Today author Leslie Bulion discusses some key aspects of writing science poetry for kids. Thanks for your contribution, Leslie.
Allow
me to introduce one of my favorite writing tools: my boots!
I have always been a hands-on learner, so after reading
widely to gain a foundational understanding of a new subject, I pull on my
boots and head out into the field.
As a science poet, immersive, experiential learning
enhances my research process in essential and surprising ways, enriching the
art and craft of my science poetry collections.
For
my newly-published collection SUPERLATIVE BIRDS (Peachtree, 2019), I packed my boots
and binoculars for a weeklong field course held at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology. A dabbler since 9th grade (duck pun intended), I joined
a group of 15 eager birders ranging from newbie to nonstop.
my newly-published collection SUPERLATIVE BIRDS (Peachtree, 2019), I packed my boots
and binoculars for a weeklong field course held at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology. A dabbler since 9th grade (duck pun intended), I joined
a group of 15 eager birders ranging from newbie to nonstop.
On
day one, just outside the “Lab of O,” two yellow-bellied sapsucker chicks
fledged right before our eyes! Lab staff had been watching the nest cavity for
weeks to catch sight of those chicks leaving the nest; their excitement added
so much to mine. Here are the sapsucker chicks on a page from my field journal:
day one, just outside the “Lab of O,” two yellow-bellied sapsucker chicks
fledged right before our eyes! Lab staff had been watching the nest cavity for
weeks to catch sight of those chicks leaving the nest; their excitement added
so much to mine. Here are the sapsucker chicks on a page from my field journal:
Birding
together each day, my classmates and I learned to access all of our senses to find
and recognize clues for bird identification,
including habitat, activity, body shape, and glorious song. We participated in
a bird-banding demonstration where I held a fluttering heart fashioned from air
and feathers in my hands.
together each day, my classmates and I learned to access all of our senses to find
and recognize clues for bird identification,
including habitat, activity, body shape, and glorious song. We participated in
a bird-banding demonstration where I held a fluttering heart fashioned from air
and feathers in my hands.
 |
| Photo credit: David Hiden |
But
really, who held whose heart?
I had always been interested in birds. Now I was smitten.
My
theme for SUPERLATIVE BIRDS—bird-world record-holders—sprang from the poem “Turkey
Vulture,” which I wrote for Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong’s Poetry Friday
Anthology
series. Turkey vultures have the keenest sense of smell of any bird tested, and
writing that poem set me to wondering about other bird superlatives.
theme for SUPERLATIVE BIRDS—bird-world record-holders—sprang from the poem “Turkey
Vulture,” which I wrote for Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong’s Poetry Friday
Anthology
series. Turkey vultures have the keenest sense of smell of any bird tested, and
writing that poem set me to wondering about other bird superlatives.
I
asked my “Taking Flight” companions at Cornell to share their thoughts about
the most impressive birds. Two of our instructors told me the black-capped chickadee
was the BEST bird.
asked my “Taking Flight” companions at Cornell to share their thoughts about
the most impressive birds. Two of our instructors told me the black-capped chickadee
was the BEST bird.
The
ubiquitous chickadee? What was so superlative
about it? The chickadee is social, the
instructors explained, also cute (I agree!), populous, and probably the
most-studied bird.
ubiquitous chickadee? What was so superlative
about it? The chickadee is social, the
instructors explained, also cute (I agree!), populous, and probably the
most-studied bird.
I
learned that nearly every bird in the Northeast understands “chickadee,” and
some other animals do as well. When a chickadee gives its warning call, chickadee-dee-dee, the forest takes heed.
Now, that IS impressive. Learning about chickadee-speak has forever changed the
way I listen to this anything-but-common little bird’s call.
learned that nearly every bird in the Northeast understands “chickadee,” and
some other animals do as well. When a chickadee gives its warning call, chickadee-dee-dee, the forest takes heed.
Now, that IS impressive. Learning about chickadee-speak has forever changed the
way I listen to this anything-but-common little bird’s call.
At
home I continued reading about birds. I began birding regularly, learning to
send observational data to eBird, Cornell’s ever-growing citizen science
database. I joined Audubon bird counts and met new birding friends. I wrote
poems about the fastest, the loudest, and the smelliest birds, and kept coming
back to the engaging, loquacious chickadee. It didn’t fit any of the neat “bird-ness”
categories I was scouring for superlatives. But I desperately wanted to include
this “best” bird in my book to honor the instructors and my superlatively
life-changing experience at the “Lab of O.”
home I continued reading about birds. I began birding regularly, learning to
send observational data to eBird, Cornell’s ever-growing citizen science
database. I joined Audubon bird counts and met new birding friends. I wrote
poems about the fastest, the loudest, and the smelliest birds, and kept coming
back to the engaging, loquacious chickadee. It didn’t fit any of the neat “bird-ness”
categories I was scouring for superlatives. But I desperately wanted to include
this “best” bird in my book to honor the instructors and my superlatively
life-changing experience at the “Lab of O.”
I
reread my notes from a class discussion about features that are unique to
birds. I’d listed our guesses in my field notebook: eggs? no; beaks? no; claws? no.
reread my notes from a class discussion about features that are unique to
birds. I’d listed our guesses in my field notebook: eggs? no; beaks? no; claws? no.
I
kept thinking: chickadee…unique bird
traits…until I had a superlative “aha!” moment: I could create a riddle
thread running through the poems and science notes and challenge readers to
identify those special traits belonging only to birds.
kept thinking: chickadee…unique bird
traits…until I had a superlative “aha!” moment: I could create a riddle
thread running through the poems and science notes and challenge readers to
identify those special traits belonging only to birds.
And
since “everyone” understands chickadee-speak, the chickadee would be the
“spokesbird” for the riddle thread (brilliantly given life on the page by
illustrator Robert Meganck). In addition to informing and supporting my
writing, the connections I’d made through my experiential research had provided
a structure for the entire book!
since “everyone” understands chickadee-speak, the chickadee would be the
“spokesbird” for the riddle thread (brilliantly given life on the page by
illustrator Robert Meganck). In addition to informing and supporting my
writing, the connections I’d made through my experiential research had provided
a structure for the entire book!
Throughout
my research as a science poet, I have had the great good fortune to meet and
interview scientists working all over the world. Their passion and generosity
of spirit always contributes to the foundation of my writing, and certainly
influences the difficult process of choosing what does or doesn’t make it into
each book.
my research as a science poet, I have had the great good fortune to meet and
interview scientists working all over the world. Their passion and generosity
of spirit always contributes to the foundation of my writing, and certainly
influences the difficult process of choosing what does or doesn’t make it into
each book.
Everyone
who pulls on their boots, literally and figuratively, in support of
birds—especially my fellow learners and the faculty and staff I met at the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology—inspired SUPERLATIVE BIRD’s final poem, “For the
Birds” It’s a heartfelt plea to protect the Earth for our beautiful, essential,
and vulnerable feathered friends.
Leslie Bulion has been playing with the music of poetry since the fourth grade and has been a
hands-on observer of the natural world from the moment she could peer
under a rock. Leslie’s graduate studies in oceanography and years as a school
social worker inform her science poetry collections Leaf Litter Critters, At the
Sea Floor Café, Random Body Parts,
Hey There, Stink Bug, and Superlative Birds as well as her
science-infused middle grade novels Uncharted
Waters, The Trouble with Rules
and The Universe of Fair. Follow
Leslie out to the field and into nature poetry on Facebook and Twitter or at
her website www.lesliebulion.com.
who pulls on their boots, literally and figuratively, in support of
birds—especially my fellow learners and the faculty and staff I met at the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology—inspired SUPERLATIVE BIRD’s final poem, “For the
Birds” It’s a heartfelt plea to protect the Earth for our beautiful, essential,
and vulnerable feathered friends.
Leslie Bulion has been playing with the music of poetry since the fourth grade and has been ahands-on observer of the natural world from the moment she could peer
under a rock. Leslie’s graduate studies in oceanography and years as a school
social worker inform her science poetry collections Leaf Litter Critters, At the
Sea Floor Café, Random Body Parts,
Hey There, Stink Bug, and Superlative Birds as well as her
science-infused middle grade novels Uncharted
Waters, The Trouble with Rules
and The Universe of Fair. Follow
Leslie out to the field and into nature poetry on Facebook and Twitter or at
her website www.lesliebulion.com.
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
Topics
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
One Response
This bird nerd, and vulture lover is very excited to read this!! Congrats, Leslie. It was wonderful attending your talk & meeting you at NCTE!