Political Verses: National Poetry Month Prizes

In addition to giving away poetry books as prizes during National Poetry Month at Wild Rose Reader, I’ll be giving away books of light verse at my other solo blog—Political Verses.
Here are the books you’ll have a chance of winning if you comment at any of my posts at Political Verses during the Month of April.

American Wits: An Anthology of Light Verse
(American Poets Project)
The Best of Ogden Nash

Edited by Linell Nash Smith

The Underwear Salesman and Other Jobs for Better or Verse
Written by J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Serge Bloch

Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verse
Written by J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Simon Bartram

The World’s Greatest: Poems
Written by J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Keith Graves

You can read my review of the book in this Wild Rose Reader post: The World's Greatest: Poems--A Book Review

NOTE: If you comment/have commented at any of my March posts at Political Verses you could win the following book :

Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme
Written by Calvin Trillin

You can read my Wild Rose Reader post about this book here.

Here are links to my most recent posts at Political Verses:

• Michelle Bachmann: Armed and Dangerous (March 30, 2009)
• Rush and the Pussy-Cat: A Limbaughrhyme (March 27, 2009)
• Dead Beckoning: A Poem about Glenn Beck (March 25, 2009)
• Journalistawocky: A Poem Inspired by Bill O'Reilly (March 23, 2009)
• A Lobbying I'll Go: A D. C. Ditty (March 22, 2009)
• Why Don't Women Like Rush Limbaugh?: A Rhyming Response (March 21, 2009)
  
  
  (Click on the following link to see the children’s poetry books that I’ll be giving away as prizes at Wild Rose Reader: Where Is the Wild Rose???)

Things to Do If You Are a Pencil: A Original List Poem

A long-awaited package arrived at my house a week ago yesterday. It was a box of poetry books. Actually, it was a box of twenty-five copies of one title: Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems—an anthology edited by Georgia Heard and published by Roaring Brook Press.

One might wonder why I ordered so many copies of Falling Down the Page. Well, one of MY poems—Things to Do If You Are a Pencil— is included in the book. Things to Do If You Are a Pencil is my second poem to be published in a children’s book. I’m planning to give away copies of Falling Down the Page to members of my family, the three young girls who live across the street, the elementary school where I once worked as a teacher and librarian—and as a prize during National Poetry Month from Wild Rose Reader.

I’m ecstatic that Georgia Heard selected one of my poems for inclusion in this wonderful anthology—and elated to see MY name listed on the back cover along with the names of some of my favorite poets: J. Patrick Lewis, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Yolen, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Marilyn Singer, Patricia Hubbell, Kristine O’Connell George, and Bobbi Katz.

Here's an excerpt from the first poem in the anthology--Eileen Spinelli's Good-byes:

It's really hard

to say good-bye

to twinkling beach,

and golden sky,

to castles rising

from the sand,

to Annie's caramel

popcorn stand.

Here’s a link to a page at Amazon.com that has a link to Eileen Spinelli’s Good-Byes. (Just click on the word Excerpt.)

And here’s my poem:

Things to Do If You Are a Pencil

Be sharp.

Wear a slick yellow suit

and a pink top hat.

Tap your toes on the tabletop,

listen for the right rhythm,

then dance a poem

across the page.

FYI: I have written an entire collection of “things to do” poems. It’s still unpublished—like the rest of my poetry collections. Previously, I posted one of the poems from Things to Do at Wild Rose Reader. Here it is again:

Things to Do If You Want to be a Snowflake
(For Robert Mercer)

Fashion yourself:

a bit of lace,

crystalline,

spun in space

of silken ice,

silvery,

fine—

YOU

C R E A T E

your

own

design.


I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my friend Janet Wong. She is the person who put me in touch with Georgia Heard. Janet suggested that I send Georgia some list poems for an anthology she was compiling. Janet, an award-winning children’s poet, has given me lots of encouragement and advice. She has been a wonderful supporter of my poetry writing. Thank you, Janet! It means so much to have someone like you rooting for me.

********************

At Political Verses, I have another original poem entitled Rush and the Pussy-Cat. It’s a Limbaughyme that’s a parody of Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussy-Cat.

At Blue Rose Girls, I have a post about Magnetic Poetry and a poem I composed using one of the kits at the magnetic Poetry site. (Thanks to Cloudscome for her Magnetic Poetry post last Friday.)

Julie Larios has the Poetry Friday Roundup at The Drift Record.

Astronomers Catch Shooting Star!!!

I’m a true astronomy buff. I used to love teaching a unit on the solar system and outer space when I was an elementary teacher. My students and I got so excited when we were studying about planets, stars, moons, asteroids, meteoroids, black holes, quasars, comets, pulsars, etc. My students wrote reports and poems and postcards from space—and created imaginary planets and impressionistic paintings. We read all kids on literature on the subject of space, space travel, alien creatures--poetry, picture books, science fiction, folktales, biographies and other nonfiction.

I was always on the lookout for “space” news. Here’s an interesting article I came across this morning on the Internet:

From the Associated Press
Astronomers catch a shooting star for the 1st time
By Seth Borensteain, AP Science Writer—March 25, 2009

WASHINGTON – For the first time scientists matched a meteorite found on Earth with a specific asteroid that became a fireball plunging through the sky. It gives them a glimpse into the past when planets formed and an idea how to avoid a future asteroid Armageddon.


Last October, astronomers tracked a small non-threatening asteroid heading toward Earth before it became a "shooting star," something they had not done before. It blew up in the sky and scientists thought there would be no space rocks left to examine.


But a painstaking search by dozens of students through the remote Sudan desert came up with 8.7 pounds of black jagged rocks, leftovers from the asteroid 2008 TC3. And those dark rocks were full of surprises and minuscule diamonds, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature.


You can read the rest of the article here.

A Poem about Glenn Beck & A Library-Loving Challenge

1. Yesterday, I posted a new poem at Political Verses: Dead Beckoning: A Poem about Glenn Beck.

2. Check out bloggers library-loving challenge! at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

Where the Wild Things Are (Movie Trailer)

Where the Wild Things Are—Movie Trailer (March 25, 2009)


It looks as if a bit more has been added to the storyline of Maurice Sendak's groundbreaking picture book.

Where Is the Wild Rose???

I'm sorry that I haven't been writing more book reviews for and posting links of book lists and resources lately at Wild Rose Reader. The Reason: Last spring and summer, I was really inspired to write poems. In fact, I wrote two entire collections of children's poetry. Then...a real dry spell hit. For several months, I lacked inspiration--except for a time during the presidential campaign last year when I wrote some campaign poems. Well, recently, I've been on a writing roll. I sit at my computer for hours and write poems--snarky verses about politicians, pundits, and other putrid people who irk, irritate, and enrage me. I post them at my other solo blog, Political Verses. I find that I HAVE to write when I have the inspiration. Sometimes I'm so absorbed by writing that I even forget to eat!

(Here's a link to the poem I posted yesterday at Political Verses: Journalistawocky: A Poem Inspired by Bill O'Reilly. It's a parody of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky.)

I DO have plans for National Poetry Month at Wild Rose Reader--but at this point I'm not positive I'll be posting every day. I hope you'll forgive me if I don't. I must listen to my Muse when she's hanging out with me. You see, she often leaves home for extended periods of time. She can't by reached by telephone or email when she's gone. And she never leaves a forwarding address!

This year, I will be giving away children's poetry books as prizes during April--just as I did in 2007 and 2008. Here are some of the books commenters at this blog could win next month:

And FALLING DOWN THE PAGE: A BOOK OF LIST POEMS edited by Georgia Heard.

(P.S. My poem Things to Do If You Are a Pencil is included in this anthology.)

FYI: You may want to check out this post--National Poetry Month - Super Secret Project REVEALED!--at The Miss Rumphius Effect. Tricia and other kidlit bloggers have some BIG plans for National Poetry Month.

You may also check out the following Wild Rose Reader post: Resources for National Poetry Month.


I must be off. I hear my Muse calling me!

At Political Verses: A New Limbaughrhyme & A Lobbying Ditty

My brain has been revved up for writing lately. It's been inspired with new ideas for rhyming rants and poems for Political Verses, my new solo blog. Here are links to the two poems I posted yesterday and today:

Why Don't Women Like Rush Limbaugh?: A Rhyming Response

A Lobbying I'll Go: A D. C. Ditty

The Poetry Friday Roundup Is Here!

I'm rounding up all the poetry posts today. Please leave the URL of your poetry post and a short description of it in the comments.

Notice to posters who do not not see their Poetry Friday links listed here: The security system on my computer blocked your sites.

***************

WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING EDITION

• At Political Verses, I have a poem by J. Patrick Lewis about Henry Kissinger entitled Henry K., Man of Peace.
• At Political Verses, I also have an original poem that I posted earlier this week: Bernie Made Off with My Money.
• My Winnie the Pooh post at Wild Rose Reader includes lyrics to Kenny Loggins’ song Return to Pooh Corner, a video with pictures of Winnie the Pooh and his friends and Loggins singing his song, and some children’s poems by A. A. Milne.
• At Blue Rose Girls, I talk a bit about my recent writing of political verses and include an excerpt from and a link to my most recent poetic rant--Winnie Pooh-Bah and the Hundred Acre Wood: A Poem about Rush Limbaugh.
• Kelly Fineman has An Echo from Willowwood by Christina Rossetti at Writing and Ruminating.
• Jacqueline of The Neverending Story selected a poem by Longfellow entitled The Slave's Dream.

***************

BRIGHT HOURS OF THE MORNING EDITION

• You’ll find a lovely haiku by Zetta Elliott at Color Online and another haiku by the same author from her book A Wish after Midnight at Black-Eyed Susan.
• Gregory K. has an original rhyming poem entitled The Best Concert Ever at GottaBook.
• Julie Larios has some eerie trivia about the plague as well as a poem by Thomas Lux up over at The Drift Record.
• Mary Lee has a sneak peek from J. Patrick Lewis' fall collection, SPOT THE PLOT. (Take my word for it: This collection by Lewis is a treat!)
• At Bookie Woogie they’re' sharing 3 takes on Monster Haiku and the correspondence that came about as a result.
• Cloudscome of A Wrung Sponge is playing with magnetic poetry today. She invites us all to try some and share our creations.
• Tricia joins in today with Barbara Gramby's Ode to American English at The Miss Rumphius Effect.
• Laura Salas has a poem Arnold Adoff wrote for the peace project at my blog. It's called no justice n o p e a c e. Laura also has this week's 15 Words or Less poems, a fun and strange collection based on a giant metal flower sculpture.
• Stella of My World-Mi Mundo wrote a short poem for two voices to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
• At Jumping the Candlestick, Debbie Diesen has an original poem for us entitled For Hunter Park.
• Tanita S. Davis is in with Christina Rossetti, celebrating -- and doubting -- the first day of Spring. (I know how she feels! Here in New England one never knows what the weather has in store for us.)
• There’s always something cooking at Jama Rattigan’s Alphabet Soup. Today she’s also celebrating spring by playing with letters—The Anagrammer by Peter Pereira.
• At Write Time, Linda Kulp has a new poem by Bobbi Katz and a review of this month's Book Links.
• Sara Lewis Holmes of Read Write Believe says ahe’s in with a poetry contest: S is for Spring and Silliness. She invites us to come frolic!
• Over at Poetry for Children, Sylvia Vardell joins in the Poetry Roundup this week with a nod to "World Poetry Day" and a mention of multi-media poetry connections.
• This week's poem on the Stenhouse Blog is The Enkindled Spring by D.H. Lawrence.
  Martha Calderaro saw Robert Pinsky at a local event last night, celebrating poetry in our town and celebrating the Favorite Poem Project. She says an added bonus was hanging with Poetry Friday friend Nandini!
• Liz Garton Scanlon is really into roundup mode with with James Wright and her thoughts on the rodeo.
• At 7-Imp, Jules joins in with Debbie Ouellet's new picture book (with some gorgeous art work from Nicoletta Ceccoli) as well as one of her poems. Check out her Poetry Friday post—Waking Sister Spring.
• Let’s jump into Bruce Black’s pool at Wordswimmer and get into the flow. He’s got an interview with Douglas Florian about his writing process.
• Lorie Ann Grover is in with Patio Tea at on point. And at readertotz she says they have Doctor Foster.
• Kelly Polark has an original poem titled Peace on Earth that she submitted to the Peace project.
• Karen Edmisten has some Barbara Crooker for us today.

***************

LITERARY LUNCH BUNCH

• Nandini’s pick this week is Antique, a poem by Robert Pinsky. She had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Pinsky read the poem last night at a Favorite Poem event organized by her town. She says it was truly inspiring. You can Antique at Notes from New England.
• Little Willow posted The Round by Stanley Kunitz for our poetry reading pleasure at Bildungsroman today.
• Muriel at The Write Sisters shares Jack Prelutsky's definition of poetry.
• Tiel Aisha Ansari has the lyrics to a blues or gospel song: Cross That Bridge.
• Dante's The Choice for Poetry Friday at Sweetness & Light.
• Anastasia Suen at Picture Book of the Day asked me to spread the word: She’s announcing her new Poetry Month blog, Pencil Talk - School Poems. It's a blog for kids to share their school poems. So, everyone, pass the word on!
• In honor of flu season, Nadine C. Warner presents Maxine Kumin's classic, Sneeze, at Kiddos and Books.
• Becky at Farm School joins in with yet another Phyllis McGinley poem, Address to the Younger Generation, about children's reading preferences and a defense of fiction.
• Let’s all welcome Wanda of A Season to Read. She’s a first-time Poetry Friday Poster! In celebration of Spring's arrival, she’s gives us a few of her original haiku.
• Jone has two poetry posts for us today—one for school and one for poetry club! You’ll find her students’ poems at Check it Out. You’ll find her original Anaphora Poem at Deo Writer.
  

***************

DINNER TIME POETRY EDITION

• On Shen's Blog, Renee posted a poem from the Tao Te Ching, from Demi's book The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching. It's called Silence.
• Miss Erin has an original poem for us entitled I am such a mess.

Return to Pooh Corner: Poems, Song, & Video

I used to love reading Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner to my elementary students. I also enjoyed sharing many of the poems from A. A. Milne's books of children’s poetry—When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.

Today I have a video of a song, Return to Pooh Corner, which was written by Kenny Loggins. The song was popular in the early 1970s—when I was a young teacher. I guess I liked the song so much because I loved the Pooh books and the loveable characters that Milne had created for them: gloomy Eeyore, bouncy Tigger, nervous Piglet, innocent Roo, Pooh Bear—who always relished a “smackerel” of hunny—and all the other animals who lived in the Hundred Acre Wood. Listening to the song and watching the video brought back happy memories of reading Milne's books to my daughter and to my students. Ah, there are days when I do wish I could return to Pooh Corner.

In addition to the video, I’ve included a link to the complete lyrics of the song—as well as links to some of the children’s poems written by A. A. Milne.

Return to Pooh Corner (Lyrics by Kenny Loggins)

Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I've wandered much further today than I should
And I can't seem to find my way back to the Wood

So help me if you can
I've got to get back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
You'd be surprised
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

You can read the rest of the lyrics here.

HAPPINESS (When We Were Very Young)

John had
Great Big
Waterproof
Boots on;
John had on a
Great Big
Waterproof
Hat;
John had a
Great Big
Waterproff
Mackintosh—
And that
(Said John)
Is
That.

From FURRY BEAR (Now We Are Six)

If I were a bear
And a big bear too,
I shouldn’t much mind if it froze or snew;
I shouldn’t much mind
If it snowed or friz—
I’d be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!

You can read more of A. A. Milne’s children’s poems here and here.

********************

At Political Verses, I have a poem by J. Patrick Lewis about Henry Kissinger entitled Henry K., Man of Peace.

Here are links to two of my original poems that I posted at Political Verses this week: Winnie the Pooh-Bah and the Hundred Acre Wood: A Poem about Rush Limbaugh and Bernie Made Off with My Money.

I’m doing the Poetry Friday Roundup today. Please leave the URL of your poetry post and a short description of it in the comments at my special Roundup Post.

Winnie the Pooh-Bah and the Hundred Acre Wood

I've been so busy recently writing poems for Political Verses that I feel I've been neglecting my firstborn solo blog, Wild Rose Reader. I'm just trying to help get my newborn on her feet. I'll be posting more book reviews and interviews here in coming weeks.

Today, I have a new poem at Political Verses: Winnie the Pooh-Bah and the Hundred Acre Wood: A Poem about Rush Limbaugh.

OUT & ABOUT: March 16, 2009

Some Book Lists & Book Reviews


Monthly Special Book List from The Horn Book: The Great Outdoors

National Science Teachers Association: Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: 2009 (Books published in 2008)

Publishers Weekly (3/16/2009): Children’s Book Reviews

From The Children’s Literature Assembly: 2009 Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts

Parents’ Choice Book Award Winners for 2008: Includes book awards in a number of different categories—including picture books, fiction, and non-fiction

And don’t forget that Susan Thomsen has compiled the ultimate list of the best children’s books (with links) at her blog Chicken Spaghetti: The Best of the Best—Kids’ Books 2008

A New Poem about Bernie Madoff at Political Verses

Today at Political Verses, I have a new poem about a most infamous Ponzi schemer: Bernie Made Off with My Money.

A New Poem about Dick Cheney at Political Verses

I just posted a new poem that I wrote this morning over at my other solo blog, Political Verses: A Hunting He Will Go: A Poem about Dick Cheney.


Here's an excerpt from the poem:

A Hunting He Will Go
A poem inspired by our former vice president
by Elaine Magliaro

Who’s hunting here? I think I know.
That’s why I’m certain I must go.
Don’t want to get shot by mistake
Because he thinks that I’m a doe.

I hear his voice. He’s coming near.
Oh, Lord! I know I’ve much to fear.
I best be sprightly on my feet
And get the HELL out of here!

Litany by Billy Collins: Poem & Video

I do so enjoy reading poetry written by Billy Collins. I love his poems that make me chuckle—like Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House, The Rival Poet, and Introduction to Poetry. For Poetry Friday, I selected Litany, another one of his more humorous works. Do watch the video of Collins reciting the poem and explaining how he did a little "stealing" from another poet's work when he wrote Litany--a love poem with lots of comparisons.

Litany

by Billy Collins

You are the bread and the knife,

The crystal goblet and the wine...

- Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker,

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.

There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close

to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

You can read the rest of the poem here.

Here’s a video of Billy Collins reciting his poem Litany:

********************

At Blue Rose Girls, I have an original poem, And Who Will Lead the GOP?, and a link to my new blog—Political Verses.

Tricia has the Poetry Friday Roundup at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

A New Political Verse

Here's a link to my most recent post at my other solo blog--Political Verses: Who, Then, Shall Lead Them?

My New Blog: Political Verses

Yesterday, I was thinking about some of the political verses that I've written in recent months. My first inspiration came after listening to Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention last year. (Matt Taibbi's description of Palin speaking to the assembled Republican delegates makes me laugh every time I think of it: "It was like watching Gidget address the Reichstag.") After watching the Governor of Alaska, I penned my first in a series of Palinoems. Then I was inspired by Joe the unlicensed plumber...soon afterward. Last week, it was Rush Limbaugh who sparked my poetic invective after I witnessed part of his performance at CPAC.

Mary Lee of A Year of Reading commented on All Bow Down Now, the poem I wrote about Rush Limbaugh : "I love it when idiots make you mad because your poetry rants are so spot-on!" I appreciate her opinion of my political verses. And Mary Lee is correct--they usually are rants. Ranting poetically is a great cathartic for me. I find it more productive and less painful than banging my head against a wall or pulling my hair out.

I made a decision yesterday to start a new blog called Political Verses. Why? Because I thought some of my future rants might be more appropriate for posting at a blog outside of the kidlitosphere. I also thought it might be a good idea to have just my political verses available on a separate blog. At Political Verses, you will also find links to The Daily Show, Colbert Nation, The Nation, Matt Taibbi's articles at AlterNet, and some of my favorite political blogs.

I have included a link to Political Verses in the sidebar at the right. I'm not sure how often I'll be posting there. At the moment, what you'll find at Political Verses are the poems, mentioned above, that I have posted to date at Wild Rose Reader--and a new poem I wrote today about Ann Coulter.

I do hope you'll visit my new blog every now and again.

March Small Graces Art Auction Has Begun!

The March Small Graces art auction has begun. Here’s a link to the auction page: Small Graces March Auction page.

Maybe you’ll be the lucky person to win this lovely original painting by popular children’s author and illustrator Grace Lin. Remember…all auction proceeds will be donated to The Foundation for Children’s Books to help underwrite school visitations by children’s authors and illustrators in underserved schools in the Greater Boston area.

A Poem Inspired by Rush Limbaugh?

Here's a second Poetry Friday post. I just couldn't help myself! Sometimes I get inspired to write poems about people who make me crazy--especially people whose speech is filled with vitriol and bile. This poem was inspired by Rush Limbaugh's performance at CPAC.

All Bow Down Now

by Elaine Magliaro

Higgeldy Piggeldy Limbaugh the swine
Thought he was Tarzan, swung from a vine.
With his pink fleshy fists, porky and plump,
On his flabulous chest, he started to thump.

Rushy then stood like god Thor at the podium.
He railed at Obama in a speech filled with odium.
He thundered. He ranted. He jumped up and down.
Now he struts like a king with the GOP crown!

Here’s a link to Ellen Goodman’s opinion piece that appeared in today’s Boston Globe: Sorry Rush, but you’re no Oprah.

********************

Here's a link to my other Poetry Friday post: Small Graces: A Painting & A Poem

At Blue Rose Girls, I have the lyrics to The Last Resort, one of my favorite songs written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles. I also have a video of the band performing the song at a concert.

Anastasia Suen has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Picture Book of the Day.

Small Graces: A Painting & A Poem

FYI: I was the lucky bidder who won the painting (seen below) that Grace Lin created for the Small Graces February auction.

Small Graces Painting for the February Auction

For Poetry Friday this week, I thought I'd post the "Small Graces" painting that will be auctioned off in March--along with an original poem that the painting inspired.

Standing on the sidewalk
listening to raindrops patter
on my polka-dotted umbrella.
The falling sky tap dances above me
in silvery shoes.
I hear the steady beat...beat...beat…
feel the rhythm of the rain.
My yellow-booted feet
want to waltz me down the street!

NOTE: The Small Graces auction for the March painting will begin on Monday, March 9, 2009. I will post a link to the auction page on Monday.

********************

Last night I posted Fairy for Hire: An Original Poem in response to Tricia's Monday Poetry Stretch - Personal Ad Poetry.

And do check out my extensive list of Resources for National Poetry Month.

At Blue Rose Girls, I have the lyrics to The Last Resort, one of my favorite songs written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles. I also have a video of the band performing the song at a concert.


Anastasia Suen has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Picture Book of the Day.

Fairy for Hire: An Original Poem

Here’s my response to Tricia’s Monday Poetry Stretch - Personal Ad Poetry.

My poem doesn’t exactly follow the rules. The poem was supposed to be a personal ad about a favorite animal or historical figure. My personal ad poem was composed by the fairy godmother from Perrault’s version of the Cinderella tale.


FAIRY FOR HIRE
by Elaine Magliaro

Did you get an invitation
To the prince’s ball in May?
Would you like a brand new pumpkin coach
To ride in on that day?

Do you want a silk brocaded gown
To spend the gala day in?
A shiny pair of crystals shoes
To waltz the night away in?

Just call me any day or night
At MAGIC WAND SUPPLIERS.
I’ll conjure up the lovely things
Your little heart desires.

Resources for National Poetry Month

Post Updated for 2010: Instead of writing up an entire new Resources for National Poetry Month post for 2010, I've edited my 2009 post. I eliminated all the links that no longer work and added links to all the poetry book reviews that I've done in the past year. I hope you find the following poetry resources helpful. Happy Poetry Month!!!


ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: SCHOLASTIC’S WRITING WITH WRITERS

Poetry Writing with Writers (Main Page)

Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky (Grades 1-4)

Writing I Spy Riddles with Jean Marzollo (Grades 2-5)

Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin (Grades 4-8)

Poetry Idea Machine



POETRY RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS

Celebrate Poetry…all year long!: Find some great poetry ideas for teachers from award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George.

Favorite Poem Project’s Poetry Lesson Plans and Projects: Find ideas for poetry activities developed by teachers who participated in the Summer Poetry Institutes for Teachers, which were sponsored by Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem Project and the Boston University School of Education.

Representative Poetry Online from the University of Toronto: This site includes more than 3,000 English poems by 500 poets, a glossary of poetic terms, and a link to the Canadian Poetry website.

Teach Now! National Poetry Month (From Scholastic): Here you will find a wealth of poetry ideas and resources under the following headings: Poems and Classroom Activities, Poetry Writing Workshops and Events, and Poetry Resources.

Poetry Resources: Tricia Stohr-Hunt provides links to more than two dozen websites with poetry resources at Open Wide, Look Inside, her blog about using poetry and children’s literature across the curriculum.

April Is National Poetry Month! (From Read Write Think): Includes links to poetry lesson plans and other resources.

30 Ways to Celebrate (From the Academy of American Poets)


From the Yale New Haven Teacher Institute: Three Entire Curriculum Units for Teachers

Poems That Work

Poetry for the Elementary Classroom

Reading, Writing, and Reciting



POETRY ACTIVITIES & CRAFTS

From Crayola: Poems and Paintings

From Crayola: Poem in My Pocket

From Poets.org: Poem in Your Pocket Day (April 29, 2010)

Magnetic Poetry

From Harcourt Trade Publishers: Free Classroom Kit for Julie Larios’s poetry book Imaginary Menagerie



CHILDREN’S POETRY BOOK LISTS

New Poetry Books for Young People 2005-2010 (Compiled by Sylvia Vardell, Professor at the School of Library & Information Studies at Texas Woman's University)

CCBC Words to Share: A Bibliography of Poetry for Children and Teens (Compiled by Megan Schliesman)

From RIF: Judy Freeman’s 40 Favorite Poetry Books for Children

From The Horn Book: Recommended Poetry Books

From Scholastic: Poetry Month Booklist

From KidsReads.com: Pick a Peck of Poems



RECIPIENTS OF THE NCTE WARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN POETRY FOR CHILDREN

2009—Lee Bennett Hopkins

2006—Nikki Grimes

2003—A Poem Is a House for Words: NCTE Profiles Mary Ann Hoberman

2000—X. J. Kennedy

1997—Eloise Greenfield

1994—Barbara Juster Esbensen

1991—Valerie Worth

1988—Arnold Adoff

1985—Lilian Moore

1982—John Ciardi

1981—Eve Merriam

1980—Myra Cohn Livingston

1979—Karla Kuskin

1978—Aileen Fisher

1977—David McCord

Printable Poetry Winner Sheet



MORE ABOUT CHILDREN”S POETS

A Poetry Workshop in Print (From Teaching PreK-8) At this site, you will find brief articles about many different children’s poets written by Lee Bennett Hopkins. (Many thanks to Tricia Stohr-Hunt for the link to this site)

From Scholastic: Interview with Nikki Giovanni



WEBSITES OF CHILDREN’S POETS

Linda Ashman

Calef Brown

Kalli Dakos

Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Ralph Fletcher

Betsy Franco

Kristine O’Connell George

Nikki Grimes

Mary Ann Hoberman

Bobbi Katz

J. Patrick Lewis

Deborah Ruddell

Laura Salas

Joyce Sidman

Marilyn Singer

Eileen Spinelli

Janet Wong



CHILDREN’S POETS WHO BLOG

Douglas Florian

Linda Kulp

Julie Larios

Laura Salas



POETRY WEBSITES

The Academy of American Poets (Main Page) & National Poetry Month Page

American Life in Poetry

Favorite Poem Project

The Poetry Foundation

NPR Poetry Page

Poetry Daily

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry 180

Poetry4Kids

The Children’s Poetry Archive

The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor



WILD ROSE READER INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN”S POETS
(Listed Alphabetically)

Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Douglas Florian: Part 1 & Part 2

Paul Janeczko

J. Patrick Lewis

Joyce Sidman

Janet Wong



A SELECTION OF WILD ROSE READER & BLUE ROSE GIRLS POETRY POSTS

POETRY FRIDAY: The Poetry of Mary Ann Hoberman

More Mary Ann Hoberman

New Children's Poet Laureate Announced!

The Poetry of Rebecca Kai Dotlich

POETRY FRIDAY: Nikki Grimes



POETRY BOOK REVIEWS FROM WILD ROSE READER & BLUE ROSE GIRLS

SEASONAL & WEATHER POETRY

POETRY FRIDAY: Spring Is...

Welcoming Spring...with Poetry

POETRY FRIDAY: Summersaults and Lemonade Sun

Fall into Poetry

POETRY FRIDAY: Winter in Poems & Paintings

POETRY FRIDAY: 'Tis the Seasons

POETRY FRIDAY: IN THE GARDEN AGAIN

Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems

POETRY FRIDAY (Includes reviews of Busy in the Garden & Beware, Take Care: Fun and Spooky Poems)

Red Sings from Treetops: A Book Review & An Invitation

Book Bunch: It's All about the Weather

Poetry Books about Winter

Children's Poetry Books for Halloween



POETRY ABOUT ANIMALS

Stella, Unleashed: Poetry Book Review

Poetry Book Review: On the Farm

Butterfly Bonanza

Poetry Friday: Toad by the Road

Leaping Lizards! It's the Year of the Frog

Into the Sea Once More

Over in the Garden

POETRY FRIDAY: Animal Poems by Valerie Worth

Poetry Book Review & Videos: Our Farm by Maya Gottfried

The Frogs and Toads All Sang: A Book of Poems by Arnold Lobel

Poetry Friday: Animal Haiku

SCHOOL POEMS

Poetry Friday: Going Back to School...with Poetry

More School Poems: Review of School Supplies

Hamsters, Shells, and Spelling Bees: School Poems

Poetry Friday: Swimming Upstream

Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School

Countdown to Summer: A Poetry Book Review

NATURE & SCIENCE POETRY

Poetry and Science, Part I

Poetry and Science, Part II

POETRY FRIDAY: Science & Poetry

POETRY FRIDAY: Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars

UPDATE: Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars...and Pluto

POETRY FRIDAY: Joyce Sidman, Part I

POETRY SATURDAY: Joyce Sidman, Part II

The Sun in Me: Poems about the Planet

The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature Science and Imagination

Book Review: Sky Magic Compiled bt Lee Bennett Hopkins

HAIKU

POETRY FRIDAY: Happy Haiku to You

Poetry Book Review: Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico!

Poetry Friday: Animal Haiku

OTHER POETRY BOOK REVIEW POSTS

The World's Greatest: Poems--A Book Review

Book Bunch: Looking at Langston Hughes

Poetry and Art

Words...Wonderful Words, Words, Words

POETRY FRIDAY: Here's a Little Poem

POETRY FRIDAY: Yoga Poems (Includes an interview with author Janet Wong and illustrator Julie Paschkis)

POETRY FRIDAY: This Is Just to Say

POETRY FRIDAY: Fairy Tale Poems

Poetry about City Life

Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle

My Cat Is in Love with the Goldfish and Other Loopy Love Poems

Poetry Book Review: Incredible Inventions Complide by Lee Bennett Hopkins

RECIPE & HOW TO POEMS

Recipe & How to Make... Poems, Part I

Recipe & How to Make... Poems, Part II

Recipe Poem: How to Make a Morning

How to Bring Spring: An Original Poem



CHILDREN’S POETRY VIDEOS

Children’s Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman Presents: Laughing Time Mary Ann Hoberman reads from William Jay Smith’s Laughing Time (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1990), a favorite children’s poetry collection of the Poet Laureate and her family.

The Hypnotizer by Michael Rosen—This may be the world’s first video poetry book. Here’s Rosen’s explanation of The Hypnotizer: "I wrote a book of poems for children called 'The Hypnotiser' some years ago and then it went out of print. I couldn't get anyone to reprint it, so I asked my son Joe to film me performing the book for this website."

Hatchling’s Song from Judy Sierra’s Antarctic Antics (Weston Woods)

April Rain Song—by Langston Hughes (Animated Poem from the Poetry Foundation’s Classical Baby Video Series)

A Very Valentine—written & read by Gertrude Stein (Animated Poem from the Poetry Foundation’s Classical Baby Video Series)

Mariposa—written by Federico Garcia Lorca & read by Andy Garcia (Animated Poem from the Poetry Foundation’s Classical Baby Video Series)

Chromosome Poem—written & read by J. Patrick Lewis (Scholastic)



POETRY ARTICLES FROM THE HORN BOOK

Audio Poetry: A Call to Words by Kristi Jemetegaad (May/June 2005)

On Originality in Children’s Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis (May/June 2005)

“Writing poetry for children is a curious occupation”: Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath by Lissa Paul (May/June 2005)

Purposeful Poetry by Susan Dove Lempke (May/June 2005)

On Poetry and Black American Poets by Ashley Bryan (February 1979)



Edited to Add (March 26, 2009):
National Poetry Month 2009: Essential Pleasures. This great post comes to us from Becky at Farm School.

VIDEO: Bird Shakes His Tail Feather to Ray Charles

Do check out this bird dancing and jivin’ on his perch to the singing of Ray Charles. Too funny!!!

Visit Dancing Frostie's Official YouTube Channel here: http://youtube.com/onepickiechickie