I used to write poetry. When I was in elementary school, I even put together a collection of my poems in a little handmade book with a calico cover. I entered it in my district fair and received a white participation ribbon.

Since I’ve grown up, reviewers will sometimes describe my language as poetic. I heard that a lot about Jingle Dancer, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Morrow/Harper, 2000). But I’m more of a reader than writer of poetry these days.

Books I love include: Kathi Appelt’s memoir, My Father’s Summers: A Daughter’s Memoir (Holt, 2004), which is written in palm poems; as well as Pieces: A Year In Poems And Quilt by Anna Grossnickle Hines (Harper, 2001) ; Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Karen Barbour (Simon & Schuster, 2004); and Is This Forever, Or What? Poems And Paintings of Texas by Naomi Shihab Nye (Harper, 2004).

I want to highlight an upcoming book I’m really excited about: Sketches From A Spy Tree with poems by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer and art by Andrew Glass (Clarion, 2005). Tracie’s site features interviews with children’s poets such as Lisa Wheeler, Ralph Fletcher, Kristine O’Connell George, Nikki Grimes, Heidi Roemer, and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. It also offers lesson plans for poetry, poetry quotes, and more.

Cynsational Links

Author Nancy Garden debuts the first book in a new series, The Case of the Stolen Scarab (Candlestone Inn Mystery #1) (Two Lives, 2004). It’s about siblings Nicky and Travis, whose two moms have recently bought and are ready to open a New England inn. But then they hear police are on the look-out for a thief who swiped a scarab from a Boston museum. When a mysterious guest arrives under dire circumstances, they’re left to wonder if he’s the thief…or a victim.

“I’m published. What now?” from author Verla Kay’s Web site. “A Web page devoted to the business end of being a published author.” An extensive author/writing resource site.

Submit Your Thoughts About Reading for possible inclusion in the book: Page By Page: The Book Of Reading In Words And Pictures by Susan Taylor Brown.

Who Wrote That? Featuring Jennifer Holm published in California Kids (September 2003) from Patricia M. Newman. Read excerpts from two of Jenni’s books, Our Only May Amelia and Boston Jane: An Adventure. Peek in on one of her author visits at Bowling Green Public Library in Kentucky.