Children read at the Open Mic session in Hamilton on Poetry Day

I was delighted to see children write their names on the open-mic list at the event I did in Hamilton. Mia had to rub her name off when she discovered she won the children’s section of the poetry competition and got to read as a winner. John Newton picked her winning poem. It was a great event. Mia and Ciaran both read their poems beautifully.

 

 

Balloons Over Waikato

Eager pilots release the propane gas, unleashing a torrent of roaring flames.

Slowly the multi-coloured spheres ascend into an orange and yellow sky, painted by the morning sun.

Proudly they soar over the earth, filling the air with majestic orbs of colour.

Stunned passengers, excited to ride in the balloons, cling to the edges and watch the trees morph into shapeless smudges.

Children shout and point in delight, while others chase the balloons through the park and watch as they drift over houses and disappear into the distance.

Written by Ciaran Watson
Year 6, Age 10
Woodstock School, Fairfield Road, Hamilton

Children read at the Open Mic session in Hamilton on Poetry Day

I was delighted to see children write their names on the open-mic list at the event I did in Hamilton. Mia had to rub her name off when she discovered she won the children’s section of the poetry competition and got to read as a winner. John Newton picked her winning poem. It was a great event. Mia and Ciaran both read their poems beautifully.

 

 

Balloons Over Waikato

Eager pilots release the propane gas, unleashing a torrent of roaring flames.

Slowly the multi-coloured spheres ascend into an orange and yellow sky, painted by the morning sun.

Proudly they soar over the earth, filling the air with majestic orbs of colour.

Stunned passengers, excited to ride in the balloons, cling to the edges and watch the trees morph into shapeless smudges.

Children shout and point in delight, while others chase the balloons through the park and watch as they drift over houses and disappear into the distance.

Written by Ciaran Watson
Year 6, Age 10
Woodstock School, Fairfield Road, Hamilton

Juliette MacIver takes the stage at the Vodafone Events Centre

Juliette MacIver is about to go on stage talking about the fabulous toucan that has landed on her head.

I love the way her stories are zimming and zittering with delicious words. Juliette is really great with rhyme and beat so her stories always sound good. This is a story writer who uses her ear.

Google her and discover her fabulous books.

 

Write and tell me about one of her books that you love!

Send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com

Include your name, age, year and name of school.

I might be able to find a book prize for you.

Not too late for Our Place poems

If you want to join me on my Hot Spot Poetry Tour and read a poem ….

….. it is not too late to write a poem on the theme of Our Place.

I am looking for word snapshots.

I am going to Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Arrowtown, Tauranga, Auckland

Send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com

Include your name, age, year and school.

Dear poetry fans

Only two more sleeps until the launch of The Letterbox Cat at Storylines Family Day.

Noon at Aotea Centre on Sunday

Only four more sleeps until I fly to Christchurch to visit schools thanks to The New Zealand Book Council. I am looking forward to meeting Russley School, the South Island winner of The Third Fabulous Poetry Competition.

And you still have time to send in your ‘Our Place’ poems to get a spot to read with me on my Hot Spot Poetry Tour of NZ.

Regards
Paula

My first selfie on Poetry Box

Today Storylines is presenting to South Auckland Schools at the Vodafone Event Centre. I took a selfie with the fabulous audience and one with author Cath Mayo.

It Is fun day.

Early morning in Auckland City

Early morning in the city
and I hear little waves
of trucks and cars
like little waves of moths
against my window.

.

Poetry, sushi and chocolate biscuits at Pinehurst School

My visit to Pinehurst School has been just wonderful. Check out the photos below. A fabulous author display. The best home-made chocolate chip cookies in the world and the freshest sushi. And a cool Year 7 class that I did poetry with. Tyla made a gorgeous thank you speech and Christ made a very special introduction. And it was very special to meet poetry fan, Gabi.

We made up this version of my poem.

The Bonnet Macaque

What does she store in her cheek pocket?
Does she store
a dictionary and an awkward canary
a knight in armour and some bad karma
baked cake and an orange snake
a big mansion and the latest fashion
concrete buildings and cupcake fillings.

Thanks for a great visit!

Storylines Tour Day 2 was tip top

First up Mt Carmel School with warm welcomes. Fifteen minutes is not long but Juliette McIver is so good at hooking her audience with the elastic rhymes of her picture books. I love these books! And her toucan hat. Poetry was sizzling and simmering. Then we had a lovely morning tea with the Associate Principal. A great school to visit.

At Epsom Normal Juliette and I spoke to about 60 keen senior writers. I talked about small poems and sound in poems and read some from my new book. All the time the students were secretly making up small poems in their heads……they recited them at the end to my surprise. It was a flurry of poems a hot pot of poems that skimmed and skimmied and shone. Can’t wait to get poems from this group of passionate writers We loved our books on display and loved the fruit and sandwiches for lunch. Another great school to visit.

(All the photos below are from St Francis School)
When we arrived at St Francis School we were met by a happy bee! I was delighted to see a table with my books in the hall……..even my brand new one! That makes an author feel special.

The students in the hall were full to the brim with poetry —-and a class even read me some afterwards. They had been inspired by a poem in Flamingo Bendlingo. Such good poems I hope to post them on Monday when I am back home for a day. I loved the poetry energy in this tip top audience.

It was a great day.

A short-poem challenge for you … I l o v e very short peoms i do i do i do

 

When I was at Kids for Books in Hamilton I got this great book, Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems, selected by the wonderful Paul B Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

You know how much I L O V E short poems.

Short poems are the sweetest thing.

They can be funny.

They can shimmer and shine with a picture.

They can chime with music.

Every word must be just right!

 

My challenge: Try writing a very short poem. No more than 14 words. I won’t read it if it is a single word over!

DEADLINE for your Short-Poem Challenge: Monday 15th September

Send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com. Include your name, year, age and name of school. You can include your teacher’s name and email. PLEASE say it’s for the Short-Poem challenge.

I will post my favourites and have a book prize for some poets.