A poetry kind of post

Hi everyone,

I have known for some time about the good news regarding The Dirt Book, and have told you about it here, but the conference made it official. The book has won recognition for KATE COSGROVE’S outstanding art and was recently named to the Texas Bluebonnet Master Reading List for 2023-34. Our astute editor was GRACE MACCARONE at Holiday House. I’m proud to see the title listed as one of the 2022 Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels Selected by the NCTE Award for Excellence in Children’s Poetry Committee.

I’m in the company of many wonderful, gifted friends. In poetry books, JOYCE SIDMAN won for Dear Treefrog, JANET WONG won for Good Luck Gold & More, NIKKI GRIMES won for Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance, GEORGIA HEARD won for My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness, KALLI DAKOS won for They Only See the Outside, and in verse novels CLAUDIA MILLS won for The Lost Language. And there are more. Copy the list and you have a handy reference list of “must read” books when you’re in the mood for poetry.

The selection committee for 2022 needs to be recognized for the hard work they put into the process. I’d hate to guess how many books they each had to read! Thank you, committee!

2022 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children Committee Members:
Ted Kesler, Chair, Queens College, CUNY, Flushing, NY
Ryan Colwell, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Deanna Day, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA
Rebecca Kai Dotlich, author, New York, NY
Gabrielle Atwood Halko, West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Heidi Mordhorst, Rockview Elementary School, North Kensington, MD
Mary-Kate Sableski, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

The big news is that Georgia Heard was named recipient of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Hooray for Georgia! She is a worthy recipient and will represent children’s poets and their poetry during the coming year. Thanks to Janet Wong, the past years recipient for all the great work she has done. It’ a great tradition.

Wednesday? Seriously?

Hi everyone,

This morning I’ll go read for a while to 1st grade students at David Harrison Elementary School. I haven’t been out since school started this year so I’m excited about seeing the kids and wonderful faculty.

This afternoon is a zoom meeting with LAURA ROBB and JANAY BROWN-WOOD to go over what we’ll each present during our event at NCTE Sunday morning. Hope to get a few hours of work done between the two activities.

A table at the authors’ luncheon

Hi everyone,

I’m grateful to Holiday House for sponsoring a table for me at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon at NCTE. That’s always a good event for authors fortunate enough to have a table and the chance to meet those who choose to sit with them and become acquainted, each of whom will receive a copy of THE DIRT BOOK. Thank you, Holiday House!

If you have had trouble ordering a copy of THIS LIFE, here’s the link. https://msulib.me/thislife . When you click on it, you’ll find a picture of the book and a box to add it to your cart. Follow each step by completing the information and hitting “continue.” I just tried it and it seems to work. Your copy will be mailed to you next month when the first printing comes out. For those who have already ordered copies, thank you!

NCTE schedule

Hi everyone,

I’m pulling together my schedule in Anaheim for the NCTE conference later this month. We’ll arrive on Friday the 18th and leave on the 20th. Three of my publishers are having happy hour or receptions that fall back to back the first evening. I hope our arrival is on time!

On Saturday I sign at two booths — Astro and Scholastic — have lunch with the editor I’m working with on a book currently, and meet with friends. MARY JO FRESCH and I will be together at the Scholastic booth. It will be great to see her again.

On Sunday, I present with LAURA ROBB and LANAY BROWN-WOOD and that afternoon we’ll fly home.

Every conference is different and I’m sure this one will be too. It’s the first in-person conference I’ve attended since the Pandemic. I’m looking forward to it.

Huffin’ and puffin’ away

Hi everyone,

My thanks to TINA HACKER for making and posting this announcement yesterday on a site maintained for Hallmark folks, past and present. It would be special to see some people I worked with, back in the day, when I speak at The Writers Place in November. Tina, thank you for sponsoring me for that event. I am looking forward to being back in Kansas City! Maybe some friends from the Springfield area and elsewhere will make plans to attend the free evening that is open to the public.

Yesterday I agreed to make a pre-recorded video with LAURA ROBB, JANAY BROWN-WOOD, and MARGARITA ENGLE for the NCTE conference in November. We’re already set to present at 10:30 a.m. the morning of November 21 in Anaheim.

On today’s agenda, I’ll pick up some pictures I ordered from photographer RANDY BACON from his recent exhibit in partnership with Ozark Literacy Council, “Words and Pictures.” Later in the day I’ll meet with an editor via Google. For now, it’s back in the wheel.