From: Lbhcove at aol.com <Lbhcove>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:09:01 EDT

First, I would like to thank Megan for this opportunity. I am quite pleased and honored to take part in this discussion.
  The first thing I think of when planning a collection is the child and what I want the child to reap. When it comes to poetry - pure poetry - I want them to see beauty in the world, feel emotion, compassion, to breathe deeply and utter,
"Yes, this is how it is."
  I am a purist when it comes to the genre. There is a place for light verse
-- good light verse -- which few can write. And it is plentiful! But there is enough of it.
  I want youth to read the best of the best.
  I strongly object to bathroom humor -- bodily functions, farting, et. al. Our youth gets enough of the crass.
  My role, even though it may not be popular, is to bring their levels up -- not stoop to what adults think will make them laugh.
  I have been in education close to fifty years.
 
(On April l3, I shall be only 30 years away from being on a SMUCKER'S STRAWBERRY JAM jar!)
 
  I have compiled more anthologies than any one else in the history of children's literature.
  Through each, from the first to the forthcoming I shall continue to wave the poetic flag, bring our readers voices to lift them, wake them, shake them -- all with the beauty of words by masterful voices.
  LBH
  AMERICA AT WAR (McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
_www.simonsays.com_ (http://www.simonsays.com/)



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Received on Thu 03 Apr 2008 03:09:01 PM CDT