April Means Poetry

Still recovering from the Pistachios, but I have to give some kind of welcome to wonderful April, AKA National Poetry Month. Every year, the children's poetry contingent celebrates mightily, not to mention beautifully.

Over at Alphabet Soup, Jama Rattigan gives us a very nice list of National Poetry Month events. Of course, her Poetry Potluck is one of my favorites: tasty poetry and recipes!

I will mention that I'm participating in a few events. First of all, I'm so happy to be a part of Greg Pincus's 30 Poets/30 Days at Gottabook. (See artwork to right.) Here's the link.

I am also doing one line in Irene Latham's very cool Progressive Poem. More on that next week. (Irene gives us a list of Poetry Month events, too.) Okay, this is the post with my line and the links to keep following the poem all month.

And thank you so much to ReaderkidZ for making me their author-in-residence this month. I solemnly swear to tell embarrassing childhood stories, show photos, and talk about writing poetry. Thanks to Chronicle, ReaderkidZ and I will also be giving away a copy of Water Sings Blue sometime soon!

Chili Dip at the Poetry Potluck

I've been following several National Poetry Month blog events religiously, but my three favorites are Gottabook's 30 Poets in 30 Days, The Miss Rumphius Effect's Teaching Poetry in the Classroom, and Poetry Potluck at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

Anyway, today it's my turn to make a guest appearance at the Poetry Potluck. I share three poems from an unpublished collection about a Latina child in L.A., along with my favorite quick, sure-fire recipe for chili dip. Take a look!

Note: My first poetry collection comes out next spring, a book of ocean poems titled The Water Sings Blue from Chronicle, illustrated by Meilo So.