Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
This is Week 3 (Week 1 here and Week 2 here) of my sharing a few bits from my three books on the 2020 NCTE Poetry Notables list! So honored about this!
And more big news to be very grateful for: Lion of the Sky has been named a Gryphon Honor Book! This award is given by the same folks who do the Scott O’Dell Award, but the Gryphon Award is for a K‑4 audience. They named a set of two books as the winner, plus three Honor Books. Woohoo! Go here to see the amazing books Lion of the Sky is keeping company with! You know, the end of the year was very…quiet, we’ll say, as far as my 2019 books getting onto any lists. It’s amazing what the news from NCTE and the CCB and a few other wonderful organizations has done for my writing confidence and energy!
In the Middle of the Night, which I introduced here, is a celebration of imagination. Unlike most of my books, there is absolutely no science element and no invented poetic form. It’s all about pretending, imagination, and creativity, and it was such a blast to write!
I’m going to share two poems. The poems in this book are kid-centered, of course, but I tried to give each object its own particular voice. I thought I’d share two objects with VERY different voices: one from the bathroom and one from the parents’ room. First up, a little potty humor:
Toilet Gets Bummed Out
Your fart jokes and sound effects stink!
You’re just so funny—you think.
But I pretend I don’t mind.
’Cause I’m cold when you leave me, behind.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
And now, for something completely different (oh, how I love acrostics!):
Dreamy
Pretty and breakable—that’s me. But
Every night I dream of
Running, jumping,
Falling lid over bottom, rolling
Under the dresser,
Misting out roses and lavender while I
Explore the world.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Angela Matteson’s vibrant, charming art allayed every fear I had that perhaps this book would turn out to be too dark. It is just wonderful! (And I’m thrilled to say we have another book coming out together in the future!) Thanks for indulging me while I celebrated the Poetry Notables three Fridays in a row. It’s just such a lovely way to wrap up my Poetry-Palooza of 2019 books. Be sure to visit Australian poet Kat Apel to find the Poetry Friday Roundup!
16 Responses
“Bummed out”! Such a clever potty poem. And your musing, misty perfume is a charmer!
I am sure that so many kids love reading about the toilet, Laura & I love “Misting out roses and lavender”, have enjoyed both your books often. Congrats about the new award for Lion of The Sky!
I’m sure all kids love reading about toilets, Laura, & I love “Misting out roses and lavender”. I have loved both books, and congratulations for this new award for Lion In The Sky!
Thanks for the chuckle of “Bummed Out.” And “Dreamy” is just.. dreamy! Congratulations on all your notable news!
Thanks, Buffy!
Oh my goodness. That toilet seat. Very clever and NEW! That’s an achievement in itself, with toilet humour. (I must admit, when your link first appeared in my email for approval, I saw your post title and thought you were spam.????Almost flushed you!) Congratulations on your not-quiet start to the new year!
Hahaha–oh, dear. Perhaps my email notifications fell through the cracks (hehe) in many folks’ email systems.
Oh my goodness. That toilet seat. Very clever and NEW! That’s an achievement in itself, with toilet humour. (I must admit, when your link first appeared in my email for approval, I saw your post title and thought you were spam.????Almost flushed you!) Congratulations on your not-quiet start to the new year!
Oops. I’d been having issues on lots of blogs with my comments disappearing — and thought it happened again here, too. Hence the duplicate comment. blushing
Oh, how wonderful! A Gryphon Honor! Hooray! That is very exciting and well deserved. I hadn’t seen that toilet poem before. Tee hee! And, I can really imagine that perfume bottle having fun at night dancing and twirling away. I’m so glad you celebrated with all of us. And.…more books? Fabulous! Can’t wait to hear more.
Hooray and Congrats on the Gryphon Honor Book award Laura–wonderful news!!!
I love the two poems you shared from “In the Middle of the Night”–I smiled when I read this line,
“’Cause I’m cold when you leave me, behind.” And what a dreamy perfume, thanks for sharing its fragrance!
Laura, congratulations on all of the accolades. In the Middle of the Night is a marvelous book that both my granddaughter and I love.
I so enjoyed this book. And I cracked up at “Toilet Gets Bummed Out”!!
Cracked up–hehe!
Woo hoo! As a former middle school teacher, I love the potty poem. It made me giggle and reminded me of my favorite poem to share with my students: “You Enter a Poem” by Robin Hirsch. Congratulations on all the good news!
It’s fun to see a poem from the pov of objects, like a toilet and a perfume bottle. They are so clever! Congratulations on both these books.