Overview

""Youth Poetry Letters,"" Pencils and Dreams showcases the poetic talents of Vallejo, California youth. This collection features works from students ranging from whimsical musings and boundless imagination to offering a unique and intimate window into their world. It spotlights the powerful impact of arts education in schools to nurture young voices in our communities. This project, inspired by Vallejo Co-Poets Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrman, underscores their commitment to nurturing literary talent in schools and the community. The collection emerged from student participation in Youth Poetry Letters (YPL) workshops hosted by the laureates across the community and classroom activities that Kathleen Herrman conducted as part of the Vallejo Teaching Artists (VTA) program. This collaborative effort is also a testament to the dedication of Vallejo's literary leaders. It illustrates the investment in cultivating the creativity of our youth and the next generation of poets.

Full Product Details

9781735493695

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Between its covers, this book holds the words of children. You will hear their voices, playful spirits, deep thoughts, endless wonder, and things that bring them joy."" -Renay Colin, Director, Vallejo Center for the Arts

Author Information

Vallejo, CA Poet Laureate (January 1, 2024-December 31, 2025). Her first published poem, ""It's Magic,"" appeared in the Oakland Tribune Sports Notebook, a dedication to Magic Johnson after his HIV announcement. Former publisher of In the Company of Poets Magazine, she has been featured in the Vallejo Times Herald, Daily Republic, and The Mississippi Link newspaper. She is an Academy of Art University graduate in Motion Picture and Television, working with youth via Youth Poetry Letters Workshops, Youth Poets in the Spotlight, and Vallejo Teaching Artists (VTA). Guest poetry readings and appearances throughout Solano County include the Solano County Supervisor's Juneteenth Flag Raising, the Solano County Fair, Mad Hatter Parade, Brush Strokes For Earth, Earth Daze Festival, OZCAT Radio, McCune Collection, guest poet at Black History Month, John F. Kennedy Library and Vallejo Naval and Historical events, including numerous local open mic venues. Vallejo, CA Poet Laureate (January 1, 2024-December 31, 2025). Vallejo, CA Poet Laureate (January 1, 2024-December 31, 2025). Kathleen Herrmann, an educator, holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Arts in Teaching Leadership from St. Mary's College of California. She is a teaching artist in the Vallejo City Unified School District under VTA (Vallejo Teaching Artists). Her original work appears in 14 anthologies, including I Can't Breathe and Coming Out Of Isolation (Kistrech International Poetry Festival, Kenya, 2021, 2022), Friendship and Loss (Pure Slush, Australia, 2021, 2024), Work & the Anthropocene (Ice Floe Press, Canada, 2022), Poetic Edge Publishers (UK, 2024), B Cubed Press, Moonstone Press, Napa Valley Writers, and Benicia Literary Arts. She has also been published in the Going The Distance column in the Benicia Herald.

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