Dec 15, 2016

POETRY FRIDAY: Holiday Math Poetry and a NEW CONTEST for PB Writers!

Thank you to Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 
for hosting Poetry Friday this week!
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With a little over a week to go before Christmas, life has been a crazy whirl of holiday programs, concerts, parties, and shopping (the wrapping will commence soon☺). School will be OUT in just a few days, so in honor of the upcoming break from all things scholarly, I am sharing a few math poems that I wrote. I’ve posted about math poetry previously (click here for more on this fun poetic format), and these holiday-themed poems were particularly fun to write!




Since many Poetry Friday participants are also children’s writers, I also want to share a wonderful new contest with you all. My friend and critique buddy Tara Luebbe has launched Writing with the Stars this week, a (free) contest that will match 16 aspiring picture book writers/illustrators with 16 published professionals. Mentorships are available for authors, illustrators, AND author/illustrators, and here is the AMAZINGLY TALENTED list of participating mentors:

Camille Andros
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Megan Bryant
Pam Calvert
Marcie Colleen
Paul Czajak
Katie Duffield
Beth Ferry
Laura Gehl
Melissa Iwai
Stacy McAnulty
Peter McCleery
Penny Parker Klostermann
Lori Richmond
DJ Steinberg
Andrea Zuill

(I am seriously in awe of this list!!)

These talented picture book professionals are volunteering their time and will each choose one very lucky person to work with for a three month period. For more about Writing with the Stars, visit Tara’s website here and checkout the Twitter buzz at #PB WWTS. Applications will be accepted January 13-16 and I will post an interview with Tara the first week in January. In the meantime, follow Tara on Twitter @t_luebbe and read this fabulous interview with Tara by Johnell Dewitt!

Enjoy these crazy December days, have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Writing!

Dec 1, 2016

POETRY FRIDAY: Celebrating Haiku with Bob Raczka’s SANTA CLAUSES

Thanks to Bridget at Wee Words for Wee Ones for hosting Poetry Friday this week!

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A few years ago I read about Bob Raczka’s book SANTA CLAUSES on another writer’s Poetry Friday post and had to buy a copy for myself. I was definitely not disappointed—this delightful book gives young readers a peek into the hectic life of Santa and Mrs. Claus as they prepare for Christmas. Beginning on December 1, each day is chronicled with a haiku, and the separate poems combine to tell a bigger story that ends on Christmas day. It is a wonderful concept and I look forward to sharing the book with young poets this holiday season!


The idea of telling a bigger story through multiple haiku poems is intriguing to me. Haiku is one of my favorite types of poetry because it presents so many opportunities for the creative mind to play. Its simplicity can be deceiving—some of the most profound poetry I have come across has been written in haiku.

For Poetry Friday this week I have written my own December haiku, just for fun:



Have a wonderful weekend, and happy writing!