAAD review) TBD:KidLit Exchange (DAAD review) May 30: Bookseedstudio(DAAD review/interview)
I hope you’ll stop by these various blogs, as you’ll learn something new at each one, plus you’ll have multiple opportunities to win copies of Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
New dates continue to be added to the Dinosaur Tour! Here’s the most up-to-date schedule:
Sat., April 14, 11am:Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
Sat., April 14, 2pm:Toadstool Bookshop, Keene, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
Tue., April 17, 7pm:Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur Dual National Launch Party!!(with Holly Thompson, One Wave at a Time reading/signing/discussion)
Thur., April 26, 10:30am: Pillsbury Free Library, Warner, NH, Dinosaur Storytime with Don’t Ask a Dinosaur and School People!
Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers!(Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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 twice a week – on Tues. and Fri. – so you won’t be inundated with emails every day)
Looking for today’s Poetry Friday roundup? You’ll find it at Rebecca Herzog’s little home on the web, Sloth Reads – where she is not only hosting today’s shindig, she’s also offering a book giveaway!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017” AND “Staff Pick!”
for bluebirds, blueberry muffins, and the complete poetry roundup. And if you have not had a chance to check out my recap of the recent 
Now, then, where where we? Oh, yes…
Our second winner took advantage of a writing challenge I call “Poetry…Cubed!” If you’ve ever seen “
Today, I have more “Poetry Cubed!” poems to share – and each one of them is also an opportunity to win!
The 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem!
More “Poetry…Cubed! #5” entries!
A little seed is on an adventure! The 2018 Progressive Poem is underway, and our little heroine has just invented a game. What type of game? We’re not sure at this point, because she’s feasting on stardrops with Owl and has invited Moon to join her – but he has other ideas.
