nPostednon September 8, 2013
n
n…andnInternational Literacy Day!
n
n
n
nThisncombination of events cannot be a coincidence, can it? Obviously, wenwant to make sure people can read SO THAT they can read the fun andnfunny poems written by Jack Prelutsky!
n
n
n
n
Actually,nInternational Literacy Day is a serious holiday dedicated to raisingnawareness of the importance of teaching reading, writing, and othernliteracies around the world, to kids and adults, in order to helpnpeople gain autonomy – which means the ability to take care ofnthemselves, to learn what they need to know, self-empowerment,nindependence.
Actually,nInternational Literacy Day is a serious holiday dedicated to raisingnawareness of the importance of teaching reading, writing, and othernliteracies around the world, to kids and adults, in order to helpnpeople gain autonomy – which means the ability to take care ofnthemselves, to learn what they need to know, self-empowerment,nindependence.n
n
n
nAccordingnto UNESCO, this year’s theme for the day is “Literacies of the 21stnCentury.” n
n
n
n
nNownfor fun and funny poems!
n
n
n
n
Ifnyou check out Jack Prelutsky’s website, you will hear squashy,nsplatty sounds, you will see crazy bright pictures, and you cannread poems such as “Ballad of a Boneless Chicken” and “It’snRaining Pigs and Noodles.” If you want to experience my personalnfavorite, “Bleezer’s Ice Cream,” you have to click “AboutnJack,” “Stop Juggling,” “Jack’s Music,” and “Play.”
Ifnyou check out Jack Prelutsky’s website, you will hear squashy,nsplatty sounds, you will see crazy bright pictures, and you cannread poems such as “Ballad of a Boneless Chicken” and “It’snRaining Pigs and Noodles.” If you want to experience my personalnfavorite, “Bleezer’s Ice Cream,” you have to click “AboutnJack,” “Stop Juggling,” “Jack’s Music,” and “Play.” n
n
n
n(Wouldn’t you love to try Chocolate Chop Suey Cluster ice cream? Andnhow about Tuna Taco Baked Potato ice cream? Yum!)
n
n
n
nJacknPrelutsky was born in Brooklyn, New York, on this date in 1940. Henseemed unlikely to succeed as an author. He claims he was a skinnynkid with a big mouth, which was a bad combination, and he was quite poor. He hated school, and he particularly hated poetry. He finallyngot happy when he was able to go to The High School of Music and Art,nwhere he trained his singing voice and performed in musicals. Still,nhe went on to flunk English classes in college several times beforendropping out of college.
n
n
n
nPrelutskynworked odd jobs but sang in coffeehouses, where he met famed musiciannBob Dylan. The two became friends. (Prelutsky apparently met him when Dylan was becomingnknown but wasn’t yet huge.) n
n
n
n
n
Prelutskynloved drawing imaginary animals. A friend of his encouraged him tonsend his creative artwork to a children’s publisher…so at age 24nPrelutsky worked hard on some drawings. After six months he wasnfinally ready to send his beloved pictures off to a publisher. ButnPrelutsky decided at the last minute to send some accompanying poems.nHe quickly thought up some rhymes, sent out the artwork, and crossednhis fingers, hoping to hear back.
Prelutskynloved drawing imaginary animals. A friend of his encouraged him tonsend his creative artwork to a children’s publisher…so at age 24nPrelutsky worked hard on some drawings. After six months he wasnfinally ready to send his beloved pictures off to a publisher. ButnPrelutsky decided at the last minute to send some accompanying poems.nHe quickly thought up some rhymes, sent out the artwork, and crossednhis fingers, hoping to hear back.n
n
n
nHenheard back! And it was a “yes”! People wanted to publish hisnwork!
n
n
n
nButnit wasn’t the pictures that Prelutsky had poured time and effort onnthat the publishers wanted. It was those last-minute poems!
n
n
n
n
Thenrest, as they say, is history. Jack Prelutsky has written more thann50 poetry collections. And he makes music to accompany some of hisnpoems, performs for kids by reading aloud and sometimes singing hisnpoems, sometimes while he plays guitar. (Years ago, my kids and I gotnto see him perform. Loved it!) n
Thenrest, as they say, is history. Jack Prelutsky has written more thann50 poetry collections. And he makes music to accompany some of hisnpoems, performs for kids by reading aloud and sometimes singing hisnpoems, sometimes while he plays guitar. (Years ago, my kids and I gotnto see him perform. Loved it!) nn
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
Anniversary of the completion of the Statue of David
Anniversary of the completion of the Statue of David n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Anniversarynof the use of math to stop an epidemic
Anniversarynof the use of math to stop an epidemicn
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPremierenDay
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlannAhead!
n
n
n
nChecknout my Pinterest pages on Septembernholidays, Septembernbirthdays,nand historicalnanniversaries in September.
n
n
n
nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Octobernholidays, Octobernbirthdays,nand historicalnanniversaries in October.
n
n
n
n
