Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for Roundup.
Also: have you heard this call for funny poems? If you haven't yet met Eric Peterson, let me assure you that he's a good guy with a big heart and a love of children's poetry! Here's the flyer for his Open Call, and you can find out more at his website sillysociety.org.
Now for some book news! In addition to For the Win: Poems Celebrating Phenomenal Athletes, the third curated-by-Latham/Waters poetry anthology, I have another picture book collaboration coming this spring: A Good Morning for Giddo, written by Dahlia Hamza Constantine and Irene Latham, illustrations by Basma Hosam, coming from Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Random House on April 7, 2026.
("Giddo" is how many Egyptian families refer to a grandfather.) The first review has dropped, from Kirkus, and it's a lovely one:
Dahlia and I met when we both served on the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children committee. We bonded over books and so many other things...and then we wrote a book together. Pre-order links are live! More on this adventure very soon.
Dahlia Constantine & Irene Latham
Today's ArtSpeak: WOMEN features (again!) Mary Cassatt! I wrote after her last week, and I found a second piece that wouldn't let me go. And it's fitting, as Somaya, the little girl in A Good Morning for Giddo, loves to stitch! BUT not every girl loves stitching as much as Somaya...so I wrote another version for the anti-sewing kid... :) Thanks so much for reading.
Mama says
stitching
helps
when you
are wanting,
wishing
but all
I am wanting,
wishing
right now
is an end
to this
ridiculous
finger-twist
stitching.
- Irene Latham
The Crochet Lesson
Mama says
stitching
helps
when you
are wanting,
wishing
but what
could I possibly
be wanting,
wishing
when Mama
is sitting
with me—just
simply listening
and stitching?
- Irene Latham
Thanks for the abundant offerings in your post today Irene—Congratulations in your new, co-written and eye-catching illustrated book, it sounds and looks delightful and enchanting, especially the rose and jasmine filled greeting; loved the Connections in your 2-minute talk; and lovely twist in your Cassatt poem!
ReplyDeleteIrene! Congrats, I can't wait to read your new books, and your poem made me smile!!! Love that you have poems representing both sides of the stitching experience!!!
ReplyDeleteIrene, wow! So exciting. Thanks for the invitation to write a funny poem. I like the premise that it's for the kids, especially those going through a tough time. The book about the Egyptian grandpa sounds delightful. It must be very rewarding for you and Dahlia to have met and then made it to this step of finishing a published book. Lots of work between the covers! When I lived in Bahrain, one of my favorite morning greetings included flowers. I'll look forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeleteLove all of this, Irene! Especially the two sides of the stitching poems. The emotions come through so well. And congratulations on your new book! Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteA new word, new book, a new-to-me-author pal of yours to collaborate with in such a great Grandfather-praising way, new poetry call - your post is overflowing with Goodness & Charm, dear Irene. I luv your Mary Cassatt collaboration poem- makes me smile about my finger failures around frocks & embroidery, darning & knitting. [Our family switched to something called "liquid embroidery..." Wishing you a cosy & warm weekend. [Is there a Grandfather's day of the Year?]
ReplyDeleteJane talked about funny poems today...I hope she sees your post! Congrats on the new books! I like that you saw both sides of stitching...it's so easy to assume everyone feels the way we do. That's often the problem, isn't it? xo
ReplyDeleteOh the "finger-twist stitching" that's how I feel as a lefty wannabe knitter. LOL And yay for a new book! I will add to my school ordering list!
ReplyDeleteLove that you have a new book coming with Charles, & now this other new one with Dahlia, showing something of another culture and their grandfather love. The book about the Egyptian grandpa sounds delightful. As for the stitching, your look at what may be the other side of stitching is something we might always consider! Not everyone fits a stereotype, do they? Thanks for all the good things in your post, Irene!
ReplyDeleteIrene, I just want to know - when do you rest??? Congratulations on your next collab -- Wonderful review! --And very sweet reminders of a child's true wish: to be present. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book, Irene and Dahlia! It looks absolutely beautiful! And I love the speaker in your poem. May her stitching misery end soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for another collaboration book. I first visited Cairo when I took a group of kids from the American School in Athens to the American School in Cairo. It was a heckofa field trip, for sure! But, I just loved the little streets and alleys and tucked away shops. I couldn't get enough. I'd love to go back someday. There is a student in my school that was born in Egypt --they are going to LOVE Giddo. Thanks for the pre-order links.
ReplyDeleteThe stitching poems crack me up. I have a sister that took to my mother's left-handed crochet instruction while I just ended up in piles of tangles and reaching for my books. Love both versions.
Congratulations, Irene, on the new book "A Good Morning for Giddo." It must have been so fascinating to learn about the traditions as you planned. I loved the two versions of the poem, "The Crochet Lesson. I have precious and vivid memories of my grandmother and I curled up on the couch, watching Johnny Carson, enjoying root beer floats and her teaching me to crochet little flowers. Both poems fit the art so well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Irene on your new book that has so many implied lessons of tolerance, cultural appreciation, and reverence for craft (as we slow down). You are one busy lady! Kudos on all you have to offer the poetry community and those who read your books. (On another note, I have just picked up crochet again after not doing it since college). I enjoyed those poems as well.
ReplyDeleteI commented a few hours ago. Trying again. Congratulations, Irene! You are one busy lady! I just picked up crocheting again - haven't done it since college (40 years ago). Love the poems about the craft - seems to suit the book with the crafts featured the old Cairo Market. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOops. I see it now. I should have refreshed first! Sorry for the duplicate!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming picture book. It looks wonderful and what a great review from Kirkus! I love the Mary Cassatt painting and that you stepped inside the child's mind and offered two different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you wrote two different versions!
ReplyDeleteIrene, congrats on your upcoming anthology and book! I'll ask our library to buy Good Morning for Giddo so that I can read it to "my" 2nd grade class and others can enjoy it too.
ReplyDeleteIt's always exciting to hear about a new book, and what perfect timing that call out it - I definitely had funny poems on the brain this week!
ReplyDelete