212: Poetry and Science - Interview with David L. Harrison

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so honored to welcome David L. Harrison to the show! David is an award winning American children's author and poet. His poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for young readers have been anthologized in more than 185 books, translated into twelve languages, sandblasted into a library sidewalk, and painted on a bookmobile. His poetry collection, Pirates, represented Missouri at the 2013 National Book Fair in Washington, D.C. He is also the poet laureate of Drury University, and he actually has an Elementary School named after him! David is here with us today to discuss one of his latest works, a picture book poetry collection he did with artist Giles Laroche called A Place to Start a Family: Poems About Creatures that Build; which combines the science of how animals build their nests to mate and reproduce with the art of poetry. So listen in as David and I chat about crafting beautiful poems from equally beautiful science, for young readers. In this episode David and I discuss: The challenges of crafting scientific facts as a poem, and how to do it right. How to focus your research to inform your writing. Why the need for accuracy in children's books is even more important than in adult books. Matching the poetic structure and rhythm to the theme of the poem. Using spatial poetry in picture books to enhance the reading experience. Plus, David's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/212