Brooke and Ari visit the Poetry Out Loud state competition in Lansing, Michigan; Lansing Poet Laureate Masaki Takahashi shares how his non-profit, The Poetry Room, aims to create space for writers of color; Flint Public Art Project and Flint Mural Poems combine visual art and poetry to spark important conversations and inspire positive change; Brooke shares her experience meeting history-making poet, Nandi Comer; Leah checks in from Chassell, MI with a poem inspired by nature; and Brooke and Paige learn about Ypsilanti’s Youth Poet Laureate program.

Learn more about the people and organizations featured in this episode:

Related Lessons

  • The library is an excellent resource for children to discover a wide variety of books and informative and digital texts, along with different text genres like poetry. This diversity

  • Following step-by-step written instructions is an excellent way to promote literacy in everyday activities. It connects the text with actions and also provides an opportunity for broader conversations with the child, including questions that aren't answered with a simple yes or no.

  • La biblioteca es un lugar importante para los niños que están aprendiendo a leer y a escribir. Dejar que exploren sus propios intereses en los libros los ayuda a fomentar una mente curiosa. The library is an important place for children who are learning to read and write. Allowing them to explore their own interests in books helps nurture a curious mind.