martha calderaro’s special delivery

April 9, 2012September 8, 2017 ~ jama ~ 61 Comments

#7 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

Hey, Poetry Friends – You’ve got mail!

I’m pretty sure there’s nothing children’s writer Martha Calderaro would rather do for Poetry Month than visit your neighborhood to drop a freshly penned poem in each and every mailbox. Imagine finding a love sonnet, a bawdy limerick, an inspirational verse, a clever bit of wordplay or calming lyric nestled among the bills and bank statements!

Since this isn’t physically possible, lovely Martha is doing the next best thing: she’s written a poem especially for the Potluck, a humorous flight of fancy that doubles as a tribute to a vanishing breed of messengers.

*Daisy, Martha’s Muse: “Pat me. You know you want to.”*

She’s also brought along her adorable six-month-old Newfoundland pup, Daisy, who was there when inspiration struck for today’s poem. It sounds like in Martha’s neighborhood, dogs wax poetic rather than chase after the mailman. We’re doubly glad Martha’s here today, cause her special delivery also includes a yummy recipe straight from the Muffin Man. ☺

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sunday bunny: mary oliver from Evidence

April 8, 2012October 2, 2017 ~ jama ~ 11 Comments

*“Bordeaux” by Hillary Hulen (clown bunny, dyed mohair, white lace collar, bell buttons, pink rosebud accents, 1988)*

With Thanks to the Field Sparrow, Whose Voice Is So Delicate and Humble

I do not live happily or comfortably
with the cleverness of our times.
The talk is all about computers,
the news is all about bombs and blood.
This morning, in the fresh field,
I came upon a hidden nest.
It held four warm, speckled eggs.
I touched them.
Then went away softly,
having felt something more wonderful
than all the electricity of New York City.

~ Mary Oliver (Evidence, Beacon Press, 2009)

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♥ Last Week’s Door Prize Winners ♥

Bookspeak by Laura Purdie Salas and Josée Bisaillon: the winner is Anna J. Boll!
Hidden by Helen Frost: The winner is Robyn Hood Black!

Congratulations, Anna and Robyn! Please send me your snail mail address: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.

**Thanks to everyone for commenting last week!

Week of April 9 – 14, 2012

Guest Poets:

April 9: Martha Calderaro
April 10: Kathi Appelt
April 11: Robyn Hood Black
April 12: Charles Waters
April 13: Adele Kenny

Door Prizes:

Water Sings Blue by Kate Coombs and Meilo So (Chronicle Books, 2012)
Guacamole by Jorge Argueta and Margarita Sada (Groundwood Books, 2012)

**Comment on any post during the week to be eligible to win!

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♥ This week’s Sunday Bunnyish Bear Hug is brought to you by Mr. Cornelius, who wishes you a very Happy Easter and a hundred jelly beans!

((NOSE WIGGLE))((HUG))((WHISKER TWITCH))

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friday feast: a special passover celebration with gail fishman gerwin

April 6, 2012September 6, 2017 ~ jama ~ 75 Comments

#6 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

Today I’m very pleased to welcome New Jersey poet Gail Fishman Gerwin to the Potluck, the first of four guest poets who write primarily for adults rather than children. Whether you celebrate Passover or Easter, it’s likely you’ll be spending time this weekend observing holy rituals and sharing special meals with family and friends.

Gail is sharing a poem from her poetic memoir, Sugar and Sand (Full Court Press, 2009), a 2010 Paterson Poetry Prize finalist. “With or Without Rice, a Kitchen Ballet” is one of three poems comprising a segment about Gail’s mother, “Mastering the Art of Cele’s Cooking.”

Most of you know there’s nothing I love more than a recipe/cooking poem, and this slice-of-life beauty provides ample nourishment for body and soul, a delicious blend of family history and cultural heritage. We thank Gail for so generously sharing precious photos of her parents, sister, daughters and grandchildren, four generations in her family who’ve enjoyed stuffed cabbage at Passover. Gail has already made two batches for tonight’s Seder, which will include gefilte fish, matzoh ball soup, brisket, spinach gnocchi, matzoh kugle, sponge cake, and veggies, among other special foods. Yum!

*Gail’s daughters, Karen (10) and Kate (7), at the Seder table.*

Now, let’s listen to the voices from Cele’s kitchen.

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making mischief with linda ashman

April 5, 2012September 8, 2017 ~ jama ~ 41 Comments

#5 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012

To behold her sweet, angelic countenance, it’s hard to imagine this author could be capable of such naughtiness. But I suppose it’s further testament of Linda Ashman’s brilliance that she was capable of creating the nastiest, most obnoxious brats in the history of alphabet books. Just one more reason to love love love the work of one of my favorite children’s authors working today.

You may wish to keep a safe distance from the “guest” Linda has brought along to the Potluck. Catastrophic Coco has stepped out of the pages of Linda’s cautionary collection of miscreants, M is for Mischief : An A to Z of Naughty Children (Dutton, 2008), which as some of you may remember, I was brave enough to review here.

Though I’m a little nervous at having Coco in my kitchen, I admit to finding her oddly irresistible, as I do the other 25 characters in the book, which is an unforgettable feast of alphabetical disorder. While Coco’s busy cooking up chaos, I’m going to fill up on Linda’s tempting dish.

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helen frost: oatmeal bread for the ages

April 4, 2012September 8, 2017 ~ jama ~ 56 Comments

#4 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

It only happens once in a great while. You read something that totally takes the top of your head off and leaves you breathless with its brilliance.

This was my experience when I read Helen Frost’s latest novel-in-verse, Hidden (FSG, 2011), which along with her other award winning books (Crossing Stones, Keesha’s House, Diamond Willow), sets the gold standard for excellence in this genre. I wholly agree with Anita Silvey, who said in her Hidden review at The Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac: “For my taste, Helen Frost has emerged as our greatest living craftsperson of verse novels.” Helen’s books have received many prestigious awards, including a Printz Honor and four Lee Bennett Hopkins Awards or honors for Children’s Poetry, the most recent of which is a 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor for Hidden.

I’m beyond thrilled that Helen agreed to join us for the Potluck this year. She’s sharing a previously unpublished poem where oatmeal bread saves the day, along with the recipe and wonderful photos representing four generations in her family who have baked the bread. Could there be a more delicious legacy?

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