Children's Poet Laureate aims to get more kids involved

Poet Jack Prelutsky gave Naperville fifth-graders a case of the giggles Monday.

It's just too hard to keep a straight face while hearing about finger-painting dad's underwear or creating bridges out of bananas.

Prelutsky, the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate, was in Naperville to promote his new books, "My Dog May Be a Genius" and "Pizza, Pigs and Poetry: How to Write a Poem." His appearance was sponsored by Anderson's Bookshop.

But prior to his evening appearance at Naperville Central High School, Prelutsky made a stop at Naperville North where he performed for all of the fifth-graders in Naperville Unit District 203. April is National Poetry Month.

"I hope they realize poetry doesn't have to be boring and it can be relevant and even fun," Prelutsky said. "And something they could look into a little bit more."

The writer read some of his poems and sang others. Never knowing when he'll feel inspired, he always carries a notebook and pens in case an idea strikes.

For instance, he told students, once when he was in Seattle walking across a bridge he came across a fruit stand selling bananas. From that everyday experience came the poem "I'm Building a Bridge out of Bananas."

"This does not work in the real world. It just doesn't work," he said. "But it's the kind of thing that's fun to think about, write about, talk about, sing about."

Another poem, "Why My Dad is so Thoroughly Mad," is about his childhood antics like the aforementioned underwear artwork.

"It's about some of the things I might have done to make my father so mad at me," he said with a sly grin. "I'm not saying I ever did any of these things. But it's possible."

Bookshop owner Becky Anderson said Prelutsky's poems are timeless

"They're fun, they're irreverent," she said. "They entertain not only the parent but the child, too, and that's essential because those are the books you'll keep getting back to."

Rita Koziol, a fifth-grader at Ranch View Elementary, especially enjoyed "My Mother Says I'm Sickening," a poem about playing with food.

Compared to other poets, Prelutsky "makes (poetry) more fun to read," she said. "It's funnier."