“FRIENDS AND ANEMONES: Ocean Poems for Children” is a fun and informative collection of original poems and art by New England authors and illustrators. Hands join fins in an adventure through kelp forests to meet sea otters and whales. Attend an underwater birthday party! Voyage through tempests to bottom-of-the-ocean volcanos and mysterious creatures in the deep, deep darkness. This book is a valuable ecological and poetry resource for parents as well as librarians and teachers. Edited by Kristen Wixted and Heather Kelly along with designer Robert Thibeault, the book includes poetry and artwork by 70 different New Engalnd-based authors and illustrators, including Peter Reynolds, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Josh Funk, Jodie Apeseche, Sally Hinkley, Pam Vaughan, Casey Robinson, Priscilla Alpaugh, Kip Wilson, Matt Forrest Esenwine, and many others.
As a New Hampshire and Vermont radio broadcaster, Matt Forrest Esenwine spent a good part of his time writing and producing commercials and comedy bits. He also wrote poetry, which was published in various national journals and anthologies including the Donald Hall tribute, “Except for Love” (Encircle, 2019). Little did Matt know all this short-form writing would lead to his debut picture book, “Flashlight Night” (Astra Young Readers, 2017), which received numerous positive reviews including a Kirkus star and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017. Encyclopedia Brittanica also featured it in their list of“11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination!” Other childern’s books fllowed, including “Don’t Ask a Dinosaur” (POW! Kids, 2018), co-authored with Deborah Bruss, “Once Upon Another Time” (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles Ghigna, and “I Am Today” (POW! Kids Books, 2022), recipient of the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. Meanwhile, Matt’s children’s poetry can be found in numerous anthologies like “The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry” (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015), “Construction People” (Wordsong, 2019) and ‘Highlights for Children’ magazine. Feel free to connect with Matt at www.MattForrest.com.
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