Good news from Pomelo Books

Hi everyone,

It’s always a pleasure to contribute a poem to any anthology published by SYLVIA VARDELL and JANET WONG, co-publishers of Pomelo Books. A recent offering, HOP TO IT, features 100 poems to urge kids to get up and get moving. I have a poem in it so I can claim 1/100th credit for this good news.

HOP TO IT just won the 2021 KIDS’ BOOK CHOICE AWARD for Best Book of Facts. You should know that only kids get to vote on their favorite books, so the win is that much sweeter. When you look at those pictures of some of us, you can see that they spell out “poets having a good time.” That may not be a fact, but I don’t think I’m far off. My congratulations to Sylvia, Janet, and the host of talented poets who made this book another winner for kids and for Pomelo.

You can’t catch me!

NOTE: For those of you who are interested in attending the virtual Poetry Reading on the 13t, it might help to know that I’ll take the opening ten minutes of the program, which start at 7:00 CST. I’ll read some of my children’s poems followed by the other three poets reading their work for adult readers. The final twenty minutes, starting at roughly 7:40, will be open for Q and A. Hope this helps.

Hi everyone,

A few days ago I saw a video of my poem, “You Can’t Catch Me!”

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222524021543336&id=1054445851&sfnsn=mo

that appeared in HOP TO IT, a recent title from Pomelo Books by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. I was charmed by it and went to the source for information.

Turns out that Sylvia is having each student in one of her classes at Texas Women’s University take a poem from the book and as a class project create a video of it. There will be new videos posted throughout April, National Poetry Month. Is this cool? Sylvia says all the videos are good but she suggested a few coming attractions to watching for, including Margaret Simon’s “Zen Tree” (on April 28), “Me and the Beach Creatures” by Susan Blackaby (on April 26), and “Wiggle Your Ears!” by Jay Brazeau (on April 21).

And don’t forget, you can always pick up a copy of the book and enjoy every poem in your own way in your own place in your own time. Hop to it!

Hop to It!

Hi everyone,

Today at 3:00 CST I’ll participate in a Zoom poetry party to celebrate the October 15 publication of Pomelo’s newest release, HOP TO IT, Poems to Get You Moving.

A group of 28 poets with poems in the book will chat and take turns reading their poems. Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong will be our hosts so it promises to be an entertaining event. This will be recorded so that segments of it can be used at later times to promote the book.

My poem is titled “You Can’t Catch Me”.

One more new toy to play with

Hi everyone,

I’ve invested in a webcam and tripod, thanks to Jeff for help in selecting, ordering, and coaching. Yesterday I made my first video using the new equipment, and this is SO much better than the way I’ve been making them — staring into my screen. The first new video is for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Children’s Literature Festival next month, which is all virtual this year.

I have an online session coming up on Friday to help celebrate the new Pomelo book, HOP TO IT, by reading my poem in it, so I’ll use my new toy for that session too. Bring ’em on!