Marilyn Singer
(excerpt)
I’m staring at the water,
unsure if I’ll go in.
I dip one foot, then the other–
it feels chilly on my skin.
I have taken many lessons,
but they just aren’t any fun.
We swim back and forth the whole time–
I’m always glad when we are done.
But here I see a turtle dive,
and some fish go swishing by.
I wonder, Could I swim like them?
Maybe I should try!
(excerpt)
Whose Tree Is This?
Whose tree is this?
Reaching high, spreading wide,
this oak, so gracious, so spacious,
giving gifts throughout the year.
Acorns for eating, tree crooks for nests,
leaves that shelter many guests.
Whose tree is this?
Growing strong, living long,
this oak, inviting, delighting
visitors both large and small,
travelers from far and near:
Come, spend some time right here.
(excerpt)
Poop. Who needs it? Not me, not you.
It is the part of food and drink that our bodies cannot digest.
It is messy. It smells bad.
We want it to go away.
But not everyone feels the same way about poop.
Many animals want to use it!
What, if anything, can poetry teach our children about the concept of Beauty, and how can it be used to help them better understand and express their feelings?
To answer these and other questions, we turned to award-winning children’s author, and poet, Marilyn Singer, a former school teacher who has authored more than 100 books of poetry and fiction, plus many other genres for both children and young adults.
Listen to the podcast here.
(excerpt)
FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS
This is the year
we will follow the holidays,
the ones we know well,
the ones we do not.
Days full of questions,
why, how, and what?
Days when we’re thoughtful,
days we are loud.
Days we can do better,
days we feel proud.
In the light, in the dark,
in the temple, the park.
In our home, in the sukkah,
fretting over the weather,
this is the year
we will follow the holidays.
This is the year
we will spend them together.
In this episode, meet University of Maryland professor Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of Platonic, award-winning children’s author Marilyn Singer, author of Awe-some Days, and Vice Chairman and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley Carla A. Harris, author of Lead to Win. Tune in to hear the vastly different reasons they were inspired to write their books, and the role that human connection plays within each of them.
In Awe-some Days, a cheerful, enjoyable poetry collection, a family decides to celebrate every Jewish holiday for a full year, starting with new-year apples dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah all the way to flowers and chocolates on Tu B’Av.
Listen to the interview here.
Today we’re taking a deep dive into inclusion in children’s media. Bob interviews an author/illustrator team about their book, Best Day Ever! It’s written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Leah Nixon. The book is about a little boy and her dog, and this little boy happens to be in a wheelchair. It’s the most indirect disability inclusion story Bob has seen, and it’s the kind of representation that is often missing from children’s literature. Discover why Singer, author of over 120 children’s books, decided to write this book now. Learn more about why she teamed up with wheelchair user and artist Leah Nixon. And you won’t want to miss a special reading from the author herself! PLUS Bob asks Singer and Nixon about their best days ever.
Listen to the interview here.
(excerpt)
There is a dog
that you might meet
in the country,
on the street.
Her coat can simply
not be beat.
No other canine
can compete.
Call it fur, call it hair.
Folks who see her
stop and stare.
She does not molt,
she does not shed.
She does not care
what is on her head…
Poodle coming,
Poodle going.
Poodle’s curly hair
is growing.
(excerpt)
It’s morning! Do you have to go?
I’m bringing you my ball.
It’s morning? Well, your bed’s soft,
I may not move at all.
Or you could take me to the park
and we could run and run.
Perhaps I’ll climb up on the sill
and get a little sun.
Breakfast first is fine with me.
Kibble in my dish.
Tuna, tuna, tuna, tuna.
Tuna, tuna fish.
(excerpt)
Charley, Katey, and Mamie Dickens were not fond of Grip the raven. The bird chased them around the house. She bit their ankles. She chipped off paint to eat. But the children’s father adored the raven. He was Charles Dickens, the most famous writer in all of Great Britain. He’d already published four popular novels, first as installments in magazines and then as books. Even Queen Victoria was a big fan.
In Victorian England, people had many pets besides cats and dogs, especially birds. Today it is illegal to keep wild birds. But back then, people caught or purchased them to keep in cages. Wealthier folks sometimes bought exotic species such as parrots or mynahs. Charles Dickens chose ravens.