Swimming in Poetry

Oh, it’s good to be home.
 

I’ve been conferencing. While I was learning and speaking about librarianship, poetry surrounded me. I love how poetry is a part of all that I do as a person. 

Jump into Poetry Friday with me and this week’s host, Jane, at her blog, Rain City Librarian. She’s a poetry person too!

As I was packing bags between conferences these beauties showed up at my door. Some were ordered, some were won in giveaways….it was painful to set them aside until I could get back to enjoy them.

While at the National Association of School Librarians Conference in Phoenix, I had an opportunity to visit with a group of incredible authors and illustrators including Jack Gantos, Molly Idle, Mike Venezia, Juana Martinez-Neal, Wendy Watson, Lynn Avril.

It's always a good idea to sit next to
Lynne Avril, illustrator of Amelia Bedelia

We met at the home of librarian and kidlit bibliophile, Mary Wong. Every inch of Mary’s house is covered in original illustrator art--including the walls of her dining room where she invites kid-lit luminaries to illustrate and sign. She has shelves and shelves of first-edition kid-lit books, many autographed. To enjoy the company of so many creatives at once was beyond my wildest dreams.

Jack Gantos illustrating/signing Mary's Dining Room

You will be thrilled to know that there were sessions on reading and writing poetry for and with kids at conferences at my state and our national level.

Kwame Alexander caused an entire Shush of Virginian Librarians to swoon when he shared poems with us and a peek at his Newberry Medal. Although Kwame is famous for his most recent works, he’s been at poetry for a while. Our young people are in good hands with Kwame’s words.

Kwame Alexander with Newberry

Charles, Irene and me....yeah, we're friends!

In Phoenix, I was thrilled to meet and speak with Irene Latham and Charles Waters. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder writing something new….but graciously allowed me a selfie.

I also attended an author panel that included Irene and Charles. They brought an entire room of Librarians to tears with a reading from their forthcoming book, Can I Touch Your Hair?  And, did I mention that the panel was led by Carole Boston Weatherford? Poetry heaven!

I could not make every poetry session at AASL in Phoenix. However, I did attend a fantastic presentation by Jill Work, Media Specialist at Stuart Country Day School in NJ who shared how she uses poetry in her library teaching. She invited her audience to create right on the spot.

My little ditty from this session has a real-life connection!

But wait--there’s more! As I meandered through the exhibit hall, publishers and book vendors gave out ARCs of soon to be published works. These beauties were just calling to me and I snapped them up fast.

With so much poetry lacing my conferences I truly felt like I was happily swimming in poetry. I’m delighted that winter is fast approaching with dark chilly days and nights to snuggle up with so many beautiful works to read.

Update early Friday morning: I'm thrilled to add that I've been included in The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016. This is a work of love by Michelle Barns and you can find out more about the collection at her blog, Today's Little Ditty. 

Writing Radar by Gantos is not an ARC...it's out in the world and great!