Poetry Friday: Froggy prose and toady poetry

Before we get to the poetry, let’s just talk a little bit about prose.

THIS prose, to be precise!

Coming January 26, 2021! Pre-orders available!

Elliot the Heart-Shaped Frog (Rainstorm Publishing) is a color/shape primer based on a Goldilocks-like tale, as our little green hero leaves the pond he grew up in and searches for the perfect new home! It hits bookshelves this coming Tuesday, and as I was sharing the news about it earlier this week, it occurred to me that this book features two “firsts” for me…

For one thing, it’s a board book, something I’ve never published before. If novelists find it difficult to tell a story in picture book form, I can tell you as a picture book author that it’s even more difficult telling a story in board book form! Word ecomomy is crucial, and it’s important that the plot be simple enough for a young child to grasp it, yet not so simple it becomes mind-numbing for the poor sap who has to read it every day. (Let’s face it, we’ve all been that peson at some point, grumbling about having to read the same book, over and over!)

This is also, interestingly, the first and only book I’ve had published in prose. Eleven books either already out or under contract…and they all rhyme, except for this little guy. People ask if I ever write in prose, and I say yes – even though there’s very little proof! So now I can hand them this book and say, “HERE! PROSE!! SEE????”

So in keeping with today’s amphibious theme, I thought I’d share a short little bit of light verse I wrote about Elliot’s cousin (with apologies to Ogden Nash):

The Toad

The toad is quite the peaceful bloke;
he’d rather trill a song than croak.
No matter what his cousin says,
he has no need of princesses.

– © 2021 Matt Forrest Esenwine, all rights reserved

For today’s complete poetry Friday roundup, head over to Laura Shovan’s blog where she is celebrating Amanda Gorman’s incredible inauguration poem!

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Coming March 2, 2021!

Contrasting the past with the present, this picture book takes you through a lyrical exploration of the world as it was before humans made their mark.

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You can create an account to add books to wishlists and be notified of special deals and dates…create custom collections…and discover and follow your favorite authors & illustrators!

Find out more about BOOKROO here!

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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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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!

Click any of the following covers to order!

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! . .
  • “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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