Celebrate Literacy Award

Hi everyone,

I’m honored to announce that I’ve just received the ILA/MLA Celebrate Literacy Award. Two awards were given for 2023. Here’s the announcement.

I’m grateful to SAM BOMMARITO and GLENDA NUGENT (co-editors of Missouri Reader, and Sam just finished a term as president of MLA) for nominating me for the recognition. I believe that a video is being created to explain more about the award. I’ll let you know if I see it. I am truly delighted.

Poetry Olio at ILA

Hi everyone,

I’ve been focused on the blog tour lately and have fallen behind on other matters. One recent development is that I’ve accepted an invitation to participate in the Poetry Olio at ILA (International Literacy Association) conference in Columbus, Ohio. I’m pleased to be part of it. In the past more than 200 teachers have shown up for the event, which takes place on Friday evening, October 16, from 7:30 – 9:30. So far the lineup includes Nile Stanley, Allan Wolf, Brod Bagert, Stephanie Fletcher, and our pal Su Hutchens. When others are added, I’ll let you know in case you might be interested in attending the event. The picture was taken at a Poetry Olio in 2014. That’s Kenn Nesbitt, who was then the Children’s Poet Laureate. We look so much alike that I dyed my hair white so you could tell us apart.

International Literacy Association

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your patience while I took off a couple of weeks to play in the gulf. We were joined by our son Jeff, daughter-in-law Jennifer, daughter Robin, and grandson Kris. A good time was had by all.

The International Literacy Association (ILA) begins today in St. Louis. Thousands of educators from the United States and other countries will attend. I look forward to meeting with co-authors and editors about various projects in the works and participating in the conference. Tomorrow I’ll m.c. a session with Ruth Culham, Kate Messner, and Lester Laminack. On Sunday I’ll present with Mary Jo Fresch, Lindsey Moses, and Richard Gentry in one session, present with Mary Jo in another, and sign books at the Shell Publications/Teacher Created Materials booth.

I’ll also do a reading on Saturday night at the Poetry Olio. I’ve selected some new poems from works in progress plus a few previously published, including “And the Crowd Went Wild,” “Lookit,” “In the School Band,” “It’s a Lollity Popity Day,” and “The Trouble with My House.” I’m hoping for a nice turnout for that.