Charles Waters's Blog

Hello my poetic pals!

Here's the latest.

Myself and Traci Sorell's new book Mascot from Charlesbridge Publishing arrived on September 5th!

Here's a Youtube video with Traci and I discussing the book. Please click here.

It was given a Gold Standard by the Junior Library Guild and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews who called it, "A brilliant story not to be missed; deeply engaging from the first page." You can read their full review here.

Also, Kirkus Reviews namedMASCOT as one of their 150 most anticipated books for the fall, which you can read here. It's about 3/4ths of the way down to find us.

Publishers Weekly in their starred review called it ". . . a well-rounded discussion about classism and racism, as well as effective allyship, with compassion and understanding." You can click here for the full review.

We had signings at ALA to hype up interest in the book in preparation for it's Setember 5th release date as well as doing a presentation called Tradition or Discrimination: Is Your Beloved Team Mascot Cultural Appropriation.

ALA Signing. The line was long! :-)

Traci and I with Margy Stratton of the University School of Milwaukee. It's Wisconsin's top-rated co-ed, PK-12, private, college prep school. Margy and the school have been such supporters of mine through the years.

Myself and Traci with the great Carole Boston Weatherford, who was kind enough to stop by our booth and offer support.

Charlesbridge has a podcast called Between The Pages that Traci and I spoke about the process of creating our book. Thanks, Sonig Varadian, for the invitation and for hosting us. You can listen to it here.

Parnanassus Books in Nashville, TN interviewed myself and Traci about our book on their blog, which you can read here.

Award-winning writer, Padma Venkatraman, wrote a blog post on MASCOT on the Highlights Foundation website that you can read here. It was at a Highlights workshop that Padma taught, along with Kathy Erksine and Alma Fullerton, where Traci and I met. The book would not have happened without their teachings as well as the Foundation caring so much about aspiring writers and illustrators in our business.

Myself and Traci were thrilled to be a part of SLJ Day of Dialog which, according to their website, is the most anticipated librarian gathering of the spring 2023 publishing season—fully virtual and free to attend! We were interviewed by the esteemed Professor, Teacher, Writer, Presenter and Publisher Dr. Sylvia Vardell. You can link to their registration page, log in for free, and listen to it here.

Traci and I were happy to be a part of the SLJ Teen Live! virtual event panel speaking of our book. We were joined by Kim Johnson, INVISIBLE SON (Random House Children's Books) Leanne Schwartz, A PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE (Page Street Publishing Co.)

Tanya Lloyd Kyi, EMILY POSTS (Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada). You can also link to their registration page, log in for free, and listen to it here.

Charlesbridge Publishing had a Middle Grade Virtual Panel with authors on their roster including myself, Traci, Karen Krossing, MONSTER VS. BOY, Elaine Dimopoulos, THE REMARKABLE RESCUE OF MILKWEED MEADOW and Jennifer A. Irwin, CAPTAIN SKIDMARK DANCES WITH DESTINY. Enjoy the conversation here.

Many thanks to Booksellers from around the nation who have voted MASCOT on the Kids' Indie Next recommend list!

I signed on Sarah DeVore at How Now Booking to help ease up the time spent setting up author presentations for myself. She's so great to work with and she's been hard at work on my behalf with getting author presentations, handling the paperwork and being an overall champion in my corner. There's open spaces for me to visit your school during the 2023-24 school year!!!!!

Thrilled to announce AFRICAN TOWN, co-written with Irene Latham, has won the 2023 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! You can read the press release by clicking here, as well as the School Library article here. We're so grateful to the O'Dell committee as well as the kind folks at Penguin Random House, in particular the editor of the book, Stacey Barney, and myself and Irene's literary agent, Rosemary Stimola. Here's the way the book looks with the O'Dell sticker now on there.

Irene and I were at ALA in Chicago — more on that experience later — and we received the award at an off-site luncheon.

Myself and Irene with Lauren Gerber, granddaughter of Scott O'Dell.

With Summer Ogata Assistant Director, School & Library Marketing, Penguin Random House and Stacey Barney, Associate Publisher Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and the editor of AFRICAN TOWN.

With the Scott O'Dell committee members.

The award itself!

Since the award comes with a cash prize, Irene and I thought it best to donate a small portion of our winnings to the Clotilda Descendants Association. To find out more about them, and to possibly donate if you're so inclined, please click here.

Had a chance over the summer to see the Africatown Heritage House which according to the Mobile County website is a community building that will house “Clotilda: The Exhibition,” to share the long-untold story of the nation’s last known slave ship, the Clotilda, and the community that was created by the vessel’s survivors and their descendants.

Lovely painting of Kossola in the lobby. For decades he was thought to be the last living enslaved person. DNA has proven otherwise in the past few years. His spirit — and those of the Clotilda Africans — is an inspiration to us all.

A statue called "The Memory Keeper" is outside the Heritage House.

The lobby has various books for sale of Africatown history including myself and Irene's book. #thankful

Also, deeply honored to find out that AFRICAN TOWN has made the state list in New Jersey, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Also, the state of Alabama, recognized the book to represent Alabama at the National Book Festival.

The Children's Book Council named it as one of their favorites! According to their website: Each year, young people from Kindergarten to 12th grade, teachers, and librarians across 50 states read newly-published children’s and YA books and vote for the ones they like best. 80 review teams across the country work so that kids and educators read and select books. These Favorites Award lists, selected from hundreds of titles submitted by publishers, can be counted as books children, young adults, teachers, and librarians really enjoy reading!

It also made the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Book Lovers' Literary Awards) 2022 Novels in Verse/Poetry Category. You can find the link to the other lovely books that made the list here.

In addition the book was also named as part of the 2023 Notable Social Studies Trade Books For Young People. You can find our mention on page eight of the link found here.

The book was also nominated for the Golden Kite Award sponsored by SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

While attending ALA, Irene and I had a chance to stop by the Lerner Publishing book, meet up with the good humans there including associate publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group, Carol Hinz.

Carol, Irene and myself who's holding our 4th book together, Be A Bridge.

Speaking of the book, the themes that are threaded therein inspired Evolve Gala For The Centers, a fundraiser in Little Rock Arkansas! You can read all about it here and here.

Our book was also used as a StoryWalk through the woods at the Toco-Hills Library in North Decatur, Georgia. Enjoy this video by clicking here which highlights a walk in nature with Be A Bridge as its guide.

Myself and Irene taught at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators) local conference for the Southern Breeze (Georgia, Alabama, Florida Panhandle) Chapter on March 25th in Atlanta. Our presentations were titled When One Voice Isn’t Enough: How to Craft Stories using Multiple Narrators and How to Build a Successful Co-Author Collaboration. We also gave manuscript critques to some of the attendees as well. Many thanks to Lisa Stauffer, Melissa Miles, and Michelle Kennedy for the opportunity.

Also thankful for Southern Breeze (Georgia, Alabama, Florida Panhandle) Chapter for using BE A BRIDGE for their Take The Read Local Challenge.

According to the email I received about this cool offer: It's a new program that promotes literacy by encouraging children to read books created by local authors and illustrators. In this pilot year, elementary school students who participate in this reading challenge will have the chance to win prizes like books and virtual visits from authors and illustrators. The more you read, the more entries you’ll get into our prize drawings. What a sweet deal! For libarians, educators, parents and teachers in the AL, GA and FL panhandle area, please spread the word.

Many thanks to Lisa Stauffer and the outstanding Southern Breeze staff of Sheri Dillard, Dori Kleber, Shanda McCloskey, Shelli Johannes, and Melissa Miles for thinking of us.

Had a week of author presentations in Alabama at Gwin Elementary (you rock, Dr. Kimberly Nash White), Bluff Park Elementary (had a lovely time, Allison Lee Dolan), Deer Valley Elementary (good looking out, Raquel Lieber), Oscar Adams Elementary (super grateful, Nicole Tudor), and Vestavia Hills Cahaba Heights Elementary (you're the best, Ann Marie Corgill).

Had in-person visits to St. Andrew's School in Boca Raton, FL (thank you, Chantel Truman and Deborah Martin-Gull) and The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, FL (appreciate the hospitality Danielle Griffis and Maureen Kane).

We also did an evening presentation at the Helen Keller Public Library in Tuscumbia, AL (thank you, Elizabeth L. Gullett for the invite). While in the area, I did a solo author presentation at R. E. Thompson Elementary School (thanks again, Elizabeth L. Gullett, as well as Amanda Arrington).

Did a solo virual visit to Red Bank Primary School (appreciate you, Kate Mills and Cheryl Cuddihy).

Irene and I taught again at The Highlights Foundation from April 16th - 19th. Carol Hinz, associate publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group, returned as well, this time in a Zooming capacity. We had an additional special guest in the award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford.

Irene and I with Carole Boston Weatherford. We're so grateful she came to the retreat and gave such an inspirational talk about her life and career to the attendees.

Here's the class photo!

Also George Brown, Executive Director of the Foundation and the great-grandson of the founders of Highlights Magazine, recorded a podcast with us that you can listen to by clicking here.

During National Poetry Month, Matthew C. Winner of the Children's Book Podcast kindly asked me to contribute an audio reading of my poem "Forgiveness" from Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes and Anecdotes from A- Z. He also asked 20 other poets and verse novelist to do the same. You can find all that goodness here.

Irene and I participated in Build Your Stack sponsored by NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) where we — and other authors — talked about our creative process. Many thanks to Sarah Miller, Janet Wong, and Sylvia Vardell for the invitation.

We also did a pre-4th of July presentation at Muscle Shoals Library in Muscle Shoals, AL. Grateful to Amy Uptain for asking us to participate. What a sweet, kind audience.

At the event Traci and her family visited us, they happened to be in town while vacationing.

Traci's husband, Mark, their son Carlos, Traci, myself, and Irene.

Did my second Keynote address ever, this time at the Gulf Coast Conference on the Teaching of Writing at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama. The conference was sponsored by Troy University. Also, conducted a two hour writing workshop called "Spilling Words Onto The Page." Many thanks to Dr. Robin Bynum and Margaret Hollis Folmar for the invitation. Since the event was on July 5th, I was able to spend part of the 4th of July at a resort, splashing around in the ocean, seeing fireworks, and taking a deep breather. #grateful

With Dr. Robin Bynum and Margaret Hollis Folmar of Troy University after my Keynote and Writing Workshop.

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by donating to I See Me, Inc. Their mission, according to their website: is to dismantle the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and mirrors their image.

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

ME MOTH by Amber McBride.

STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Frank Morrison.

HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Frank Morrison.

DREAM STREET by Tricia Elam Walker & Ekua Holmes.

WATER DAY by Margarita Engle. Illustrated by Olivia Sua.

WHERE'S MY TURTLE? by Barbara Bottner. Pictures by Brooke Boynn Hughes.

MOVING DAY by Ralph Fletcher. Drawings by Jennifer Emery.

THAT FLAG by Tameka Fryer Brown. Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith.

THE TALK by Darrin Bell.

MR. S by Monica Arnaldo.

JUST LIKE GRANDMA by Kim Rogers. Illustrated by Julie Flett.

BIG written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison.

FREIGHT TRAIN by Donald Crews.

FINDING PAPA by Angela Pham Krans. Illustrated by Thi Bui.

HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES by Ted Kooser. Illustrated by Jon Klassen.

TO THE OTHER SIDE by Erika Meza.

EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE: A Story of Books and Belonging by Pauline David-Sax. Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow.

NO WORLD TOO BIG: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change edited by Lindsay Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley. Illustrated by Jeanette Bradley.

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY by Winsome Bingham. Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza.

MOMMY'S KHIMAR by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. Illustrated by Ebony Glenn.

ME AND THE BOSS: A Story About Mending and Love by Michelle Edwards. Illustrated by April Harrison.

FIND YOUR BRAVE: A Coco And Bear Story written and illustrated by Apryl Stott.

THE BOY WITH FLOWERS IN HIS HAIR written and illustrated by Jarvis.

VIKING STRONG by Doug Cenko.

THE WALK by Winsome Bingham. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, LITTLE CAT? by Richard Jones.

ONE DAY by Joanna Ho. Illustrated by Faith Pray.

RAGGED SHADOWS: Poems of Halloween Night edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Giles Laroche.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SCHOOL edited by Jack Prelutsky. Illustrated by Jane Manning.

LOU written and illustrated by Breanna Carzoo.

GREENLIGHT written and illustrated by Breanna Carzoo.

HOPEFULLY THE SCARECROW by Michelle Houts. Illustrated by Sara Palacios.

DORIS written and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby.

I leave you with a poem about being aware of—and coming to terms with—the various moods that reside in all of us.

BALANCE

I swing between days

of confidence and doubt.

Some days, I’m quiet.

Some days, I shout!

Today, I smiled.

Tomorrow, I might pout.

How to balance these emotions

is what life’s all about.

© Charles Waters, 2023— all rights reserved.

Why hello you magnificent poetic humans!

Here's the latest:

Kicked off the year with the cover reveal for my next book, MASCOT!

Co-written with the acclaimed author, Traci Sorell, edited by Karen Boss, cover art by Nicole Neidhardt, and published by Charlesbridge. Pub date: 9/5/23

Here is the premise:

What if a school’s mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone? In this compelling middle-grade novel in verse, two best-selling BIPOC authors tackle this hot-button issue.

In Rye, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, people work hard, kids go to school, and football is big on Friday nights. An eighth-grade English teacher creates an assignment for her class to debate whether Rye’s mascot should stay or change. Now six middle-schoolers—all with different backgrounds and beliefs—get involved in the contentious issue that already has the suburb turned upside down with everyone choosing sides and arguments getting ugly.

We Need Diverse Books had a blog post specifically for the cover reveal featuring an interview by myself and Traci, and a link for how to register for a digital ARC of the book! All that can be found by clicking here.

My pal, Irene Latham are proud to be an author sponsors for MultiCultural Children's Book Day. The organization is giving away books including our book BE A BRIDGE. For more information and how to register, please click here. #readyourworld

Here's the poster for it.

Some 2022 news:

Many thanks to NPR and School Library Journal for naming AFRICAN TOWN one of the "Books We Love" for 2022 and one of the “15 Best Historical Fiction Books of 2022” respectively.

Thank you to the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Book Lovers' Literary Awards) for naming AFRICAN TOWN as one of the finalist in the Novels In Verse category. You can read all about it -- and read about the other nominees -- here.

Irene and I also did a presentation of AFRICAN TOWN at Mobile Public Library for nearby middle school students. Many thanks to Marian Ponder for the invite.

Myself and Irene had such an enriching experience teaching at the Highlights Foundation for our Poetry For Kids retreat. The attendees were kind, hardworking and determined. I was a student there many years ago, and to have joined the faculty -- and now paying it forward -- thrills me no end. The place now holds a special place in Irene's heart as well! Many thanks to George Brown, Alison Green Myers, Ana Eccles, Amanda Richards and the staff!

Here's the class picture:

Honored to be asked to be a part of the Get Caught Reading festivities in their year-long crusade to elevate the joys and importance of reading. There's free posters for booksellers, librarians and teachers that can be found on their website here.

Happy to have a poem in an anthology called WHAT IS A FRIEND, edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. Proceeds from the book go the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund. The assignment was they would send poets a photo and we would write a poem about what we see.

Here is the poem and picture:

I was thrilled to have spoken at my first keynote address. It was for the Alabama Library Association in Birmingham. Many thanks to Wes Gordon for the invitation, Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger for the advice, and to AEI Speakers Bureau for facilitating.

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by donating the proceeds of my poem "Breakfast" from the book WHAT IS A FRIEND? to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund.

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

RECKLESS, GLORIOUS GIRL by Ellen Hagan.

CALL ME ATHENA by Colby Cedar Smith.

THE PAPER CHASE by John Jay Osborn, Jr.

MARSHMALLOW CLOUDS: Two Poets at Play among Figures of Speech by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek. Illustrated by Richard Jones.

SANTA CLAUSES: Short Poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka. Illustrated by Chuck Groenink.

I LOVE YOU ALREADY by Jory John & Benji Davies.

BEAR IS A BEAR by Jonathan Stutzman. Illustrated by Dan Santat.

KNIGHT OWL by Christopher Denise.

WHAT IS LOVE? by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Carson Ellis.

TO MAKE by Danielle Davis. Illustrated by MAGS DeROMA.

BLACK GIRL RISING by Bryanne Barnes. Illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

KEEP CLIMBING GIRLS by Beah E. Richards. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

ONE LOVE: Based on the Song by Bob Marley Adapted Cedella Marley. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

ROOM ON THE BROOM by Julia Donaldson. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

THE GRUFFALO by Julia Donaldson. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

BEAR SNORES ON by Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Jane Chapman.

INTERSTELER CINDERELLA by Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Meg Hunt.

AARON SLATER, ILLUSTRATOR by Andrea Beaty. Illustrated by David Roberts.

THE POUT-POUT FISH by Deborah Diesen. Pictures by Dan Hanna.

CHANGE SAYS: A Children's Anthem by Amanda Gorman. Illustrated by Loren Long.

PRINCE & NIGHT by Daniel Haack. Pictures by Stevie Lewis.

GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld.

THELMA THE UNICORN written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey.

WE WANT A DOG written and illustrated by Lo Cole.

ROOM FOR EVERYONE by Naaz Khan. Illustrated by Mercè López.

THE RUNAWAY PEA by Kjartan Poskitt. Illustrated by Alex Willmore.

I leave you with a poem about two siblings.

BABY SISTER

My baby sister adores me.

Only time she ever ignores me

is when she begins to cry.

When I sniff on her diaper—

I figure out why.

© Charles Waters, 2023— all rights reserved.

Hello you poetic dazzlers of the universe!

This is another special blog post. Number double nickel in the Poetry Time files.

This one co-written by myself and my poetic forever friend, Irene Latham. Or as we're also known as:

This post is about us teaching at the Highlights Foundation from October 8th to October 11 with special guest, Carol Hinz, Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group.

Please click here on the link to find out all about it. If you are so inclined — and I hope you are — please spread the word about it and/or consider to registering for it.

And now to the joint post:

Hello! For our third and final blog post in promoting our upcoming retreat, Poetry For Kids: A World of Publishing Possibilities from October 8 -11th with special guest star, the esteemed Carol Hinz, we’re excited to connect with you today by addressing two questions we get asked A LOT. As you read our answers, we hope you’ll recognize there is no one path to publication. Each journey is different, and that’s a good thing! But there are some universal truths, too. Read on!

How did you first get published in the world of children’s poetry?

Irene: By the time my debut novel for children LEAVING GEE'S BEND (Penguin, 2010), was released, I'd been studying poetry for adults for a number of years and already had a slew of poems published in adult literary journals, a chapbook (winner of a chapbook contest), and a full-length collection (from a small press) under my belt.

It hadn't occurred to me to write poetry for the children's market, I think, for two reasons: 1. my adult poetry focused on (romantic) love, loss and longing, and 2. I thought all children's poetry was Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss.

Enter friend/poet/all-around amazing person Robyn Hood Black, who, as part of her duties for our local SCBWI chapter, arranged a children's poetry retreat with Rebecca Kai Dotlich. At first I was like: what can I possibly learn at this event? (Arrogant, yes?) And then I thought: well, it would be fun to hang around with poetry folks for the weekend....in my experience, the poetry crowd may be small in number, but no group is more passionate about words!

So I went! And I learned about a billion things, the most important of which was: No, in fact, all children's poetry is NOT Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. I can write—and publish— poems about love, loss and longing, just from the child-me, not the adult-me.

Truly, that is the key to writing poetry for children: connecting with the child who still lives inside each of us—that child who wonders about things and finds delight and makes fresh, tender, sometimes funny, sometimes startling associations. I don't know about you, but this is my favorite brain-space! What a marvelous way of looking at and walking about in the world!

About a year later I sold my first poem in the children's market, to Lauren Tarshis at Scholastic's Storyworks magazine. (The details are fuzzy, but I believe Lauren and I met at NCTE, and I told her I was trying to break into the market, and she gave me her card.) The poem is called “Ship Spies a Light” and it's a persona poem in the voice of a shipwreck.

What a happy day! Getting paid to write what I love!

I went on to write quite a few poems for Scholastic's various magazines, and I also got my agent Rosemary Stimola (who had signed me as a middle grade fiction writer) on board to help me sell some poetry picture books. After a few failed manuscripts, we had a winner with DEAR WANDERING WILDEBEEST: AND OTHER POEMS FORM THE WATER HOLE (Lerner, 2014). I'm so grateful to editor Carol Hinz for seeing something in my writing and giving me a chance. That book garnered some lovely accolades, and I've been able to work with Carol on a number of poetry projects since then, including several titles with Charles.

Charles: As I’ve written about in a previous blog post, it was working for Poetry Alive! that started my poetic journey. I’m glad it started in an actor way, since I was a professional actor first before becoming a professional writer. The application of learning poems, sussing them out, finding clues in the text, helped them “drop in” into my body and soul when performing them. That same application I take to writing as well, in so far as reading the words aloud, making sure – to the best of my ability – that they sound right, if there’s a flow to them, and spotting places where something doesn’t make sense or gets too wonky. If you haven’t already I encourage you to always read your poems aloud at some point in your process.

Attending the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) conference in Lake Buena Vista, FL in 2007 was a game changer for me. I took a day-long seminar with the noted anthologist and author Lee Bennett Hopkins, as well as Kristin Rens, Executive editor of picture books, middle grade, and YA at Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins. What this did to me – and other attendees – was to get us into a non-judgmental space with industry professionals to not only learn from them about the ins and outs of creativity and the book business overall, but take them up on their offer to send them some of our poems. One thing they said – among others – that sticks with me today is when it comes to ideas and projects to “think outside the box.”

I sent Kristin a proposal, which was turned down in the kindest, most encouraging way possible, and I sent Lee some poems of mine, most of which he did not like except one, which was encouraging. The key was I started learning about rejection in books. I know a lot about that as a professional actor, and I met two people who were in the industry and they now knew who I was, too. A few years – and many rejections to other publications later – out of the blue Lee asked me to submit a poem for his book AMAZING PLACES, that poem “Fenway Park” and especially getting into the Poetry Friday Anthology series edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong helped me get known not only to readers but people in the children’s poetry business.

The “Fenway Park” poem stands out for the fact that I wrote 100 drafts of the poem to get it right, not only for Lee but for the editor at Lee and Low Books which was publishing the AMAZING PLACES book. This poem is where I really became a writer. I later found out that Lee was going to fire me from the project due to not being happy with what I was sending. Thank goodness for his best friend, and my poetry mentor, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, who unbeknownst to me at the time – convinced him to keep me on and offered to help, which she did. Offering advice on rhythm and flow, getting rid of extraneous words, honing in on what I was really trying to say.

Getting that poem published – in a Lee Bennett Hopkins anthology no less – was one of the deepest joys of my professional life.

While making your poetic journey – or any journey in fact – it’s important for someone to have your back. This is what Irene and I hope to accomplish for you at the Highlights workshop.

Getting into multiple anthologies led to Irene thinking of me for a book project Carol Hinz, Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group, had come up with and reached out to Irene about which became the book CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? POEMS OF RACE, MISTAKES AND FRIENDSHIP. This book also helped pave the way for me to be signed on by Rosemary Stimola as my literary agent.

What advice do you have for children’s poets just staring out?

Charles: You keep building things in small pieces, one poem at a time, get yourself out there, by going to conferences, and online, too. In my case I created a Youtube channel performing over 130 of my own poems and sharing them to educators, editors and young people. You can find the link here.

Taking the long road without shortcuts and taking full advantage of opportunities that are presented has held me in good stead so far, and I hope the same can be said for you as you start or continue your poem making journey.

Irene: If there's a poetry event being offered, GO. Tell people you're trying to break into the market; you never know where it might lead! Write from the child-you...whether that's something funny or tender, aim for wonder and delight. Be ready for the ride of your life with some of the most amazing people on the planet! We're waiting for you.

Oh, my poetic peeps, I got a special blog post and some news for you.

Myself and Irene Latham will be teaching at the Highlights Foundation from October 8th to October 11 with special guest, Carol Hinz, Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group.

Please click here on the link to find out all about it. If you are so inclined — and I hope you are — please spread the word about it and/or consider registering for it.

Irene wrote a blog post previous to this one, on her website, about our upcoming retreat called "How To Revise Poetry: 20 Questions To Ask" which you can read all about by clicking here.

Here is my special blog post. Enjoy!

I recently read an article that said roughly 75% of humans have a fear of public speaking. Years ago, there was a survey where public speaking rated the highest among things people were scared of, more than death. The esteemed comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, made reference to this in a stand-up special saying, “If you have to be at a funeral, you’d rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy.”

If there’s one thing a poet/author will most likely be required do, especially when they get published, is speak in front of the audience—preferably also reading their work.

One of the ways authors supplement their income is by doing author visits to schools. I happen to be one of those people. I’ve learned from experience that it’s one thing to read a poem from a book for an audience, it’s another to act it out, something changes in the air, molecules get shifted in one’s soul, and an audience feels like it’s part of something different, a happening.

As a professional actor, a life changing thing happened to me when in 2003 I was hired by a touring company based out of Asheville, NC called Poetry Alive! One of my jobs was to act out poems—by heart—in a format akin to a sketch comedy with audience participation, a two-person theatrical drama, and a poetic secular revivalist service all in one.

I saw middle schoolers across the country, in wealthy, middle class, lower middle class, and underserved communities weeping over my Poetry Alive! touring colleague, Anita Ross, performing the poem “Elena” by Pat Mora about an immigrant trying to find dignity and hope in a new land. I performed and witnessed high schoolers in the same socio-economic demographics I mentioned a moment ago, in stone cold silence witnessing the poem “We” by Lee Bennett Hopkins about a father who fractures his family by deserting them. On the flip side, in the poem “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” by Eugene Field, one time the audience laughed so loud at one of the audience participants, a teacher, playing the role of Nod and pretending to snore every time his character’s name was mentioned, we had to wait for the laughter to die down multiple times before continuing.

These reactions are a microcosm of the over the 200 different poems I performed with Poetry Alive! One of things that is most true in life is when Pulitzer Prize winner and former Poet Laureate, Rita Dove, said, “Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.”

Without the consistency of performing that many diversified poems, for audiences in almost 40 states, I wouldn’t be a poet/author today.

One of my other jobs with Poetry Alive! was teaching poetry performance classes. I’ve taken some of what I learned from that experience in acting out a poem: character, setting, actions, and feelings and some things I’ve learned in different acting classes throughout the years, including: a learning by heart/scripting and scoring technique that will help the attendees at the upcoming Highlights Foundation retreat learn some of their own poems in a quicker way.

That’s right! Besides working on the craft of writing poetry for young people during myself and Irene Latham’s upcoming workshop Poetry For Kids: A World of Possibilities, one of the breakout sessions for the attendees will be acting out at least one their own poems for their fellow retreaters in a poetry jamboree. They won’t have to act out long, lyrical, sidewinding poems—although that would be something special—instead it can be 10 lines or less. Nothing overwhelming.

To those potential attendees who might be nervous about this facet of our workshop, we ask to please keep an open mind, know that you’re going to enter a welcoming and encouraging space, and to keep in your thoughts something I’ve also learned throughout the years, “trust the poetry.”

I’ve had some interesting things happen to me while performing, I’ve forgotten my lines, I had someone interrupt the show, I even split my pants at an elementary school during a super physical poem. The audience couldn’t tell, thank goodness, but I soldiered on and guess what? The sky didn’t fall, I didn’t start growing green hair on the spot, I didn’t melt into a puddle of embarrassment. I kept going and each attendee can do the same. I believe in you, and so does Irene.

Greetings and salutations my poetic people of the universe!

Happy Book Birthday myself and Irene Latham's next collaboration.

BE A BRIDGE was released on August 2nd from Lerner Publishing Group with lovely illustrations by Nabila Adani.

Here are some book ordering links from Little Shop of Stories and Amazon.

Synopsis: Rhyming verse describes different ways in which readers can "be a bridge," from welcoming a new student and listening respectfully when someone else is talking to standing up to a bully and comforting a classmate who is upset.

Nabila Adani's cheerful illustrations depict a diverse group of students, including young versions of Charles and Irene. Scan a Page Plus QR code at the end of the book to download a Bridge Builder Pledge. An ideal book to share with students in the fall to set the tone for the whole school year!

Happy that Kirkus Reviews called BE A BRIDGE "A charming and welcome read bound to help cultivate a kinder next generation." You can read the review here.

Thrilled that Oprah Daily chose AFRICAN TOWN from Penguin Random House as part of a group of 15 Best Historical Books to Read in 2022.

Honored that AFRICAN TOWN made the state list in Alabama as part of the nation's annual Great Reads from Great Places 2022 Reading List.

Shout out to NPR for naming AFRICAN TOWN as one of their "Books We Love" Summer reading recommendations. Scroll about halfway down on this article and you'll see the book there by clicking here.

Had a lovely series of solo virtual presentations with Hindley Elementary School in Darien, CT. Thank you, Melissa Davidson, Jackie Heyde, and Keri Snowden; as well as Yorkville Middle School in Yorkville, IL. Good looking out, Wamecca Rodriguez.

In-person author presentations included: a return visit to Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC. You rock Sandra Pyeatt! Addtional thanks to my former Poetry Alive! boss Bob Falls, and his wife Holly Jones, for hosting me at your home with food, walks and great convo. Always important to catch up with friends. :-) Another return visit to the University School of Milwaukee. Many thanks to Cheryl Bair, Margy Stratton, and Elaine Griffin for treating me so kindly. Red Bank Borough Public Schools in Red Bank, NJ. Praise be to Kate Mills and Cheryl Cuddihy.

Irene and myself did a joint presentation about the creation of our book, AFRICAN TOWN, at the Monroeville Literary Festival in Monroeville, AL. This is the birthplace of Harper Lee and childhood town of Truman Capote who moved there when he was two. We spoke at the famed Old Courthouse Museum, which was the setting of the courtroom scenes in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I also spoke separately at the museum with former Alabama Poet Laureate, Jennifer Horne. Many thanks to the staff for such great southern hospitality!

Also, if you're so inclined, please check out an interview done of myself and Irene at the Old Courthouse Museum by Otis G. Sanders of 7thSon Productions. Thanks for the invite, Otis! The interview can be found by clicking here.

In additon Irene and I had a series for lovely joint author presentations: South Knoll Elementary School in College Station, TX. Thank you, Marina Rodriguez, for the invitation. Friends Seminary in NYC. Appreciate you, Paula Zamora Gonzalez and Khairah Klein. A virtual residency at Fox Meadow Elementary in Scarsdale, NY, Thanks for reaching out, Jan Schoor. Heathcote Elementary in Scarsdale, NY. Thanks so much, Catherine Soza and Maria Stile. Super grateful to Sheila A. Brandt and her colleagues at The University of Montevallo in Montevallo, AL for such a poetic, inspiring time.

We also participated in the 53rd Annual Georgia Conference on Children's Literature at the University of Georgia. Our presentation was called "Discovering African Town: Lessons Learned From The Survivors of the Last Slave Ship." Many thanks to Dr. Petros Panaou, Nancy Heiss, Melanie Baer at the rest of the dedicated staff for the invitation.

Both of us had a fine time speaking to educators and historians about AFRICAN TOWN at the Alabama Library Association in Montgomery, AL. Many thanks to Wendy Stephens for asking us to be a part of it.

We did a virtual presentation again on "Discovering African Town: Lessons Learned From The Survivors of the Last Slave Ship." at the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival which is held annually at The University of Southern Mississippi. Thank you to Karen Rowell and Tony Lewis for their kindness.

We were honored to be invited to speak here:

The chat centered around the creation of our book AFRICAN TOWN as well as myself and Irene's professional, poetic partnership. Many thanks to our moderator Kristyn Dorfman, Lower and Middle School Librarian, Friends Academy (NY) and to Rebecca Jozwiak, Summer Ogata, Venessa Carson from Penguin Random House for the invite!

Irene and I were honored to virtually speak at this event sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic chapter of SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Many thanks to Marcie Flinchum Atkins for the hospitality.

I'm thrilled to be part of my former Highlights Foundation novels-in-verse retreat buddy, Kip Wison's new verse novel anthology, which you can read all about below.

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by helping raise money in donating to young people four anthologies I've had poems appear in: THE PROPER WAY TO MEET A HEDGEHOG, NO VOICE TOO SMALL, AMAZING PLACES, and the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY -- and doing outreach work with our countries youth, as part of a program with the DeKalb County Public Library- Decatur Branch. Appreciate you, Lauren Tennyson, Jillian Girardeau, and Mia Manekofsky. Librarians are magical people!

Zoobean Reading Challenge is sponsored by Beanstack and my publisher for multiple books, Lerner Publishing Group to promote the joys of reading through an event called Read For A Better World, which gave away prizes to schools for devouring books. The Grand Prize was a free virtual school visit. The winner was Arbor Ridge K-8 in Orlando, FL. I was voted by the students as the author they'd like to have a vitual visit with! Super honored. Tonja Doering, Media Specialist at Arbor Ridge helped make this all happen, so thank you to her and the students! This visit was also made courtesy —in part —by the Poetry Time Foundation.

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

TODAY IS DIFFERENT by Doua Moua. Illustrated by Kim Holt.

IT FELL FROM THE SKY by the Fan Brothers.

SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Bennett. Illustrated by Jon Klassen.

THE GREAT STINK: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Paeff. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.

GEORGE CRUM AND THE SARATOGA CHIP by Gaylia Taylor. Illustrated by Frank Morrison.

SAVING THE DAY: Garrett Morgan's Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal by Karyn Parsons. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

THE SLAVE WHO WENT TO CONGRESS by Marti Rosner and Frye Gaillard. Illustrated by Jordana Haggard.

BRING ME SOME APPLES AND I'LL MAKE YOU A PIE: A Story of Edna Lewis by Robbin Gourley.

NO SMALL POTATOES: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom of Kansas by Tonya Bolden. Illustrated by Don Tate.

LEAVING GEE'S BEND by Irene Latham.

SNAIL'S ARK by Irene Latham. Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini.

A WOMAN'S PLACE: The Inventors, Rumrunners, Lawbreakers, Scientists, and Single Moms Who Change The World with Food by Stef Ferrari and Deepi Ahluwalia. Illustrated by Jessica Olah

WHERE IS BINA BEAR? by Mike Curato

HELLO RAIN! by Kyo Maclear. Illustrated by Chris Turnham.

EYES THAT SPEAK TO THE STARS by Joanna Ho. Illustrated by Dung Ho.

MY NEXT SHOT GOES IN! Ten Sacred Characteristics of NBA Plays That Lead to Success by Mike "Stinger" Glenn.

MEL FELL written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor.

MCTOAD MOWS TINY ISLAND by Tom Angleberger. Pictures by John Hendrix.

I LOVE MY BODY BECAUSE by Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson. Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina.

ONE SUN AND COUNTLESS STARS by Hena Khan. Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini.

I leave you with a poem from memories of walking passed the magisterial splendor of cathedrals.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON CATHEDRAL

I’m gliding inside a rainbow

as stain-glassed kaleidoscopes of light

beam from the universes multi-colored heart

into my own.

© Charles Waters, 2022 — all rights reserved.

Hello poetry peeps the world over!

Well, it's out in the world. Super hope you consider purchasing it. It's available on all outlets including the links embedded: Amazon, Bookshop and Indiebound, or super hope you consider ordering it from your library.

Super grateful NPR's Weekend Edition correspondent, Eyder Peralta, for interviewing myself and Irene Latham about AFRICAN TOWN. The NPR team couldn't have been nicer. Additional thanks to Olivia Russo, Senior Director, Publicity, Penguin Random House for setting it up. You can listen to the interview by clicking here.

Had a most excellent time at Alabama Booksmith where Irene and I had our first book signing for AFRICAN TOWN. We signed many copies, met most excellent humans, and it was so nice seeing my pal, the esteemed Mrs. Latham, face to face after an almost two year time period due to the pandemic. Hard to believe the last time we had seen each other was during a research trip to Mobile—two weeks before shutdown—which helped us tremendously in writing the book we're now promoting! Many thanks to Jake Reiss and his dedicated, kind staff for their professionalism and sweet spirits!

Many thanks to Booklist for their interview with myself and Irene which can be found here, as well as their book review of AFRICAN TOWN which can be found here.

Happily surprised to find out the Today Show for including a piece of my poem "Intention" from DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD from Lerner Publishing Group for their 50 Positive Affirmation Quotes article. You can find mine by going to #24 here.

Grateful to Publishers Weekly for a calling AFRICAN TOWN "an insightful, quickly paced telling that centers tradition and resilience."

Super appreciative of the Imagine Society and their up and coming writing dynamo, Katie Gaffigan, for reviewing AFRICAN TOWN. You can find the article on pg. 6 by clicking here.

Zoobean as part of their #WinterRead2022 "Read For A Better World" Spotlight series interviewed me, which was a pleasure! You can read the interview here.

Many thanks to School Library Journal for their starred review of AFRICAN TOWN saying, "This honest, heartrending, and inspiring story is an important and necessary contribution to historical fiction collections for young adult readers." You can read the full review by clicking here.

Spent time with Irene in Africatown for their Spirits of Our Ancestors Festival.

We met some most outstanding humans, some of whom you can read about below:

Joycelyn Davis, decendant of Oluale aka Charlie Lewis and Maggie Lewis, who kindly wrote the introduction to our book.

Altevese Rosario, decendant of Kossola, who also graciously wrote our Teacher's Guide.

Delisha Marshall, decendant of Gumpa.

Mr. James Patterson, Principal, Mobile County Training School, which was founded by the Clotilda Africans. Our publisher, Penguin Random House, kindly donated copies of the book to the school, which Irene and I signed and handed over to Mr. Patterson.

Speaking with students at Mobile County Training School.

Ben Raines, who founded the Clotilda — the last slave ship in our nation's history — where it has been burned and buried in Mobile Bay since 1860.

Penguin Random House sent this to alert us that book was received four different starred reviews! So grateful.

Traveled to Auburn, AL to do my first in-person author visit in two years, practically to the day, at the Plains Literacy Council in conjuction with Auburn City Schools. What a delightful time I had doing three poetic powerpoint presentations for educators from around East Alabama. Many thanks to Betty Weeden, Wes Gordon and Michelle Hopf for their kindness.

Had a extended Q & A and reading session with students and faculty at the International School of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Thank you, Erica Victor, for the invite! Ms. Victor's blog post about the virtual visit and the response from her students can be found here.

Was thrilled to have a vitual author visit with the fine humans of The River School in NYC. Many thanks to Adeline Tafuri, PTA parent extraordinaire for the invitation, and to Erica Rand Silverman, literary agent extraordinaire at Stimola Literary Studio—which represents me in all things books—for making the e-introduction.

Many thanks to my college alma mater Fairleigh Dickinson University for highlighting me as part of their recruitment program.

When FDU told me they were going to use my picture on their socials, I was deeply touched, when they said it would also be on billboards, I was happily shocked. Wouldn't you know, my cousin, Kelle, was driving one day, saw me on a billboard, turned around, stopped, and took a picture.

Much obliged to author Caroline Starr Rose for interviewing myself and Irene for her blog. You can read the interview by clicking here.

Thanks to my former Highlights Foundation Novel In Verse pal, Kip Wilson, for highlighting myself and Irene by featuring us on her This

Week in YA newsletter.

Here's the interview:

1. Who: Who are your instabuy, go-to YA authors? And which new talent have you discovered recently?We can’t get enough of Nikki Grimes, Margarita Engle, and Naomi Shihab Nye! For new(ish) talent: Randi Pink. Irene’s a big fan of YA nonfiction by Candace Fleming and Deborah Heiligman—and was recently wow-ed by Laura Amy Schlitz’s Amber & Clay and Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. Among the new YA talent Charles discovered recently is Safia Elhillo, the author of the verse novel Home Is Not a Country and Mahogany L. Browne, the author of the verse novel Chlorine Sky. He also deeply respects the talents of established YA authors, here’s a small sample—among many others—who he’s read and admired, Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X), Jason Reynolds (Long Way Down) and Guadalupe García McCall (Under the Mesquite).2. What: What was the most powerful moment in preparing to bring African Town into the world?Hearing back from Joycelyn Davis, who wrote the introduction to our book and who is a direct descendant of Oluale who was also known as Charlie Lewis and his wife Maggie Lewis and also hearing from Altevese Rosario who is a direct descendant of Kossola and Abilè̩. Both Joycelyn and Altevese were deeply touched by our book which humbled us and brought on a lot of relief. We hope other descendants feel the same way. The opinion of them regarding the story of their ancestors mean a great deal to us.3. Where: Where is the state of YA right now, from where you sit? Where do you hope to see it go next?We’re really loving YA memoirs, like Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes, Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen, Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka, to name a few. We hope to see more like this in the future!4. When: Looking ahead to next year (or beyond), what exciting things are next on the horizon for you? Our next collaboration arrives in August, 2022: Be a Bridge, a picture book coming from Carolrhoda, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, with illustrations by Nabila Adani. Per the Publishers Weekly announcement, it’s “a picture book about bridging differences and building an inclusive community with suggestions for how anyone and everyone can “be a bridge.” In the spring of 2024 we have our first anthology with the tentative title of If This Puddle Could Talk in which—per the Publishers Weekly announcement—“a diverse group of poets use the word “if” as the first word in the first line of each poem, inviting readers to take their own leaps into different worlds—from the Practical to the Fantastical.” It will be published by Candlewick Press with illustrations by Olivia Sua.5. Why: Why YA? What draws you to writing for this age group?We kind of accidentally fell into YA (instead of MG) due to the subject matter of this book and ages of the characters. It’s the first time for both of us to write for this age group, and we’re grateful to be here! We’re also deeply grateful to all the YA authors who’ve touched our souls with their artistry. Thank you for inspiring us!

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo

THANK YOU, SARAH: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson. Illustrated by Matt Faulkner

SWING by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

IF YOU PLANT A SEED by Kadir Nelson

RUN Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, L. Fury, and Nate Powell

SATURDAY by Oge Mora

I leave you with a poem about a day in the life of a student — in haikus. Enjoy!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Alarm Clock

Hummingbirds sing-song

wakes me from peaceful slumber—

hope it's a good day.

Dad Speaks!

Consumption of fruit,

dad puts down morning paper,

good luck on your test.

Moment of Truth

Multiple choice, like

teacher warned, quickly scan sheet—

I know the answers!

Pride at the Dinner Table

Devouring soup

I tell Dad that test-wise ... call

me unstoppable!

Night Music

Raindrops lightly tap

on leaves leaving me with an

evening lullaby.

© Charles Waters, 2022 — all rights reserved.

Hello my poetry people of the galaxy!

Been a long time. Here's the latest.

Many thanks to Betsy Bird for interviewing and myself and

Irene Latham in preparation for the January 4, 2022 release of our book AFRICAN TOWN from Penguin Random House. You can find the article by clicking here. You can pre-order on all outlets including clicking on the links embedded in the names of: Amazon, Bookshop and Indiebound. And here is the cover!

Many thanks to School Library Connection for their starred review saying: "The voice of the characters is strong and ... the journey itself is not to be missed."

Chuffed that Booklist in their starred review stated: "A compelling novel that doubles as an important historic document, invaluable for both classroom use and independent reading."

Happy as can be that Bookpage in their starred review wrote: "African Town is a book that should be both taught and treasured."

Pleased as punch that Kirkus Reviews said about our book: "... this is a strong addition to literature about slavery.”

Also super grateful to BCCB (The Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books) for calling our book: "A thoughtful portrait of how trauma informs and inhibits identity."

Publishers Weekly made two rad announcements you might like to know more about. Here's the first:

So honored to add the name anthologist to my poetic titles. I've adored Candlewick Press for years and am thrilled to be reunited with my friend, Irene, and having Olivia Sua on board. There are some mighty fine poets selected for inclusion and I can't wait to share them, and Olivia's illustrations with you. Oh, and let me tell you, Liz Bicknell and Carter Hasegawa at Candlewick are class acts! May there be many more anthologies from us in the future. We certainly have been gathering some pretty cool, detailed proposals over the past few years that haven't been the right fit yet at publishing houses, but, alas, patience my friends.

Here's the second rad announcement from Publishers Weekly:

Traci Sorell and I met at the Highlights Foundation Novel-in-Verse retreat taught by Kathy Erskine and Alma Fullerton, kept in touch throughout the years, and when the opportunity presented itself, I asked her would she like to collaborate on an idea I had, which turned out to be MASCOT. If there is any kind of silver lining during the pandemic for me it's that it gave Traci and I the time to work on the manuscript.

I also met our editor, Karen Boss, at a different Highlights Foundation workshop, so to work with her on this book is exciting and humbling. Proud to now be a part of the Charlesbridge family.

National Poetry Month was not as busy for me in past years due to the pandemic, yet methinks and hopes next year's one will be back to some kind of normal again.

That doesn't mean there weren't poetically lovely things happening such as:

Participated in a lovely podcast interview with with Nicole Young of KidLit These Days. Many thanks for the invitation, Nicole! You can listen to the full podcast by clicking here. My interview starts at the 11:19 mark.

Had most excellent virtual visits with Mosby Woods Elementary (many thanks to Heather Brown), The Valley School (shout out to Laura Meier), Calkins Road Middle School (so thankful to Michael Falzoi, Toni Baller, and David Buritt), Monroe #1 BOCES (appreciate you, Wendy Petry), University School of Milwaukee, (super grateful to Cheryl Bair and Margy Stratton), a joint visit with Irene Latham at Durham Community School, (tip of the hat to Molly Hogan and Sara Domingo), Red Bank Borough Public Schools, (oodles of gratitude to Cheryl Cuddihy and Kate Mills), Morse Pond School, (all hail the kindness of Liz Abbott), Queens College through an invitation from Meet The Writers, (praise be to Michele Weisman), Unity Braxton Middle School, (bundles of appreciation to Linda Mitchell and Hope Dublin).

It was a pleasure speak on a Zoom panel with other authors, including my poetic forever friend, Irene Latham, to students and educators from across the country as part of National Poetry Month sponsored by Cardinal Rule Press. Over 270 people logged on for the virtual podcasting shindig. Among items talked about were writing inspirations and the process of putting words on the page. Many thanks to Maria Dismondy for the invitation and to Mandy Bush for also helping put it all together. You can listen to the podcast in its entirety by clicking here.

Celebrated Independent Bookstore Day by signing Can I Touch Your Hair? and Dictionary For A Better World and talking to book loving humans at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA. It made my soul happy to be in the fresh air among like minded humans again. Many thanks to Diane Capriola, Justin Colussy-Estes, and Matilda McNeely for the invitation.

Was honored to find out that Nancy Kenworthy of Cornerstone Community Church in Norwalk, CT reached out to Lerner Publishing Group, the publisher of Dictionary For A Better World, to ask permission to use my poem, "Shero", for publication in their newsletter to celebrate their pastor Rev. Elizabeth C. Abel for winning Fairfield County's Shero Award which, according to Ms. Kenworthy is, presented to a woman who has "gone above and beyond" to improve the lives of underserved populations. You can find the poem on page. 5 in their church newsletter here.

Thrilled to hear about Dictionary For A Better World being named to the Utah State List! Many thanks to the Children's Literature Association and the Beehive Book Award committee. You can read the article — where Dictionary is mentioned at the bottom — by clicking here.

Super grateful to educator and blogger, Katherine Palaces Narita, for her blog post about incorporating Dictionary For A Better World into her curriculum. These students are so lucky to have her as their teacher. Enjoy reading her most excellent post here.

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

D-39: A Robodog's Journey by Irene Latham

BLOOD WATER PAINT by Joy McCullough

SERAFINA'S PROMISE by Ann E. Berg

CHLORINE SKY by Mahogany L. Browne

STARFISH by Lisa Fipps

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE by Rajani LeRocca

MAYA ANGELOU by Lisbeth Kaiser

YOUR NAME IS A SONG by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. Illustrated by Luisa Uribe.

MADDI'S FRIDGE by Lois Brandt. Illustrated by Vin Vogel.

EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho. Illustrated by Dung Ho.

I AM ENOUGH by Grace Byers. Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo.

THE COLOR OF US by Karen Katz

JUST ASK: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor. Illustrated by Rafael López.

A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY by Sara O'Leary. Illustrated by Qin Leng.

THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS by Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

PINK IS FOR BOYS by Robb Pearlman. Illustrated by Eda Kaban.

ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimental. Illustrated by Nabi Ali.

I WALK WITH VANESSA by Kerascoët.

SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard. Illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin.

SPOON by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Scott Magoon.

CHOPSTICKS by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Scott Magoon.

LITTLE PEA by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Scott Magoon.

A DAY FOR REMEMBERIN' by Leah Henderson. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

HAILSTONES AND HALIBUT BONES: Adventures in Color by Mary O'Neill. Illustrated by John Wallner.

MARCH Book One/Two/Three by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin. Illustrated by Nate Powell.

SCHOOLS OF HOPE : How Julius Rosenwald Helped Change African American Education by Norman H. Finkelstein.

DEAR MR. ROSENWALD by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

MEMORY JARS written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol.

HOME IS NOT A COUNTRY by Safia Elhillo.

WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW by Sonja K. Solter.

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by donating books.

I leave you with a poem about reaching out to someone in need. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Simply acknowledging their existence in a kind way can mean so much.

FIRST DAY

I stand outside kicking a pine cone.

Eyes darting between this one level

maze and clusters of kids emitting

a steady stream of chatter about their

Summer vacations. Why am I constantly

the new kid? I silently whine. Being a

military brat stinks. A girl then walks up

to me. She has strawberry hair with purple

streaks, chalky white fingernails, a minty

green dress, plaid socks and salmon colored

shoes. It's obvious that shyness is not in her

vocabulary. "I don't remember you from last

year." She said. "I'm new here." I whisper.

"What's your name?" She asks. "RonJon."

I mutter. "I'm Indigo. C'mon I'll introduce you

to my friends." She grabs my hand and off I go

thankful for my life preserver.

© Charles Waters 2021, all rights reserved. 

Welcome to Poetry Time #50 my poetic peeps! And a happy National Poetry Month to you all!

Here's the latest.

Irene Latham and I had a lovely time talking with over 900 teachers in a virtual visit extravaganza for our book DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD: Poems, Quotes and Anecdotes from A -Z for the Book Love Foundation which provides funds for children's libraries all over America. They chose our book as part of their summer 2020 reading list! Many thanks to Clare Landrigan for the invitation. Blogger Sierra Dertinger posted a most lovely write-up about our vitual chat which you can find here.

Thrilled to have DICTIONARY also featured on the 2020 summer reading list of The Toronto Star newspaper. Thank you to teacher-librarian, Rabia Khokhar, for writing about our book. You can read the article, where we're featured at the bottom, here.

Blogger, author and all-around swell human being, Rosi Hollinbeck, wrote a kind book review of DICTIONARY which you can enjoy here.

Irene and I were humbled and exhilarated to receive almost 400 poems from all over the world for our IF anthology from Candlewick Press. We've been reading, shaping, pruning, and all sorts of other poeticials as we bring the manuscript to fruition for our editor extraordinaire, Liz Bicknell. Anthologizing a book is such a different skill set than working on say a picture book or novel-in-verse. Mining with jeweler's eyes in finding poetic diamonds and making sure each poem read gets our full attention before we decide whether we accept it or not is a responsibility neither of us is taking lightly.

Thrilled to hear that DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD was named as a Top 20 book for this year by the organization: Read Woke. This article was written by Cicely Lewis and published by School Library Journal. You can read all about it here.

DICTIONARY was also honored at NCTE (National Council For Teachers of English) by being selected on their list of 2021 Notable Books in Poetry.

Happy to announce that DICTIONARY was also listed as one of a handful of poetic works to win the 2020 Nerdy Book Club Award. You can read about all of the other winners here. Many thanks to Heidi Mordhorst, Donalyn Miller, Colby Sharp, Katherine Sokolowski, and Cindy Minnich and the rest of the crew for the support.

Author, Kate Messner, did a multi-part seminar on the current new normal of virtual visits to schools and it has helped me tremendously culled down the slides that I use, put together a more precise presentation and understand the nuances of Zoom. Many thanks, Kate!

At the tail end of 2020, I did two different virtual presentations that I'm proud to share.

The first was a virtual teacher workshop thanks to Literacy Matters, which specializes in the field of staff development. Many thanks to Sarah Cordova, Director and Literary Consultant, for the invitation. A lovely compliment I received was when one of the educators said my workshop "helped demystify poetry for her." For me, that's a big poetic WIN!

The second was a virtual author visit with students, faculty and administrators of Jose Vargas Elementary in Mountain View California. Also signed almost eighty book plates for them by request for the book order they did of both CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? and DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD. Many thanks to Claire Quesnel-Oueini, Megan Henderson, Angela Keating, and Sarah Bye for the opportunity.

Did a gallery of virtual authors visits so far this year with hopefully more to come throughout 2021. There's been presentations about my history as an poet and actor, writing workshops, joint author visits and teacher workshops. Each of them went well, had students and faculty dialed in with what I was presenting, and am so grateful to each of them for their hard work and courage during this pandemic.

They are Gail Bordon Public Library (thank you, Katie Clausen, Elizabeth Forkan, and Deborah Roycroft), Rumsey Hall School, who also donated over $2,000 to the Amber Brown Fund in my honor, which touched my soul deeply (many thanks to Valerie DiLorenzo, Robert Brenner, Amanda McGrew, Mark Simonelli, Phil Perreault, and Michelle Rittler). Princeville CUSD #326 (thank you, Kim Friedman). My alma mater Fairleigh Dickinson University, in particularly the Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities (many thanks to Dr. Mary Farrell and Dr. Mary L. Hebert). Daniel Webster Magnet School (thank you, Jennifer Meyer). My first virtual joint author visit with Irene Latham at Sherman School (many thanks to Catherine Flynn and Keri Snowden). Round Rock Library (many thanks to Amy German and Jane Dance). The Churchill School (thank you, Cherie Yanek) and Walcott Elementary (thank you, Sarah Lynch).

Read-a-Poem or R.A.P. My rallying cry to bring children’s poetry to every human being in the world continues rolling along. Not every book I mention has to be about children’s poetry, but that’s the main thrust. I have read:

COUNTING ON KATHERINE: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker. Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk.

A GIRL LIKE ME by Angela Johnson. Illustrated by Nina Crews.

WOOSH! Lonnie Johnson's Super-soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton. Illustrated by Don Tate.

CRANK by Ellen Hopkins.

WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS by Carole Lindstrom. Illustrated by Michaela Goade.

LET 'ER BUCK George Fletcher, the People's Champion by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Illustrated by Gordon C. James.

ELLA MCKEEN, KICKBALL QUEEN written and illustrated by Beth Mills.

ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER: Help and Healing After The Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton. Illustrated by Nicole Xu.

CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Ellen Shi.

SULWE by Lupita Nyong'o. Illustrated by Vashti Harrison.

A CHAIR FOR MY MOTHER written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams.

BULL by David Elliot.

PATRICIA'S VISION: The Doctor Who Saved Sight by Michelle Lord. Illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

A MAP INTO THE WORLD by Kao Kalia Yang. Illustrated by Suo Kim.

A BOWL FULL OF PEACE by Caren Stelson. Illustrated by Akira Kusaka.

KNUFFLE BUNNY: A Cautionary Tale written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO: A Case of Mistaken Identity written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE: An Unexpected Diversion written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ME written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams.

THE OLDEST STUDENT: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita L. Hubbard. Illustrated by Oge Mora.

PLANTING STORIES: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika A. Denise. Illustrated by Paola Escobar.

THE CAT MAN OF ALEPPO by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

I AM EVERY GOOD THING by Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Gordon C. James

EXQUISITE: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade. Illustrated by Cozbi

A. Cabrera.

BAD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself To Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Michele Wood.

WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? A Community Helper Guessing Book by Miranda Paul. Illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell.

ANTIRACIST BABY by Ibram X. Kendi. Illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky.

THE LAND OF CRANES by Aida Salazar.

THE BOY AND THE GORILLA by Jackie Azaua. Illustrated by Cindy Derby.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING by Kao Kalia Yang. Illustrated by Khoa Lee.

THIS POEM IS A NEST by Irene Latham. Illustrated by Johanna Wright.

YOU MATTER written and illustrated by Christian Robinson.

BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR by Angela Joy. Illustrated by Ekua Holmes.

BROWN BABY LULLABY by Tameka Fryer Brown.

KEESHA'S HOUSE by Helen Frost.

OVERGROUND RAILROAD by Lisa Cline-Ransome. Illustrated by James Ransome.

MY BEST FRIEND by Julie Fogliano. Illustrated by Jullian Tamaki.

BEDTIME FOR SWEET CREATURES by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.

JUST LIKE ME written and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

ARE YOUR STARS LIKE MY STARS? by Leslie Helakoski. Illustrated by Heidi Woodward Sheffield.

JULIAN AT THE WEDDING written and illustrated by Jessica Love.

THE PROUDEST BLUE: The Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali. Illustrated by Hatem Aly.

YOU FORGOT YOUR SKIRT, AMELIA BLOOMER! A Improper Story by Shana Corey. Illustrated by Chesley McLaren.

A PLACE TO HEAL INSIDE ME: A Poem To Heal The Heart by Zetta Elliot. Illustrated by Noa Denmon.

THE DAY YOU BEGIN by Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by Rafael López.

SHADES OF PEOPLE by Shelly Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly. Pictures by Shelly Rotner.

THE BIG UMBRELLA by Amy June Bates co-written with Juniper Bates. Illustrated by Amy June Bates.

HAIR LOVE by Matthew Cherry. Illustrated by Vashti Harrison.

A PLACE INSIDE OF ME: A Poem To Heal Your Heart by Zetta Elliott. Illustrated by Noa Denman.

ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER by Tami Charles. Illustrated by Bryan Collier.

I CAN MAKE THIS PROMISE by Christine Day.

ABOVE THE RIM: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant. Illustrated by Frank Morrison.

THE TEACHER'S MARCH! How Selma's Teachers Changed History by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace. Illustrated by Charley Palmer.

DRAWING ON WALLS: A Story of Keith Haring by Matthew Burgess. Pictures by Josh Cochran.

SING A SONG: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons. Illustrated by Keith Mallett.

TEA CAKES FOR TOSH by Kelly Starling Lyons. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

DREAM BUILDER: The Story of Architect Philip Frelon by Kelly Starling Lyons. Illustrated by Laura Freeman.

VROOMALOOM ZOOM by John Coy. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda.

BEAUTY MARK: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monore by Carole Boston Weatherford.

LEGACY: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Nina Crews, Pat Cummings, Laura Freeman, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, April Harrison, Vashti Harrison, Ekua Holmes, Cathy Ann Johnson, Keisha Morris, Daria Peoples-Riley, Andrea Pippins, Erin Robinson, Shadra Strickland, Nicole Tadgell, and Elizabeth Zunon.

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by donating books.

I leave you with a poem on a subject you might all understand as spring arrives after winter's visit.

THE MORNING AFTER

water dripping off roofs

thawing out post-snowstorm

housing perspiration

(c) Charles Waters 2021, all rights reserved. 

Hello my poetic peeps.

I hope you and yours are safe and sound.

What a weird, topsy-time we're living in. The events since the second week of March has hit home for me in a multitude of ways. I think about our world and how much it's suffering on multiple fronts.

To keep things mentally on an even keel for me is to sometimes check out -- read, watch films and documentaries, think for long stretches of time and realize all we can do is our best to be better humans to each other and the planet.

As always, there's poetry which binds us like few other art forms. Here's some positive news that's been going on in my life. Shafts of light in an uncertain world that keep me going.  

Thrilled that myself and my poetic forever friend, Irene Latham, were featured in the publication Time for Kids. You can find the article here. 

Maggie Reagan of Booklist wrote about how DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD as well as myself and Irene's collaboration process which you can find here. 

Young People's Poet Laureate, Naomi Shihab Nye, made DICTIONARY her poetry pick for April. Here's what she wrote about it:

What a treat! Wondrous British Iranian artist Mehrdokht Amini has created a gloriously appealing palette of colors and images to match the magnificently user-friendly text by good friends Irene Latham and Charles Waters. This might be the perfect upbeat book to carry to your writing hideaway—you could never feel blank or discouraged for long if you had this charming text as a companion. The poems are based on “words for a better world”—from acceptance to zest—and they are studded with quotations from poets, novelists, musicians, and figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Mother Teresa. There are also compelling writing prompts that teachers will really appreciate for their classrooms. This book wants to be your new best friend.

Feeling gratitude for being interview by Librarian/Podcaster/all-around great human,   Matthew Winner , for The Children's Book Podcast . We talk about books, the writing process, not giving up on your passion and other assorted topics which you can find here.

Booklist reviewer, Kathleen McBroom said in her summary on DICTIONARY that "any reader who is preparing a presentation or leading a discussion on social behavior, character education, self-actualization, or making a difference will find a trove of accessible and appealing material within these colorful, cheerful pages."

Susan Johnson Taylor of The Writer has published an article about writing collaborations. She interviewed different writing teams and Irene and I are thrilled to have been included. You can read all about here. 

Many thanks to author and blogger, Robyn Hood Black, for her kind review of DICTIONARY which is located here. 

Laurie Hnatiuk wrote a review about DICTIONARY on Goodreads and it made me click my heels in happiness! You can read her thoughts about the book here. 

I was interviewed for The Imagination Society Newsletter which does vital outreach work in New York City and the surrounding boroughs. You can read the article here then scroll down to page 8. 

Author and Blogger Edna Cabcabin Moran included me in her blog post dealing with my poem "Roy G. Biv" which was featured in the children's poetry anthology THANKU: Poems of Gratitude. You can enjoy it here. 

Dr. Sylvia Vardell graciously asked me and other children's poets to write a blurb about one of the late Lee Bennett Hopkins' anthologies that resonated with me for the Booklinks magazine. You can scroll down here on page 5 to see what I chose and also see what each of the others selected did as well.

Kelly Gallucci, Executive Editor of the We Are Bookish blog at NetGalley included myself, Irene and other authors in a blog post titled "10 Poets Share The Poem That Changed Their Lives" which you can find here. You can find my thoughts on the 4th entry on the list and Irene's thoughts on the 6th entry. 

Had a nine day trip through Alabama doing author visits and teacher workshops with Irene in Birmingham for Selby Country School educators, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, Berry Middle School. Many thanks to Dr. Lewis Brooks, Angela Walker, Ann Marie Corgill, Alicia Hunsberger, and Dr. Chris Robbins for their hospitality. Irene and I then went to Mobile for research for our next book AFRICAN TOWN. We visited various places from Mobile Public Library Local History and Genealogy to a tour of African American landmarks thanks to the Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail. Many thanks to all the good folks in Mobile such as African Town aficionados Eric Finley and Robert Battles for their help. 

Next up was heading to the delightful town of Foley to do solo author visits sponsored by Foley Art Center. Went to Foley Elementary, Foley Intermediate and Magnolia Elementary. I use to perform in Foley during my stint with Poetry Alive! during the mid-2000's, so to come back as an author to perform my own poems and share with students my poetic and acting life story meant a great deal! Many thanks to Zana Price, Tammy Busby, Skip Busby, Denny Price, Dr. Michelle Moore, Dr. Shannon McCurdy and P.J. Sute for your kindness towards me and your believe in literacy. 

Happy to announce that CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? or as our team as been referring it as, CITYH? is now an audiobook. You can click on the link here to order a copy.  The link also lists all formats the book is available in, including audiobook. It's also available through all major audiobook distributors.

Blogger Maureen Tai posted about CITYH? and had such encouraging things to say. You can read all about it here. 

Author, blogger, Greg Pincus -- whose birthday matches my own -- featured a poem of mine called "Watery Blue Ceiling" as part of his 30 Poets/30 Days series. You can check it out here. 

Also, every day for the month of April Poets House featured me in Virtual Tiny Poets Time where I performed my poems, read books, played games, and for the older set, went into detail on the creation of two of my own books, while giving my thoughts on writing and performing poems. You can find them by visiting there sites by clicking on the YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter links—and please don't forget to subscribe.

Had two delightful vitual visits with students and faculty. One was at Whiting Lane Elementary in West Hartford, CT and the other was with The University School of Milwaukee. Many thanks to Lee Gluck, Media Specialist at Whiting Lane  and Elaine Griffin, Head of Middle School, at The University School of Milwaukee for the invitations. Ms. Griffin also conducted an interview with me that you can find here. 

The Poetry Time Foundation or as teacher/children's poet Heidi Mordhorst calls it, the PTFoundation, continues to give back by donating book to various arts organizations to encourage literacy.

I leave you with a poem that deals with summer being upon us:

VACATION

Grassy drenched bedbug

melts into swaying foliage –

nature’s hammock.

(c) Charles Waters 2020, all rights reserved.