hotties

HotTEAs of Children’s Poetry: Charles Ghigna and Lee Bennett Hopkins

~ jama ~ 14 Comments

Double your oven mitts, double your fun! (A natty flame-proof suit wouldn’t hurt either.)

Charles Ghigna (“Father Goose”) is an award winning poet, author, speaker and nationally syndicated feature writer.
Tea time in his Alabama tree-house (photos by Debra Ghigna).

☕ Cuppa of Choice: “I love tea! I drink a cup of hot green tea nearly every day. One of my favorites is Uncle Lee’s 100% Organic Green Tea. I brew two tea bags in a cup of hot water and sometimes add a squeeze of lemon. I also love to play Tea Party on the porch with our four-year-old granddaughter, Charlotte Rose. She always makes sure I hold up my pinkie just right.” 😉

☕ Hot Off the Press: Springtime Weather Wonders Series (Hail to Spring!, Raindrops Fall All Around, Sunshine Brightens Springtime, A Windy Day in Spring (Picture Window Books, 2015).

☕ Visit Charles Ghigna’s Official Website

☕ ☕ ☕ Lovely poem Charles wrote for his wife (his favorite HotTEA):

 

TEA TIME

for Debra

Like tea bag paper,
gauzy and thin,
we steep in the dark
letting love in.

The longer we steep,
the stronger the brew;
tea party perfect,
in love with you.

~ copyright © Charles Ghigna. All rights reserved.

 

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Lee Bennett Hopkins is an award winning author, poet, editor, anthologist and the recipient of the Christopher Award and the University of Southern Mississippi’s Medallion for “lasting contributions to children’s literature.”
Tea Time at home in Cape Coral, Florida (photos by C. Egita).

☕ Cuppa of Choice: “Tea, a drink I adore . . . I like varied teas, but particularly Twinings of London Ceylon Orange Pekoe.”

☕ Hot Off the Press: Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love with Your Baby, illustrated by Alyssa Nassner (Abrams, 2015). 

☕ Visit Lee Bennett Hopkins’s Official Website

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♥ More HotTEAs of Children’s Poetry here.

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Copyright © 2015 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

HotTEAs of Children’s Poetry: Richard Michelson

~ jama ~ 21 Comments
Richard Michelson is a poet, children’s book author, art dealer and former Poet Laureate of Northampton.

 

☕ Cuppa of Choice: “I am no tea snob and try everything—green, black, white, oolong. No sugar, no lemon. But most often I reach for the herbal mint teas in the afternoon. Chamomile in the evening. And Nighty Night or Sleepy Time before bed.”

☕ Hot Off the Press: S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger (Sleeping Bear Press, 2014), More Money Than God (Pitt Poetry Series, 2015).

☕ HotTEA in the Flesh: Mr. Michelson will be reading from More Money Than God at The Emily Dickinson Museum/The Homestead this evening (April 2) as part of the Amherst Art Walk (5-8 p.m.)

☕ Visit his Official Website

 

☕ ☕ ☕ Bonus Poem with mention of tea from Animals Anonymous (Simon & Schuster, 2008):

 

The SNAIL Ideal

When I was just a baby snail, I chose all clothes of blue.
I giggled goo goo ga ga. Mama answered coochie coo.

But as I grew, I knew I looked nice in chartreuse and pink.
And Mama never cared a whit ‘bout what the neighbor’s think.

Be yourself, she said, for that’s the thing we all do well.
Let no one tell you what to wear when you’re in your own shell.

When I was just a baby snail, Dad bought me soldier rattles.
And just before my bedtime I would watch them wage their battles.

But as I grew, he and I brewed pots of rosemary tea,
And perfumed all my dollhouses with passion potpourri.

Be yourself, my Daddy said, don’t let other’s presume
To tell you how you should behave when you’re in your own room.

When it was time for dating, I went out to meet my fate.
I eyed the hunks and harlots till I spied the perfect mate.

We belched at all the ballgames, and we swooned at the ballets.
Together we attended the hermaphrodite soirées.

Be yourself my partner said. Someday you’ll be my spouse.
No one can tell us who to love when we’re in our own house.

Of all God’s creatures, mollusks might not be the most evolved,
Though prejudice, I’m proud to say, is one problem we’ve solved.

We never try to impede anybody’s natural growth,
Whether they are happy being female, male, or both.

~ Posted with permission of the author, copyright © 2008 Richard Michelson. All rights reserved.

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Hot enough for you? 🙂

*fans self*

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Copyright © 2015 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

hotTEA of the week: Johnny Depp

~ jama ~ 6 Comments
“The term ‘serious actor’ is kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it? Like ‘Republican Party’ or ‘airplane food.'”

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hotTEA of the week: james dean

~ jama ~ 7 Comments
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” ~ James Dean

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hotTEA of the week: sting

~ jama ~ 4 Comments
“I don’t drink coffee I take tea my dear/ I like my toast done on the side . . . “

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