The Funny Poetry Conundrum

As y'all have seen, I've been participating in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness these last two weeks. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm grateful to it and the other poets there because the whole thing has gotten me writing a lot, helped me make new friends, and given me tons to think about, both in terms of poetry and social media. But I want to focus on poetry for a moment... and a conundrum. Or really, a few related questions:

Does funny trump serious? Does serious trump funny? Is it possible to compare the craft in two vastly different styles of poetry (assuming both are well realized)? Do kids care about the nitty gritty, or is it all about a reaction: a laugh, an emotion, a story?

I realize a poetry "competition" is an artificial construct and that final vote tallies are not answers to the above questions since too many factors are in play. Still, in the last two rounds, I've had my funny poems up against a lovely, lyrical pantoum by Susan Taylor Brown and a pitch-perfect free verse poem by Mary Lee Hahn. In both cases, our poems could not have been more different. And I wonder how, if you're a person approaching the poems themselves, you end up picking one over the other.

So, I'm curious - do you have a bias towards funny over not? Do you think funny is easier/harder/the same as other types of poetry? Do you, when working with kids, find they have a bias? Do you bring your own bias with you when reading with kids?

Every year, during 30 Poets/30 Days, I feature 30 totally different poems and poets... and each one of those poems ends up being someone's favorite of the month. So, I suspect there's no real answer to the conundrum. Instead, we're all just individuals reacting in the moment to what we've read... funny or not.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

We Need Books! - a synonym poem, a poem about books

We Need Books!
by
Greg Pincus

Our entire school library’s empty. It’s bare.
It used to be full, but now look: nothing’s there.

We’ve got zero books. We’ve got zip, zilch, nil, none.
There’s nada. A goose egg. We’ve naught, nix, not one.

To help change our null set, please send something for us.
We sure miss our books – most of all our thesaurus.


The above was written as part of Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness (where voting is now open for the "Elite Eight" round (in which I'm still participating!). My word was "zero" which I then multiplied (which in math would give you zero, but above gives 14 by my count).

If you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Things to Say to Your Younger Sibling - a family poem, a sibling poem

Things to Say to Your Younger Sibling
by
Greg Pincus

Candy’s legal to steal.
Yes, zombies are real.
Dad said I’m in charge.
Your cookie’s too large.
Of course, I won’t tell.
You tripped? No. You fell.
Bird poop’s nutritious.
Mom’s meatloaf’s delicious.
Oops. My fist slipped.
Fell? I was tripped!
Oh, no! You’ve been cursed!
Looks safe. You go first.
Sooooooo sorry you lost.
My fingers were crossed.

This poem actually came from one of my prompts at March Poetry Madness... though you won't find the "prompting word" in it. Can you guess which one? Anyway, it never worked in well, though I quite liked the poem! Voting for many poems is ongoing at The Madness - right now including my own poem in epic poetic battle with a pantoum! Good stuff. I hope you'll check it all out.

If you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

It's Like the Hunger Games, but with Poets as Tributes

In a comment over at Think Kid, Think, someone equated the current March Poetry Madness event to the Hunger Games. I think that's right on - 64 poets go in, lock in battle, and only one remains at the end.

I'm currently matched up against Susan Taylor Brown in the round of 16. I hope you'll check out my epic acrostic using "truce" vs. her lyrical pantoum using "impaled" and cast a vote. And check out all the action there for more excellent poetic fun.

May the meter be ever in your favor....

Wake Up Call - a coffee poem

Wake Up Call
by
Greg Pincus

Earlier this morning
I was droopy, draggy, tired,
Then I drank my daddy’s coffee –
Now I’m wired, wired, wired.

“Do that again,” my father said
(I skittered, jittered, bounded),
“You’ll be like past tense coffee beans –
Grounded, grounded, grounded!”


The above was my poem from the round of 64 in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness in which I had to write a poem using the word "wired." The Madness is still going on, and you can vote for the poems in the round of 16 right now. (My own match-up is against the fabulous Susan Taylor Brown, where sometime later today, you'll see us battle "impaled" vs. "truce" (and how many times have you been able to say that???).)

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at A Year of Reading (where co-host Mary Lee Hahn, still alive and kicking in the Madness, shares one of her fab poems). Why not check out all the poetry goodies today?

And if you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Grammar Doctor's Diagnosis - a grammar poem/a health poem

The Grammar Doctor’s Diagnosis
by
Greg Pincus

The Grammar Doctor spoke: he said:
“The news is not fantastic.”
My writing diet: it must change:
Turns out: my co:l:on’s: spastic:::!


This poem was inspired by March Poetry Madness at Think Kid, Think (specifically a single word from it used as a prompt!).

If you'd to get all the poems here at GottaBook emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Wired - an ADHD poem

Wired
By
Greg Pincus

Mom says it’s how I’m wired:
I’m like a spinning top.
My teachers say I’m like the wind:
I never, ever stop.

My brother says I’m like a pest -
That’s why we often fight.
My grandma says I’m like the moon:
I’ll shine and shine all night.

My doctor says I’m like a kid
Who’s got ADHD.
My father says I’m just like him....
I think that I’m just me.


Thanks to all of you who voted (for me and my poem Wake Up Call or for anyone) in the first round of Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness. It's a really fun event... and I'm excited that I've moved on to the round of 32.

My next poem will be up Monday morning, but I can't tell you what it's about since I haven't yet received the word I have to use for it! In the meantime, there's great reading up at Ed's site, and other poems coming up for voting Sunday morning.  I hope you'll check it out. Good times!

The above poem was the first one I wrote based on the word I got in the first round - wired. I eventually submitted a totally different poem, but I thought it would be fun to share this one, too.

Plus, I just announced the 2012 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days. I hope you'll be following along, as the poetry in April is going to be fantastic.

If you'd to get all the poems here at GottaBook emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Poetry Friday Roundup!

I'm hosting the Poetry Friday roundup today!

If you have a post you'd like to share, please leave a link to it in the comments, and I'll update the roundup throughout the day.

Here at GottaBook, I announced the 2012 edition of 30 Poets/30 Days. Every day in April, I'll be sharing a previously unpublished poem by a different poet... and when you see the list in that post of who's joining in the fun, I think you'll agree it's going to be a great month.

At Ed DeCaria's Think Kid Think, he's hosting some March Poetry Madness! There are already 64 poems on display for reading and, in some cases, voting. And there will be more sooon. You gotta see the great work folks are doing. And yes, I'm participating, as are many folks who hang around this blog. Go read. Vote if you'd like. And keep coming back as the competition goes on.

(If the post "ends" here for you, please click on the title above to see more.)

Announcing the 2012 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days!

I'm so excited to announce the 2012 edition of 30 Poets/30 Days, an annual celebration of children's poetry that takes place here at GottaBook throughout April (National Poetry Month here in the U.S.).

(EDITED TO ADD: April's started! You can almost always see the day's poem by clicking here and going to the top of the blog. If you don't see a poem, by chance, just scroll down a little and you will!)

Every day of the month, I'll post a previously unpublished poem by a different poet. As before, I'm totally loving the poetry coming in, so I cannot wait to start sharing it with you. Here's an alphabetical list of who's going to be here in April, 2012:

Alma Flor Ada, Susan Taylor Brown,Liz Brownlee, Leslie Bulion, Kate Coombs, Bruce Coville, Kalli Dakos, Ed DeCaria, Margarita Engle, Robert L. Forbes, Helen Frost, Sara Holbrook, Ellen Hopkins, Ron Koertge, Thanhha Lai, JonArno Lawson, Kimberly Marcus, Lorraine Marwood, Marilyn Nelson, Eric Ode, Mary Quattlebaum, Bob Raczka, Michael J. Rosen, Michael Salinger, Hope Anita Smith, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Lee Wardlaw, Robert Weinstock, Steven Withrow, Allan Wolf

Yeah. I'm excited. Like, really excited. I'm so grateful to the poets for joining in to share with you all, and I know we're gonna have a great month of poetry fun.

There are a few easy ways to follow along and not miss out. You can visit here every day. Sweet! You can subscribe to GottaBook via email or your blog reader.

You can join my poetry list, and get all the poems emailed out the day they hit my blog. Enter your email address below and click subscribe:

That list runs year round, by the way, so whenever I post a poem here, whether it's my own or a poem from a visiting guest poet, you'll see it.

Plus you can join the fun on Twitter - follow me for links to the poems every day (and much more), or follow @30poets30days for purely poetry tweeting.

There are always folks to thank with a big event like this, so let me start by thanking the incredibly talented Debbie Ridpath Ohi for this year's logo. I'm amazed by the talent of this year's poets, yes, but I am in awe of Debbie's skills - a logo here, a picture book there, hilarious cartoons, prose, songs, social media how-tos. I mean, it's kinda unfair... except that she's a part of 30/30 now, so I'm just plain grateful.  I also want to thank all the poets who've joined in prior years of this event, thus making this year possible. And, of course, I have to thank all of you who read along and share the poems and the event with others.

April is going to be a blast. I do hope you'll stick around!

Oooh! You can vote for me!

I'm locked in a tight March Madness poetry battle in the round of 64. My poem Wake Up Call is up against tough competition... but I'm cute and nice and all, and I'd love you to check it out and vote for me. (Voting closes Friday at 6-ish PM Pacific time, so don't delay! And if you vote for Dave, I'll still love you.)

There is a TON of great poetry going on at Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness. You can read it all and vote for lots of contests still going on. It's a really fun event, and whether I advance or not, I know I'll be reading 'til the end.

Crastination - a procrastination poem

Crastination
By
Greg Pincus

There’s something I’m not sure of
Yet I’d really like to know:
I’m an amateur in crastination...
Who’ll pay me to go pro?


If you'd to get all the poems here at GottaBook emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Outside This Blog o' Mine....

If you haven't been following along about what's happened in Tucson with the shutting down of the Mexican-American Studies program in their schools, you really should hurry over to Deb Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature blog for fantastic coverage - updates from teachers and students, perspective from other corners, and more. This is a story worth understanding, and her coverage is the best I've found.

On the lighter side, Ed DeCaria came up with a fantastic and wonderfully loopy idea: a March Madness event featuring 64 poets! I'm in, man!

The way it's gonna work is that we'll each get a word assigned to us... then we'll have 36 hours to write a poem. Then there's voting to move on in the bracket. It's a tough game - I'm matched up against Dave Crawley! Yikes! But it's all in good fun, so no worries. There will be 122 new poems created during the event, so bookmark Ed's site to follow along.

No Poem Today (a poem)

No Poem Today (a poem)
by
Greg Pincus

No poem today.
Now, go away.
I’ve got nothing to share.
My empty words
Are for the birds,
And I don’t even care.
If I had time
Perhaps I'd rhyme
Or write a new haiku.
But I don’t.
So I won’t.
My words are stuck like glue.


The Poetry Friday roundup is up over at Gathering Books today. Go on over and check it out.

If you'd to get all the poems here at GottaBook emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Shhhh! (A Poetry Tease)

Did you know that there's gonna be a new edition of 30 Poets/30 Days here at GottaBook in April? Well, there is. 30 new poets. 30 new poems. One fabulous month.

Come back on March 16th for more details. But, hey, there's nothing wrong with a little tease!

Shhhhh!

Truff-you-la? Really? And other thoughts after seeing The Lorax

I saw Dr. Seuss' The Lorax yesterday. I went to it, I admit, with a bit of dread - prior adaptations have been disappointing, to say the least, though the Horton movie was pretty good fun. I also come at this from a screenwriting point of view where I know that the writers simply HAVE to make major changes to create something that sustains for 80+ minutes. I expect that going in, so my issues are rarely with the fact that things are changed. It's usually in HOW they are changed.

The Lorax falls into that category, too, though I must add that I didn't find the movie egregious in its approach at all, as opposed to the ad campaigns touting environmental goodness and using the Lorax as a seal of approval. Not buying it for a second, thanks. But that is NOT the movie. Phil Nel talks of this distinction in his review, and I concur... though I don't give the movie a B+ like he does. I think that's too high, though the movie's beautiful and has some fabulous moments, too.

Anyway, my first comment is smallish, I realize, but I'd never heard Truffula Trees pronounced "Truff-you-la" before. In the old Lorax animated special it was "Truff-ya-la" and I've been known to say "Truff-a-la" also. But "Truff-you-la" as it's said in the movie? Huh.

Beyond that, what struck me in the film was both its embrace of the source material AND what seemed like a need to distance the movie from the book, too. To wit, the film starts with the Lorax breaking the fourth wall to tell us in the audience that the real story has more than "what's on the page." OK. That sets up the fact that we're in for a different experience. It's a good framing device, because the opening scenes of the movie are not related to the Lorax story we all know, though it soon becomes clear how it ties in. I'd also note that this is about as active as the Lorax gets, just like in the book - he moans and is a presence but doesn't do much, a real challenge for the filmmakers, no doubt.

Within the movie itself, there are clear references to the book... but only sometimes. And even then.... For example, a character uses the line that the tufts of the Truffula trees supposedly smell of "fresh butterfly milk." But then there's a dismissive "what does that even mean?" throwaway line! Ouch. That's a come here-get away moment that distanced me from the characters. Again, if one is not a fan of the book, it probably doesn't matter at all. To me, though, it was off-putting and unnecessary and speaks to this weird tension between the media.

Another moment that comes to mind - the Lorax lifting himself by the seat of his pants and disappearing. Why, I wonder, couldn't the filmmakers have had him give a "sad, backwards glance" as he left? I didn't see one. Perhaps I missed it, of course, as it's not like I was watching the movie looking for "off" moments. Still, while I recalled him looking at the Once-ler then, I don't recall the glance... and I wish I did. The moment worked, by the way, just like in the book. I'm just left wondering.

Some of dialogue in the movie had rhyme in it, but many lines began like parts of the book then veered away as if they couldn't commit. I can only imagine the struggle of how to embrace the rhyme and rhythm of Dr. Seuss in the script - the dialogue can't all be like the book, as people don't speak that way, after all. And yet, couplets did come out of folks mouths from time to time, almost all written for the movie, not taken from the book. Why those lines? Why not others from the source itself? I am unsure, but watching the movie, I noticed it. Of course, I also have read The Lorax aloud so many times, I know it far better than most. But still, for me, that was an issue.

The bottom line is that the movie is fine - sometimes way better than fine, sometimes not. There are musical numbers which I found them lacking the magic of the best Seuss songs - really, now, you don't name a character in a final moment just so his name creates a rhyme! And nothing in the movie compares to the sewer pipe song in the original animated short. Or or or. Yet, at least the numbers were there to move the story along NOT just to have a pop soundtrack. And certainly, love and care was put into the movie all along the way and that shows, too. I didn't love it, it's true, and I have quibbles and issues galore, but was I entertained? Yeah, for the most part I was. And I'll take that.

And you? Did you see it? Did you love/hate/enjoy/walk out of/laugh/sing? I'd love to know!

The Lorax Oddaptation (a re-issue)

It's been a long time since I've posted or re-posted an Oddaptation here. For the record, Oddaptations are kinda SparkNotes of picture books... except they're in rhyme and with a "pointed point of view."

Since today is Dr. Seuss's birthday (and Read Across America Day) AND the movie version of the Lorax is coming out, re-issuing this Oddaptation from the vaults seems appropriate:

THE LORAX
by Dr. Seuss
Oddaptation by Gregory K.

The Lorax -- bossy, loud and rude --
Says to Onceler, “Listen, dude,
You’ve turned air all black and funky.
You’ve made ponds turn thick and gunky.
Trees are gone and now there’s weeds...
And no one needs your ugly thneeds.”
The Lorax doesn’t offer help.
All he does is moan and yelp.
Soon he’s overcome with stress,
And leaves behind one word: Unless.
Time goes on as time must do.
Onceler finally gets a clue.
When he’s learned he misbehaved,
He tosses you the seed he’s saved.
I say put it in your pocket
Then inside a safe and lock it.
Cuz if a forest blooms anew...
That Lorax will come back here, too.

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Dori Reads today. Head on over and check it out (including Dori's fine, fine interview with Laura Purdie Salas who has TWO new poetry books out).

If you'd to get all my poems, including the Oddaptations, emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

A Modest Leap Day Proposal - a Leap Day poem

A Modest Leap Day Proposal
by
Greg Pincus

Leap Day comes so rarely.
Why not make it cool?
Make each one a holiday -
Cancel work and school!


Happy Leap Day to you all. It's the second one we've had together at GottaBook... and it's my second Leap Day poem, too.

If you'd to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

A Non-Emergency Visit to the ER - a poem about patience

A Non-Emergency Visit to the ER
(a poem about patience)
by
Greg Pincus

I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting -
Grab my phone and play a game.
Then I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm - OOH! They called my name!
Now I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
In a different, dull, brown room.
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
Like a nervous, anxious groom.
Yes, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting.
I'm not having any fun
As I'm waiting, waiting, waiting...
Boom! The doctor comes! I'm done.
Now I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
For the forms that set me free....
Yet in the end the waiting's fine -
I'm healthy as can be.


Whenever I post poems about doctors or travel or manuscripts or other things that can called be "adult concerns," folks assume they are autobiographical. They are all drawn from experience and observation, of course, but in this case I want to note that no one needs ask how I am (or how anyone else specifically is). Honest!

If you'd to get all the GottaBook poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

What's Happening In My Brain - a list poem/a brain poem

What’s Happening In My Brain
by
Greg Pincus

I’m wondering.
I’m pondering.
I’m focusing.
I’m wandering.
I’m thinking.
I’m scheming.
I’m solving.
I’m dreaming.
I’m looking.
I’m seeing.
I’m living.
I’m being.

This week's Poetry Friday roundup is over at Jone's blog, Check It Out. I urge you to listen to the name of her blog and check it out!

If you'd to get all the GottaBook poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Yes, It Matters - a perspective poem

Yes, It Matters
by
Greg Pincus

Some days I do all my homework.
And cleaning my room? Nothing to it!
‘Cause nothing’s a bore
And nothing’s a chore
As long as I’m choosing to do it.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Guilty as Charged!

Over at The Happy Accident, I blogged about guilt and negative feelings about social media. Seems like many of us are feeling it, as you'll note in the comments.

The small irony is I posted there after a long gap in posting, while I was still posting here. But I note I haven't blogged since Wednesday here, either. I do not, however, feel guilty.

There'll be a follow-up post soon about possible solutions to the negative feelings, too. You know, when I have time! :-) In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thoughts at Seven Years Old - a perspective poem/a growing up poem

Thoughts at Seven Years Old
by
Greg Pincus

Slow and steady wins the race.
So, sure, today call me “Shorty.”
But I’ve been growing two inches each year....
Let’s talk again when I’m forty.


If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Happy Cybils Day!

The Cybils awards have been announced! This is an exciting day in the Kidlitosphere, I think, as these are truly OUR awards.

I love the choice in poetry this year - Paul Janeczko's Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto. I wish I'd been in on the conversations, but I've had that privilege enough years to know it was high quality, insightful, funny, and carefully done.

If you're looking for books to read and recommend, the Cybils list is a great place to start. Go on and check 'em out.

Lazy Sunday - a weekend poem/a perspective poem

Lazy Sunday
by
Greg Pincus

Lazy Sunday!
Sleep til 10.
Close my eyes
Then sleep again.

Wake and shoot some hoops with Dad.
Finish homework (not so bad!).

Watch TV.
Find food to eat.
Ride my skateboard on my street.

A soccer game down at the park?
Play with friends until it’s dark.

Do my chores.
Read and play.
Then sleep.
I love a lazy day!


If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

My Dad's a Hippopotamus (a poetry re-issue)

MY DAD’S A HIPPOPOTAMUS
by
Greg Pincus

My dad’s a hippopotamus.
He’s dad to quite a lot of us.
You think that’s strange? I don’t know why,
Since we’re all hippopotami.

We’re friends with a rhinoceros,
Who I think looks preposterous.
I’m glad that I don’t spend time bein’
Something so rhinocerian.

We live next to a crocodile.
He’s over there on his own isle.
He’s got big bumps on each short limb.
I’m glad that I don’t look like him.

We also know a chimpanzee,
The strangest creature that you’ll see.
Those gangly arms look out of place,
And I would never want his face.

Right nearby’s an ocelot.
He likes to mew and roar a lot.
With spots and splotches hard to miss,
I think he looks ridiculous.

But there’s one creature that we see
That’s most absurd. We all agree.
It comes to visit at our zoo.
And... oh... how sad! It looks like you.


For reasons unknown to me, this poem has been stuck in my head lately. I figured that was a good reason to re-post it (it first appeared here in April of 2008) You can see what else folks are up to if you head on over to the Poetry Friday roundup (hosted by Laura Purdie Salas).

If you want to get all my new poems (and only the poems) emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Speak Up! - a Skeltonic verse

Speak Up! – a Skeltonic verse
by
Greg Pincus

When you speak,
Be unique.
Be offbeat.
Don’t repeat
Every tweet
From the street.
Use your brain
For your gain.
Read the news.
Hear more views.
Take a look
At a book
On your shelf.
Then think for yourself.
If you do
Think things through,
And then you
Make the choice
To use your voice,
Stay undeterred
And every word
Will be heard.

Once again I was inspired by the poetry prompt at The Miss Rumphius Effect, this time leading me to write my first ever Skeltonic verse. Or at least the first time I've known I was writing one, as it was a form I'd never encountered by name before. I do like experimenting with forms, though I admit it takes a prompt to get me there more often than not. (Thanks, Tricia!)

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

#kidlitchat on Tuesday, February 7th - all about self-publishing

Tomorrow night, at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific, #kidlitchat (on Twitter) will be all about self-publishing (with a focus on the children's book world, of course). Is YA the only viable path? Do board books work? How much work is it? Why should I or shouldn't I self-publish?

Those are just a few of the areas we expect to come up. Last time we had a similarly themed chat, it was very high quality and very respectful. We expect the same this time, so I do hope you join us.

If you're new to Twitter chats, please check out this info from Debbie Ridpath Ohi so you can dive in tomorrow night. And I'll see you there!

Seeing Football - a sports poem/a poem about imagination

Seeing Football
by
Greg Pincus

A football game is on TV -
Fans watching, cheering, screaming.
But I’m not tuning in like that:
I’m thinking, drifting, dreaming.

I see myself out on the field
With toughness, savvy, skills.
I’ll take the whole crowd’s breath away…
Cause goose bumps, sore throats, thrills.

I’m linebacker. I’m running back.
I’m safety, tight end, guard.
I play my heart out, fighting for
Each inch, each foot, each yard.

I’m quarterback. I’m cornerback.
I’m center, punter, kicker.
I catch the ball. Defenders chase!
I’m faster, sharper, quicker.

You watch the screen. I’m playing hard.
I’m jumping, diving, scoring!
Compared to what’s inside my head
That TV game is boring.

It's Super Sunday here in the States, so if you, like me, are watching the game, I do hope you enjoy that game and that it's anything but boring!

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

A Book for Me - a poem about books

A Book for Me
by
Greg Pincus

When what’s there on the page
Lets me feel someone’s rage,
Or the joy in the words
Makes me fly with the birds,
Or something I’ve read
Gets me out of my head,
Or the story on view
Helps me see something new,
Or the book sets me free...
It’s a book that’s for me.

The Poetry Friday roundup is being hosted by Karissa at the Iris Chronicles. Head on over and see the poetry joy.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Punxatawney Phil Sees His Shadow - a Groundhog Day poem

Punxatawney Phil Sees His Shadow
by
Greg Pincus

You say “Boo! More snow and gloom.”
But me? I think it’s cool -
More winter means that there’s more chance
Of a snow day off from school!


And a Happy Groundhog Day to you all, whether you're for or against the predicted six more weeks o' winter.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Three Fabulous Things

Are you a teacher or librarian and want to have a free Skype visit from an LA-area YA author? Good! Because you have a chance to win a visit as long as you're outside Los Angeles county. There are eight wonderful authors joining in to help celebrate YALSA's teen tech week, and that means eight visits are available. Good luck!

Fab thing two: my friend Danny Rubin, the screenwriter of Groundhog Day, has a really wonderful new eBook out. It's called How To Write Groundhog Day, and I think it's a great read for any writer. Yes, some of it is Hollywood specific, but Danny breaks down the process of turning a concept into something as, well, as fantastic as Groundhog Day in a way I really haven't seen before. Plus, he's funny! I highly recommend it.

And fab thing three is this interview with David L. Harrison (a 30 Poets/30 Days contributor, I quickly add). For those who wear many hats or have many passions - teaching, writing, music, business, whatever - the way he explains how things intertwined for him is really fascinating.

Twitter Classes, I Say!

Wearing my social media consultant hat for a moment here... I've just started offering Twitter classes for small groups (in person or via Skype).

That link will take you to all the information, or feel free to email me.. And I'll see you on Twitter!

Can You Hear the Voices - a mysterious poem

Can You Hear the Voices?
by
Greg Pincus

Can you hear the voices floating on the air?
They carry the wishes
Of birds, plants and fishes
And words of each animal prayer.

Can you hear the voices floating on the air?
They whisper and moan.
They howl and groan
And have secrets they’re longing to share.

Can you hear the voices floating on the air?
Nah.
Me neither.
But that doesn’t mean they’re not there.


If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Whipped Cream - a food poem/a dessert poem

Whipped Cream
by
Greg Pincus

Whipped cream!
Whipped cream!
My, oh, my!
Pile it, pile it, pile it high.
In blobby mounds or nice and swirled,
I don’t care, it rocks my world.
It’s great on cookies, pie and cake,
And high atop a creamy shake.
Pudding gets a lot more dreamy
Topped with something whipped and creamy.
Yummy on banana splits
In fact, I have to say that it’s
The perfect food, without debate.
Yes, give me whipped cream on my plate!


The Poetry Friday Roundup is over at Hey, Jim Hill! (which is, unsurprisingly, the blog of author Jim Hill). Check it out, and then have a little whipped cream for yourself.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

I'm Great at Dodging Raindrops - a rainy day poem

I'm Great at Dodging Raindrops
by
Greg Pincus

I’m great at dodging raindrops.
I love it when it pours.
So when it started raining here,
I hurried straight outdoors.
I must have dodged five thousand drops!
Oh, sure... I’m soaking wet.
But I didn’t try to dodge them all.
I’m not quite that good.
Yet.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

An Interview with Author Eve Yohalem About Platform, Self-Pubbing and More

Over at The Happy Accident, I have an interview with fellow children's book author Eve Yohalem. Eve's been published by Chronicle and has a book of short stories out that she published independently. In the interview, we talk more about creating a platform and how Eve worked hard to create something that fits HER.

I think this is really critical - we always hear "you gotta do this" or "do that!" but the reality is that each of us has different comfort levels, time available, and goals. I like the way Eve experimented to help herself, too. I hope you'll check out the interview.

For more children's lit related interviews, check out the Interview Wednesday roundup over at the Teaching Authors blog.

Why I Didn't Turn In My Homework - a school poem/an excuse poem

Why I Didn’t Turn In My Homework
by
Greg Pincus

I left it at home.
It made me weep.
I did other work.
I fell asleep.

I must’ve lost it.
I did it last week!
What? There was homework?
To me it was Greek.

My printer was dead.
I don’t understand what it’s supposed to teach me and that wasn’t explained and I don’t learn anything when you give me a number grade or a check mark with no explanation of how to get better so the homework is a waste of my time and I didn’t do it because I hate it.
It’s not due tomorrow?
My doggie ate it.

Today's poem was inspired by the poetry prompt over at The Miss Rumphius Effect. It might've also been inspired by some real-life observation, too, and it's quite clearly from a student POV!

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

My Favorite Shirt - a poem

My Favorite Shirt
by
Greg Pincus

This shirt is great - the best I’ve worn.
Who cares if it’s all frayed and torn
Or that it’s old, and I’ve been growing
And when I stretch my belly’s showing?
The words it showed in blue and red
Are gone (though I know what they said).
I know it’s stained. That’s good for me:
Each splotch contains a memory.
I love this shirt with all my heart.
I’ll wear it 'til it falls apart.
So wash it, please, with love and caring...
To make it last for one more wearing.


The Poetry Friday roundup is up over at the Wild Rose Reader. Check it out (and you might want to check out Elaine's whole blog while you're there, too, if you're a poetry fan). And those of you who know me and are gonna ask... no, I can't pick just ONE favorite shirt of my own.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Laurel Snyder on Skype

Over at The Happy Accident, I have an interview with author Laurel Snyder about her doing 100 Skype class visits in 100 Days. If you've ever thought about Skype visits or wondered about them or had a nutty idea like 100 in 100... you oughta go read it. And if you haven't... well, I still encourage you to go read it - Laurel's answers to my questions are really fabulous.

Commenting about Commenting

Over on my other blog, The Happy Accident, I have a post up talking about both creating comment-worthy comment AND the "art" of adding comments, too. There's a fine conversation going on in, you guessed it, the comments of the post.

I'd love you to head on over and add your thoughts, too.

A Message from Saturday the 14th - a non-holiday poem

A Message from Saturday the 14th
by
Greg Pincus

You see? You’re still here.
There was nothing to fear.
The 13th is a terrible tease.

And me? I’ve been waiting,
Anticipating...
Relaxed as a bird on the breeze.

I know I could mention
I get no attention,
Yet truly, it doesn’t annoy me.

And so I just say,
“I’m a fabulous day.
Don’t waste me, my friends. Enjoy me!”


I was gonna dazzle y'all with a fancy word for the fear of the number 14 instead of the standard triskaidekaphobia comment... but it turns out there isn't a real term. Man, the 13th really does get all the attention. So unfair....

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Evolution of the Toilet (A Brief History) - a poem

The Evolution of the Toilet (A Brief History)
by
Greg Pincus

Hole.
Bowl.


Oh, come on now... you didn't really expect every one of my poems to be all empowering and stuff like the last one, did you? :-) Since writing this poem, I've actually had a lot of fun with the whole "a brief history" concept, using it as a writing exercise/prompt for myself. Perhaps you'll see more some time in the future. Or, you know, I could flush the whole idea....

This week's Poetry Friday roundup is up over at A Teaching Life. Head on over and check it out (and maybe there'll be other history lessons, too. You just never know....)

And if you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

How to Keep a Poetry Lover Up Late

 I just got a copy of Lewis Turco's revised and expanded editions of The Book of Forms. It includes odd and invented forms (including me and The Fib on page 214!), and, I gotta say I could read it all night long.

So many forms, so little time!

Anyone have a favorite quirky form? Feel free to leave it in the comments or send me off to it in the Book of Forms itself. So many of these I'd never heard of, and I'm sure I'm missing some great ones.

Doesn't this seem like a picture book waiting to happen?

I just saw this story of a man whose slipper order came in size 1450 instead of 14.50 (whoever it was who shared it recently on Facebook, thank you), and it struck me that it's like a mix of Clifford and Where the Wild Things Are and... oh, I dunno. It just made me smile, I guess.

Regardless, that's one big slipper!

Instructions for Helping the World

Instructions for Helping the World
by
Greg Pincus

Write a poem.
Work with clay.
Draw or paint a day away.
Knit or dance.
Make a song.
Film a movie all night long.
Use your hands,
Brain and heart.
Live! Create!
Go make some art.


I had so many different titles for this one that I think they could make a "list" poem all by themselves.... To see how others are kicking off this year in poetry, head on over to Teaching Authors for the first Poetry Friday roundup of the year.

And if you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Cybils and Walter Dean Myers

I'll add my voice to the cheering chorus about the selection of Walter Dean Myers as the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. He's a fantastic choice. (And hey, he's even been to GottaBook as part of 30 Poets/30 Days!)

Not enough children's literature related excitement for you? Well, then, the Cybils finalists have been announced. Fantastic books in there in all sorts of categories (and good apps, too), and I'm actually quite relieved not to be a judge this year having to make final decisions.

Good ways to kick off the new year, indeed....

How to Keep One New Year's Resolution - a new year's poem/a resolution poem

How to Keep One New Year’s Resolution
by
Greg Pincus

Here’s my resolution trick:
Resolve to break one really quick.
That way when the “break” is done,
You’re guaranteed of keeping one.


Happy New Year! May you keep all your resolutions (unless, of course, you resolve to break one, in which case you'll either break that resolution or another one or... oh... never mind.).

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

December 31st (Looking Back) - an end of the year poem/a New Year's poem

December 31st (Looking Back)
by
Greg Pincus

The year’s near done. Let’s review:
Resolutions? Kept a few.
Top 10 goals? I reached two.
School and chores? At least they’re through.
Learned to drum. Tried kung fu.
Wrote and sang and read and drew.
Food I’ve tried? A list that grew!
Had a crush, but won’t say who.
Played with friends (including you).
Failed a lot as this year flew.
Tonight one year will say “adieu.”
Tomorrow, we can start anew...
But looking back, this much is true:
I tried my best, and that'll do.


Thanks to all of you for being part of the year here at GottaBook. I wish you all a new year filled with health, joy, and juuuust enough of the dessert of your choice.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Thoughts While Sweeping the Kitchen (After Taking Out the Trash) - a cleaning poem

Thoughts While Sweeping the Kitchen (After Taking Out the Trash)
by
Greg Pincus

I said I was bored.
I got chored.
Why can’t I ever just be ignored?

The last Poetry Friday roundup of the year is over at Julie Larios' blog, the Drift Record. Be sure to check it out!

And if you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Two Good Things

First up for your end of the year pleasure... the last Carnival of Children's Literature of the year, over at Jennifer's Jean Little Library blog.

And then, to kick off 2012 in style, why not join my friend Deb Marshall for a middle-grade read-a-thon? It's running Jan 2-Jan 8, and entry is as easy as signing up. There are even some prizes, if you need incentive beyond just reading good middle grade books.

Two good things, indeed!

Dear Santa, About Your Lists... (a paradox) - a Christmas poem

DEAR SANTA, ABOUT YOUR LISTS... (a paradox)
by
Greg Pincus

I’m really quite nervous I’m on the wrong list:
I’ve been “naughty” so much of the year.
And this means that Santa, if you do exist,
My Christmas won’t be full of cheer.

You see, this creates us a terrible mess.
Truly it wasn’t my goal,
But there’s only one thing I want, I confess:
A shiny, big, black lump of coal.

The problem, I think, is that if I’d been nice,
I’d get what I want in my stocking.
But since I behaved well perhaps once or twice...
To get what I want would be shocking.

Yet “naughty” kids get what I want, so you see...
That’s the reason I lied, spat, and stole.
Please keep that in mind when you come to my tree:
I want a big, black lump of coal.

I’d hate to get presents like music or money.
Don’t bring me a new catcher’s mitt.
No movies or Lego or books that are funny.
No, I wouldn’t like them one bit.

I know I was “naughty,” but please break your rule.
I’ve heard you’re a jolly old soul...
And giving me what I don’t want would be cruel!
So, please, bring a big lump of coal.

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Dori Reads today. Why not head over and check it out?

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Children's Poetry in 2011

Over at PACYA's Poetry at Play blog, there's a post chock full o' info about poetry books published this year (from picture book up to YA. from collections of poetry to novels in verse).

Head on over to check it out and join in celebrating the talented folk writing poetry for kids today.

Lists and Changes

Gobs and gobs of end of the year lists are coming out these days: books of the year, YA books of the year, picture books of the year, no doubt even lists of the year. There are a whole bunch of great books, like all years, so that's not the change I'm noticing. Instead, I'm noticing how many of the authors on these lists I interact with: at SCBWI conferences, on Facebook, on blogs, or on Twitter.

There are some authors on these lists who I know solely from social media (Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall, comes to mind). There are some I know from conferences or other children's lit related events. Many are a combination of the two.

When I flash back to 2006, when I started blogging here at GottaBook, I see this as a huge change - both for me personally but also for how our community has continued to connect via social media.

I think it's important for authors and illustrators to be building a platform for so many reasons (not, by the way, so that I get to know them, but so that thousands of "I's" get to know them!), so I'm excited to see folks being visible. And personally? Well, I admit I'm excited seeing people I know get recognized for their achievements.

And here's to more of the same in 2012 and beyond!

It's a Good Deal, I Say! Get Lee Wind in Your School....

I am excited to see that my friend Lee Wind has announced a grant program to help schools afford his speaker visits in 2012. This is a great deal for everyone... and it particularly benefits students, as Lee's speaking work is a critically important.

If you don't know Lee and his blog, I'm Here, I'm Queer, What the Hell do I read?, then I doubly urge you to go check his site out. As a speaker, Lee offers a Smashing Stereotypes workshop and a school assembly called SAFE SPACE: Ending Anti-Gay bullying in our Culture... and in Your School. And if you do know Lee, I'm pretty darn sure you'll join me in urging others to do what they can bring him to your school today.

Lee doesn't like to toot his own horn (okay, fine - who does???), so I was glad to see him post comments from students and counselors who've attended his workshops. I look forward to more such comments rolling in throughout 2012!

This Tuesday's #Kidlitchat

Last week, #kidlitchat ran into technical difficulties on Twitter, so we've re-scheduled the same topic for this week... and since it might be of interest to some of you, I thought I'd share it here. We'll be talking about book launches: what to do to help put your book out into the world... and when to do it, too. We'll be sharing tips, asking questions, coming up with timelines, sharing what's worked and what hasn't... and it'd be great to see you there.

#kidlitchat happens every Tuesday night at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific on Twitter. If you've never joined a Twitter chat, Debbie Ridpath Ohi has a fabulous article on the hows and whys of them that I highly recommend.

Hope to see you there, this week or some Tuesday in the future!

Poetry Resources

The fabulous Sylvia Vardell put together a post with various FREE poetry resources that she shared during her NCTE presentation.

If you love poetry, or love to teach poetry, or want to love poetry, or want to find other ways to teach poetry, or... oh, heck, just check it out.

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y Afternoon! And Evening!

Hey, my LA friends (or those coming through town). This Saturday, the 3rd, we're having another LA Kid Lit Drink Night, this time at the Wellesbourne in West Los Angeles. If you're involved in children's literature (author, illustrator, librarian, teacher, bookseller, etc), come on by... and bring cookies! (And, if you could, bring a new or gently used book to donate, too, as we're trying to help out a couple places as we go).

The event starts, officially, at 5PM, but I think a fair number of us will be arriving at 6 or a bit after, as Carol Tanzman, an LA author, is having her book launch for Dancergirl at Curve Line Space in Eagle Rock in the afternoon. (Click here to see details and follow her blog tour.)

It's a busy, LA kinda Saturday, and I hope to see you out and about!

Too Much Dinner - a food poem

Too Much Dinner
by
Greg Pincus

I ate too much dinner.
I think that I'll burst!
Good thing I was clever and had dessert first.

Heidi is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup is over at My Juicy Little Universe. For those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you stay in

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Hugo (the movie version of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, that is)

I was lucky enough to get to a screening of Hugo, the Martin Scorsese directed 3-D version of Brian Selznick's Caldecott-winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret. For any of you who are fans of the book, I think you'll be amazed at how extraordinarily the movie captures the world Brian created: the look, the feel, the tone. It might be the best such translation I've ever seen.

The movie also treats the themes, subtexts, and contexts of the book faithfully and effectively even as it has to simplify it a tad to make it fit. This is not your typical, fast-paced, rollicking movie for kids any more than the book was typical. The movie lingers intentionally and gives everything and everyone a moment or two to just be. While young kids who don't know the book might get fidgety, anyone of any age willing to invest in watching a movie, rather than passively sitting back and being assaulted by one, so to speak, will really appreciate the space, I think.

Did I mention how amazing the movie looks? Ya. Also, it's in 3D. Personally, I don't love 3D. In Hugo, there was some great use of the technology (the shots of various clock workings, for example), and it was never used as a gimmick. That said, I'd've been just as happy watching in 2D, though, but that's a personal thang, I suspect.

Anyway, it was a relief and a thrill to see the care given to taking this book to the screen. I can't wait til you all see it (and you should) so we can compare notes!

Poetry Re-Issue: An Ode to Air Travel

An Ode to Air Travel (Upon Flying Cross-Country in Seat 31A)
by
Gregory K.

My seat belt is fastened – it’s snug and secure.
Been sitting here hours... and feels it for sure.
I finished my books during airport delays.
It turns out my iPod’s been uncharged for days.
I’ve studied the plane wing: I’ve counted the rivets.
I’ve noted my seat cushion’s deepening divots.
I spilled all my water (my pants are still drying).
I hear one babe cooing... and 17 crying.
The man right behind me drones stories so boring,
I think I’m preferring my seat-mate’s wheezed snoring.
My back aches in tense, upright, locked tight position.
It’s clear 30A has a stomach condition.
Yet just when I think I can’t take anymore,
And I’m wishing my window would turn to a door,
I hear these great words (over 30B’s cough),
“This is your captain… we’re cleared to take off!”

(This poem originally appeared here at GottaBook on October 12, 2007)

This week's Poetry Friday roundup is up over at Tabatha Yeatts: The Oppostive of Indifference. Go on over and check out the links AND the blog....

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

See you in Spokane? Or...?

I'm quite excited to be heading up to Spokane this weekend, thanks to the SCBWI Inland Northwest chapter ( with special thanks to Mary Cronk Farrell!) . I'm leading an all day workshop called Unleashing the Power of Social Media. The workshop is designed for writers and illustrators, with a specific "children's lit" bent to it in this case.

I love doing these workshops, I must say. Really getting in depth enables folks to leave with a great understanding of what to do on their own, how to do it, and how to do it efficiently. Good times.

I'm looking forward to more such workshops in 2012 and beyond. Feel free to email me if you want to bring me out your way... and if you're ever near where I'm yakking, I do hope you'll stop by and say "hi!"

I Tried to Write a Poem - a writing poem

I Tried to Write a Poem
by
Greg Pincus

I tried to write a poem.
The words just didn’t flow.
I’d write a few
Then scratch them through
And in the trash they’d go

I gave myself a deadline…
I guess this one I’ll miss.
Time’s come and gone,
Now I’ll move on…
Since all I’ve got is this.


The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Teaching Authors today. Do go check it out (and poke around over there, too).

And if you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The List of Lists

It's that time of year when "best of" and "top books" and awards galore are handed out. How's a reader supposed to keep up with all this news in children's publishing? Us mere mortals can't, but luckily for us, Susan over at Chicken Spaghetti keeps a list of all the lists and awards - updated frequently, at that.

It's one of my favorite resources for finding books to read, determining good gifts, and simply seeing what's out there in a whole slew of different children's literature related categories. I hope y'all like it, too (and thanks, Susan!).

Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina

Back in the 2010 edition of 30 Poets/30 Days, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand shared Dancing Fingers with us. The poem came from her then upcoming biography of Alicia Alonso, a Cuban ballerina, though it stood wonderfully on its own.

Well, flash forward 18 months, and that biography is now out. Check out this review by Betsy Bird (Fuse #8). Sweet!

Leslie Muir, the Little Bitty Bakery, and a Rhyming Interview (Yes. Really!)

I’m really thrilled that I can say that Leslie Muir is here today. We’re friends, you see, from long ago (as you will read way down below).

Her newest book is out right now, with art by Betsy Lewin (wow!). So when she said “I’m on a tour. Can I stop by?” I said “Well, sure! There’s only one small hitch for you – I want a rhyming interview.”

Leslie didn’t blink. Now I’m hoping you’ll enjoy our rhyme.

As authors we don’t get to choose
Our artists, so we wait for news.

Can you recall what you were doin'
When you heard "It's Betsy Lewin"?

The phone had rung, the light was blinkin’,
Can’t recall what I was thinkin’.

The ID name sure caught my eye,
said: D-I-S-N-E and Y!

But why would Walt give me a call?
Especially since he’s dead and all?

I held the phone up to my ear,
a distant voice said loud and clear:

“I love your tale, it’s right on track,
I’ve got great news, so please call back.”

I fainted—SLAM!—and cracked a bone,
then rang my agent on the phone!

She said: “Hold on. I’ll get the scoop!”
I dared let go a tiny “Whoop!”

She called right back: “We’ve got a deal!”
My tiny whoop became a SQUEEEEAL!!!

“And guess who’s going to illustrate?”
my agent screamed, “She’s really great!”

I must admit I was boo-hooin’,
When I heard: “It’s Betsy Lewin!”

Did your title ever change?
Did you ever re-arrange
Your plot? Your words? The cast? The tone?
Or did you shout "Leave this alone!"?

I’ve rearranged, I will confide,
so many times my brains are fried.
I must admit this story’s been
around the bend and back again.

The title changed. Oh yes, and how!*
I very nearly had a cow
and held my breath till I turned blue—
I loved my title, it was true.

But sales and others made their case,
so grudgingly I did erase,
and in the end I don’t feel glum—
behold the power of Valium!**

*Explanation: My original title for the story was The Wee Patisserie. The sales and marketing team at my publishing house felt that my Frenchy title might not jump out to buyers, especially those unfamiliar with the word patisserie. In the end, I deferred to their expertise. I’m usually open to changes during the revision process, but I was very attached to the original title and hated to lose it. It’s all good though.

**And for the record: I took poetic license with the Valium line!

I wonder if you could take time
To talk about meter and rhyme
Since I know that it
can be so hard to fit
Any story into picture book form at all as you need to keep the story front and center without letting people even think about the writing, and you do it so effectively without forcing word choice or story points or... uh... uh... using slime.

Yes, a moment I can spare,
hear my creed if you so dare:
First the story, then the rhyme,
or you’ll waste a ton of time.
Keep your meter smooth as cream,
a bump in rhythm is like a blood curdling, really distracting SCREAM. See? I told you.
Dang, I’m tired, exhausted, yuck,
rhyming interviews really…
well, actually, it might be the pound of Halloween candy I just ate…put me in a mammoth sugar coma…yeah, that’s it…it wasn’t this interview at all…really!*,**

*Explanation to above terrible poem: Before you jump into a rhyming tale, have the story figured out from beginning to end so you’re not developing the rhyme with no real direction. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to delete a batch of hard-earned stanzas because the story wasn’t well thought out from the get-go. And watch your meter! Keep it consistent and smooth. And by all means, let others read your work aloud. It’s a sure-fire method for weeding out tiny glitches in rhythm that you: a.) completely missed b.) ignored on purpose or c.) are in denial about. (Greg nods his head in vigorous agreement.)

**I really did eat a pound of Halloween candy.

Now, sadly we must say adieu...
So quickly, please... what's next for you?

C. R. MUDGEON is out real soon!
In 2012, but not in June,
actually it’s March....

Thanks for having me, Mr. Pincus,
You smell nice, you seldom... stinkus.

Leslie Muir's newest book, The Little Bitty Bakery (Disney/Hyperion), is a sweet, sweet story with fabulous illustrations by Betsy Lewin. It's a treat to read aloud, and it's a filling confection any time of day. But my excitement with having her here goes deeper than that. You see, Leslie and I were in the same online, rhyme only critique group (an exceedingly talented bunch, I must add) back before either of us had sold anything at all. 

Leslie always blew me away with her poems, picture book manuscripts, and her notes on others' work, too. Our critique group broke up years ago, but flash forward to 2011 and Leslie has THREE picture books out (Barry B. Wary and Gibbus Moony Wants to Bite You being the others) with C.R. Mudgeon coming next year. The success is no surprise to me, and if you'd seen her work back when I first saw it, it'd be no surprise to you, either.

I'm only stop two on Leslie Muir and Betsy Lewin's blog tour, so there's more good reading out there. In fact, yesterday, Jules had a fabulous post (full o' art and more) over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Tomorrow, the tour moves to Jama Kim Rattigan's always appetizing Jama's Alphabet Soup. And Friday, the crew stops over at the ever-entertaining Elizabeth Dulemba's blog. I hope you'll check 'em all out.

And my thanks again to Leslie for being here and not even blinking when I said "wacky idea - let's do a Q&A in rhyme." That's friendship (and bravery!).

(THE LITTLE BITTY BAKERY. Copyright © 2011 by Leslie Muir. Illustrations © 2011 by Betsy Lewin. Published by Hyperion Books, New York. Images used with permission of the publisher. Photo of Leslie Muir and Betsy Lewin used with permission of Leslie Muir.)

I'm the Squeak Upon the Stair... - a spooky poem

I’M THE SQUEAK UPON THE STAIR...
by
Greg Pincus

I’m the squeak upon the stair...
Yet when you look, there’s no one there.
I’m howling winds, groaning floors,
Extinguished lights, slamming doors.
I’m flitting shadows, darkening skies,
Piercing screams, distant cries.
I’m all your fears – heard, felt, or seen.
I’m in your head. I’m Halloween.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is over at Random Noodling this week. Check it out, if you dare. Spooooooky. And remember, if you end up with any extra of those little Reese's cups this Halloween, I'll gladly help you out with them.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Advocating for Poetry

If you're a regular GottaBook reader, then I know something about you: you like poetry, at least a little. With that in mind, I wanna send you over to the blog of PACYA - Poetry Advocates for Children & Young Adults.

As you can figger from the name alone, this is a group that wants to make some poetic noise, and, I think, is well positioned to do so behind the leadership of founder Steven Withrow.

Why not check out their goals for 2011-12 and take note of various volunteer opportunities. If you love poetry, and love spreading it to kids (ages 1-99, I'd say!), then check it out and see if you want to get involved. Advocate! You know you want to....

My Father's Hair - a family poem; a hair poem

MY FATHER’S HAIR
by
Greg Pincus

My father hasn’t cut his hair in thirty-seven years.
So part of him’s a mystery:
I’ve never seen his ears.

My mother claims he used to be
Clean cut and oh-so-cute.
Yet now there's no denying it:
My dad's become hirsute.

You try and comb his tangles out,
You end up glassy-eyed.
An hour after Dad goes out
His hair is still inside.

When we need string to fly a kite,
We use dad’s hair instead.
There’s lots of oddball uses
For that stuff up on his head.

Still, let me share a secret here,
I hope you’re not appalled...
But I can say without a doubt
I wish my dad was bald.


This week's Poetry Friday roundup is over at the always-delicious Jama's Alphabet Soup. Go on and check it out.

If you want to get all my poems emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

My Personal Thanks to the National Book Foundation

Perhaps you've seen the fiasco that was the National Book Award announcement in the Young Readers (YA) category wherein Lauren Myracle's Shine was announced as one of five finalists but, it turns out, it was supposed to have been Franny Billingsley's Chime on the list. Ugh. I like Libba Bray's encapsulation of the mess (as she is funny, smart, and quite a fine and opinionated writer, indeed). It's a good read to get up to date. That said, personally, I have another reaction, too. THANKS, NBF!

I mean I've always figured this type of mistake exists, and now I have proof! Sure, the NBF tried to rectify things before the award came out, but what if they hadn't? I bet that happens all the time.

This explains why in 1994, I didn't get an Oscar screenplay nomination for my work on Little Big League - clearly, there was a transcription error (probably with Bullets over Broadway as they BOTH HAVE Bs IN THEIR TITLE (not to mention some L sounds!!!)). Or maybe it's the fact that both Quentin Tarantino and I had worked at video stores. Yes. It's all clear now.

Similarly, I had suspected THIS VERY YEAR when I didn't receive a MacArthur Genius Grant that there had been a mistake. My guess is that it was U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan - a POET!!!! YOU SEE??!!! - who got on the list instead of me due to a miscommunication.

I am so relieved to know that all this time, my suspicions had basis in reality. I feel better about myself now, and I hope you feel better about yourself, too. And don't even get me started on the Nobel.... "Collected Works"? Hey, I've collected lots of work here, ya know?

SERIOUSLY, though - I feel horrible for the authors involved in this mess (and I am not equating the above to the situation Lauren Myracle is in, as her work measures up to the award standards in ways that my above examples do not). I cannot even imagine the roller coaster of emotions involved here, and I'm impressed at the grace and positivity from Ms. Myracle.

I feel lousy for the person who made the transcription error confusing Chime and Shine and later discovered the error most publicly and had the realization that there were NO safeguards in place. (If it wasn't an error but was done with intent, well, that'd be a different though intriguing story!)

It's a miserable set of events, no question. The thing is, mistakes happen... and it's how folks handle them that has the lasting impact. This situation keeps getting worse for the NBF, it seems. It's a shame.

That said, I disagree with folks who say this destroys the integrity of the NBA award itself. I say that because I've looked at the list of judges - Marc Aronson, Ann Brashares, Matt de la Pena, Nikki Grimes, and Will Weaver - and I know that they are going to give tremendous care and consideration to the books handed over to them. And I know that the judges in the earlier round worked their butts off to make their choices of the five books to advance here.

We might not like their choices, but having been a Cybils judge and talked to Newbery, Caldecott and Printz judges, I would guarantee they put a lot of thought and effort into their choices.

When the final award is announced, I hope we as a community celebrate the winner. It is, dare I say, a moment to shine. I hope we don't compound the errors already committed by tarring the nominees and winners with collateral taint. Mind you, they'll experience that anyway to some extent, and I have not seen anyone in our community writing about this and implying the nominees aren't worthy or deserving. Still, our reaction is important and on announcement day, with this mess a little behind us, I hope we can celebrate talent well.

As for the NBF and the integrity and worthiness of their policies and practices... that is a different issue entirely.

Thoughts During My Spelling Test - a spelling poem

Thoughts During My Spelling Test
by
Greg Pincus

Yacht, February, aisle, cologne?
I've got to think. Leave me alogne.
Isthmus, Wednesday, queue, colonel?
I give up. This test's infolonel!

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Great Kid Books (where you'll also get a lot of kid app talk). Head on over and check it out.

If you want to get all my poems (and only the poems) emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

All My Macs are Sad

My poor old Mac Plus is sad about the passing of Steve Jobs. The above shot was taken this summer when my 26 year old Mac booted back to life (before its external hard drive died!) to enthrall us with Pipedream and Tetris. Macs have been a part of my whole adult life - all my scripts and poems and novels written on a series of whiz-bang beautiful machines. This shall continue, no doubt with new ooooohable technology. Still, it's a sad moment for the tech and me. Quite a legacy Steve Jobs leaves behind - a world of technology. And I hope we all do that tech proud in how we use it.

It's Cybils Time!

The Cybils (that's the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards) are baaaack!

There are new eligibility rules this year that you should read before nominating books for the award. There are new categories (book apps! "born digital" eBooks!) to join the continuing ones, so be sure to check them out. And then...

Nominate! Nominate! Nominate!

I'm a huge fan of the Cybils. It's a chance for our voices to be heard... for surprise winners... for categories to get extra attention (graphic novels and poetry jump to mind as two under-recognized areas in our field). I've served as a judge every year up until now, though I'm taking this year off. That's not because my enthusiasm has dimmed at all, though. In fact, I love the addition of the new categories and am more enthused then ever. So get out there and NOMINATE! You only have until October 15th, so make sure you take action. I think you'll be glad you did....