I was nervous to say "hello" to Lee Bennett Hopkins when I met him before a breakout session at an International Reading Association (IRA--now ILA) Conference years ago. He was like a rock star to me. In fact, he IS a rock star of children's poetry, having written and anthologized nearly 200 books of children's poetry! He is a champion of the genre, encouraging beginners and generously supporting awards to children's poets. And of course, he has won numerous awards himself.
But I shouldn't have been nervous, because in spite of his children's poetry rock-stardom, he is also a very kind and gracious person who welcomed me to the room where he was set to introduce children's poet Kristine O'Connell George, an IRA/Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet award winner.
One of Hopkins' recent anthologies, Jumping Off Library Shelves, is a perfect match for National Library Week, April 10-16, 2016. It contains poems by well-known poets Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Nikki Grimes, Michele Krueger, Cynthia Cotten, Jane Yolen, J. Patrick Lewis, X.J. Kennedy, Joan Bransfield Graham, Deborah Ruddell, Alice Schertle, Kristine O'Connell George, Ann Whitford Paul, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, and Lee himself. The poems are about the power of story, the role of libraries as refuge and places to explore. Librarians, books, and the internet are all featured here.
Here is Lee reciting his poem, "Good Books, Good Times"
As Lee says, "Be happy with poetry"! (and I would add "and libraries!")
Jane, I'm finishing up a blog post about this very same book and celebrating School Library Month! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ALL of L.B.H's books!!! This one is especially near and dear to my heart. I reread it often!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! So happy to hear from you, Mrs. Merrill! Maybe we should start a Lee Bennett Hopkins fan club! :)
DeleteOh Jane, I have only "met" Lee over a Skype mentoring session when I was at Rebecca Kai Dotlich's Highlights workshop. He is so generous and such a fantastic poetry leader and advocate. His work means so much to all of us in the poetry for children world and for authors and writers for kids, as well. You have included a favorite poetry recitation and I love "Jumping Off Library Shelves". We are all richer for knowing and having Lee in our world. Not to mention all the lucky children who are the beneficiaries of his work and life!(And my lucky Laina now has a personally inscribed book of Lee's for life! All thanks to Lee's kindness.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, skanny17! We are indeed richer for Lee's work among us, and it is heartwarming to see Laina get off to such a wonderful start!
DeleteI love books about books and bookstores, too, and poems about reading and books and libraries. We are lucky to have so many, including this one, and then all the other wonderful ones Lee Bennet Hopkins has given us. I am trying to catch up with some posts. Glad I found yours, Jane.
ReplyDeleteLinda B, thanks for catching up and commenting here!
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