“Come on, Mama!” urged Ramona, pausing in her singing and skipping. “We don’t want to be late for school.”
“Don’t pester, Ramona,” said Mrs. Quimby. “I’ll get you there in plenty of time.”
“I’m not pestering,” protested Ramona, who never meant to pester. She was not a slowpoke grown-up. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.”
From Ramona the Pest, first published in 1968 by William Morrow and Company.
"Kindergarten Kids Explain Their First Day of School"
"You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket."
– John Adams, in a letter to his son John Quincy at the University of Leiden
One of the silver linings that has come of all of us being stuck at home for National Poetry Month is the number of folks who have taken to reading their work aloud on YouTube. While I have not braved those waters yet, I'm grateful for those who have, and to two poet friends in particular who have shared poems from The Best of Today's Little Ditty—Robyn Hood Black and Margaret Simon. It's been such a treat to hear their poems in their own voices!
So today, on the last day of National Poetry Month, I would like to share those four short videos, with a heart full of dittylove and appreciation.
Paperback and Kindle versions available for purchase at Amazon.com.
From the first volume of The Best of Today's Little Ditty (2014-2015), "I turn" by Robyn Hood Black was inspired by Bob Raczka's November 2014 challenge to write a haiku about a monster. The poem is short, but packs a wallop. Make sure to watch all the way to the end for a special surprise. But don't be scared—it's just a video.
From the second volume, The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016, Robyn shares a beautiful poem titled "Blank," inspired by Douglas Florian's January 2016 challenge to "write a poem about nothing."
And from the most recent volume, The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2017-2018, we have two poems. The first is a performance of Robyn's "Epitaffy" that's good, spooky fun! It was inspired by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen's February 2018 challenge to write an epitaph poem.
The second selection from the same volume comes from Margaret Simon—"Window Impressionism." It's a gorgeous, mindful poem inspired by Julie Fogliano's May 2018 challenge to write a poem that comes from staring out the window and writing what you see.
Finally, since today also happens to be Poem in Your Pocket Day, I'd like to share a postcard I recently received from the Poetry Project, under the supervision of Jone MacCulloch.
Isn't Rylee an impressive first grade artist? Wow!
I do hope Coco doesn't get up to too much mischief in my pocket!
You can read more student postcards I received in past years by clicking HERE.
If you missed last week's wrap-up celebration of poems inspired by My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice by Patrice Vecchione, you can find it HERE. Leave a comment on that blog post by 5pm today for a chance to win your own copy!
TLD reader Tabatha Yeatts has challenged us to write a poem about a game (any kind). Click HERE
for more details and to add your poem to the padlet. You can read all of the poems contributed this month HERE.
GAMES OF HOPSCOTCH In the days of innocence and Eisenhower, most girls would play their games of hopscotch. Jay-walking to a vacant lot across the street, we’d kick away debris and bits of broken glass,
scratch out our game-boards on rough cement with pieces of chalk snitched from school.
Like kangaroos, we’d hop, hop, hop, jump, hop turn around, till sweat dripped down our rosy cheeks, and our lips craved ice-cold cherry Cokes, grape popsicles from Sweeny’s drugstore down the block.
TLD reader Tabatha Yeatts has challenged us to write a poem about a game (any kind). Click HERE
for more details and to add your poem to the padlet. While some poems
will be shared as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be
included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, March 27th.
Welcome to this month's game-a-thon, inspired by Tabatha Yeatts.
Earlier this week, I posted a quote from philosopher and psychologist Karl Groos to start the ball rolling. It was paired with a photo of "Timeline: Literary Edition"—a card game made by Tabatha and her daughter Elena. (Kudos to Elena for her amazing box design and card layout!)
You might be relieved to know that Tabatha is not asking us to create a new game this month, just a poem about a game—a board game, a card game, a party game, an outdoor game, a video game... even a poem about playing with a toy would be acceptable. We already have a few ditties by Cindy Breedlove, Kathleen Mazurowski, Sydey O'Neill, and Margaret Simon on the padlet, and today I'll be sharing mine.
My first idea for this challenge was to cleverly incorporate the names of popular games into a familiar story line. It was fun to begin with, but zany soon turned to wacko and spiraled out of control from there. Perhaps someone else might have more success with that approach. Instead, I found my poem sitting quietly off to one side, trying not to be noticed. It's not at all what I expected to write for this challenge, but it is about a game... sort of.
Notes from the Front Step A kick-the-can newbie, Do you want to play?
I was expert in the rules of invisibility— No, thanks. I’ll watch.
spending my childhood behind an imaginary camera, No, really. I like to watch.
clicking each awkward moment, capturing each missed opportunity—
Click HERE for more information about this month's challenge or to add your poem to the padlet.
It's time once again for Madness! Poetry. Round one is underway and Matt Forrest Esenwine fills us in on the details. Join him for this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme.
Thanks to Karen Boss I feel like I've been celebrating this book's arrival for the last month, but today's the day it finally hits bookstore shelves! To honor the occasion, I'm excited to share my own contribution to this charming collection of poems about pretending.
Bellies, Bones, and Paws Michelle Heidenrich Barnes
I button up my lab coat, scrub my hands with soap, check the day's appointments, and grab my stethoscope. Some patients will be nervous, legs quivering like leaves. I'll give them treats and cuddles to make them feel at ease. I'll look at teeth, eyes, and ears, listen to their hearts, examine bellies, bones, and paws, write details on their charts. When the workday's over, and my lab coat's shedding fur, I'll remember every thank you— every nuzzle, kiss, and purr.
From I AM SOMEONE ELSE, collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Chris Hsu (Charlesbridge, 2019). Click to enlarge.
Isn't Chris Hsu's illustration adorable? I was touched when he told me that the girl is based on his daughter, so every time he's read the book for story time, she knows the page is coming up and says "next I'm going to be an animal doctor!"
Don't miss Matt Forrest Esenwine's wonderful interview with Chris Hsu and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. You'll find my interview with Karen Boss from Charlesbridge (who edited the book) HERE. And finally, a reminder that this is the last day to leave a comment on last Friday's post for a chance to win your very own copy. Just imagine the smiles on the faces of the children who are gifted this creative collection! The winner, selected randomly, will be announced on Friday.
Thank you to everyone who contributed a poem or followed along, and
thanks especially to Karen Boss for opening our hearts and exercising our creativity.
Scroll through the poems below, or, for best viewing, CLICK HERE.
Inspired to write your own second person poem giving advice to kids?
Add it to our June 2019 padlet by Sunday, June 30, 2019, and I will move your poem to the wrap-up presentation.
Participants in this month's challenge will automatically be entered to win a copy of the Charlesbridge anthology I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending, collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu. (One entry per participant,
not per poem.)
Alternatively, you may enter the giveaway by commenting below. Comments
must be received by Tuesday, June 2nd. If you contribute a poem and
comment below you will receive two entries in total.
The winner will be determined by Random.org and announced next Friday, June 5th when we reveal our next DMC challenge and debut reader spotlight!
Buffy Silverman, host of this week's Poetry Friday roundup, has taken Karen Boss's challenge in a different direction with a poem offering advice to a sandhill crane chick. Her inspiration was Hello, I'm Here by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder. (Find out how to use Hello, I'm Here in the classroom in this interview with Helen Frost.)
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration tomorrow, Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
RACE TOWARD GOALS Do you race toward goals with giant leaps, bounding over small obstacles, scaling tall walls, ignoring distractions and focusing on your destination? Or do you prefer to race with a steady pace of slower steps, marveling at small obstacles, tunneling paths through tall walls for others to follow, swerving to investigate intriguing distractions? Maybe you do both at different times. That's fine. As long as you keep moving, you'll get there.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
CALLING ALL KIDS Inside of you: dreams, ideas, potential. Wildness, maybe. Athletic skills, eyes that show your hands what to draw, music that only you may hear. A tender heart full of caring. Words that want to find their place on a page, feet that tap a rhythm, a brain that seeks to learn, to know. Curiosity. You, the real you. Like the sky lit by fireworks, you are brilliant. You can light up the world.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
TURN THE WORLD ON ITS HEAD: A REVERSO The world might say:
Look, inside, I know you have ideas, observations, opinions— Wait your turn. There’s no reason to Be impatient. Grownups have it under control. You think You can solve big problems? Well, guess what: You’re only a kid.
But here’s MY view:
You’re only a kid? Well, guess what: You can solve big problems. You think Grownups have it under control? Be impatient. There’s no reason to Wait your turn. I know you have ideas, observations, opinions. Look inside.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
Review for The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2017-2018 is underway! Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in being on this year's ditty committee. As far as this month's challenge goes, our padlet is filling up with some terrific advice poems for children! Featured ditties this week included ones by George Heidenrich, Michelle Kogan, Robyn Campbell, and Linda Baie. Also be sure to check out Carol Varsalona's poem for her granddaughter at Beyond LiteracyLink.
Join Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise for this week's Poetry Friday roundup and a "Clunker Exchange." What a great way to give old words new life!
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
TEACH US With one step from darkness into the light, you can teach us. You can make us see why. You left your country riding on your daddy's shoulders through gloomy days and darker nights to live beside us. How long did it take? And how did you sleep? Was there food to eat? When did your daddy grow too tired to carry you? And when did your feet grow too tired to bring you through? You can help us see Teach us.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
A KID FOREVER MORE Be a kid right now, this minute– Nuh-uh you say, you wanna be like everyone else, all grown up. But now’s the time to be yourself– Silly, smart, sassy, sashaying across a sun-warmed street… Meek, mellow, musical, mumbling melodramatic moments… Seize the opportunity, follow your passion, indulge in your daydreams… Time flies by, and before you know it– Even grownups wish they could be a kid forever more.
Click HERE
to read this month's interview with Karen Boss, Editor at
Charlesbridge. Her challenge this month is to write a poem in second
person, speaking directly to a kid or kids about something that you
think is important for them to know.
Post your poem on our June 2019 padlet.
While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month,
all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, June 28th. One lucky participant will win a copy of I Am Someone Else: Poems About Pretending,
collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Hsu,
available online for preorder, and coming to a bookstore near you on
July 2, 2019.
