Check out this latest collaboration combining visual poetry and printmaking! Here is an example of one of my poems that's been illustrated by the very talented Cory Wasnewsky of Three Cheers Press. Check out his work at www.threecheerspress.com. The idea here is that visual poems are a type of language "art" and Cory, who works at the historic Hatch Show Print in Nashville by day and his independent press is his free time, likes to make art with hand-carved imagery and type along with hand set type from vintage blocks. We think the two art forms work together very well! We hope you will too!
Fright Write
I was surprised today when I stepped outside and the clear, crisp fall weather immediately made me think about books. But, this has happened to me before. I have vivid memories of being in elementary school and the cool, fall weather bringing with it wonderful seasonal Fall/Halloween book titles to our Scholastic Book ordering form. It was a magical time in the classroom when we were handed the thin almost vellum like pages of the book club flyer. We would scour the tiny pictures and descriptions of the books for sale like kids picking through Halloween candy. Carefully, we marked what we wanted to purchase and took the pages home to try and convince our parents for the amount of money needed.
Upon return to class, orders were taken and the books would magically appear in the classroom a few weeks later. These were affordable paperback books that helped foster my love of reading. Anyone remember these titles and the amazing illustrations?
Who would not remember THAT face? Talk about a wrinkle in time! Abner Graboff’’s illustrations made wrinkles and fly swallowing old ladies even more mystifying to me.
These books were just fun! We collected and traded them like baseball cards. The classroom orders were probably a teacher’s administrative nightmare but I’m so thankful that they made it a priority in my school district.
Then…. there was the Weekly Reader Children’s Book Club. Now this was a delivered to your front door kind of book club run by the Reader’s Digest Association and I was a very lucky member. These books were hardback classics that never failed to disappoint.
Sometimes the stories that sailed into my mailbox were so different from anything I had experienced that I felt transported when reading them. This mysterious book, Sam, Bangs and Moonshine written and Illustrated by Evaline Ness, won the 1967 Caldecott Medal for its illustrations. How lucky was I to have a grandmother who valued books and reading? Thank you, Martha Harrison Reeves, for giving me the gift of books and for the Weekly Reader Book Club membership!
Finally, to the book I will never forget. This book scared the bejeebers out of me and still haunts me to this day. Now, I’m not saying that it was ideal to have read this as a 4th grader but it was in my school library and I found it and devoured it. My friends and I argued over who’s turn it was to check it out each week. Many a fall day you would find The Thing At The Foot Of The Bed and Other Scary Tales by Maria Leach in my backpack (World Publishing Company 1959).
This book kept me up at night and must still be doing the same for readers today because it is available as a reprint through Dover Publications. The scariest versions of this book are the ones illustrated by Kurt Werth. His sketchy pencil and charcoal drawings added great mystery to the already chilling stories. Maybe our librarian liked this book because its author, Maria Leach, was an expert on folklore and included notes and a bibliography for reference. But the “Do’s and Don’t About Ghosts” at the end of the book kept me awake at night for weeks! I’m not saying this was necessarily a good thing but nevertheless, this book made a lasting impression and taught me about the staying power of books and the written word. The point is that children’s literature is a vibrant and critical part of a child’s journey. Children don’t just read and enjoy books, they think about what they find inside them. Sometimes for a very long time.
At a recent SCBWI Fall conference in Nashville, a presenter told us that 37% of the current print market is dedicated to children’s titles. It is encouraging to know that books are still a vital part of childhood for those who can get their hands on them. I wonder...what book or books landed in your lap that you still carry with you in some way today?
Pour Me.
A review of Bob Raczka's Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems
So I love this book. It's another "shelfie" for sure. The masterful Raczka pours out concrete poetry/word art/vispo and makes quite the impression. A permanent mark on the form that further solidifies his place among the best in children's poetry.
But why pour me? This work is so good that it almost makes me want to quit writing. Seriously. Just read the last poem (my favorite in the book) and tell me it isn't brilliant. It makes me think: "why should I keep trying at this writing thing?" "Who can top this?" "When will I ever get a poem published?"
But I won't quit. Because Wet Cement also does what great writing does: it INSPIRES. And, that is reason enough to put this book on the Christmas/birthday list for the kids. Creativity takes courage and this book takes risks that pay off. To be a good writer you have to read good writing. Inspire young writers, expand their view of poetry and buy this book. Put it on the gift list. (Remember books are easy to wrap.) Adults, put it on your coffee table - it's a alphabetical architecture book that your friends will love. In the meantime, I am reading and writing and I will be back.
Poetically Speaking,
Kelly
Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka is published by Roaring Brook Press, 2016.
Shelfies
Children's Books You Need On Your Shelf...Right Now
With the Christmas season upon us I want to list a few unique books that would make great gifts. As my children were growing up, we had a tradition in our family to give a special book to each child at Christmas. Now, I am doing the same for nieces and nephews to help them build their home libraries. Maybe I’m becoming the “crazy book lady” but I’m OK with that. And one more thought....if possible support you local bookstore for your purchases. (If you live nearby in Nashville, support Parnassus Books in Green Hills—they have a fantastic children’s section—including a nice selection of children’s poetry).
So, give that little elf on the shelf something to read this Christmas and Happy Christmas to all....
Press Here by Hervé Tullet. A New York Times bestseller of which you may already be aware. But if not, it’s a blast. A fun interactive picture book where the reader supplies the magic to change the next page. (Ages: 2 and up /Chronicle Books 2011). Also pick up his latest book Mix It Up! Tullet does it again with colors and the combinations are magical. No technology required! (Ages 2 and up /Chronicle Books 2014).
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak. (Ages 5-8 /Dial Books for Young Readers 2014). This one is just funny. Read it aloud with your favorite little person and laugh and enjoy the sounds of language.
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone. An oldie but a goodie. I was reminded about this book at a recent conference and am so glad to revisit it. This Little Golden Book was put out by Random House in 1971. Cleverly illustrated by Michael Smollin so that the turn of each page is a feat leading toward the ultimate confrontation with “Lovable, Furry Old Grover” from Sesame Street. A fun way to feel scared without really being scared.
Of course the pop up Christmas books by the wonderful illustrator Robert Sabuda are a must to collect. We have them all! There are several but The 12 Days of Christmas written by Clement Clarke Moore and Illustrated by Sabuda. (Ages 4-8/ Publisher: Little Simon 2001) and The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda. (All ages/Orchard Books 2004) are a good place to start your collection.
Here’s one you may not know about: A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes. (Ages 4-8 published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 2013). Look this one up. A visually stunning book by an award winning author/illustrator that teaches the importance of putting others first. The use of white space within the illustrations is brilliant.
My Blue Is Happy by Jessica Young and illustrated by Catia Chien. (Candlewick Press 2013). This beautiful picture book ties colors and emotions together in fun surprising ways.
And....of course a poetry book is on the list....
Nest, Nook and Cranny by Susan Blackaby Illustrated by Jamie Hogan. (Ages 8-12 Charlesbridge 2010). Combines poetry, animals and a great little index in the back of the book that describes different poetical forms and devices.
You can see more about this book of poems and some more of my favorites on the
For Readers page of the website.
The Shape of Things to Come
It is theorized that some pattern poetry (an early precursor to concrete poetry) was written to be inscribed upon objects like an ax handle, a statue’s wings, an altar or even an egg! (Further information about these ancient Greek poems of the third century B.C. can be found in the text of The Greek Bucolic Poets. See note below.)
Objects embedded with verse would allow the shape of the object as well as the text to reflect back on the theme of the poem. For example, winged shape verse inscribed onto a statue's wings could lend reference to the wings of love. It is a very interesting idea to think about and makes concrete poetry all the more tangible.
All of this made me wonder. If I were to inscribe a shaped poem onto a physical object today, what would I choose? Would I superimpose verses in circles around the tires of my minivan about feeling the pressure to be in several places at once and running endless exhausting errands? Would I write a poem about body image and what I am learning about real beauty along the handle of my hand mirror?
I’ll end all of this pondering with reference to a children’s poem titled “Pencils” by Barbara Juster Esbensen. She describes how:
“The rooms in a pencil
are narrow
but elephants castles and
watermelons
fit in....”
and she speaks to the potential of the many wonderful poems and stories contained inside every pencil. I would love to inscribe this poem on pencils that could be handed out in every classroom — to inspire students to write and remind them of the power of words.
What would you write on?
*The Greek Bucolic Poets. Translated by Edmonds, J M. Loeb Classical Library Volume 28. Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press. 1912.)
*I found the poem “Pencils” in the book Another Jar of Tiny Stars- Poems by More NCTE Award-Winning Poets. Bernice E. Cullinan and Deborah Wooten, editors. Boyds Mill Press. 2009.