Poetry Friday: Paperback News, Sealey Challenge Update and More!
Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone is our host today. Hop on over there for the roundup.
Wait Rest Pause Out in Paperback
This week Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature came out in paperback. I’m excited that this book will be more affordable for teachers and families.
Sealey Challenge Update
I always try to front load my Sealey Challenge books with the longer books first because I know, once school starts, it will be much harder to read a book a day. I mostly novels-in-verse this week, and I’d recommend all of them. Black Girl You Are Atlas is more of a memoir poetry collection. It belongs in every middle school and high school library!
Haiku of the Week
invading the oaks
mimosa waves her fan
peacocking the walk
Photo Taken: July 8, 2024 while on a walk in the neighborhood
Haiku Written: July 30, 2024
Poem as Picture Book
by April Pulley Sayre
Illustrated by Jialei Sun
Charlesbridge, 2024
This 130-word poem is all about pickles. Each spread also has sidebars that explain different types of pickles and pickling techniques.
Poetry Connections
- Word choice
- Rhyming quatrains
- Assonance
- Alliteration
Links
- Jialei Sun, Illustrator Website
- April Pulley Sayre’s Website (currently under construction at the time of this writing)
Grow
Part of growing is stretching, and I always feel like The Sealey Challenge is such a stretch for me. But at the same time, it sets a nice routine in a very chaotic time of year. It’s been lovely to sit down and force myself to read a book each evening.
22 Comments
Irene Latham
A poetry book about pickles! Now that makes me smile. Thank you, Marcie! Happy Sealey-ing! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, it’s such a fun book. I’m so sad that April is no longer with us, but I’m so glad she left a legacy of books.
Rose Cappelli
Always an inspiration, Marcie! Good luck with your new school year.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Rose! I don’t know why I’m always surprised by how busy and exhausting the beginning of the year is, but it just is.
janice scully
Yours is the website to go to when I’m searching for a new title! Your mimosa photo is astounding and the word “peacocking.” You are amazing!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Janice!
Margaret Simon
“Peacock” is such a perfect metaphor for mimosa blossoms. I love those pink firecracker blooms.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, I love that word! 🙂
Laura Purdie Salas
What a spectacular flower–I love peacocking. Great word. Hope back to school goes smoothly, Marcie!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It’s been a BUSY week, but every beginning of the year is like this (I just forget how tiring it is!).
Denise Krebs
Marcie, your book is at my house. My husband will bring it to Seattle when he comes up next week. I’m excited to read it. I’ll try to read a bit to my two-year-old grandson. I love “mimosa waves her fan” — What a sweet image.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh hooray! Let me know if you want a signed book plate.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Peacocking — as a verb!! Love love love your word-discoveries!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Patricia!
Michelle Kogan
Love your haiku and image, both are terrific! Keep on Sealey-ing on, thanks Marcie! And yay for “Wait, Rest, Pause.” Thanks!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m Sealey-ing on, for sure. That’s one thing I’ve managed to accomplish. 🙂
Molly Hogan
Your haiku and that photo are a perfect match, and your use of the word “peacocking” is masterful. Your weekly haikus are always such an inspiration. Also, the paperback copy of your book just arrived in my mailbox last week–what a treat! Good luck with the start to your year. I’m determined to eke every moment of joy and summer fun out of these next two weeks before we begin. PS–Thanks for sharing April’s pickle poetry book–I had a student last year who was obsessed with all things pickle and I will have to let her know about it.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, your pickle-loving student will love this book! Also, let me know if you want a signed bookplate for Wait, Rest, Pause. 🙂
Mary Lee
More applause for your mimosa’s “peacocking!”
Add in some gratitude for your book recommendations — Pickles and Black Girl are on reserve in 3, 2, 1, now! and my Sealey has been informed by your Naomi Shihab Nye deep dive, and I’m loving it!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yay! I can’t wait to hear about your Naomi Shihab Nye reads.
Karen Edmisten
Your posts always feel so rich and delicious, Marcie. Yay on the new paperback version of the book! (May it peacock its way into the world.) 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Karen!