My debut picture book,
About Janie
Hello. I’m delighted you’re here.
I revel in playing with words. Words are my tools. During school visits, I’m eager to encourage emergent writers of all ages to find their voice, share their stories, and experience the sheer joy of writing through free verse poetry.
I‘ve worn many hats, performing as a clown in children’s hospitals, sharing original tales in schools as a musical storyteller, and helping children find their voice as a poet in residence. Best of all, I love writing for children. I live in Ohio with my charming husband, and I’m always up for a game of cards, hopscotch, or dress-up. Just ask my sixteen grandchildren.
Finding the Words Poetry Program
Helping student poets find their voice.
Writing poetry is fail-safe. Empowered students carry their confidence in writing and attention to language to other subjects at school. When we share our stories, we find out we are more alike than different. To help our students become writers, we need to write with them side by side… finding the words.
ME
by Faith
2nd gr., St Joan of Arc School
Eyes hazel as
the sun shines on a pool.
Lips as pink
as the morning dawn.
What scares me most is
thunder and lightning,
so fierce and wild.
Working Out
by Al
8th gr.,
St Thomas Aquinas School
Yeah, I tried working out.
I tried to get built.
Yeah,I tried to gain muscle and look fit.
But no matter how much I pushed-up,
I was still a stick.
I tried to get built.
I wanted that body-builder body.
So much muscle my shirt would rip.
But no matter how I pushed-up,
I was still a stick.
I went for that LL Cool J, Arnold Schwarzenegger body
so I could flex and look rip.
I wanted the body builder body.
So much muscle my shirt would rip.
Have my body like a painting you won’t forget.
I went for that LL Cool J, Arnold Schwarzenegger body
so I could flex and look rip.
Flexing my muscles so hard is what I want.
Have my body like a painting you won’t forget.
Yeah, I tried to gain muscle and look fit.
Flexing my muscles so hard is what I want.
Yeah, I tried working out.
The Girl I am
by Akira
5th gr., St Thomas Aquinas School
I am the girl.
The young girl.
The shy, quiet brown girl.
The one who likes
to play outdoors
with my friends.
I am the girl.
The young girl.
The shy, quiet brown girl.
My skin shining like the sun.
I am the girl.
The young girl.
The shy, quiet brown girl.
With the crazy hair.
If you know the girl I am,
you know
we will always be friends.
“Poetry is scooping up the words to hold a feeling.”
~ Janie Reinart
