Crafting Children’s Poetry Books with Guest Nikki Grimes — A 3-Session Workshop
Dates: 3 Sessions. Wednesdays, February 21st, March 6th & March 13th
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM (EST)
Format: Virtual workshop on Zoom
Instructors: Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich with special guest poet Nikki Grimes
Learn practicable tips and strategies for creating a publishable children's poetry picture book in this 3-session workshop led by Georgia Heard & Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Learn how to take your ideas from inception to publication as you brainstorm themes, structure, and poetic styles. Explore the world of children's poetry and bring your poems to life.
Workshop Highlights:
Brainstorming Themes: Discover how to generate ideas for your children's poetry picture book, making it engaging for young readers.
Structuring Your Book: We’ll guide you on how to arrange your poems and organize your manuscript.
Poetic Styles: Explore various poetic styles that resonate with children. Find the ones that suit your voice and connect with your target audience.
Bringing Poems to Life: We'll share tips on creating poems that captivate young readers.
Current Trends: See an overview of the most current poetry picture books for various age groups. Stay updated on what's resonating with young readers today.
Writing a Successful Proposal: Understand the key elements of a successful proposal. Learn how to effectively communicate your book's concept to publishers.
Preparing Your Manuscript: Get practical advice on preparing your manuscript for submission to publishers. Discover the do's and don'ts to increase your chances of getting noticed.
Guest poet Nikki Grimes: Gain valuable insights as our special guest poet, Nikki Grimes, shares her creative process, providing practical tips and insights into creating a children’s books of poetry during one of our sessions.
Whether you're just starting or have a work in progress, this workshop will give you practical skills to turn your ideas into a publishable children's poetry picture book. Join us for a creative journey into the world of poetry picture books!
Cancellation Policy: Please be advised that we cannot accommodate cancellation or refund requests for The Poet’s Studio courses.
Guest Poet: Nikki Grimes
New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes was inducted into the Black Authors Hall of Fame in 2023. Her honors include the CSK Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the ALAN Award for significant contributions to young adult literature, the Children's Literature Legacy Medal, and the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winner Bronx Masquerade, and five Coretta Scott King Author Honors, she won the Printz Honor and Sibert Honor for her memoir Ordinary Hazards. Her latest titles include Garvey's Choice: The Graphic Novel, a School Library Journal 2023 Best Book; Lullaby for the King, one of Book Riot's 25 Best Christmas Books of All Time; and A Walk in the Woods, recipient of 8 starred reviews, and 11 Best Book listings for 2023, including the New York Times, NPR, and Smithsonian Magazine. Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California. Photo credit: Aaron Lemen
Instructor: Georgia Heard
Georgia Heard received the 2023 Excellence in Poetry for Children Award which honors a living American poet for their aggregate work for children ages 3-13. She is the founder of The Poet’s Studio and has taught at Poet’s House, Teachers College, Columbia University, Gothenburg University, and in schools around the world. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Writers’ Workshop.
She is a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and the author of 19 books. Her most recent poetry book & journal is A Field Guide to the Heart: Poems of Love, Comfort & Hope (co-authored with Rebecca Kai Dotlich), and an anthology of poetry The Woman In This Poem: Women’s Voices in Poetry. She is also the author of several children’s poetry books including Welcome to the Wonder House (Random House), My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness (Macmillan), and Boom! Bellow! Bleat! Animal Poems for Two Or More Voices (Astra Books for Young Readers).
Instructor: Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s poetry has appeared in anthologies, periodicals, and magazines, and she has authored dozens of children’s books. Rebecca teaches poetry workshops to writers, teachers, and students across the country. To learn more about Rebecca, check out her website www.rebeccakaidotlich.com, and follow her on Instagram @rebeccakaipoet and Twitter @Rebeccakai