What Lorraine Marwood Likes About Children’s Poetry

March 22, 2010 by Sally

It’s been wonderful having so many different guest bloggers drop by this month, and today is no exception. My visitor today is Lorraine Marwood, fellow verse novellist and poet extraordinaire. Welcome Lorraine. Over to you.

Children’s poetry can enthral an audience just as readily as a picture book. Recently I taught and read poetry across an R-7 school and the teachers were amazed that the children enjoyed poetry. It made the children laugh. It made them look at the world in a different way. And they could write some sensational lines also.

Here’s one of my poems for young children- best not read just before lunch though:

Ice cream city

melted into marshmallow cloud

and the train runs

along licorice tracks

holding jelly baby people

in toffee coloured carriages.

They wave fairy floss flags

and wish they could ski

across the vanilla

the strawberry

the chocolate

roofs and pavements

of the ice cream city.

A poem can also pose a problem- like what does a cow use when it gets an itch…

An Itch

An itch

creeps into hard to get places

like a backbone when a cow

has no scratchy fingers,

so the bark of a tree

the splinters of a post

the prickly points of a wire fence

the dry crinkly grass

all make substitute

back scratchers.

I’ve just completed a May Gibbs children’s Literature Fellowship and part of my work was completing a poetry collection due to come out in August with Walker. As I kept and still keep notebooks over the years of snatched lines, the bare bones of an incident; I was able to trawl, tweak, rewrite and create new poems. And garner audience feedback too.

‘What is poetry?’ I often ask a group of children.

‘It’s like a nursery rhyme, like a song,’ a child eventually answers. And yes poetry keeps us dancing through an ordinary day, by celebrating the extraordinary in the world around us.

Congratulations Sally on the publication of Toppling- I am so looking forward to reading it.

Lorraine Marwood. http://www.lorrainemarwood.com/
http://lorrainemarwoodwordsintowriting.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for dropping by Lorraine, and for sharing your beautiful poems.

What Rebecca Newman Likes About Children’s Poetry

March 21, 2010 by Sally

I am really excited to be welcoming today’s guest blogger – because Rebecca Newman is a fellow West Aussie. So, please make welcome Rebecca, here to share what it is she likes about chidlren’s poetry and to join in the celebrations for the release of Toppling. Over to you, Rebecca.

The Magic of Children’s Poetry

I am excited to be here to celebrate the launch of Toppling, and I would like to share a story about children and poetry.

Last year I was asked to start a Writers Club for five 6 year olds who were prolific story-writers. The teacher thought they might enjoy getting together once a week, so they could share their stories with each other and talk about books, how to improve their writing, and … well … write more stories.
They were enthusiastic writers, but as the end of term approached, everyone was quite tired. I thought it might be a good idea to change tack for the last few weeks, and so I brought along a book of Michael Rosen’s poetry (which my own children love). I couldn’t say our five budding writers were thrilled when I announced that we would be reading poems, but they sat down ready to listen.

I had chosen his poem ‘Why’, and it’s a bit like a mini play—so I suggested they could do the little boy’s repeated ‘why’s. We practised that a bit and then we read the poem all the way through. While we were reading it, it was clear that they weren’t getting into it.

When we finished, there was silence. They stared at me.

Then one boy gave a surprised laugh, and leapt up like someone had pinched him. All five suddenly fell on me, stole the book, and went off to huddle on the other side of the room—where they took it in turns to be the adult in the poem. Each time, they flung their heads back and cackled. Then someone else would have a turn.

They had forgotten I was even there.

At the end of the session, they called out the lines to ‘Why,’ all the way back to the classroom. And they were still cackling.

That night I said to my mum, Michael Rosen has magical powers.

They began to write poems. And they were fabulous poems, too. I would not be at all surprised if they published their own books of poetry—and a verse novel or two—some day.

—

Rebecca Newman is the Publisher and Editor of children’s literary magazine, Alphabet Soup. She lives in Perth, WA, and she and her husband are raising three poets of their own. (Rebecca also updates the magazine’s blog http://soupblog.wordpress.com/)

Thanks so much for sharing your story Rebecca. Sounds like YOU have magical powers, too, to have inspired the children so well.

What Sheryl Gwyther Likes About Children’s Poetry

March 19, 2010 by Sally

I hope you are enjoying learning what my friends like best about children’s poetry. If you’ve just arrived here, throughout March I’ve been celebrating the release of my new verse novel, Toppling. As part of those celebrations I’ve invited my friends to drop in and share what it is they like about children’s poetry. The range of responses has been wonderful.

Today, I am delighted to welcome Sheryl Gwyther, children’s author and passionate book industry and literacy supporter, who has come to tell us what she likes about children’s poetry. Over to you, Sheryl.

What I like best of all about poetry is how the poet is able to capture so much in a few words – of how images are distilled and poured into those words. That is clever writing!

I haven’t read as many poetry or verse novels for younger children as I have books, but I aim to change that soon especially with the debut of Sally’s Toppling and her hugely popular, Pearl Verses the World.

Thankfully, my eyes were opened to the joys of verse novels for older children when I read Steven Herrick’s verse novel, Cold Skin. It was one of those books you cannot put down until it’s finished – and one in which the story and the characters stay in your mind for a very long time. I consumed Herrick’s Lonesome Howl and By the River in the same week – stories that wrung me out emotionally, but left a feeling of peace in my heart, and so glad I read them.

When I was at school, we studied Australian poetry and learned to say many poems off by heart. The ones that stayed with me created such strong images in my mind, I’m not surprised they have been perennial favourites for many Australians even in modern times.

Like Dorothea Mackellar’s My Country. Her words could never mean any other country except Australia. I like the way her poem accepts all the adversity, the harshness and beauty of this country, but it makes no difference, she loves it unreservedly.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains…..

Kenneth Slessor’s Beach Burial, written during WW2 is so evocative, so sad and beautiful. (It’s worth reading the whole piece.)

Softly and humbly to the Gulf of Arabs
The convoys of dead sailors come;
At night they sway and wander in the waters far under,
But morning rolls them in the foam.

Between the sob and clubbing of the gunfire
Someone, it seems, has time for this,
To pluck them from the shallows and bury them in burrows
And tread the sand upon their nakedness;…..

It makes me happy to see how children’s poetry books and verse novels are once more popular with publishers. It means that librarians and teachers encourage children to read poetry and to perform it. And that children will discover worlds they may remember forever, with emotions that will touch their hearts.

A loved poem is a friend you can take anywhere.

Thanks for dropping by Sheryl. I love the image of a poem as a friend!

What Helen Ross likes about Children’s Poetry.

March 19, 2010 by Sally

The month of March is marching by more quickly that I care to believe, but the great thing about that progression is that it brings yet another visitor to my blog to talk about their love of children’s poetry. If you’re new around here, in honour of the release of my new verse novel, Toppling, I have invited my friends to drop by during March and guest blog. Today’s guest is Helen Ross, here to tell us what it is that she likes about children’s poetry. Over to you, Helen.

Congratulations Sally on the release of Toppling. I wish you every success.

Poetry has always captivated me – in particular, children’s poems. This could be because I was a primary and kindergarten teacher many moons ago, and my love for it has remained.
I also remember the first poem I ever wrote.

‘Mr Whippy
One, two, three
Mr Whippy
You’re not he.”

I was about nine or ten years old when I made this ditty up at home one weekend as part of a tag game I was playing with my sister, and a friend. You can image my utter disappointment when I turned up to school next day to find the exact verse being recited for tag games.

When it comes to children’s poetry I sometimes feel like Alice in Wonderland. Once I enter the rabbit hole of wonderful children’s poems I am literally thrown into a myriad of other worlds. These worlds can be explored through a variety of forms – lullabies, nursery rhymes, haiku, daimante, cinquain, rhyming, non-rhyming, metrical, free verse, bush ballads, raps, limericks, sound poems, verse novels, to name just a few.

Children’s poetry (like any poetic forms) can take you on a journey (short or long), pull at your heart strings, be pure fun and nonsensical, a mode of teaching through metaphors and similes, used for language development, or be a means of creating artistic pictures.

SOLITUDE
I have a house where I go
When there’s too many people,
I have a house where I go
Where no one can be;
I have a house where I go,
Where nobody every says “No”
Where no one says anything – so
There is no one but me.
(A.A. Milne Now We Are Six)

I love this poem by A.A. Milne as it reflects what poetry means to me – the creation of my own world, as well as allowing me to enter another world, or reclusiveness, regardless of where I am physically.

I also love writing children’s poetry, particularly in rhyme. My published poetry to date hasbeen in rhyming verse but when I teach poetry workshops in schools I try to include some exercises covering rhyming and non-rhyming styles. Children are so open to all styles, and their creations and interpretations should never be underestimated.

Writing a good poem or verse can take hours and hours of hard work, but it is always so satisfying to see its transformation from a chrysalis into a beautiful butterfly.

Some poems of course require little or no interpretation. They may have simply been created for learning numbers or letters of the alphabet. But interpretation of some children’s poetry can be like peeling apples – removing the skin and taking a bite can expose a variety of delightful sensations.

Thanks for dropping in, Helen.

Helen Ross is a Brisbane-based writer/poet and children’s author/poet. She is also known as Miss Helen.

You can view some of Helen’s giggle poems on her website at: http://www.misshelenbooks.com

Helen also blogs about her writing journey – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the crazy, as well as particular writing issues. Her blog is: http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com

What Kathryn Apel Likes about Children’s Poetry

March 16, 2010 by Sally

I’m delighted to welcome another guest blogger. Today, Kathryn Apel has called in to share with us what she likes about children’s poetry. Welcome, Kat.

Poetic Imagery

By Kathryn Apel

Shaping a poem

the body builder

pumps

flexes

tones and

tautens

snip

snap

snip –

the gardener

prunes and shapes

and

whoosh!

the very

clumsy clown

colours the sky

with brightly bobbing

balloons of

thought

I often think that poets paint pictures with words, but when I’m writing poetry, I get three distinct visual images – and they’re all of me! Let me put you in the picture…

Firstly, I see myself as The Body Builder. Okay – so this is a bit of a joke, because in reality I can’t lift more than a bar of chocolate. BUT – The Body Builder tones up by pumping iron. As a writer, I tone up by pumping poetry. Composing poetry flexes creativity. It hones vocabulary. It pinpoints weaknesses and forces me to focus on specific ‘muscles’. The more poetry I write, the greater my control of my writing muscles – of words.

Secondly, I see myself as The Gardener – a topiary artiste, intent on pruning and shaping; looking at the bigger picture and trimming it into a recognisable form. There is a certain ruthlessness in laying bare a thing of beauty. Poetry is a lot like a topiary tree – each word carefully placed to create a sharp, clear image. Excess words snipped away. There is no room for clutter. Each word must earn its place.

Thirdly, I see myself as The Clumsy Clown clutching fistfuls of colourful helium balloons… but can she keep them all in her grasp? Poetry has a way of releasing thoughts to, float, fly, drift and swirl like a bunch of brightly bobbing balloons.

When writing poetry, I am carried away by my imagination…

Congratulations Sally, on the release of your second verse novel. ‘Pearl Verses the World’ was stunning. I know that ‘Toppling’ will be another rich, warm story to touch the heart. Hugs to you! And thankyou for letting me share your blog space.

Thanks, Kat. I feel inspired to go pump some iron now 🙂

You can learn more about Kathryn Apel by visiting her online. She is the author of This is the Mud and Fencing With Fear.

What Virginia Lowe Likes About Children’s Poetry

March 16, 2010 by Sally

The celebrations for the release of Toppling continue, and today I’m delighted to welcome another guest to my blog. Dr Virginia Lowe has dropped by to tell us what it is she likes about children’s poetry. Welcome Virgina!

PLAYING WITH WORDS: YOUNG CHILDREN AND POETRY

by Virginia Lowe

Rhyme and alliteration are a natural part of baby babble. Infants respond to rhymes recited and sung, too. The excited bouncing of a six month old to a familiar rhyme demonstrates this.

My two children began with nursery rhymes – some sung, some recited. They had favourites almost at once. ‘Baa baa black sheep’ was always responded to. The book used first was Brian Wildsmith’s Mother Goose, though there were several other nursery rhyme books soon added to their book collection, including Raymond Brigg’s extensive Mother Goose Treasury. Strong rhyme begs to be joined in. Rebecca at 1-8 (one year eight months) chimed in with ‘hop’, ‘stop’ ‘tail’ and ‘flew’ in the nursery rhyme ‘Once I saw a little bird’ before she had the words in her vocabulary.

The pattern of the rhyme tells a lot too. At 1-6 Rebecca would demand ‘more-ee’ just before the end of each rhyme. On a long car trip, being entertained by singing nursery rhymes, she allowed three repeats of each rhyme, but none thereafter. If I ran out of inspiration and started ‘Twinkle twinkle’ again, I was severely reprimanded.

Quotes from nursery rhymes made their way into speech as well. From ‘There was a lady loved a swine’ both acquired a useful phrase. Ralph at 2-8, stuck on a fence, begged ‘help me or my heart will break’ and, rather older, at 3-6 Rebecca, who still occasionally used her baby term for ‘pick me up’ asked plaintively ‘Uff uff me, or my heart will break’.

It was rhyme that inspired their earliest joke. A familiar rhyming text had a stanza ‘here’s a white kitten, soft and sweet, / and here’s a white lamb with four little black …’ ‘WHEELS’ shouted Ralph to the amusement of us all (2-3).

When Rebecca was two, I decided she needed a different type of poem, moving on from the rhymes (by this stage Milne was very familiar too) so I found Keats’s illustrated collection of haiku In a Spring Garden. She took to them with great enthusiasm, even the adult collection I had borrowed, and began making them herself, insisting that we write them down: ‘The hibiscus sits in the tree, and waggles his head, head, head’ was one, and there were others about frogs and birds.

Later they both enjoyed learning poems by heart, though they were always humorous rhyming ones – Ogden Nash or Doug McLeod, usually. They enjoyed listening to others, but as Rebecca remarked at 10 that ‘Poems are meant to be funny, or there’s no point to them’. She enjoyed listening to serious poems, but she never chose to learn them.

I maintained a record of my own two children’s responses to books from birth to eight, and kept the record sporadically from then to adolescence. From it came Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two children tell, published by Routledge in 2007. It is, to date, the only record that includes a male child; that looks at their reality-understanding at length; covers the sibling influence; and almost the only one that begins at birth – certainly in as much detail. Its aim is to convince people not to underestimate very young children – they can reason as well as you and I, it’s just their knowledge which is less.

There weren’t verse novels around at the time, but these have lately become very popular, started by Steven Herrick, but continued by Catherine Bateson and Sally Murphy. I’ve just read Sally’s Toppling, and loved it. It’s a study of friendship in Grade 6, four boys. It’s a wonderful read, with the short lines of the verse making it look very approachable. It’s an interesting fact that verse novels are usually shorter than prose ones – you can tell so much more in a short space by using metaphorical language – not having to spell everything out. But the converse is true of verse picture books – they usually have more than the recommended 500 words, because to make the metre and rhyme work (and they are usually rhymed – most authors having Dr Seuss as their model) you find you have to use extra words not entirely germane to the story.

I have been around children’s books since first becoming Children’s Librarian at the new Mooney Valley Regional Library in 1966. Since then I have lectured at university in children’s literature and English, been Judge for the CBCA Book of the Year Award and a school librarian. For the last fourteen years I have run the manuscript assessment agency Create a Kids’ Book – we also do workshops, writing e-courses, mentoring, and send out a free monthly bulletin on writing for kids and children’s literature generally. www.createakidsbook.com.au or contact Virginia on Virginia@createakidsbook.com.au if you’d like to go on the Bulletin distribution list, or if we can assist in any other way.

Thanks Virginia. Lots to think about there!