Marilyn Singer

Classroom Connections with Marilyn Singer

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Why is bringing poetry into the classroom important?

I believe that when we’re kids, we all like poetry—rhymes and songs and language that is sparkling and evocative. Good poetry surprises and enlightens. It sticks with us and moves us in ways that prose can’t (which is not a put-down of prose; it has to do with the compactness, imagery, words, and syntax that poetry uses). It helps with language development, with seeing things through different perspectives, with teaching us to listen, and, frankly, with opening our hearts. We lose the love of poetry through lack of practice and exposure and through over-analysis or disdain by the adults we know.

Read entire interview here.

Sunday Morning Magazine with Rodney Lear

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Have You Heard About Lady Bird?: Poems About Our First Ladies by Marilyn Singer; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter The role of First Lady has been defined differently by each woman who’s held it, but all of them left an impact on our nation as partner of the commander in chief. Incisive poetry by Marilyn Singer and energetic art by Nancy Carpenter provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of women from Martha Washington to Eleanor Roosevelt to Lady Bird Johnson. This book lauds their unique and varied contributions to American history.

Listen to the podcast here.

Survivors: Marilyn Singer on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s-YA Author

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In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer-artist’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?

From the time I was little, I wanted to write—or else, be a dog-kennel owner, but that didn’t seem entirely practical. A writing career didn’t seem entirely practical either.

Read the entire interview here.

Hair! Animal Fur, Wool, and More

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(excerpt)

Were you a hairy baby?  When you were born, did you have a head full of curls or straight locks?  Or were you as bald as a melon?

How about before you were born?  Were you hairy then?

Yes!  Whether or not you had hair on your head, before you were born, you a had a mustache.  That mustache spread all over your body, turning into fine hair known as lanugo.  It combined with a waxy coating to protect your skin from the fluid you were floating in.  Lanugo usually disappears before babies are born, but sometimes it takes a few days or even weeks before it disappears completely.

As you got older, you grew other kinds of hair, some of it finer and some of it thicker.  It means one important thing:  you are a mammal!

Who Are You Calling Weird?

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(excerpt)

INTRODUCTION

A big-eyed lemur with magical fingers. A very smelly bird that climbs trees with its claws. A roly-poly, scaly creature that isn’t a snake. A duck-billed, egg-laying critter that isn’t a bird.

Are these animals in fairy tales? Are they invented by writers or mad scientists? Nope. These bizarre beasts are just as real as you are. Although they may seem strange to you, there’s a reason for each one’s peculiar features or behavior. So, come along, if you dare, on a trip into the weird and wonderful.

Explore rivers and oceans, grasslands and rain forests, swamps and deserts. Climb up to the tallest treetops and dig down into hidden burrows. Swim in the sparkling sunlight, and dive into the darkest depths of the oceans to meet these marvelous animals. You’ll find out who they are and why they look and act the way they do. Get ready to be amazed at just how practical and fantastic the natural world can be!

Tallulah’s Ice Skates

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(excerpt)

Tallulah loved ballet class.  But today she was glad when her lesson was finished.  Bluegill Pond was frozen over at last, and she and her friend, Kacie, were going skating!

Kacie was better at tap than Tallulah.  Tallulah was better at ballet.  But I’m sure we’re both great at skating, she said to herself, smoothing down her red velvet skirt.  After all, skating’s a lot like dancing.  Her skirt wasn’t quite as special as her tutu, but it would twirl beautifully when she did her perfect spin—which she planned to do that very day.  If we practice enough, we might even get to be in an ice show.

“Are you ready already?” asked her brother, Beckett.

“Yes!” Tallulah said.  “Let’s go!”

 

 

 

Have You Heard About Lady Bird?

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(excerpt)

First Ladies

We know Eleanor Roosevelt, Abigail Adams,

but what about those other madams–

the many First Ladies of our nation

who held that most demanding station

from our country’s uncertain conception

right up to the present day.

Those women who knew how to host a reception,

how much or how little to say.

The ones who welcomed public life,

or chose to hide away.

Who fought for causes on their own,

or preferred to stay behind the throne.

How many have we read about or even recall?

Julia Tyler? Florence Harding?

It’s time to meet them all.

Every Month Is A New Year

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(excerpt)

THE YEAR TURNS

We choose the date.

From the earth’s movement,

from the moon’s phases,

these clocks and calendars

we create.

Together

in parks and squares,

in temples and houses–

watching

the year

turn,

we

celebrate.

 

TURNING THE YEAR

Celebrate!

We

turn

the year,

watching

in temples and houses,

in parks and squares.

Together

we create

these clocks and calendars

from the moon’s phases,

from the earth’s movement.

We choose the date.