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Celebrating World Red Cross Day
Today, May 8, is World Red Cross Day and of course we have featured it in our new book, The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations. Our featured poem, "Look for the Helpers," is byMichelle Heidenrich...
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The Symbiosis of Science and Poetry
Janet and I were so thrilled to get an article published in the latest issue of ALSC's Children and Libraries. The focus is on science and poetry and begins like this:Sometimes unlikely partners can...
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Poet to Poet: Holly Thompson interviews Margarita Engle
I'm pleased to post another installment in my ongoing "Poet to Poet" series in which one poet interviews another poet about her/his new book. This time it's Holly Thompson and Margarita Engle who have...
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New Young People's Poet Laureate: Jacqueline Woodson
I'm so excited to announce that the next Young People's Poet Laureate has been selected. It's Jacqueline Woodson!Jacqueline is the multi-award winning author of approximately 30 books for children and...
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Poet to Poet: Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Interviews Lee Wardlaw
I'm pleased to post another installment in my ongoing "Poet to Poet" series in which one poet interviews another poet about her/his new book. This time it's Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Lee Wardlaw who...
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YALSA at ALA in San Francisco
It's time for the annual conference of the American Library Association, this time in San Francisco, California! I'm lucky enough to be presenting alongside an amazing panel, thanks to YALSA. Here's...
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Celebrate Pride!
It's Gay Pride weekend in San Francisco where the ALA conference is going strong. Tomorrow is officially Gay Pride Day and the Supreme Court has made their historic ruling. What a confluence of...
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Presenting at ILA on TRANSMEDIA
I'm heading to St. Louis for the International Literacy Convention this weekend. Formerly the International Reading Association, this big organization has also moved its annual conference from May to...
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International Day of Friendship
I ran an errand this week and saw that school supplies are already on sale! I was both surprised that stores were already stocking school supplies AND excited to get a great price on new scissors,...
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Flashback to the ALA Poetry Blast
Before the summer gets away from me, I wanted to post tiny video clips of the poets reading at the Poetry Blast at the ALA convention in San Francisco in June hosted by Marilyn Singer and Barbara...
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Poetry on Pinterest
Are you a fan of Pinterest? It's a website that offers a virtual "bulletin board" of visuals that often link to other sites you can learn more (and often buy things). It's an interesting tool for...
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Start joking around!
I once read that children laugh approximately 400 times a day! Adults? Adults laugh about 15 times a day-- not nearly enough since laughter is supposed to be good for the heart, circulation, and...
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Celebrating Daylight
Want to help children learn about the time change every March? Here's a poem to help you remember and to pull out again in October when it's time to switch again. Elena B. has gathered readers the...
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Celebrating Water
California is experiencing severe drought conditions and rationing water. It's a good reminder of what a precious and essential resource water is. Poet George Ella Lyon feels passionately about this...
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April 22: Celebrating Earth Day
Today is Earth Day. Want to know more about this special day? Click HERE.Want a poem to celebrate this day and our planet? Look for Mary Lee Hahn's "Earth, You Are" in The Poetry Friday Anthology for...
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Celebrating the Farmer’s Market
Cheryl T. has recruited two very young readers to perform Buffy Silverman's poem, "At the Farmers’ Market” here even talking about their favorite fruits and vegetables at the end. Pull this poem out...
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Celebrating Etiquette
Coming soon: a whole week to celebrate good manners and being considerate of others! Yes, May 11-15 is officially National Etiquette Week and we are celebrating with the poem “Things Not to Do” by the...
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Celebrating Thrift Shops
In this age of "reduce, reuse, recycle," it's a good reminder that thrift shops help us do that with material goods-- as consumers and as providers. And children can start young with the notion of...
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Celebrating Jokes
I read once that kids laugh on average 400 times a day! And adults only laugh about 15 times a day! And since laughter is supposed to be good for the heart, nervous system, and even digestion—not to...
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Celebrating Summer Reading
Summer is right around the corner and we want to be sure to encourage kids to keep reading even after school is out. Here’s a poem that celebrates Summer Reading Month in June. It’s “Oh, Summer Books”...
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