Welcome to episode 4!
In this series, Lee Bennett Hopkins takes us through a chronology of American poets for children from 1920 to 1999. Each episode focuses on the poets of a single decade, and the posts include a few sample poems, photos, and a growing timeline of poets.
We hope you’ll enjoy this journey through time with us!
For an in-depth look at this poet, see also the NCTE Spotlight Series: David McCord.
For an in-depth look at this poet, see also the NCTE Spotlight Series: Karla Kuskin.
For an in-depth look at this poet, see also the NCTE Spotlight Series: Myra Cohn Livingston.
For an in-depth look at this poet, see also the NCTE Spotlight Series: John Ciardi.
For an in-depth look at this poet, see also the NCTE Spotlight Series: Mary Ann Hoberman.
See also this post featuring Robert Frost.
See more poems in my poetry video library.
Individual poems are copyrighted by their respective authors. All rights reserved.
Video and post content © Renée M. LaTulippe. All rights reserved.
Thank you both SO much. Enjoyed the video and appreciate all the research, readings, and personal reflections. Some of my very favorite poets are included in this decade: Kuskin, Nash, Brooks, Frost. Renee, your site is beautiful — the formatting of each post is exquisite and makes it easy and pleasurable for anyone to access the wealth of information presented. As usual, I’m blown away that Lee has met and/or interviewed practically everyone in the children’s poetry world. He is a walking treasure!
So glad you enjoyed it, Jama! And yes, isn’t Lee so lucky to have met all these wonderful poets? What a rich and deep experience he has!
Thank you for your kind words about the blog. I’ve actually been following YOUR example of “big and bold and clean,” so I’m thrilled you like the look!
I so enjoyed this video overview of these wonderful poets from the 1950s! Thank you, Lee and Renée, for your thoughts, research, and readings. It was a wonderful way to enjoy my cup of tea this afternoon. I was especially touched by Lee’s goldfish story and how his life was changed by the poem “Skipper.” Thanks again for sharing!
“Skipper” — I know! I was all verklempt. What a sweet story. 🙂
Thank you both! I enjoyed this post so much and will return to view the previous ones in this series. I always have such fun reading Nash’s “Custard the Cowardly Dragon” to students. Like Michelle, I was touched by Lee’s personal story connected to “Skipper.” And now I must get a copy of Bronzeville Boys and Girls,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the episode, Alice! I had the same reaction — MUST get Bronzeville Boys and Girls. That’s it’s still in print after all these decades is certainly a testament to Gwendolyn Brooks’s mastery.
Good Morning, Renee and Lee. I waited to watch this Sunday morning, knowing I would also want to take notes of books new to me amid some of my favorite children’s poets. I enjoyed every part, especially some of the history that you shared, Lee. There is a new picture book biography of Gwendolyn Brooks out this year, another celebration of her life. Thanks for sharing so much this time.
This was a delightful meander down memory lane. (This will undoubtedly date me) not only do I remember reading these in school. My mother used to recite some of them when she put us to bed.
Not only do I listen and take notes — but I delight in the poems introduced by Lee and read by you, Renee. This is such a labor of love. Thank you for this series. I have some reading and writing to do!
I have now gone searching for more information on Gwendolyn Brooks and came across this great Brain Pickings article: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/01/05/gwendolyn-brooks-bronzeville-boys-and-girls/
Poetry gold once again! Such heavy-hitters in this era! I remember loving Ogden Nash from a young child. Thank you for this series, Renee and Lee!
A ‘delicious agony,’ indeed! Thanks again for this, Lee & Renee. Some incredible talent spotlighted here, and so diverse – from Nash to Livingston to Ciardi to Frost. Always love learning and being inspired by these posts!