Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by poet Linda Biae at TeacherDance. Thank you for hosting, Linda.
What is Poetry Friday? Find out here.
Today the mailman brought me the new poetry anthology IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY, edited by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Illustrated by Olivia Sua.
The contains thirty poems by as many poets, many who are well know to the children’s poetry community, such as Nikki Grimes, Renee LaTulippe, Rebecca Kai Doltish, Georgia Heard, Joseph Bruchac, Laura Purdie Salas and many, many others. I feel honored to have been included. Thank you, Irene and Charles!
The collection is about possibility. What if you could choose the best day?
The artwork by Olivia Sua features children at play in a colorful, gentle and welcoming world. The book opens with a welcoming poem by the editors, entitled, “Welcome.”
Welcome
by Irene Latham and Charles Waters
If you're reading this,
It's time to unlock
the door to possibility.
Trust yourself--
Turn the key.
Every poem in the book begins with the word, “If” : which seems like an invitation to a child to imagine as they explore each poem, and think, “What if . . . ?” Some of the poem titles include “If this wind persists” by Sydell Rosenberg, “The gift of If” by JaNay Brown-Wood, “If We Were Rich” by Janet Wong, to mention a few.
I’m sorry I was not able to copy the art inside the book, but at least I can share the cover. The book will be released early March.
It’s been two years since I submitted and I almost forgot this book was being published, but here it is.
The illustration on the page of my poem is a picture of a pretty whitewashed town with snow falling. There is a silhouette of a child, a girl, in a window of one of the houses.
IF A SNOWSTORM COMES TO TOWN
If a snowstorm comes to town,
I'll watch the snowflakes falling down,
watch them swirling to the ground
sparkling, spinning round and round.
Never will they make a sound
just keep falling
down
down
down.
I love to watch the snowflakes fall--
no one rushes snow at all!
Out my window, wandering free,
snow is how I like to be.
Janice Scully 2025
I was thrilled when my copy arrived today! My new grandson in California is finally home from N.I.C.U and he seems, I hear, very happy to be there. I’ll definitely add this book to his growing collection!
Thank you for reading. I’m sure you will hear more in the coming months about this collection.
I am looking forward to a copy of this new anthology, Janice, & love your poem, the ending especially – “Snow is how I like to be.” Nailed it! I’m glad to hear the good news about your grandson, too, a Valentine gift!
Thank you, Linda. Yes, Tommy is the highlight of every day!
Janice, congratulations on having a poem in this beautiful collection. I loved the musings on snow, especially, “no one rushes snow at all!” I love how the power of weather is out of our hands.
Janice, we are so thrilled to have your snow-joy poem in the collection! That spread is so lovely, isn’t it? THANK YOU! And congratulations on your new grandson. May he grow forever steeped in poetry!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
“no one rushes snow at all” — yes to this! And yay for a grandson coming home!
Many congratulations–for the poem inclusion and the new grandson coming home! A new person is so full of possibility. I love the “Welcome” poem you quoted. It reminds me that trust is intertwined with possibility.
Wow! Congratulations. What a gorgeous poem about a snowstorm. It’s a keeper. And, I can’t wait to get my. hands on this book. I hope this gives you a writing boost and more and more lovely poems come from you like snowstorms!
You’re awesome, Linda! Thank you.
What a beautiful poem, Janice! I’m looking forward to getting my copy of this book. And so happy your grandson is home. May he continue to thrive.
Congratulations on your wonderful poem being included in this gorgeous new book! I can’t wait to get a copy.
Hooray for your grandson being home, and hooray for your poem, Janice. As I read this anthology of so many gorgeous poems, yours was one of my favorites. It captures snow, which I love so much. Happy we’re in this book together with so many friends <3
I definitely feel honored. Glad you liked my snow poem. I think you have probably seen a lot of snow falling where you live. 🙂
Excited to share the pages of this book with you, Janice – that snowy illustration is perfect for your poem and one of my favorites. So happy to read good news about your new little baby grand!! Wishing all the best for you & your family. :0)