As we start the month of April looking at poetry in picture books, I feel it only right to start off with a tribute. The poetry world suffered great losses this last year with the passing of Lee Bennett Hopkins and Paul B. Janeczko. I didn’t know Paul personally, but I loved his poetry picture book anthologies (and discovered them far too late in life). And I was just starting to get to know Lee; I cried when I found out he passed away. Sometimes life is cruel, taking those that have touched our lives in ways we can never express.
I knew then that this would be the first poem I would post. I had read it before in the past and loved it. I heard Lee read it himself when I was at Highlights in October 2018. There is no better poem to describe the heaviness I feel at Paul and Lee’s loss than this. It comes from one of Lee’s collections titled “Oh, No! Where Are My Pants! And Other Disasters: Poems.” I was stunned by its beauty on such a heavy topic, and how it was handled for children. I will post the full spread and then a closeup of the poem so you can read it better.
And if you’re looking for more poetry fun this month, be sure to check out the Kidlitosphere Event Roundup!
What a beautiful poem. You’re right, Jena, such a heavy topic so deftly expressed for a child’s understanding of life’s passing. Tearing up a bit here!
I get the same way almost every time I read it.
What a lovely piece. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! 😊