Honestly, I didn’t even know there was a Children’s Poet Laureate – but after learning that it’s a recently established award (2006), I don’t feel too badly about my lack knowledge.

Currently heading into the home stretch of a two year term (it expires in September), the very first Children’s Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky, lives here in the area with his wife.  He’s been writing children’s poetry for over 40 years.  Among his more than 1,000 poems are silly puns , laughable thoughts on every day experiences (stepping on a worm, dust bunnies), and more than a few that would fall into the “gross out” category (sneezing, gross food) so loved by kids.

His Seattle area experiences are often the source of humor woven into his poems.  This is just fun stuff – and a great way to expose the kids to what is often seen as a boring and stuffy writing form.  Poetry can be fun!

Prelutsky’s works have been collected into numerous anthologies and books, and make a GREAT gift.

Image credit:  Amazon

____________________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler