THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY

THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY
April 12, 2016

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Bunny Hopping: Children's Poetry Blog Hop

It's Rabbit Season.



There's a whole lot of bunny hopping around the kids' lit poetry community. Carmela Martino of the blog Teaching Authors invited me to join in the bunny dance party AKA Children's Poetry Blog Hop. 

Poet and blogger April Halprin Wayland started the hoppy conga line earlier this month, with this post. Now put on your dancing shoes. Let's meet our emcee...

Choose your bunny. In your face poet Mortimer or...

thoughtfully romantic poet Mortimer.
Here's how the blog hop works:

1) Make up three questions you've always wanted to be asked in an interview about children's poetry and then answer them on your own blog (suggestion: use one question posted by the person who invited you to the Hop).

2) Invite one, two, or three other poetry bloggers to join the Hop. Children's poetry is preferred, but all poetry lovers are welcome.

3) In your post, list the names of the bloggers you invited and give the dates when they'll be posting for the Poetry Blog Hop.

4) Bunnies optional. Sorry, Mortimer and Bugs.

Enough rules. Let's get hopping! Carmela's first question was a good one, so let's start there.

1) Carmela's question: When was your first poem published? Can you share it with us?

In third grade, I wrote a poem comparing the sounds of a peaceful summer evening to an orchestra. It was published in the PTA newsletter. Unfortunately, I believe this poem is lost to the mists of time.

2) New question: What poetry are you reading now?

In children's poetry just finished Karen Hesse's wonderful verse novel Witness. It's a historical novel about how a turn of the century community in Vermont deals with KKK activity in their town. I liked this book because it told the story in multiple voices.

In adult poetry, I am reading submissions for Little Patuxent Review's Science issue. It's exciting to see the original poems that people are sending to our journal. (Deadline is November 1!)

3) New question: What's one of your favorite books of poetry to share with children and students?

I love, LOVE, anything by Calef Brown. I have fond memories of my daughter reciting "Olf" -- about a terrible pirate. Terrible, as in really, really bad at being a pirate. Not at all terrifying.

Another favorite Calef Brown poem is "Funky Snowman."


Okay, bunny peeps. So far, I have one taker to join the bunny hop. That's Janet Fagal. I'll post the date of  Janet's post -- which will be right here at AuthorAmok -- as soon as possible.

A HOPPY UPDATE: Hooray for Heidi Mordhorst! Heidi will join the Children's Poetry Blog Hop this Friday, with a Poetry Friday post at My Juicy Little Universe.

Here at AuthorAmok, we'll be talking drama geeks with a poem about THAT play. See you Friday, Peeps.


9 comments:

Linda B said...

Janet has been asking me to do this, so I'm very happy to see some kind of guidance, especially that I can find all kinds of bunny pictures and include them, too! Love the answers and that about Witness, a book I hadn't heard of yet, Laura. Looks like fun!

Tabatha said...

Hey, I wrote a poem comparing a summer evening to an orchestra, too! I guess it's a natural topic for poetry. Can't wait to read the science issue of LPR!!

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes said...

Fun post, Laura! The Bugs Bunny cartoon takes me back. I was reading Calef Brown just yesterday- POLKA-BATS AND OCTUPUS SLACKS is chock full of chuckles, isn't it?!

Renee LaTulippe said...

Love your bunny hop, Laura. These are fun!

And...FUNKY SNOWMAN!! So fabulous. Now I have to go buy some Calef Brown books. My wallet thanks you! :)

Author Amok said...

Linda -- Witness would be a great book to shared in an integrated US History/ Literature class for grades 5 - 8.

Tabatha -- thanks! I'm excited about the upcoming issue.

Author Amok said...

Michelle, I ADORE Calef Brown. Seriously. And so do my kids because when we sent him a geeky fan email, he was super nice. He even gave me permission to share one of his poems on the blog: http://authoramok.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-poetry-pocket-friday.html

Author Amok said...

Renee, your guys will love Calef Brown's books and you're going to love sharing all of the poetry and wild illustrations with them. I dare them not to laugh at "Polka Bats." You'll also find "Funky Snowman" in the Hip Hop Speaks to Children anthology.

Robyn Hood Black said...

What a fun, hopping post, Laura! Thanks for jumping in. (I can't stop myself... sorry!)

I'm also sorry your first poem was "lost to the mists of time," but just look at where that first step has led you. And the Calef Brown detouring - now THAT's worth all the bunny good luck around.

Carmela Martino said...

Great post, Laura. And WITNESS is one of my all time favorite verse novels, along with OUT OF THE DUST.
Thanks for joining the Hop!