There’s nothing like a good poem to shake off a rainy, mucky day, to listen to the tinkle of words and to recite a steady beat and rhyme. A book launch is magical when you can share it with friends and family. The launch of Kingdom of Rooms underneath the big marquee in Palmwoods brought children wearing grand costumes from Brisbane, Sydney and the Sunny Coast. Marg Gibbs and Jenny Catalano, co-authors were dressed for the Royal occasion. Kay Nixon who owns Little Booknook appeared in her sovereign cloak and crown.

Marg reading aloud her poems

One little Princess

Children busy decorating crowns

In the book there are 9 rooms in the Palace with collections in each room. Marg thought about what kids like to collect, then matched up some of the treasures inside each room, shields and swords in the Throne Room, toy soldiers and trains in the Museum Room etc. She had fun researching and browsing the internet and glimpsing into many ornate Palaces from France to England and Scotland.

There are poems that rhyme like The Nursery Bear, The Missing Coins, Owls in My Purse and haiku like Make Shift Shield, Legionnaires Statues, free verse, like In the Trunk. Poems about flags and clustered gems, butterflies and dolls.

photo courtesy of Kim Schoenberger

Today’s child collects everything from lego, Space figurines, Barbies to pencil erasers.

Do you own a special collection? Do you like writing poetry? Would you like to try?

It’s a life- long process starting at prep to old age. Poetry increases language development, imagination and imagery. It awakens the senses. It adds music and sound to ordinary words. Did you know that W.B.Yeats wrote poems for children? Mysterious, beautiful, haunting and inspired by folktales and enchanted worlds, Yeats offers the reader the excitement and wonder of life.

The Moon Spun Around is one such collection. Yeats explores the mystical and magical lore.

Today we celebrate poetry all around the world. In Singapore, National Poetry Festival is a big event. Word choices, sounds, rhythm and emotion.

Inspired by the successful celebrations of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in 1996.

 Ideas to Celebrate National Poetry Month

1. Write Poetry Each Day.
2. Staged: Act Out a Poem.
3. Poetry By Heart: Memorize a Poem.
4. Become a Romantic: Write Seasonal Poetry.
5. Poiku: Create a Pop Haiku
6. Try Performance Poetry!
7. Explore a New Form!
8. Practise Poetic Gift Giving
9. Give a poem as a gift to friends and family.

Another Royal Prince with his shield.

Poem in Your Pocket Day takes place every year on a day in National Poetry Month. Poem in Your Pocket Day 2021 will take place on April 29th. It’s easy to participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day from a safe distance.

1. Preview the poem and read it aloud a few times. I tell them that reading a poem aloud a few times can help them get an overall feel for the language, rhyme, and rhythm of the poem.
2. Visualize the images, clarify words and phrases. …
3. Evaluate the poem’s theme, and allow your understanding to grow.

Why not write a poem to someone you love today. Write it from the heart. Write it because you want to.

Next post will be a closer look into preparing a book launch, face to face. Thanks for reading!