This coming Tuesday, July 14, is National Mac and Cheese Day, so I just had to pull this out of the archives and share it again! I’m not sure who decided Mac and Cheese needed its own day, but I’d like to shake that person’s hand, nonetheless. And why not a week?
Or a month??
Ok, ok, I’m getting greedy…

By the way, I was delighted to learn this past week that this blog is one of the Top 40 children’s poetry blogs, according to Feedspot! Feedspot is an app that allows one to combine all your favorite news feeds, podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. into ONE newsletter.
I was surprised to learn this, as the ol’ Triple-R is apparently more popular than I thought it was! I’m also honored to be among many of my friends – other than 2 or 3 people on this list, I know just about everyone. I could not have said that back in 2012 when I first began this thing.
So be sure to check out Feedspot! It’s pretty cool, plus we know the folks running it have great taste. Today Ruth is hosting today’s Poetry Friday roundup at her blog, There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town, with a party – poetic and socially-distanced, of course – but a party nonetheless!
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I continue adding to my “Wit & Wordplay” videos ! These videos were created for parents and educators (along with their kids) to learn how to write poetry, appreciate it, and have fun with it. From alliteration and iambs to free verse and spine poetry, I’m pretty sure there’s something in these videos you’ll find surprising! You can view them all on my YouTube channel, and if you have young kids looking for something to keep busy with, I also have several downloadable activity sheets at my website.
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I’ve teamed up with several other children’s authors to promote our upcoming books this year – and there are a LOT of them! Here’s what you can look forward to seeing this month:
Coming Spring 2021! Pre-orders are available:
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Ordering personalized signed copies online?
Oh, yes, you can!
You can purchase personalized signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Boyds Mills Press, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly ALL of the books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH a note requesting the signature and to whom I should make it out to. (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?)
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Thank you to everyone for your support!
- 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!
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.- “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
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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!
Yummy! Thanks for coming to the party! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Thank you, Ruth!
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Ha! I like my poetry cheesy, too…especially for kids. Thanks for the good humor early in my morning.
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Thanks, Linda!
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What a funny last line, Matt. Aren’t the words for different pasta shapes delicious?
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They are! I love cooking, so one day I started listing all the pasta shapes that rhymed – and with the million-and-one types of cheese that are out there, the poem created itself!
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So many cool things in this post, Matt! The cheese, Feedspot, videos and downloadable activity sheets, upcoming books. I wonder what Talkabook is? The name and logo is great!
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Thanks, Tabatha! Talkabook is a way for authors, kids, & parents/caregivers to connect by offering author visits in a personal, informal setting. A friend of Lee Wardlaw’s is starting it up, so you might want to check it out!
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So many different cheeses to choose from… Happy to hear about and see you on Feedspot, and congrats on the forthcoming books, thanks!
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Thanks so much, Michelle!
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