In the Conversation Currents for the September 2015 issue of Language Arts,Nancy L. Hadaway and Terrell A. Young talk with Marilyn Singer, winner of the 2015 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.
Marilyn Singer
Celebrating Marilyn Singer: A Poet of Many Interests
Marilyn Singer is the 2015 winner of the NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award, joining a distinguished group of poets that NCTE has recognized since 1977. She has published over 100 books for children and young adults in different genres, including 30 poetry collections (with several more in progress or forthcoming in 2016). Her work tackles a wide variety of topics— US presidents, animals, astronomy, meteorology, celebrations— and poetic formats— triolets, cinquains, villanelles, and sonnets. She even created her own poetic format, the reverso. Her work has won numerous awards and has been placed on many notable book lists. We were fortunate to interview her and hear about her writing quirks (e.g. printing her poems on yellow legal pads), her creative process (writing anywhere— coffee shops, parks, doctors’ offices, the subway), and her evolution as a writer. We invite you to learn more about Marilyn Singer, a fascinating and talented poet who is always learning and growing in her craft.
Click here to read this article, by Nancy L. Hadaway and Terrell Young, from Language Arts.
Tallulah’s Tap Shoes
(excerpt)
Tallulah was excited about going to dance camp. She would get to take ballet every day.
There was just one problem–she would also have to take tap, and she was not looking forward to that. She’d been taking ballet for a while now and knew a lot of steps, but in tap, she’d be a very beginning beginner.
“I can’t wait to take tap,” said her little brother, Beckett. “I want to dance clickety-clack-clickety-clack.” He shuffled his feet.
Tallulah sniffed, “I’m a ballet girl. I don’t clickety-clack.”
There were lots of ballet students at camp.
The beginners were in the front. The dancers who’d been studying a little longer were in the rear. The beginners pointed their feet in a tendu, then slid to the side in a glissade.
The teacher told Beckett that he didn’t have to slide so much, and she told a girl with shiny black hair to slide more.
I learned that last year, Tallulah thought.
Her group got to practice a tombé to a pas de bourrée to a glissade. She did it perfectly.
“That was lovely, Lulu!” said the teacher, a tiny, gray-haired woman with a nice smile.
“Thank you,” Tallulah replied. She didn’t bother to correct her. She figured she would know her name soon enough.
“Wasn’t that great?” Tallulah said to the black-haired girl as they changed clothes.
“Great? I don’t think so,” the girl replied. “I don’t know why we have to take ballet. It’s so…stiff. Tap dancing is so much cooler.”
Tallulah’s eyebrows shot up. “Stiff? Ballet is…elegant!” She pirouetted gracefully around the floor.
But when she finished, the girl was gone.
DIY MFA: The Magic of Poetry–Interview with Marilyn Singer
Today’s interview is all about writing and the magic of poetry. I’m so thrilled to introduce Marilyn Singer, who I first met at Book Expo America many years ago and whose work I both love and admire.
I’m Gonna Climb A Mountain In My Patent Leather Shoes
(excerpt)
Today we’re going camping.
Can’t wait till we get there!
I’m thrilled about the things we’ll do…
…and what I’m gonna wear!
I’m gonna climb a mountain in my patent leather shoes.
I’m looking in my closet–so many things to choose.
“Please hurry, Sadie,” says my mom. “We’ve got no time to lose.”
“I’m gonna climb a mountain in my patent leather shoes.”
Rutherford B., Who Was He?
(excerpt)
Who were these men
who had what it took
to be commander in chief of all the armed forces,
to suggest what to do with our country’s resources?
Who were these men?
Not just names in a book:
the ones who stood firm or preferred compromise,
the ones of great stature (though not always size),
the ones we’ve forgotten, the ones we still prize.
Who were these presidents?
Who were these guys?
Tallulah’s Nutcracker
(excerpt)
There was only one Christmas present that Tallulah really wanted. When the phone rang, she was sure her wish had come true–and she was right.
“They picked me!” she shouted. “I’m going to be a mouse in The Nutcracker. Lots of kids tried out, but they picked ME!”
“I thought you wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy. You said you didn’t want to be a mouse, ever,” said her brother, Beckett. He loved being a mouse.
“That was in our dance school.” Tallulah sniffed. “This is a real Nutcracker for a real ballet company in a real theater.”
“Can I come see it?”
“Of course you can! Lots of people will come!” Tallulah exclaimed. “And everybody will get to see ME dance!”
In ballet class, all the students congratulated Tallulah.
“What wonderful news!” said her teacher, giving her a hug. “It’s a great honor!”
“I know it is,” Tallulah agreed, doing chaîné turns around the room.
That day, she worked extra hard. She turned out her hips and feet in a fabulous fifth position and rose on her toes in a splendid sous-su.
Then she jumped to one foot in a graceful sissonne. Ballet class is fun, she thought, but being in a real ballet is Big Time. Maybe I’ll be on TV! Tallulah could hardly wait.
Marilyn is now doing Skype appearances
Marilyn is now doing Skype appearances.
Contact Balkin Buddies for details.
Marilyn Singer Shares Writing Advice: ‘Read, read, read and write, write, write’
Happy National Poetry Month! All throughout April, we interviewed poets about working in this digital age. To end the month, we spoke with writer Marilyn Singer.
Throughout her publishing career, Singer has written more than ninety books (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) for children and young-adults. Check out the highlights from our interview below…
Tallulah’s Toe Shoes
(excerpt)
Tallulah could stand like a ballerina. Tallulah could move like a ballerina, too. But Tallulah knew she’d never be a ballerina until she got a pair of pink satin toe shoes.
Ever since her ballet school’s performance of Sleeping Beauty, that was all she could think about. Some of the older girls at the school danced on pointe–up on their toes in pointe shoes. One of them got to be the beautiful Lilac Fairy. She wore a glittery tutu and a tiara.
Tallulah was a village girl. She wore a short brown dress and carried a hoop of fake flowers. She didn’t get to dance on her toes. She got to sway.
“When can I get toe shoes?” she asked her mother right after the performance. “When you’re a little older,” her mother replied.
That’s not fair, Tallulah huffed silently. The kids in tap class get their fancy shoes right away!
After class, she stomped into the dressing room. The older girls were there, tying on their pointe shoes. The Lilac Fairy was one of them. “Well, these are wrecked,” she said, studying her shoes. “Good thing I brought a new pair.” With a thud, she tossed the old ones into the wastebasket.
Tallulah’s mouth made an O. She put her clothes on over her leotard and tights very, very slowly.
Soon she was the only one left in the room. She darted over to the wastebasket and stared at the shoes. They didn’t look wrecked. They looked splendid. I’ll show everyone just how ready I am, Tallulah told herself. I will be the youngest dancer ever to dance on pointe.
Snatching the shoes, she stuffed them in her bag and ran out the door.