Two rounds! Two ways to play! Can you make the match? 
(Answers to both rounds at the bottom of the post)

by Paige Vinten Taylor

Round One

Below are mini-bios for some well-known children’s poets. Can you identify them from the information? Need some more clues? Look at the “Poet Bank” in the blue box below.

A. (1812–1888) He was known for his nonsense poetry and limericks, which he illustrated himself. He also wrote music as a setting for some of Tennyson’s poems. In addition, he poured his creative energy into beautiful pen and watercolor landscape paintings—an estimated 8,500–9,000 of them.

B. (1916–1990) In one of his children’s books, he disclosed that a grade school English comp teacher wrote of him: “A persistent muddler. Vocabulary negligible. Sentences malconstructed.” Another added, “This boy is an indolent and illiterate member of the class.” Hopefully, they lived to see his great popularity as a writer. 

C. (1930–1999) He created cartoons for Playboy and wrote several songs made popular by artists such as Johnny Cash. But he is likely best known for his books of children’s poetry, which he illustrated in his uniquely raw, humorous style. 

D. (1850–1894) When you hear his name, you might think of adventure novels, but his considerable collection of poetry has also captured the imagination of children for over 150 years. After all, what child wouldn’t want to swing in his Garden and “go up in the air so blue?”

E. (1928–2014) She worked as a singer, dancer, composer, actress, and director. However, this multitalented woman may be best known as an activist and a writer. Her poetry continues to inspire and empower both children and adults.

Round Two 

Can you identify these oft award-winning poets from a few lines of their poetry? (Need some more clues? Look at the “Poet Bank” below.)

F. If you’re having a no-good day, lighten up by reading how this child outsmarts Mom in “Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog.”

She’s making a mistake
Because, more than a dog, I think
She will not want this snake.

G. If you’re a new kid on the block with children’s poetry, check out what this writer has to say about relocating our noses. Here are two lines (the first also the title):

Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place,

H. In the following excerpt from “Cat” in a book about superstitions, this writer looks at people’s perceptions of black cats during various times and suggests what you can do if one crosses your path: 

Look out for her, the black cat.
What kind of luck will leap at you?
Cross your fingers, bow your head,
as she travels through your time.

I. This writer follows Asian tradition with her sijo, ending with the unexpected. A few lines from “Pockets”:

Empty pockets, unread books, lunches left on the bus—all a waste.
In mine: One horse chestnut. One gum wrapper. One dime. One hamster.

J. ­­­­In  “Words Are Birds,” this poet treats us to rich lyrical metaphors:

words
are birds
that arrive
with books
and spring

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­K. What moods do colors put you in? Here are the first few lines from this writer’s “Feeling the Colors”:

If you’re feeling blue,
out of sorts or gloomy,
why not change your sweater
into one a bit more roomy?

POET BANK
FRANCISCO X. ALARCÓN • MAYA ANGELOU • MATTHEW J. BURGESS
ROALD DAHL • EDWARD LEAR • LINDA SUE PARK • JACK PRELUTSKY
SHEL SILVERSTEIN • ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON • JUDITH VIORST • JANET WONG

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Paige Vinten Taylor is a longtime member of SCBWI. She has poems and short stories published in a variety of magazines and journals, including Highlights for Children, Turtle, The Saturday Evening Post, and Light: A Journal of Light Verse.

Two Circles and Circle and Square photographs by cottonbro studio on pexels.com

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