Poetry Friday: Celebrating May 13th with birthday poet Kathleen Jamie – and a “double” picture book winner!

Last month we celebrated National Poetry Month with a ton of original poems inspired by my writing prompt, #PoetryCUBED – concluding last week with my own poem, “Spring.”

So today, I thought I would celebrate the birthday of a famous Scottish poet few people in the U.S. seem to know: Kathleen Jamie.

Now, granted, my Scottish heritage does make me a bit biased when it comes to European poetry, but Kathleen really is an amazing wordsmith who combines the imagery of Sandburg with the allegorical style of Frost. If you’ve not heard of her, you should:

.

Before the Wind

If I’m to happen upon the hill
where cherries grow wild
it better be soon, or the yellow-
eyed birds will come squabbling

claiming the fruit for their own…
.

– Kathleen Jamie, 2004

(read the entire poem HERE)

Kathleen was born on this very day in 1962 and had her very first book of poetry published at the age of 20! So happy birthday, Kathleen, and here’s to many more.

In other news…

I’ve discovered that amber light bulbs make you look orange…but when author copies of your new picture book finally arrive, you take a picture, nonetheless!

Author copies have arrived!

Just look at that new-book sparkle…

ALSO: In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week last week, I offered to give away TWO copies of any of my books to ONE teacher: one for them, and one for their classroom! I picked their name at random, but realized yesterday that I had neglected to announce their name here – so let me make amends right now. Congratulations to…

JENNA JOHNSON!

Jenna chose to receive two copies of I Am Today, which I’ll be signing and getting in the mail to her soon. (Thanks again, Jenna!) In the meantime, please check out today’s Poetry Friday roundup at Imagine the Possibilities, where Rose shares an original poem inspired by the late Lee Bennett Hopkins anthology, Night Wishes (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers 2020). Not only is it a wonderful poem she’s written, but it was one of Lee’s last anthologies before he passed away and I was honored to have been invited to write a poem for it.

.

^{Be sure to check out all the cool new picture books arriving this year from my PB22Peekaboo partners!}

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

Order a PERSONALLY-SIGNED copy of my newest picture book, I AM TODAY (POW! Kids Books),
from my local independent bookstore!

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

I’m now a part of the BOOKROO family!

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!

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

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.

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

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 any of the covers below to order!

^{Available now!}

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, Pinterest, and SoundCloud!