I was so sad to find out that one of my favorite poets, the bestselling and Pulitzer prize winning Mary Oliver, passed away earlier today. Her poetry collections were some of my all-time favorites: Wild Geese helped me slow down and appr…
Issues concerning civil rights and racial justice in America have never stopped being news. At least if you're paying attention. However over the past few years, they've really become front and center in a more widespread way, thanks to …
Once in awhile, a children's book comes along that's equal parts timely and and classic, and that's just how I'd describe the We are Shining , penned by the late poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Gwendolyn Brooks. It's filled with…
Today marks not only the beginning of Black History Month, but the birthday of the beloved, brilliant, prescient poet Langston Hughes, who would have been 114 today. As with all essential writers throughout history, his words live on lon…
By this point in the school year, my kids know not to expect the sorts of lunchbox love notes they got from me daily in September. But there are a few days on the calendar that inspire me to scribble something special to surprise them: V…
I have a new obsession: novels written in verse. Seriously, I'm flying through a few of these books a week and the best part? My kids are too. The fact that these novels are poetic gives them a lyrical beauty that's missing in a lot of p…
April is National Poetry Month, so we're having some fun adding poetry to our bedtime reading routine. Of course, any reading out loud to my kids is good for growing brains, but kids seem to have a special love for poetry--even before th…
I can't tell you how sad we all are about the death of Maya Angelou today at 86. Starting with the must-read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings back when I was a kid, I was instantly captivated by her amazing command of the language, and ho…
Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny were among the regular read-aloud books in my home for a very long time. So I am thrilled for her old and new fans alike that Goodnight Songs , a treasure trove of poems from the late Margaret Wise Br…
The history of Black Americans is filled with stories of inspiration and strength, so in honor of Black History Month, I was so happy to find artwork inspired by one of my favorite poets, Maya Angelou. Each piece features quotes that hav…
It's clear that Josephine Baker is one of those few celebrity icons who transcends generations. My parents loved her, I loved her, and now my girls love her thanks to the new book, Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker . And de…
When I first heard about 365 Day Subway: Poems by New Yorkers , a project started by friend, neighbor, and prolific author Madeline Schwartzman it was like one of those instant, "d'oh! Why didn't I think of that!" moments. Well there's a…
I love prints that play with typography. Clever, modern design has a way of turning what could be a cheesy inspirational quote into a piece of art I could live with. That's why I love the work by New York graphic artist Evan Roberts on E…
What can I say? My kids just love poetry. Maybe it's because my singing voice sounds like a goat gargling, and maybe it's because they can always convince me to read just one more poem. There's also the possibility that poetry is a beaut…
In honor of Black History Month, I've started sharing a beautifully illustrated new book with my kids that introduces them to 200 years of poetry from some of the most influential African-American poets. Even more than a history book, th…
Poems about children and parenting can be kind of, um, hit or miss. Whether it's too saccharin or just too earnest, I'm not sure--all I know is that it often leaves me vaguely uncomfortable. (And I was a creative writing major!) Not the …
My middle son loves graphic novels. They really get him excited about reading, and I'm certainly down with that. I want him to excitedly pick out a book from the library and read it on the ride home. So he about nearly flipped when we sa…
I have no idea how missed the huge fact that a new book from Shel Silverstein was released a few weeks ago, especially considering he's my favorite modern children's author of all time. But my mother knew. And when I opened the mysteriou…
Let's be real: a lot of old-school nursery rhymes need some updating. Have you ever really listened to "Billy Boy?" (Hey, guy, she is a young thing and cannot leave her mother. Back off!) The world is simply a different place than when M…
I say we all need more poetry in our lives, but poetry so often seems to be one of those tricky things, like an exotic fruit. You enjoy it when you come across it, but it's not part of your regular consumption, especially when you are a …