Originally published in 1995, now close to 25 years since its publication, the book is being used in Al-Anon programs, youth groups, and studied in writing courses. This led me to creating Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life (Boyds Mills Press/Wordsong). At a dinner party of her home in Long Island, I read it to May Swenson, one of America’s most renowned poets, who told me she liked it. Vocabulary was often within their reach, works were short more important we learned that more could sometimes be said and felt in 8 or l0 or l2 lines than sometimes an entire novel could convey.īeing a city child my entire life, I think the rusted metronome started beating, telling me to write ‘city.’ “Hydrants” was the first poem I wrote for children. I used verse with all students but found that slower readers were excited over poems. I began to realize the importance of poetry when I began teaching sixth grade in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in 1960. How did you turn to poetry books as a path in your life’s work? You have been an educator, an author, and an influencer. Thank you for reminding me of these incredible adventures. Lee: My goodness! Between 19 I interviewed 169 book people l04 in Books Are By People and 65 in More Books by More People.

It’s a privilege to be interviewing Mr. Those interviews provoked my imagination and propelled my career. As I read each of Lee Bennett Hopkins’ collections of poetry, I find my curiosity piqued: “How does he do this?” When I was a grad student, I came across Mr. Hopkins’ book, Books Are by People: interviews with 104 authors and illustrators of books for young children.

World Make Way by Lee Bennett Hopkins