My Diary

I have a private little book
Its pages are forbidden
To the nosey general public
So I keep it locked and hidden

The drama of my daily life
Is not for scrutiny
So my secret crush, which is hush-hush
I've recorded in my diary

One time my brother found it
But he didn't get too far
When my alarm system went off
And the police were at our door

If my diary was published
No doubt it would be a best seller
A real tearjerker and a classic
Just like that book, "Old Yeller"

But you're not allowed to read it
Not even for a minute
Cause who knows? (ONLY ME!)
If your name might be in it!

Conference Experience

The children's writers conference I attended at the end of September was AWESOME. I had attended a general writers conference a couple years ago, and as much as I enjoyed that experience, attending a conference devoted entirely to children's authors and illustrators was much more informative and relevant for me and my writing. I learned valuable information from the speakers (published authors, editors, and agents) as well as from the wonderful ladies at my table. The atmosphere was encouraging and supportive as so many openly shared their journeys, including their successes and failures along the way. One of the co-founders of the SCBWI, Lin Oliver, flew in from California to talk to us, and her speech was particularly inspiring. I'm so glad I went - now I must get to work on applying the advice and pursuing the leads and resources I've been given!

Children's Writers Conference

I am excited to be attending the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Fall Philly Conference in Exton, PA at the end of September. I am looking forward to meeting other children's writers, learning from them and the credible speakers, and getting critiqued on my work (I'll be thickening my skin until then!). I will post my experience at the beginning of October.

A Lost Cause

I seem to lose my stuff a lot
Which causes some confusion
And gets me into trouble
Yes, I've come to that conclusion

I've lost my homework, lost my watch
One time I lost my dog
I even lost my way one day
Bike riding through thick fog

I lost my brand new pair of shoes
Which made mom lose her temper
I thought I left them on my feet
That's the last place I remember

I wish my stuff would stick around
Even stay a while and linger
Then I'd have my toothbrush
And wouldn't have to use my finger

I've lost my backpack and my lunch
My favorite pencil - gone!
Regrettably, I must confess
The list goes on and on

Some say I've also lost my mind
But I laugh that off as rumor
For one thing that I will never lose
Is my sense of humor!

Pass It Around

Please pass the ham and the sweet candied yams
And the cheesy corn casserole
And the sliced roast beef and dish of green peas
And also the gravy bowl
Please pass the glazed carrots and creamed asparagus
And barbequed chicken legs
And the garlic potatoes and spiced stewed tomatoes
And the pink pickled beets and eggs
Please pass the meatballs and homemade applesauce
And the platter of batter fried fish
And the basket of bread and the basket of rolls
Along with the buttering dish
Though I'm not sure that I should, this meal is so good
I think I'll have just a bit more
Of the baked lima beans
Would you pass them too, please?
And a clean spoon (mine fell on the floor)
I must stop to rest, let my food digest
Before I ask you to pass the beef stew
I have a very full belly and - Oops, excuse me!
I'm afraid I just passed something too!

Sorry, but with 5 boys, I had to write a poem about a bodily function!

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I enjoy experimenting with writing in different poetry styles because it's fun, it keeps my writing fresh and helps me think more creatively. Lately I've been writing in shorter lighter verse. Here's a sample:

My sister's got a lollipop
It's 200 licks I think
The swirly kind
Red and white
Has her tickled pink

This little girl is one of my favorite characters!

Little Rudy Manners
by Tammy Pringle

Little Rudy Manners is as polite as she can be
She always says "I'm sorry" when she kicks me in the knee

There was the time she tripped me and I fell down on the floor
She grabbed my arm and yanked me up and then she held the door

Today she yelled, "Excuse me," before she butt in line
Then smiled and screamed, "Hello," when she pushed me from behind

She uses the word, "Please," before she shouts to me commands
And "Thank you," every time she takes my cookie from my hand

Yes, Little Rudy Manners is as polite as she can be
Which isn't much -
If I may say so graciously!

Home From Camp
by Tammy Pringle

I just returned home from summer camp
My suitcase full of the clothes mom packed
She'll be happy to know that they don't reek
Because I wore the same thing all week!

HERE'S ONE FOR THE PARENTS!

This poem isn't necessarily geared toward children, but since it was printed in a local newsletter, I've been asked to put it on my blog, so here it is:

An Explanation for Single Socks
by Tammy Pringle

I once knew a pair of socks,
the two were a happy couple.
Mr. and Mrs. they were,
until they came into big trouble.
One day they went through the laundry,
and only the Mrs. came out.
Seems Mr. got lost in the dryer,
would not ask for directions, no doubt!

LIVER IS LOOKIN' PRETTY GOOD

I had the opportunity to read some of my poems to the elementary classes of Living Word Academy. This one always got a big reaction from the students!

The Grossest Lunch I Ever Ate
by Tammy Pringle

The grossest lunch I ever ate
I have to say, I did not hate
The french fried ants were crispy crunchy
The toenail chips, yummy munchy
Two boogie burgers moist and chewy
A mud milkshake, thick and gooey

I ate it all, enjoyed each bite
and that's the truth
Well no, not quite . . .
The reason I enjoyed that meal
Was because it wasn't really real!

BE GLAD IT'S NOT FLU SEASON!

The Fluky Flu
by Tammy Pringle

One thing you never want to do
is come down with the Fluky Flu
This type of flu is highly contagious
And it's symptoms are extremely outrageous!
It makes you look and feel quite funny
Your nose swells up and then gets runny
Your lips disappear and your eyes bulge out
It's an awful flu without a doubt!
It turns your face green, the color of Shrek,
And makes your eyebrows grow down to your neck
Feathers appear in your nose holes and ears
And you must pluck them out or they'll stay there five years
Your tongue pops out and sticks to your chin
And purple goosebumps cover your skin
Your fingers and toes will glow in the dark
And when you open your mouth, you'll just hiccup and bark.

Now if you should catch the Fluky Flu
There is a cure, here's what you must do:
Stand on your head and count to ten
Then say something nice to a neighbor or friend
Close your eyes and hop up and down
Smile at someone who's wearing a frown
Give yourself a hug and someone else too,
Say to your parents, "I love you."
Do all these things if you want to get better
If you don't, your symptoms will last FOREVER!

HEY, KIDS! DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

Big Billy Blooth
by Tammy Pringle

Do you happen to know Big Billy Blooth?
He's a rather large guy with one little tooth
He ate too much sugar when he was small
and he did not visit the dentist at all
He never brushed and never flossed
so all his teeth but one he's lost

Now he's big, but can't eat sweets
He can't eat snacks or any treats
It's hard for him to talk, whistle or sing
It's hard for him to do a lot of things
He misses his teeth, and that's the truth
'Cause it's not much fun being a unitooth!

SURVEY RESULTS - WEEK OF 5/22

We have a winner! "Giving" was the overall favorite, getting 68% of your votes. Thank you to all who participated. It is interesting and helpful for me to see the results. Also, feel free to leave comments and/or suggestions by clicking on the word, "comments" below each poem.

PLEASE VOTE!

I am in the process of getting a compilation of my poems together for publishing. I am also pursuing using my poems to minister to the children in the pediatric wards of some of the Lancaster hospitals.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would check in from time to time to read my poems and vote on your favorites (in the survey box to the right). I value voters of all ages - that includes children, as they are my target audience, and also their parents, as they are the consumers - and everyone in-between (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.)! Your votes will help me when making editing decisions for both endeavors.

New poems and a new survey will be posted every week or two, so keep checking back! Thanks so much for your input, I greatly appreciate it.

THE PRICE OF PERSUASION

NO!
by Tammy Pringle

No! No way!
Absolutely not!
Not a chance that I shall
Not for all the money you've got

Go ahead and beg
It will do you no good
I'm not giving in
Though the whole world thinks I should

Hang me upside down
By my left big toe
And I'll answer you the same
Read my lips, "N-O!"

Not if Mickey Mouse
Turns into Mickey Cow
I will not, I won't
No way, no how!

You may whine, you may plead
You may think me unkind
But not today nor any day
Will I change my mind

Not for all the green in Greenland
Not for all the gum in Guam
Never, ever, ever!
Even if you tell my mom

Not for -
A PAIR OF MOTORIZED ROCKET ROLLER BLADES CUSTOM SIZED?!!
Well, I suppose that . . . maybe . . .
I might possibly be bribed!

REMINDS ME OF A LITTLE BOY I KNOW . . .

I am doing some "spring cleaning," going through the many many poems I have hibernating inside my computer. I thought I'd share this one written from the mock innocent persepective of a little boy accused of being selfish. It's an act that is often performed at my house!

Giving
by Tammy Pringle

People say I'm selfish
but I don't think that it is true.
Why just last week I gave my sister
pink eye and the flu.

Today I gave my brother
not one, but TWO dirty looks.
And I give my dinner to the dog
the nights my father cooks.

Why I've been known to gladly share
my last piece of stale gum.
And if I had a box of dirt
I'd even part with some.

People say I'm selfish,
I'm not sure of what they mean,
since I really tried to give away
my smushed white jelly beans!

Others just aren't grateful
for the giving that I do
But something else I've noticed -
my folks are giving too.

When I disobey my mom,
she gives me a time out.
And if I cry and throw a fit
Dad gives me something REAL to cry about!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS!

Today, March 2nd, is the birthday of the late Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), known to the world as "Dr. Seuss." The unique style in which he drew his characters and wrote his rhymes truly exemplify the definition of "creative." His contribution to children's literature is immeasurable and his talents and accomplishments are of great inspiration to me. The last book he wrote and illustrated is one of my favorite's - Oh, the Places You'll Go! Here's an exerpt:

You have brains in your head
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
And about some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

HAPPY EASTER!

My Favorite Bean
by Tammy Pringle

Beans, beans, billions of beans
A type of bean for every cuisine
String beans, snap beans
Green and yellow wax beans
Kidney, soy , lima, and chili
And the pea is a bean too - really!
Baked or refried and in soup I have tried
Every kind of flavorsome bean.
When it comes to the lentil
It's not coincidental
Of all those gone down to my belly
The kind I like best
More so than the rest
Are those sweet and colorful jelly!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

LITTLE THOUGHTS ON LOVE
by Tammy Pringle

A Little Girl's Thoughts on LOVE:
I think love is nice.
It's "Sweetie" and "Honey"
Hugs & Kisses
It makes me close my eyes and dream.
Love makes me want to grow up.

A Little Boy's Thoughts on LOVE:
I think love is dumb.
It's all mushy-gushy
Lovey-dovey
It makes me roll my eyes and scream.
Love makes me want to throw up.