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Blue The ocean water With many animals living in it Big strong waves Crashing everywhere in the oceans The light blue sky With a little breeze in it The nighttime sky With cozy noises like owls hooting Sadness Slowly dripping down your face Water sources Flowing rapidly on earth Ice cold Gatorade And the sweetness on your tongue Blue jays sitting in the trees And tweeting happily The full moon shining brightly in the night sky Calmness Feeling everyone that is quiet and kind A Cunning shark Swimming fiercely in the water Shine pearls Sitting in a clam’s mouth Rain pouring Down from the clouds Spring is Here The winter Snow melts Long green grass Blowing in the cool breeze The beautiful sun Shining brightly in the sky Delightful flowers Start to appear Finally nice To go play outside The nba playoffs Are starting now Drowsy bears Coming out of a long hibernation Rabbits hopping wildly Through grassy meadows Foxes hunting In the dark forests Farmers Growing new crops Charming babies Are born Lincoln Chung is a sixth grader who enjoys competitive swimming and playing with his brother. Our Stirring Words issue is all about odd, interesting, or inspiring words and phrases. What is your favorite word right now?  My favorite word is 'transmit'. Your poem, "Blue" is all about the color blue. Why did you choose this color and word as a subject for a poem? Blue is my favorite color. My class assignment was to write a poem about a color. And in your poem "Spring is Here," you lead the reader through the changing of the seasons with a range of images that signal the arrival of spring. What words stand out most in your mind when you think of spring? Words that stand out in my mind when I think about spring: green and flowers. What is your favorite topic to study in school? Science  What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I am reading The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, and I like it.

Tick- Tock - Who’s There? By Sayla Martinson The old clock hangs from the wall in the old laundry room where people rarely go, sad as can be. As sad as rain on a little kid’s birthday. “Oh, look at the time!” said the old man who lived in the house with his wife and his two children. “We must get going!” As soon as the clock heard that word, it perked up with a ding! It had not heard those words in forever! Six and a half months to be exact. It had been counting. “These people never go places, they're such couch potatoes,” the clock said angrily. “They hardly ever go places, but when they do, they don’t tell me where they're going! I get so mad with these people sometimes!” the clock screamed. “They just leave me here in this dirty laundry room, lonely as can be, and don’t even bother to tell me where they're going! I just want to be useful!” the clock screamed even louder. “Why are you screaming so loud?” came an unknown voice. “Who are you?” said the clock. “I am the clock right next door,” said the unknown voice. “WHAT???” said the clock, shocked. “I am the clock right next door, in the living room,” the living room clock repeated calmly. “I heard you! But I didn’t even know you existed!” said laundry room clock. “I might be the reason nobody ever looks at you because they look at me every day,” said the living room clock. “EVERY DAY?” screamed the laundry room clock. “Yes, every day. But can you please stop screaming? You are hurting my gears,” said the living room clock. “Yes, sorry I am just so excited because we can be friends and I won’t be lonely anymore!” said the laundry room clock with a thankful sigh. “Wait, you’re lonely?” asked the living room clock. “Yes, I am lonely every day,” said the laundry room clock. Excitedly, the other clock said, “OMG! Same here!” “Does this mean I will be useful being your friend?” said the laundry room clock. “I believe so!” said living room clock. “YAY!” yelled the laundry room clock. “Wait, if we're going to be friends, you need to work on that screaming issue,” said the living room clock. “Oh alright. I’ll try my best,” said the laundry room clock. “Hey, do you think there are any other clocks in this house we haven’t met?" “Great, thanks,” said living room clock. “Hmmmm maybe there are!” Just as the living room clock asked that, the house began to shake with the ticking of arms. “WHOA! What is that?” asked the laundry room clock. Creeeeeeek went the door. The family was back from seeing the movie, Wicked! As they stepped through the door, the ticking stopped immediately. The mom, Kathryn, said, “I loved that movie. It made me cry!” “I liked it too!” said the dad, Ian. “Wait, what's that loud ticking sound?” said their daughter, Sayla. Ian said, “It sounds like it’s coming from the laundry room.” “Clock, what did I tell you about the screaming?” whispered the living room clock. “Oh right, sorry! I'm just so, so, so excited that I have a friend now! And maybe more!” said the clock in the laundry room. “Me too,” the other clock replied, “but make sure you are quiet around the people!" Sayla Martinson is a 5th grade student from Chicago, Illinois. While in school, Sayla enjoys reading, writing, and being with her friends. When Sayla grows up, she wants to be a first grade teacher. Our Stirring Words issue is all about odd, interesting, or inspiring words and phrases. What is your favorite word right now?  My favorite word right now is probably wise because right now I am trying to be wise with my decisions, big or small.  Your story, "Tick-Tock Who's There?" brings a clock to life. Can you tell us a bit about why the word tick-tock stood out to you as the inspiration for this story and why you chose to personify the clock? The phrase tick-tock stood out to me because that is the phrase that all of the other characters hear when the clocks are having their conversations. I chose to personify the clocks because then the readers can know more about what’s happening between the clocks and feel more involved in the story. What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic to study in school right now is definitely reading/writing. I love reading and being creative with my writing skills, and I find reading and writing fun.  What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing that I have learned recently is the difference between 3rd person limited and 3rd person omniscient in reading and writing class.  What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I am currently reading two books. Those books are Whale Eyes and The Final Gambit . I would definitely recommend The Final Gambit and the two books before it in the series. I have just started Whale Eyes , and so far, I would recommend it.

What is Red? Red is ladybugs’ wings. Baseball stripes are red on a white ball. Red is fire burning. Cardinals are red and a sign of heaven. Red is the stripes on the American flag. Rose petals are red in spring. Strawberries are red that I have for lunch. Red is a watermelon in summer. The Emergency sign is red. Red is crabs on a beach. Spring S oftball season for me P raying at lenten time R inging church bells at Holy Thursday mass I mportant to keep God in your hearts N ature is pretty when trees bloom G od’s trees and flowers are growing Riley T. is seven years old. She is going into 2nd grade. She likes to play tennis. She also enjoys crafting and reading. One day, she would like to travel to Paris, France! Our Stirring Words issue is all about odd, interesting, or inspiring words and phrases. What is your favorite word right now?  Ganache (chocolate) — I love to bake and watch baking shows! Your poem is all about the color red. Why did you choose this color and word as a subject for a poem? I chose red because I thought that nobody else would choose it. It’s a unique color to write about. I wanted to write about something different from everybody else.  What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic in school is reading.  What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I recently learned that some $2 bills can be worth a lot of money! What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I am reading The Baby-Sitter’s Club series. Yes! I would recommend it to kids 6 years and older.

The illustration, I Heard a Song, by Imogen Hartland in Little Thoughts Press Issue Ten: An Ekphrasis Adventure. Lisa Roullard lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her family and Onyx the black cat.  In addition to writing and reading, she loves baking pie (and eating it warm), tending her flower garden, and spending time with friends.  Her poems for kids can be found in Little Thoughts Press , The Dirigible Balloon , The Toy ,   and Parakeet. Little Thoughts Press: Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. What stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image served as the initial spark for your poem? Lisa Roullard: The girl.  Why, I wondered, was she out there on the rock at night when the waves were so choppy? (Admittedly, I was not focused on Imogen’s title, I Heard a Song.)  It seemed significant that the girl’s rainslicker was the same color as the lighthouse light.  Little Thoughts Press:  One of the things I loved most about your poem “On the Rock by the Lighthouse” is how you very directly utilize the images in Imogen Hartland’s illustration, I Heard a Song, but then expand the reader’s vision beyond the frame by introducing a boat we cannot see. This is a really effective way to pull the reader further into the poem by giving them a role in the narrative. Can you talk about why you made this choice to center the poem around an image just out of frame and what effect you think it has on how readers connect to both your poem and Imogen’s illustration?  Lisa Roullard: Since lighthouses have to do with safety, and in some cases, rescue, it seemed like the girl was headed toward whatever was outside the frame.  This felt compelling to me and I knew there had to be more to the story.  I wrote the poem after several years of helping my child through a difficult time.  And although I wasn’t thinking about that directly as I wrote, I felt both like the girl and the person in the boat during that time.   Sometimes I’ve felt like both at once.  So, maybe readers will connect to the poem and the illustration by recognizing we all need help sometimes and that it’s okay to receive it.  It’s also important to offer help, so I hope readers might consider that too.   Little Thoughts Press: This issue is all about celebrating and spotlighting artists. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? Lisa Roullard: Beth Krommes is one of my favorite picture book illustrators.  I love her style, specifically how she works detail and color into her engravings.  I love studying each spread.  Currently I have Where the Deer Slip Through  propped up in my office.  I know the late Katey Howes would’ve loved the illustrations Beth created for it.   Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids? Lisa Roullard: I’ve wanted to write kid-lit since college and took my first online class in picture book writing about 20 years later.  I studied creative writing (mainly poetry) in college and graduate school, but the focus wasn’t kid-lit.  So, for me, the most challenging aspect is word choice.  I never want to talk down to kids.  I also feel it’s important for kids to expand their vocabularies so I don’t shy away from words that might be considered “big” or “hard” or “unusual.”   I can’t recall at what age my mom started telling me, “I’m not your walking dictionary.  Go look it up!” when I asked her what a word meant.  I know this helped me expand my vocabulary.  Thanks, Mom! Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Lisa Roullard: A few favorites that my parents read me were Never Tease a Weasel and the Little Golden Book Home for a Bunny .  Once I was reading on my own I loved Roald Dahl, especially James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .  I also loved the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books by Betty MacDonald and Bedknobs and Broomsticks  by Mary Norton.  Charlotte’s Web  by E.B. White was another favorite, as were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I also enjoyed Judy Blume’s books, especially Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Lisa Roullard: Write about what you’re interested in, even if you don’t know much about it yet.  You can learn as you go. Know that many experienced writers are doing this too.  It’s never too early (or late) to learn! Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Lisa Roullard: No.  As for news, I recently received an Honorable Mention in the Lyrical Language Lab’s Second Annual Summer Poetry Contest for kid-lit.  This year’s theme was mask poems and mine is titled “Thesuarus’s First Love Letter.”  You can read it and the other top nine poems at https://www.reneelatulippe.com/winners-summer2025/ .

The illustration, Portrait Painting, by Olivia McGinty in Little Thoughts Press Issue Ten: An Ekphrasis Adventure. Ian Brownlie lives with his family in Marlow, Bucks (UK). His work has been longlisted for the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition and Searchlight's Best Novel Opening award. He has had children's poetry published in The Dirigible Balloon , Tyger Tyger and The Toy magazine, and recently had a poem included in the anthology Sky Surfing (which can be purchased at dirigibleballoon.org/shop ). He can often be found procrastinating on BlueSky: @ ianbrownlie.bsky.social . Little Thoughts Press: Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. What stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image served as the initial spark for your poem? Ian Brownlie: I loved the picture by Olivia McGinty, it made visual art as an activity feel so happy and vibrant. I was impressed that Olivia had chosen to recreate the portrait itself in her picture, along with the subject of the painting, giving us two different views of her. It works really well. So the spark was really just being drawn in by that, then wondering what other kind of things this artist might get up to. Little Thoughts Press:   I love the way your poem “Ali the Artist” captures the way children so often fully throw themselves into their hobbies and activities, almost becoming obsessed with them for periods of time. Here, wherever Ali goes, whatever she's doing, she's capturing those sights and experiences in her artwork. With all the demands of adult life, we have a tendency to lose a little bit of that youthful obsession with the activities that bring us joy. In what ways does writing allow you to tap into some of that childlike ability to give yourself over to a creative activity just for the pleasure of it? When writing for kids specifically, what do you do to connect yourself to the emotions of childhood, the difficulties and the joys that are unique to growing up? Ian Brownlie: Yes, exactly! Ali enjoys art so much that it takes over every aspect of her life. And the rat-a-tat-tat rhyming of the poem hopefully pulls the reader along on that journey with her. Writing for children is very freeing, and there’s a huge pleasure in creating something silly or magical or just true that could resonate with children and lead them to think about things differently. Or just make them laugh. I think humour for its own sake is underrated in most creative fields. Little Thoughts Press: This issue is all about celebrating and spotlighting artists. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? Ian Brownlie: That’s tough, there’s so much great stuff I could pick. I couldn’t get enough Asterix books when I was young, and they are essentially graphic novels. At least half of the humour is in the brilliant pictures. The detail in Richard Scarry’s Busytown books meant you could read them over and over again. Chris Riddell is my favourite illustrator at the moment, especially his beautiful Ottoline and Goth Girl books. Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids? Ian Brownlie: I had a really good idea for a children’s book sometime in the late 1990s. So I sat on that for a couple of decades, waited until my own children were too old to want to read my books, then decided to start actually writing something for kids! Honestly, I think it was reading to my children as they grew up that reignited my love of children’s books, and gave me the desire to write them. It just took me a while to get round to it. The most rewarding part of writing is the reaction you get when showing your new work to somebody (as long as the reaction is good, obviously.)  The most challenging part is making time to write. I work part-time in the kitchen of a very small school for children with additional needs, and I have been known to lose myself in a poem about a yeti who is good at typing while trying to make spaghetti carbonara! Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Ian Brownlie: I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books, and frequently cheated by keeping a finger in the previous page when I made a decision! I also re-read Roald Dahl’s The Twits quite a bit, as well as a long-forgotten book with the great title: Help! I am a Prisoner in a Toothpaste Factory . Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Ian Brownlie: Keep reading and keep writing. And always be open to learning new things about language and writing, because there will always be new things to learn. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Ian Brownlie: I’m still working on getting my first book out there! There are links to the poems I’ve written for various publications on my Bluesky account: ‪@ ianbrownlie.bsky.social ‬ Also: my lucky number is 27 and my favourite punctuation mark is two full stops..

The illustration, 51st Street, by Kim Wagner Nolan in Little Thoughts Press Issue Ten: An Ekphrasis Adventure. Kim Wagner Nolan is an author/illustrator and museum exhibition designer, specializing in educational interactive exhibits for children. Her work has been showcased in over a hundred museum and gallery exhibits and has appeared in several print and online publications.   She was the winner of the 50 Precious Words International Writing Contest (2024), the SCBWI Draw This! Contest (12/2024), and she once won two dozen doughnuts in the Krispy Kreme Doughnut painting contest. When she’s not painting for doughnuts, Kim enjoys going on adventures and playing the ukulele for her pet chickens. Find more at kimwnolan.com . Little Thoughts Press: Your illustration, 51st Street, served as inspiration for some of the writing featured in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure. While creating this piece, did you have a particular story in mind? Or to put it another way, if you had written a poem or story to accompany this illustration, what might you have written?  Kim Wagner Nolan: 51st Street was inspired by real life. The reference I used for the illustration was from a photo I took of the apartment building where I lived on 51st Street in Woodside, Queens, New York. I’ve always lived on the 3rd or 4th floor of every apartment building I’ve called home. All of them had an intercom and buzzer to let people in, but none of them worked, so we’d have to run down four flights of stairs or toss the keys down so our friends could let themselves in. We’d put the keys in a sock or make a little parachute for them so they wouldn’t hurt the person catching them. Little Thoughts Press: Your illustration inspired the poems “Keys for My Sister” by Nick Fordham, “Catch” by Julie Stevens, and “Outside Upstairs” by Hilary Elder. Was there anything that surprised you in how these writers chose to interpret your art? If you are open to sharing, were there any lines or images in these pieces that you thought really captured what you had in your mind when you created this illustration?  Kim Wagner Nolan: I appreciate how different readers interpret my art. It helps me understand where my narrative illustrations are doing a good job of telling the story and where they need improvement.  Nick Fordham's "Keys for My Sister" beautifully conveys a sense of bittersweet longing for happier times. "Catch" perfectly captures the playfulness of the scene. I especially loved how the line, “No one sees us, no one looks up, upstairs, outdoors, so many floors,” in "Outside Upstairs" depicts observing the world from above. It highlights common city life activities like people-watching from windows or fire escapes. Little Thoughts Press: This issue is all about celebrating and spotlighting artists. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? Kim Wagner Nolan: Oliver Jeffers, Debbie Ridpath-Ohi, London Ladd, and Christopher Denise are just a few but I have a long list of authors and illustrators that I admire. Little Thoughts Press: What initially brought you into the world of kidlit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about making art that will appeal to children? Kim Wagner Nolan: I was brought into the world of kidlit when I was a kid. I just never left! I’ve always loved drawing and writing stories.  The biggest challenge is staying motivated despite criticism and rejection. The most rewarding part is seeing my art published and enjoyed by children worldwide. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Kim Wagner Nolan: My favorite picture books growing up were   Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold and anything by Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, or Shel Silverstein. My favorite middle-grade books were Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson (I still have my original copy), Super Fudge by Judy Blume, The Pinballs by Betsy Byars, and any choose-your-own-adventure book. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young artists? Kim Wagner Nolan: Study other artists to learn and be inspired, but don’t compare yourself. You have your own unique voice when creating art. Little Thoughts Press: I have asked these questions of the young artists we’ve featured on our blog but I am curious to know your answers as well: What is your favorite thing to draw and how does creating art make you feel?  Kim Wagner Nolan: My favorite thing to draw is animals.   Creating art is a superpower! Artists and writers have the power to create entire worlds and characters with their imagination. I think that’s pretty amazing.  Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Kim Wagner Nolan: I’m excited to share that I created the interior spot illustrations for the Stirring Words issue of Little Thoughts Press (Issue 11) ,  which will be available in September 2025.

Joy of Reading, by Aaisha Asfiya Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to extend our Inspired by Illustrations series to feature illustrations by young artists who submitted their work to Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure. We hope you will use these illustrations as creative sparks to craft new poems and stories. We encourage you to share your drafts, brainstorms, or reactions to the featured artwork in the comments below. Thank you to Aaisha Asfiya for sharing her artwork with Little Thoughts Press! Please enjoy this interview with Aaisha where she shares a bit about her artistic interests, book recommendations and more! Aaisha Asfiya is a fun-loving girl with a keen interest in reading, writing, and drawing. Her short stories, poetry, and reviews have been published in children’s magazines and anthologies. Several of her drawings have been published in storybooks and children’s magazines. She reviews pre-publication manuscripts/advance review copies of children’s books for leading publishing houses, serves as a playtester for coding games, creates social media content for children, and volunteers for non-profits. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your illustration? What made you choose this subject? What story do you imagine your artwork is telling? Art is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It provides the most meanings words can't. The reason I choose Art to be my passion is because of my endless interest in it. With vibrant colours and gigantic canvases, it sparks my inner self. I imagine my painting telling stories of memories that have come across me many times. What is your favorite thing to draw? How does creating art make you feel? I love drawing landscapes of beautiful scenery that provokes immense pleasure. And creating visual representation of my imagination makes me feel the happiest. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My most favourite comic is Wind in the Willows (I read a graphic novel version) and I would give a huge shout out to its appealing appearance and the splash of colours and humour in the awesome work of letters. What is your favorite topic to study in school? I appreciate studying but it doesn't match my passion for art. My most favourite subject is physical education, English and art. Art is something I use to convey my feelings a bunch of letters can't. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing I learnt recently is the blowing technique. I also learnt to work with patience and to trust the process. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? My most recent read was the book Chai Jinxed by Emi Pinto. I highly recommend this magical book which took me on a quick trip of magic and away from reality, to magic and fantasy lovers.

Fruit Fabulous, by Mia H. Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to extend our Inspired by Illustrations series to feature illustrations by young artists who submitted their work to Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure. We hope you will use these illustrations as creative sparks to craft new poems and stories. We encourage you to share your drafts, brainstorms, or reactions to the featured artwork in the comments below. Thank you to Mia H. for sharing her artwork with Little Thoughts Press! Please enjoy this interview with Mia where she shares a bit about her artistic interests, book recommendations and more! Mia H. is a 3rd grader who enjoys arts and crafts. Her other hobbies include soccer and singing. She passionately plays Uno with her family. Her favorite book is PAWS. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your illustration? What made you choose this subject? What story do you imagine your artwork is telling? The inspiration came from a Lego wreath we built. I added a bird because the birds outside kept taking the dried fruit off of the wreath we had hanging above our front door. On my drawing, the bird is stealing items off the wreath to use for a nest.  What is your favorite thing to draw? How does creating art make you feel? When drawing I feel happy. I like to draw pictures of animals.  Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My favorite book is a one I just finished reading titled The Secret of the Dragon Gems by Rajani Larocca and Chris Baron.  What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I recently learned how to play pickleball!

A photograph from Little Thoughts Press Issue Ten: An Ekphrasis Adventure featuring the poem "Monty" by Sadie Maskery. Sadie Maskery lives in Scotland by the sea. Her latest poetry collection, The Usual Apologies ,  is published by Red Ogre Press. A short story collection, Overboard , will be published in Fall 2025 by Acid Bath Publishing.  Little Thoughts Press: Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. What stood out to you in the illustrations you chose to write about? What in the images served as the initial spark for your poems? Sadie Maskery: I like fantasy rather than reality, so was drawn to the pictures that were not of our world, and perhaps from ones a bit dangerous for a very small child; things you can only see in dreams. Also, I wrote a poem about a talking tree persuading the wind to steal someone's knickers but you didn't print that one. Little Thoughts Press: In your poem, "Monty," inspired by Jessie Lehson's illustration, The Bone Witch, you place the focus on the animal skeleton depicted in the illustration and use this to convey a very meaningful message about care, fear, and trying to see past our initial response to something by being more thoughtful and understanding about how we look at the world and each other. In your final stanza, you invite the reader to consider some very profound and important questions, but in a way that feels like a natural and appropriate conclusion to this poem that is ostensibly about a skeleton dog! Can you tell us a little bit about how you developed this piece, how you decided to incorporate this messaging, and more generally how you approach weaving important messages into poetry for children in a way that feels natural and avoids being too didactic? Sadie Maskery: I am always going to be drawn to animals in a picture before humans, bones or not! He looked sad first of all, but then I thought about our own dog, Max, who looks like he has been imprisoned for weeks without food if you don't share your snack with him, and I thought, if that skeletal dog is anything like Max he is probably just outraged that he is not being taken on a walk. Once you think sideways about any situation you can find questions to ask that aren't immediately obvious. It's remembering to have that unblinkered perspective. Most small children still do, I think; it's us adults who get fixed into assumptions about the world. It's true, you need to watch out for danger and bad things. But different  doesn't mean bad. Some of the baddest things that happen are done by people who look 'right,' and often to the things which look 'wrong.'  So it is really, really vital to help children retain their curiosity. You can be honestly afraid of something without having to hate it.  To stay deliberately ignorant to avoid having to think in different ways, that's pervasive in some parts of the world at the moment. Adults who do that and then force ignorance on their children, they scare me more than a bone witch. So it was more a poem reminding me to think like a child than one telling a child how to think. Little Thoughts Press: For your poem, "Whoosh," you are drawing inspiration directly from a young artist and the fun and playfulness that Finn J. displays in his illustration, Fire Dragon. When you don't have a child's joy right there on the page to draw from, what methods do you use to tap into a childlike sense of wonder and adventure when you are writing for a young audience? Sadie Maskery: I don't have a method, I think I am incredibly lucky still to have a sense of wonder. It is usually crushed under the black weight of worldly despair but, y'know, good days and bad days. And reading books—I fall into a good book like a mountain pool to wash away the adultness.  Little Thoughts Press: This issue is all about celebrating and spotlighting artists. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? Sadie Maskery: Richard Scarry, because there you have a world that is instantly recognisable whilst yet being completely fantastical.  I learned to spell at the same time as dreaming about alternative realities, all before I was five. I still think animals should be able to row gondolas and grow massive watermelons.  Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids? Sadie Maskery: I don't write kid-lit normally, but I would love to collaborate with someone on a picture book. A whole book of poetry, where someone sends me the pictures and I write a poem for each! Anyone?  Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Sadie Maskery: The Hobbit , Lord of the Rings , The Dark Is Rising series, the Earthsea series, the Discworld series ... I like other worlds. And Richard Scarry of course. I still want to drive an apple car like Lowly the worm. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Sadie Maskery: Write always with honesty, but be aware that what you think is truth depends very much not only on what you see, but who you are. Be curious, always. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Sadie Maskery: No, thank you so much for the opportunity to share a little bit! And if anyone wants to work with me on some picture poetry,  I know how to spell Ekphrasis and everything now. (Oh, I do have a bluesky account at saccharinequeen.bsky.social  from which you can find out about my poetry and short stories.)

I Heard A Song, by Imogen Hartland in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Colt Price for sharing his story, "The Chase," which was inspired by the illustration, I Heard a Song, by Imogen Hartland. Once upon a time there was a boy named Berry who decided to go on a cruise. When he got on the boat it started to sail away, but he didn't have time to give security his ticket. So security was after him, and  he dropped his ticket in the ocean. He had to escape. Berry soon realized that he had to get off the ship. "How am I going to get off?" he thought.  He ran to the top deck as fast as a cheetah. Berry saw a rock next to a lighthouse. He didn't have a choice so he got ready to jump. "Stop," yelled a pesky security guard."Just show me your ticket and you won't go to jail." "Well,"said Berry,"what's that?" He pointed. While the security guard was distracted, Berry jumped. The security guard turned around. "Where'd you go?" the guard wondered. While the security guard thought for a little bit, Berry swam vigorously to the rock. Once he got there he went in the light house. He found some fish to eat. It would last about two days, but he might be there for a lot longer. He had to find a way to shore and fast. He started to explore and eventually found some sticks. He made friction and started a fire so he could sleep and cook the fish. The next morning a boat came by, but they didn't let him on. He just ate and started exploring again. Berry found a rope and hook. He got an idea. He started to tie the hook to the rope. It turned night, but he didn't sleep. Soon that same boat came by. He threw the hook with the rope still attached. The hook landed on the boat. Berry pulled the rope and hooked it to the boat. He tied the rope to the lighthouse and walked across. Once he made it to the boat he unhooked the boat so it could go. He got to shore, he ran home, and he stayed there a while. Eventually the security forgot about him, so he didn't have to face a consequence for not giving them his ticket. Colt Price is 9 years old. He likes to play video games and soccer. He is a Christian. There are four people in his family. His sister does cheer and his dad works for a freight liner company. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? The fact that he was stranded in the middle of no where stood out to me in the illustration I chose to write about. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My favorite author is Chip Jett, and my favorite book is The Secret of the Old Mill. What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic to study in school is math. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing I learned recently is the story of D.B Cooper. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I am currently reading a Hardy Boys book called The House on the Cliff.

flower and fairies, by Annette Hashitate in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Joanna Turner for sharing her story, "The Flower" which was inspired by the illustration, flower and fairies by Annette Hshitate. One spring day in a forest with the most beautiful flowers, a little fairy named Lily went for a walk. She saw a beautiful flower and decided to sit on it for a bit. She heard someone in the distance so she hid. She saw someone but they weren't like her. He didn't have wings. "Hello, what are you?" "Hello. I'm a human. My name is Luke. What are you?" Luke asked. "My name is Lily. I'm a fairy," she said. "That's a pretty name," he said. "Thank you," Lily said. They talked for hours and then Luke asked, "What's it like being a fairy?" "We get to fly and do magic," she said. "We?" he asked. "Oh there's a bunch of us, "she said. "Where?" Luke asked curiously "I can't say," Lily said.     "Why?" he asked. "I just can't," she said. "Oh ok," he said sadly. Then Luke had to go. So Lily went home. The next morning, Lily woke up bright and early. She went to Luke's house but no one was there. Then she saw a note that said, "I'm sorry I had to move. Maybe we'll find each other." Lily went home and cried. She didn't go to school. She went and sat on the flower where she and Luke had met and talked to herself. "Why did you have to move?" she said to herself. "Why couldn't you stay?" she asked. Then she heard someone. "Luke?" she whispered. "I'm here! I had to run here, my mom said I could stay at our old house," Luke said. "I'm glad. Why did you have to move anyway?" she said. "My mom got a new job where I was going to move," he said. "Oh that makes sense. So you're staying?" Lily said. "Yeah, I'm staying," Luke said. "How?" Lily said.  "A kind person at the thrift store let me work there. So I have money for food and clothes," he said happily.                                                "Why did your mom get a new job?" Lily said. "I don't know but she likes it better than the old one,” Luke said. "I'm just glad she let you stay here,” Lily said. "Same,'' Luke said. Joanna Turner is 9 years old and in 3rd grade. She loves to read and her favorite book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban . She loves animals and has a cat and a dog. She also has two older brothers, one is 12 and the other is 17. If she could travel anywhere in the world it would be Hawaii. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? The fairy,and the boy sparked my idea. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I'm not really into comics. What is your favorite topic to study in school? Math or writing. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? Everybody thought the Titanic couldn't sink but it did,because the men didn't do what they were told like usual. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I'm reading The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn. Yes I do recommend this.

Saguaro Bird, by Jess Burbank in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Matthew Lau for sharing his story, " The Heroic Roadrunner, " which was inspired by the illustration, Saguaro Bird by Jess Burbank. There once was a roadrunner that lived in a very pretty cactus. The roadrunner's name was Rooper. His friends and family laughed at him and made fun of him for living in a cactus. Only sister and brother didn't. They said they were a family so they would always be with each other and work together. One day they encountered a sandstorm. Everyone was running, but Rooper didn't. Everybody yelled, "Rooper get over here!" But it was too late. The sandstorm consumed the cactus he was in. They came back to their houses. They were surprised that he survived. His sister recalled he survived a less dangerous sandstorm, but they all thought he was lucky. Now they all started living in cacti. Rooper's cactus was in the middle. One day a brawny sandstorm came and knocked down all the cacti except Rooper's. People think his cactus is legendary, but others think he is lucky all the time. Matthew Lau is 8 and in 3rd grade. He likes going ATV-ing and fishing. He would want to go to Maine if he could travel anywhere in the world. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? It stood out to me because It gave me an idea for a good story. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I don't have a favorite. What is your favorite topic to study in school? I like Math and reading,but If I had to pick It would be Math. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I can't think of anything interesting I learned recently. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I most recently read I Survived the Children's Blizzard . I'm trying to read the whole series,and I recommend both the book and the series.