Category: News

Famous Poets: Edgar Allan Poe

Happy birthday to the master of the spooky story, Edgar Allan Poe. On January 19th, we celebrate the life and work of this legendary poet and author. From his poem “The Raven” to his short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Poe’s works have captivated audiences for centuries with their dark imagery and symbolism. While he did not write for children, his poems, especially “The Raven,” have been enjoyed by young readers for nearly 200 years.

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was a 19th century American author, poet, editor, and literary critic whose works are renowned for their dark and mysterious themes. Born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe was orphaned at a young age and was taken in by the Allan family, from whom he adopted his middle name. Poe’s early life was marked by financial difficulties and personal tragedy, which would later be reflected in his writing.

Tamerlane and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

Poe began writing poetry at a young age and published his first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, in 1827, when he was just 18, under the pseudonym “A Bostonian.” Only 50 copies were printed, just 12 of which still exist today. The book received little attention so, though he continued writing poetry, he began to focus more on short stories. Poe also joined the United States Army in 1927, and later the United States Military Academy, but left in order to focus on his writing career.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

In 1845, a few days after his 36th birthday, Poe published his most famous poem, “The Raven,” which tells the story of a man visited by a talking raven, who repeatedly utters the word “Nevermore.” The poem became a sensation and made Poe a household name. “The Raven” is often considered one of the most famous and best known poems in American literature. It begins…

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”

Poe’s poetry is characterized by its heavy focus on death and the supernatural. He was a master of the “gothic” style, and many of his poems, such as “Lenore” and “Annabel Lee,” deal with themes of death, loss, and the afterlife.

In addition to poetry, Poe also wrote short stories, essays, and criticism. In 1841, he wrote a short story called “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” which is widely considered to be the world’s first detective story, in which a brilliant detective solves a seemingly impossible case. He is often referred to as the father of the detective genre.

He is also widely considered to be the father of modern horror. His short stories, such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Pit and the Pendulum,” were renowned for their inventive plots and use of psychological terror. Poe’s works, with their mysterious and scary themes, had a huge influence on later writers, particularly in the horror, detective, and science fiction genres.

Poe’s life was marked by personal tragedy and financial difficulties. In addition to losing his parents at a young age, his first wife died when she was just 24, and he often struggled to earn enough money. Poe himself died at the young age of 40, under mysterious circumstances. There are many different theories about the cause his death, but we may never know for sure.

Despite the hardships he faced during his lifetime, Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the most influential American writers of all time. His legacy lives on through his enduring works of poetry and prose. His writings continue to be studied, analyzed, and adapted in various forms of media, including movies, TV shows, and other literature. Poe’s writing had an immense impact on the horror and science fiction genres, and his works continue to be a source of inspiration for many poets, short story writers, and novelists to this day.

Famous Poets: A. A. Milne

Alan Alexander Milne, commonly known as A.A. Milne, was an English author, playwright, and poet who is best known for his children’s books, particularly the Winnie-the-Pooh series. He was born on January 18, 1882 in Kilburn, London, England.

A. A. Milne

Milne attended Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1903. After college, contributed humorous poems and essays to Punch, a weekly humor and satire magazine, and eventually became an assistant editor there.

As a young man, Milne was a talented cricket player, and played on a couple of teams with many famous authors of the time, including J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and best-selling humorist P. G. Wodehouse.

From 1915 to 1920, Milne served in the British Army during World War I and beyond. For a couple of years during his time in the army, he wrote articles for British Military Intelligence.

In 1920, Milne and his wife had a son, Christopher Robin Milne, who later would appear as the character Christopher Robin in Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books.

A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin Milne

In 1924, two years before the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne published his first book of poetry for children, When We Were Very Young. The book was a best-seller and was followed by several more books of poetry, including Now We Are Six, and other children’s books

When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne

Milne’s most famous work is the Winnie-the-Pooh series, which features the lovable teddy bear and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. The first book in the series, Winnie-the-Pooh, was published in 1926 and was an instant success. The sequel, The House at Pooh Corner was also well-received and continues to be popular today.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Milne’s writing was characterized by its simplicity and whimsy, and his poetry for children was particularly beloved for its ability to capture the innocence and wonder of childhood. Many of his poems, such as “At the Zoo” and “The King’s Breakfast,” have become classics and are still enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Milne passed away on January 31, 1956, but his legacy lives on through his enduring works of literature. His contributions to children’s literature and poetry have had a lasting impact and continue to be enjoyed by readers all over the world.

Famous Poets: Robert Service

Today, we’re celebrating the life and poetry of Robert Service, one of the most beloved poets in history. Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet and writer who is best known for his works about the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century. He was born on January 16, 1874 in Lancashire, England, and had nine siblings.

Robert W. Service

Service moved to British Columbia, Canada at the age of 21, where he worked a variety of jobs, including as a bank clerk, a farm laborer, and a store clerk, though he dreamed of being a cowboy. He was also writing poems at that time.

He got his first poems published in 1900, at the age of 24, in a daily newspaper called the Victoria Daily Colonist. The Colonist continued publishing his poems for the next several years, while he continued working mainly as a bank clerk.

In 1904, his bank sent him to work in Whitehorse, in the Yukon territory of Canada. There he heard stories of the Klondike Gold Rush, and read famous poems of the time, such as Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat” and Rudyard Kipling’s “Gunga Din.” It was these stories and poems that inspired him to write his most famous works.

In the early 1900s, he began writing poems about the gold rush, which he experienced firsthand while living in the Yukon. These poems have been celebrated around the world for their vivid descriptions and captivating stories about frontier life during this exciting period in history. His most famous poem is “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” which tells a gripping story about an old prospector who dies alone on a frozen lake near Dawson City. Other popular works include “The Shooting of Dan McGrew” and “The Spell of The Yukon.”

His first book, Songs of a Sourdough was published in 1907, when he was 33 years old. The book was so popular that it was reprinted more than a dozen times and made service a wealthy man.

Songs of a Sourdough by Robert Service

In addition to his poetry, Service also traveled widely and wrote several novels and non-fiction works about his travels and experiences in the North. He was a prolific writer throughout his life, and his works continue to be popular and widely read to this day.

In fact, I even wrote a Christmas poem once, called “The Night Santa Claus Came,” that was inspired by Robert Service. My poem is a retelling of Clement Clark Moore’s “A Visit From Saint Nicholas,” (also known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) in the style of Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee.”

Robert Service died on September 11, 1958, at the age of 84. All these years later, he is still remembered as one of Canada’s favorite and most important poets, not only because his words capture so perfectly what it felt like to live out west at that time but also because they continue to inspire us with tales of courage, adventure, and friendship even today.

How to Host a Poetry Slam

How to Host a Poetry Slam

What Is a Poetry Slam?

A poetry slam is similar to an open-mic poetry party, with a key difference: Poetry slams are competitive events in which poets perform their work in front of an audience and judges. Poetry slams are known for their lively, energetic atmosphere and often feature poets performing original works.

During a poetry slam, poets take the stage one at a time to perform their work. They are often given a time limit, usually three to five minutes, to perform their poem. After each poet performs, the judges score their performance based on criteria such as originality, creativity, delivery, and overall impact.

At the end of the event, the scores are totaled and the poet with the highest score is declared the winner. Poetry slams are often held at schools, community centers, and other public venues and can be a fun and engaging way for young poets to share their work and for audiences to discover new and exciting voices.

How to Host a Poetry Slam

A poetry slam is a great way for students in an elementary school to express themselves creatively and build confidence in public speaking. This is especially true if students are sharing funny poems or poems with engaging narratives. There is almost nothing better than the applause of your peers for overcoming a fear of public speaking and becoming a more confident presenter.

If you would like to host a poetry slam at your school, here are some steps you can follow:

  1. Choose a theme: Decide on a theme for the poetry slam. This could be something broad like “self-expression” or something more specific like “nature.” The theme will give the students a focus for their poems and help them come up with ideas.
  2. Recruit judges: Find a group of teachers, parents, or other community members who are willing to serve as judges for the poetry slam. Choose judges who are open-minded and willing to listen to a variety of styles and viewpoints.
  3. Encourage participation: Let students know about the poetry slam and encourage them to participate. You can do this through announcements, flyers, or by setting up a sign-up sheet.
  4. Maybe start a poetry club: Consider starting a poetry club for interested students, where you can hold workshops or after-school sessions to help students write and polish their poems. These workshops can be led by teachers, students, or even local poets.
  5. Set rules: Establish some basic rules for the poetry slam. For example, students should be encouraged to write their own poems and to avoid using profanity or other inappropriate language.
  6. Prepare: Encourage students to select and rehearse their poems before the event. This will help them feel more comfortable and confident when it’s time to perform. Below, I have included several tips on how to help students prepare.
  7. Host the event: On the day of the poetry slam, set up a stage or designated area where the students can perform. Have the judges sit at a table in front of the stage, and provide a microphone and sound system for the students.
  8. Judge the performances: Have the judges score each performance based on criteria such as originality, creativity, delivery, and overall impact. The student with the highest score wins the poetry slam. You can also have a grand prize winner as well as second and third-prize winners.
  9. Celebrate the winners: After the poetry slam, celebrate the winners and all of the participants. You can do this with a small ceremony, perhaps with a ribbon, medal, or certificate, and possibly by displaying the winning poems around the school.

How to Prepare

In addition to planning for the poetry slam itself, students will need to prepare for the event too. There are several ways that students can practice and prepare to participate in a poetry slam:

  1. Write, write, write: Encourage students to write as many poems as they can. The more they write, the more comfortable they’ll become with the writing process and the more likely they are to come up with a poem they’re proud to perform. They can find lots of poetry writing lessons here.
  2. Look for inspiration: Encourage students to find inspiration for their poems from their own experiences, observations, and emotions. They can also be inspired by the poetry of others or by current events and issues. One of the easiest things to write about is something you really like or enjoy. For example, if your favorite thing is playing hockey, consider writing a poem about hockey. If you’d rather play Pokémon, try writing about that.
  3. Workshops: Consider holding workshops or after-school sessions to help students write and polish their poems. These workshops can be led by teachers, students, or local poets and can be a great way for students to get feedback on their work and to learn new writing techniques.
  4. Practice reading aloud: Encourage students to rehearse performing their poems aloud to get a feel for the rhythm and flow of their words. This will help them deliver their poem with confidence and clarity. For ideas on how to rehearse, have a look at this article I wrote on How to Recite a Poem Like an Expert.

Hosting a poetry slam can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the students and the school community. By following these steps, you can create a successful and memorable event.

Famous Poets: Carl Sandburg

Let’s take a look today at the life and work of Carl Sandburg, one of America’s most beloved poets. Carl Sandburg was a renowned poet, historian, and biographer. Born on January 6, 1878 in Galesburg, Illinois, Sandburg was the son of Swedish immigrants. He grew up in a poor family and had to work various odd jobs to make ends meet. Despite this, Sandburg was a voracious reader and developed a love for literature at an early age.

Carl Sandburg

After working as a milk-cart driver, a hotel porter, a bricklayer, a farmhand, and a coal-heaver, he eventually became a journalist, writing for the Chicago Daily News.

Sandburg began writing poetry in his teenage years and published his first collection in 1904, at the age of 26. In 1916, he published a book of poetry called Chicago Poems. This collection, his first from a mainstream publisher, contained some of his most famous works, such as “Chicago” and “Fog.” It was met with critical acclaim and established Sandburg as a major figure in American literature. His next collection, “Cornhuskers,” won him the first of his three Pulitzer prizes.

Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg

In addition to his poetry for adults, Sandburg was also known for writing stories and poems for children. He wrote three books of stories for kids between 1922 and 1930; Rootabaga Stories, Rootabaga Pigeons, and Potato Face. These were collections of whimsical and imaginative tales that were meant to be read aloud to children. The stories, which featured characters such as the “Piggyback Hound” and the “Corn-Stalk Boy,” were meant to appeal to the childlike sense of wonder and imagination in all of us.

Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg

Sandburg’s poetry for children was known for its simplicity and accessibility, as well as its ability to convey complex themes in a way that children could understand. One of his most famous children’s poems is “Theme in Yellow,” from Chicago Poems, about the things a jack-o-lantern sees on Halloween night.

Another example is his poem “Fog,” also from Chicago Poems, which compares the fog covering the harbor and city to a silent cat.

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

He also wrote a number of children’s poems that were discovered in 1999, 32 years after his death, and published as a book entitled Poems for Children Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote.

Poems for Children Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote by Carl Sandburg

One thing that stands out about Carl Sandberg’s poems is their timelessness; their ability to transcend generations. His poems have remained popular among both young readers today and those who grew up reading them decades ago.

In addition to his poetry, Sandburg was also a historian and biographer. He wrote a Pulitzer-prize-winning multi-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln, which was published in the 1950s and is still considered one of the most comprehensive and well-researched biographies of the former President.

Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg

Carl Sandburg died on July 22, 1967, at the age of 89. His work, especially his poetry for adults and children, has had a lasting impact on American literature and continues to be widely read and admired today.

Poetry’s Impact on Childhood Literacy

Kenn Nesbitt Poet

Hi, All! It’s a new year and, hopefully, we are all a little bit wiser, as well as another year older. I began writing poetry for children in 1994, which means that 2023 is my 30th year as a poet. Over these past three decades, I have learned quite a lot about poetry and, more importantly, its effect on kids. I have seen firsthand how poetry turns “reluctant readers” into voracious readers. So, as this new year begins, I thought I would take a moment to share some of the insights I have gained into poetry’s impact on childhood literacy.

Poetry is an important tool for improving childhood literacy for several reasons. First and foremost, poems for children tend to be short, typically just one or two pages, which can make reading a poem seem less daunting for young readers than, say, an entire book. Children who might shy away from a 200-page novel, are often much more interested in reading bite-sized chunks of poetry.

At the same time, though, a good poem typically evokes an emotional response from the reader, despite its brevity. Whether it’s a laugh, a smile, goosebumps, or even tears (I still can’t read Eugene Field‘s poem “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” without choking up a little), that small feeling encourages kids to turn the page and read another.

All the while, poetry is helping to develop a child’s vocabulary and language skills. Through the use of descriptive language and figurative speech, poetry exposes children to a wide range of words, phrases, and concepts that they may not encounter in everyday conversation. This, in turn, helps to expand their understanding of the English language and improve their overall literacy.

Additionally, poetry can also help to develop a child’s reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Poetry sometimes requires readers to interpret and analyze the text in order to fully understand its meaning. This can help children to become more attentive and engaged readers, as they must actively think about the words on the page in order to make sense of the poem.

Poetry can also serve as a gateway to other forms of literature. Many children are initially drawn to poetry because of its rhythm and rhyme, which can make it more enjoyable and easier to read than other types of writing. Once a child has developed an interest in poetry, they may be more inclined to explore other forms of literature, such as novels and short stories, which can further improve their literacy skills.

Moreover, poetry can also help to foster a love of language and literature in children. Many children are naturally drawn to the beauty and musicality of poetry, and this can inspire them to develop a lifelong love of reading and writing. This, in turn, can lead to a stronger foundation in literacy and a greater likelihood of academic and professional success in the future.

In short, poetry is an important tool for improving childhood literacy. Through its use of descriptive language, figurative speech, and critical thinking, poetry helps to develop a child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, and overall love of language and literature. As such, it should be an integral part of any literacy program for young children.

On Poetry4kids, I have tried to make incorporating poetry in the classroom as easy as possible. As of this writing, there are more than 900 poems and nursery rhymes of mine on the site, plus classic children’s poems, writing lessons, activities, videos, and lots more. Feel free to use them in the classroom, as homework assignments, as bedtime reading, or any other way you like. And please tell your kids I said, “Hi!” and that I hope they have fun reading (and writing) poetry

Kenn Nesbitt with My Dog Likes to Disco

Famous Poets: Charles E. Carryl

Welcome students and teachers! December 30 is the birthday of Charles Edward Carryl, a renowned American author who wrote many books for children (and one about the stock market just for adults). He is best known for his fantastically silly children’s novels and poems, which have been enjoyed by generations of young readers.

Charles E. Carryl

Carryl was born in New York City in 1841 and grew up in a household filled with books and a love of literature. His parents were very supportive of his writing ambitions from an early age; they encouraged him to read widely and express himself through literature.

As an adult, he became a successful businessman and stockbroker. He married his wife, Mary Carryl, in 1869 and they had two children, Guy and Constance. (Guy even became a famous humorist and poet in his own right, but that’s a story for another day.)

However, it was his love of literature and poetry that ultimately became his lifelong passion. Carryl began writing poems and stories for his own children in the 1870s. Once he began publishing them in the 1880s, his work quickly gained popularity due to its wit, charm, and ability to capture the imagination of young readers. His first novel, Davy and the Goblin, was published in 1885 and is still considered to be a classic of nonsense literature.

Davy and the Goblin by Charles E. Carryl

Carryl’s poems were particularly popular with younger audiences due their whimsical nature combined with moral lessons that could be learned throughout each poem, often featuring animals or mythical creatures like fairies or elves. Many themes explored in his writings include friendship, loyalty, bravery, and courage but also cautionary warnings against vanity and pridefulness among others topics relevant even today.

Perhaps his most famous poem is “The Walloping Window-Blind,” a nonsense poem published in 1885, and written in a style very similar to that of Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland. Like Lewis Carroll, Charles Carryl included many poems in his novels for children, including “The Camel’s Complaint” (also known as “The Camel’s Lament”) from his second novel The Admiral’s Caravan: A Tale Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.

The Admiral's Caravan by Charles E. Carryl

Carryl was a talented and influential author and poet who made a lasting impact on the world of children’s literature with his wit, charm, and ability to capture the imagination of young readers. His poems and stories continue to be enjoyed by generations of children. You will find several of them on the Classic Poems page on this site.

He left behind a legacy filled with timeless works suitable not only for kids but people of all ages looking into get lost in fantastical worlds, so why don’t you give one (or two!) of these pieces ago? You won’t regret it!

New Book: The Elephant Repairman

The Elephant Repairman by Kenn Nesbitt

If your elephant is broken
and she needs a quick repair,
call the elephant repairman
and he’ll instantly be there…

Hi friends and readers! I’m very excited to tell you that my newest book, The Elephant Repairman, will be coming out next month in both hardcover and ebook editions.

Like my previous books The Armpit of DoomThe Biggest Burp Ever, My Cat Knows Karate, and My Dog Likes to Disco, The Elephant Repairman contains 70 hilarious new poems. This laugh-out-loud collection includes poems about tyrannosaurus teachers, cats on computers, supersonic sloths, preposterous pirates, and much, much more.

Along with 50 wacky illustrations by Rafael Domingos, The Elephant Repairman contains many of the most popular poems I have ever written, including “Computer Cat,” “Our Magic Toilet,” “AstroCow,” “Please Don’t Prank Your Parents,” and many others.

Order your ebook copy now! The Kindle Edition of The Elephant Repairman is available for pre-order now from Amazon.com. The hardcover edition will be available to purchase on September 13, 2022.

I promise you’re going to love this book. But don’t just take my word for it. Read what others are already saying about The Elephant Repairman, or download a free sample PDF here.

REVIEWS

The Elephant Repairman has a poem for every reader, just waiting to be discovered. If you want to offer your favorite child some smart fun, don’t hesitate to buy any of Kenn’s books. This one is a stellar place to start!
(Children’s Writer Kelly Milner Halls, author of Tales of the Cryptids, Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide, In Search of Sasquatch, Alien Investigation, Ghostly Evidence and more.)

A wonderfully witty collection of zappy, zany poem – I enjoyed it immensely, and you will too!
(Joshua Seigal, author of I Bet I Can Make You Laugh)

Kenn Nesbitt is the world’s funniest children’s poet, and The Elephant Repairman is his funniest book yet. Every poem in the book is hilarious, and their fabulous rhymes and rollicking rhythms make them a joy to read out loud.
(Robert Schechter, children’s poet and author of The Red Ear Blows Its Nose)

New Poetic Technique Category – Superlatives

Poetic Technique Superlatives

As I was writing a new poem today, about the hottest food ever, I realized that “hottest” is a superlative. Superlatives are a form of adjective or adverb used to describe the highest or greatest degree of comparison. For example, small is an adjective that describes the size of something. Smaller is the “comparative degree,” meaning it is more small than the first item being described. And smallest is the superlative degree, meaning it is the most small.

Most superlatives in English follow the convention of adding -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative, such as fast, faster, fastest. But there are exceptions that don’t follow this rule, such as good, better, best, or badworse, worst.

There are other exceptions where you simply add the word more or most before the word. These are usually with adjectives/adverbs that are at least three syllables long. For example, to compare various degrees of beauty, would not say beautiful, beautifuler, beautifulest. Instead, you would use beautifulmore beautiful, and most beautiful.

I thought it might be useful for teachers and students if I could easily provide a list of all of my poems that contain superlatives, including strangesttastiestrichestfastest, and so on. So here it is!

If you would like a little challenge, read some of the poems on the Poetic Device: Superlatives page and see if you can locate the superlative (or superlatives) in each poem. Just remember: Some will end in -est, some won’t (like worst) and some will use the word most (like most famous) to form the superlative.

And if you would like to find poems that use other poetic techniques, such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, etc., simply visit the Poems by Poetic Technique page for a list of many of the different literary devices I use in my poems.

Have fun!

Poetry4kids Memberships

Kenn Nesbitt Poetry4kids Memberships

Dear Reader,

Poetry4kids turned 25 this year! Over the past two and a half decades I have worked on Poetry4kids nearly every day, and it has become the most visited children’s poetry website on the Internet, thanks to you. Because of you, I am able to earn a living as a working poet and help improve childhood literacy around the world.

Running a website with more than 2 million visitors and 15 million views each year is, sadly, quite expensive. For years I have covered the costs by including advertising on the site. This is not an ideal solution, but a necessary one.

However, I now have what I think is a better solution that will remove the advertising for you and give you a number of additional benefits: Poetry4kids Memberships.

In a nutshell, for a small, monthly subscription fee, you can become a member of Poetry4kids and enjoy all of the following rewards:

Reader Level – $5/month

  • Support my mission to help kids have fun while improving their reading and writing skills
  • Ad-free access to poetry4kids.com
  • Two free ebooks: The Armpit of Doom and The Biggest Burp Ever
  • Access to all poems on the website (more than 800 to date), organized by book
  • Early access to new YouTube videos, including poems and writing lessons
  • Direct message me any time through the Buy Me a Coffee app
  • Connect with me via a members-only email address

Poetry Lover – $10/month

If you really love poetry, please consider the Poetry Lover level to receive the following rewards…

Super Member – $20/month

Super Members help me to focus on creating the best poetry experience for young readers. Super Members get…

  • All the benefits of the Poetry Lover and Reader levels, plus…
  • One free online author visit for your class each school year. (A US$300 value.)
  • Free and early access to all future ebooks and audiobooks
  • This level of support helps me create new animated videos and fully-produced audiobooks

For those of you who are interested in virtual author visits, memberships are the least expensive way to bring me to your school. At the Poetry Lover level, you and your class can join my members-only online poetry sessions every month of the school year. And at the Super Member level, you can schedule an online author visit just for your class or school every year.

To become a member of Poetry4kids, simply visit my Buy Me a Coffee page and click on the Join button for your selected level.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to the next 25 years of Poetry4kids with a vibrant community of teachers, librarians, parents, and other fans of poetry for kids!

— Kenn Nesbitt

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