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J. Patrick Lewis
By Lee Bennett Hopkins
This prolific poet has a slew of new, and diverse, titles out this year
The fun-loving poet as pictured on his website, www.jpatricklewis.com
One of the most prolific poets writing for today's children is J. Patrick Lewis. Pat, as he prefers to be called, was born on May 5, l942, in Gary, IN. He has produced a wide body of work since he made his publishing debut in 1990. One word to describe Pat's verse is "diverse."
Poetry a-plenty
Two distinct volumes of Pat's work were published last year. Monumental Verses (National Geographic Children's Books, 2005), a book of l3 stellar creations, heralds structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. The poem of this same name ends, "My waist is thirty-five feet thick./In tons I'm two twenty-five/I'm the biggest lady ever known/To keep freedom alive." Galileo's Universe (Creative Editions, 2005), a long tone poem, is a unique pop-up book for older readers detailing the life and times of the famed astronomer/physicist.
Pat has three books rich and varied in subject and style coming out in 2006: Blackbeard the Pirate King (National Geographic Children's Books), Wing Nuts: Screwy Haiku (Little, Brown and Company) and Once Upon a Tomb: A Collection of Gravely Humorous Verses (Candlewick Press).
Words of wit and wisdom
Pat's schedule of school visits is as hectic as his publishing schedule. This year alone he will talk to students in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio as well as in Austria, Poland and Hungary.
Pat's love of poetry is contagious, and adults and kids delight in his wit and whimsy wherever he appears. "Poetry is the road map to anticipation – the passport to awe!" Pat says. "If you want to learn how to sing, read poetry."
He also tells children, "I fail every day dozens of times, which is why rewriting is every bit as critical as writing. I want you know that nothing succeeds like failure."
More about the poet
The father of three grown children and three grandchildren, Pat lives in Chagrin Falls, OH, with his wife, Sue. For more about his life and work, visit his wondrous website www.jpatricklewis.com which includes a section for teachers, a page of riddles and "Scenes from My Life," a gallery of photos from a snapshot of Pat as a newborn (with his twin brother) to present-day pictures.
Lee Bennett Hopkins is a distinguished poet and anthologist. Recent collections include Got Geography! (Greenwillow, 2006).
