A Big Cheer for Jon Scieszka, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Today marks the last day of Jon Scieszka's two year term as the first ever National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

So far as I can tell, it was a banner two years - hundreds of school visits, tons of press, lots of talk about getting kids reading, and some mighty funny writing from the Ambassador, too.

I know about the funny writing first hand, actually, because even though he was busy with Ambassadorial duties (or maybe because he was), Jon Scieszka took the time to participate in my inaugural 30 Poets/30 Days festivities here at GottaBook. He stayed in touch with me (who he didn't know from Adam), worried about his deadline, and delivered a poem that made me do a spit-take.

In other words, as far as I'm concerned whoever takes over tomorrow has their work cut out for them.

Below is a re-issue of Jon Scieszka's poetic contribution, originally posted here. Over at A Year of Reading today, they're rounding up other posts celebrating the Ambassador. Please join in the celebration! And thank you, Ambassador Scieszka, for all you've done and will no doubt continue to do for children and children's literature.

            200 Typing Monkeys
                Almost Make It
                          by
Emily Dickinson and Jon Scieszka

I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were a whole bunch of giant deliciously ripe bananas.

© 2009 National Simian Scribe Project. Some rights reversed.