Dedication

I had this idea,

that I could write a poem,

and give it as a gift.

And I knew that

nobody else

would appreciate it more

than kids,

and teachers,

readers and writers,

who live and work and teach and learn,

together.

So this is my gift to you.

* Day 30 (the final day!) of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month. Dedicated to NYC teachers, administrators, literacy coaches, and most importantly, KIDS in the amazing schools where I work. I wrote a poem-a-day this month for YOU!

Untitled Poem

* Day 29 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Readers' Best Friends

Biscuit,

Mudge,

Clifford and Harry.

Walter, Benji, Willie,

Buck,

Shiloh,

and of course,

Lassie.

* Day 28 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Poetry

Drenched in butter and
Bubbling
Salty, crispy edges

* Day 27 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Multiple Choices

What would you like to do today?

A) Take a test

B) Take a test

C) Take a test

D) Take a test

* Day 26 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby Testing

There isn't a test for drooling skills.

Or an assessment for how well she can roll from side to side.

There isn't a quiz on thumb sucking-- that I'm aware of.

Or any evaluation on how well she can

coo, or gurgle, or screetch with delight.

Maybe we ought to start cramming, though.

Just in case.

Start preparing.

We could practice sitting up.

Maybe teach some strategies for choosing the best teether,

when presented with three choices.

Or maybe give her points for each nap she takes,

Or bite of peas she eats,

Or on the quality (and quantity) of poosplosions per day?

* Day 25 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month, with thoughts of tomorrow's New York State ELA Test on my mind.

Different Kinds of Cries

There's the

fire engine,

you know,

the five alarm fire?

Sometimes it's a

grouchy

yelling-at-mama,

"Hey!" type of cry.

There's the rolling,

sort of lazy cry,

not really crying,

just complaining.

Sometimes there are syllables

"Ning ning ning," or "Raa raa raa,"

a tiny lion roaring in her den.

Then there's the

real cry.

The scared, truly hurt, in pain cry.

That one

makes me cry too.

* Day 24 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby L. Looks In The Mirror

Her eyes meet her own eyes

Her hand meets her own hand

She flashes a smile and giggles.

Hey, I know that person!

We move in and out of the picture frame,

Playing peek-a-boo with ourselves.

Who's that looking in the mirror?

It's you!

It's me!

It's us!

* Day 23 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

A Poem For Earth Day

Dear New York,

If it isn't too much trouble,

would you please

put your litter in the trash cans?

Also, it would be much appreciated

if you recycled a bit more.

And while you are thinking of it,

would you mind taking the subway

instead of driving?

Or at least carpooling?

It would also be nice

if you could bring

your own bags to the grocery store.

And could you please

bring a reusable mug to Starbucks?

And maybe, just maybe,

stop buying bottled water.

Sincerely,

The Earth

* Day 22 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

How To Read At Six Months Old

Look at the pictures.

Take your time, if you can.

Touch the pages.

Scritchy scratch across the pages.

Try to pick the pictures right off,

and discover that they are stuck.

Maybe drool a little on a page or two,

Maybe chew on a corner, or two.

Giggle with delight at the sight

of a familiar book--

Brown Bear Brown Bear,

Or Goodnight Moon,

Or The Peace Book,

Or Where's Baby's Belly Button?

Help mama turn the pages.

Put your hands on top of hers.

You can even close the book,

before mama's ready...

That's how to read at six months old.

* Day 21 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Coffee and Writing

Sweet

Drips

Of java

Bitter and chocolaty,

Smooth

Comfort

Coffee

And writing

Go hand in hand.

* Day 20 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

So Much To Read, So Little Time

Racing through pages,

Running across chapters,

Flying through texts of all kinds,

There's smoke coming out of my ears,

I'm reading so much,

I've got articles and books,

Websites and blogs,

Poems and stories,

So much to read, so little time.

* Day 19 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Favorite Foods

Bean

and

cheese

burrito

with

guacamole

on the

side,

Gooey

brownies

with

walnuts,

Grilled cheese

with

french fries

and a

chocolate

shake,

Peppermint

patties,

Homemade

sesame

noodles,

Strawberry

shortcake,

Juicy pork bun

from

M. Shanghai,

Jelly

beans,

Gnocci

with

tomato

sauce,

Molten

chocolate

cake,

Potato

salad

and a

glass of

lemonade,

Ben

and

Jerry's

ice

cream,

Popcorn

with

lots of

butter,

Creme

brulee,

Chicken

and

biscuits,

Chocolate

chip

cookies

fresh

out of the

oven.

* Day 18 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Overheard in a Kindergarten Classroom

I can make my stars shine

See

Falling, here on my paper

See

They shine

Look

I can make the stars shine

Look, here

The stars are shining

Here

On my paper

* Day 17 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

In love with...

the sound of a page turning,

the way fonts have personalities all their own,

the smell of ink,

fancy paper,

my extensive pencil collection,

starting a new notebook,

highlighters,

pens,

glue,

paperclips,

scissors,

staples,

bookmarks of all kinds,

reading lamps that attach to your book,

and of course,

last but certainly not least,

post its.

* Day 16 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Babies Love Reading: A Google Poem

Babies

Love

Books

Love

Poetry

Love

READING!

I made this myself using Google Search Stories!

* Day 15 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Stubbed Toes and Other Minor Ailments

trip

and

fall

nosedive

headache

charlie horse

paper cut

black and blue

pins and needles

thorn in my side

pain in the neck

burden to bare

* Day 14 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Test Prep Haiku II

Develop answer

before you see all choices

Elimination.

* Day 13 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Test Prep Haiku I

Keep an eye on time.

Leave no bubble unshaded.

Read all the choices.

* Day 12 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Adaptation on a Fairy Tale

My sweet baby, what sparkling eyes you have!

All the better to charm you with.

Babygirl, what delicious chubby little legs you have!

All the better to wiggle and bounce and kicky-kick at my toys with!

My little dumpling, what teeny tiny tiny fingers you have!

All the better for tickling you with.

Little tiger, where did you get that magical smile?

It's my specialty. All the better to love you with.

* Day 11 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Car Ride With A Screaming Baby: A Poem in Two Voices

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Waaaaa! Waaaaaaaaa! ...Don't cry sweet baby.

Waaa! Waaaaaaaaaaa! ...It's okay sweet pea.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...We're almost there, I promise.

WaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAA! ...Don't cry honey.

WAAAAAAAAAaaaaaa! ...Shhhhh...

Waaaaaa! Waaaaaaaa! ...Shhhhh...

Waa! Waa! Waa! Waa! ...Shhhhh...

Waa! Waa! Waaaaaaa! ...Okay baby, it's okay.

Waaaaaaaaaaa! WAA! ...Oh honey, don't cry!

Waaaa! Waaaaaaaaaa! ...I love you sweet little baby.

WAAA! Waaaaaaaaaa! ...You're my little sweetheart, yes you are.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...Don't cry, sweety pie.

Waaaaaaaaa! WaaAA! ...Mommy loves you!

Waaa! Waaaaaaaaaaa! ...Babygirl, mama loves you!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...Mommy loves you, baby. Mommy loves you.

* Day 10 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Tiny Reader

Tiny toes
Wiggle wiggle

Tiny feet
Kicky kicky

Tiny belly-button
Pop pop!

Tiny heart
I loooooove you

Tiny fingers
Scritchy scratch

Tiny chin
Tickle tickle

Tiny nose
Sniff sniff

Tiny eyes
Peek-a-boo!

Tiny reader
One more book

Tiny dreams
Night night

* Day 9 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

What I Was Thinking About At The Office Today

Someday L. will fall down
And get scrapes on the heels of her hands
The kind of scrapes with little pieces of gravel stuck inside

And I might not be there to give her a kiss
Or hold her tight when she cries

* Day 8 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby Magic

Your eyes must have magic powers,

How else would they sparkle like they do?

Your smile is an incantation,

A spell for melting even the coldest heart.

Doggy Haiku III

Baby moves. Cries, then coos.
Doggy stands up. Stands guard.
Furry protector.

* Day 7 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Doggy Haiku II

He rests, chin on paws,
Puppy-dog eyes are alert,
Always on the watch.

* Day 6 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Doggy Haiku I

A furry soldier
stands guard just outside the crib.
Waits... Listens... Sniffs…Wags.

* Day 5 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby L.

The day before you were born I was burning up,

Wearing flip flops and skirts,

T-shirts stretched tight around my belly and drenched with sweat,

More than ready for you to arrive.

The day we left the hospital the leaves began to turn,

Bright oranges and rubies with a breeze tickling them, making them sparkle.

I put on my coziest, softest sweater,

And snuggled in for winter.

* Day 4 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Tooth Pulled

Good riddance
One less tooth to worry about
Didn’t really hurt that much
Hardly even notice it’s missing
No one will even notice it’s gone

* Day 3 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Spring

Heart born in autumn
Smile born in winter
Shadow born in summer

* Day 2 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

When It Rains

Good thing

I've got your smile

to be my sunshine.

And your hands

to hold

and keep me warm and dry.

* Day 1 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.