Did you catch my most recent post, about Jbrary’s 2024 Story Times Books post? If not, here’s the gist – a popular children’s librarianship blog included my most recent book, Bunny Loves Beans, on their favourite story time books of the year list, which was quite the thrill! While any and all feedback is much appreciated, hearing that my fellow librarian find my work helpful is incredibly rewarding, and helps keep my spirits from flagging too much when the ups and downs of the publishing world seem to be more down than up.
Picture books really are poetry, whether or not they’re marketed as such, so it seems fitting to share this good news with all my poetry-loving friends! I highly recommend checking out the post, especially if you have or work with young children, because there are some fantastic books on the list.
In honour of the occasion, I whipped up a little bunny-themed haiku that might also be inspired by my Energizer Bunny of a child (where does he get all that energy???) :
My son does eventually stop flopping, bopping, plopping and hopping at the end of the day, but only because he’s fallen asleep! I wish I could borrow just a bit of that energy – he certainly has more than enough to go around, he wouldn’t miss it! I honestly don’t know how kindergarten teachers manage 20 such bunnies for an entire school day, they truly are magicians.
Have a hippety-hoppety week, poetry friends!
Kat Apel is hosting Poetry Friday this week.
I so agree – picture books are for sure poetry! Sharing the joy of your ups, Jane. (And I for sure understand the downs!) Your bunny poem and ponderings are too cute!
Jane, I cannot make my comment appear so I am trying it under Kat’s comment which I do agree with.
Congratulations on your picture book. I love picture books and I know my grandgirls love looking at the illustrations. Picture books are certainly filled with poetic goodness.
The verbs you chose for your poem are full of energy like your son. I like your wish for all of us to have a hippety-hoppety weekend but here in VA we need to be careful of the snow with ice underneath.
Ah, the reason your comment didn’t immediately appear is because I have comment approval turned on, after being the subject of about 2 million spam comments trying to sell me sneakers and other counterfit items.
But lucky me to get to hear from you again!
The site won’t let me post my own comment for some reason, so replying to say– yes! Poetry and picturebooks are so linked. Congrats on your happy book news, and thanks for the (oh so relatable) haiku!
Yup, that’s about when my son started refusing to nap, too! Thankfully he’s always been a good sleeper at night – I think it’s all that energy he uses during the day! And that angelic little sleeping face, it’s the reward after a long day of child-chasing. ;-D
Publishing is a wild ride, isn’t it?? It helps to have writing friends to commiserate with.
Seriously! How do kindergarten teachers manage? They have some secrets, I’ll bet. Hooray for the colleague love and respect. That is wonderful and affirming to keep writing! Littles and big kids need poetry now more than ever to help take the edge off what’s tough in this world.
Yes – I think that’s such a wonderful notion – poetry as a tool for softening the rough edges of the world.
ooops! I can’t seem to comment. Your blog says I’ve already share that thought. Hmmmm. Senility on my part? Maybe.
Oh no, not senility at all! Comment approval is turned on, after I was spammed by a million different spam bots trying to sell me all sorts of strange wares from disreputable websites. I’ll see if I can add a note that mentions that, when people comment – I am not at all good with technology, I can barely figure out this whole blogging business!
I taught 1st grade a long time ago & fortunately I was lots younger, Jane. I remember those hopping bunnies! Congratulations for your book being part of the featured story times!
Wow, that must’ve been fun, if exhausting! I do story times and school visits, and just having the kiddos for an hour at a time exhausts me haha.
Jane, congratulations on the positive review of Bunny Loves Beans. It sounds adorable! I had a flop-plop-bunny-hop son too! Starting at age 2, he absolutely refused to take a nap anymore. I can relate to that end-of-the-day moment when you look at his beautiful face and wonder how he can look so peaceful!
Congratulations, Jane, on your new book. I also love the words you chose for your poem. Flop, plop, hop are fun words to describe your child and many others. Thanks for your wish for a hippety-hoppety week even though I can’t hop in the snow because of the ice underneath.
I love fun words! This is why I’m so drawn to poetry for kids, there’s so much opportunity for funny words.
Jane, congratulations on your picture book. I love picture books and I know my grandgirls love looking at the illustrations. Picture books are certainly filled with poetic goodness.
The verbs you chose for your poem are full of energy like your son. I like your wish for all of us to have a hippety-hoppety weekend but here in VA we need to be careful of the snow with ice underneath.
I wish we had some snow!!!
Joy! On books and hoppy kiddos! Happy New Year, Jane!
I love harnessing the energy of hippety hoppety kiddos in my programs!
Congrats on your book and on getting some recognition on that post. What a thrill!
Thank you! I know we shouldn’t place too much emphasis on external validation, but a little sprinkle of praise never hurts.
Jane, I agree that picture books are poetry and congrats on the recognition!
I remember wishing that my little girls could parcel out some of their energy and share it with me — if only!
Where do they get it all, anyway?? It’s remarkable!!
CONGRATULATIONS on the kudos, Jane! Go, Bunnies! I remember those days of endless little-one energies, and now I get to see the phenomenon again in our great grandboy (with baby sister soon to follow, I’m sure). Good motivation to stay fit, maybe? – ha! Thanks for all the goodness you share, as a poet, writer, librarian and mum! :0)
My mum definitely says the same thing, she watches my son after school, and says his energy keeps her feeling young.
Here are some more congratulations and appreciation for you hoppy bunny haiku!
Many, many thanks!! Hip-Hop-Hurray!