DENVER - More than 300 Denver children are making a name for themselves with the release of "Dreams and Directions."
The fourth edition of the district-wide poetry anthology features the works of kindergartners through fifth graders.
By the end of the 2010 to 2011 school year, hundreds of blossoming bards and sonneteers submitted their works for consideration.
"Their poems come from over 50 schools as well as every neighborhood in our city," said Steven Replogle, primary editor of this and the previous three anthologies.
"The result is a district-wide collaboration, unlike anything else offered in public education," said Replogle, who also teaches fourth grade at Bromwell Elementary.
His enthusiasm is great for the creativity that bursts out of "Dreams and Directions."
"We also encouraged poets to send in illustrations for their poems, and this was very successful. In each book, most of the poems are illustrated by their authors."
Replogle is also proud of the poems written in Spanish.
"We want our Spanish-language poems and their translations to faithfully represent the depth and beauty of the Spainsh-American language and culture.
On 9NEWS 7a.m., first graders from Gust Elementary read some of their Christmas-themed poems.
Here is a sample from a few of the first graders at Gust:
Santa's beard
Cotton ball soft
Grey or White
Like eggnog at night
- Alexia Burke
Santa brings presents
Naughty or nice
Ho ho ho
Santa loves kids
Ho ho ho
Is that Santa?
Yes!
- Jeannette Blea
Shiny lights
Rudolph the reindeer
He is the leader
He flies in the air
When it is midnight
- Melissa Brito
Some older elementary students chose to write about much more complex topics like "The Greatest Pencil War Ever," "Some People Are Like Slinkies," and "It's Raining Gumballs."
Wednesday night, there will be a reception at The Tattered Cover historic LoDo store from 4:30 to 6:30pm. It will be part-poetry reading, part-publishing party.
It is going to be an exceptional night for the young first graders from Gust Elementary. After the reception, they'll enjoy the Christmas decorations at The Oxford Hotel and then dine at the Cheesecake Factory, thanks in part to generous donations.
It's a delightful read. For more information about "Dreams and Directions:"http://poetry.dpsk12.org/
The books are available at The Tattered Cover and The Bookies.
http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://www.netnewsdesk.com/thebookies/
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)