Poetry is a passion of mine.  I read poems.  I write poems for adults and poems for kids.  Through my non-profit Shrub-Steppe Poetry, I organize events featuring poetry.

Literacy is another passion of mine.  For several years I volunteered as a reading assistant in local first, second and fourth grades.

One day an idea hit me.  I could be Perri the Poetry Fairy, making a special appearance in costume to read poems to the kids!  It would make learning more fun – children love characters in costume.  And by introducing them to poetry at an early age, not only could I enhance their reading and listening skills; I could also nurture an interest in poetry that could possibly stay with them.

I wrote five collections of poems for kids, organized by style: nonsense poems which teach phonics; rhyming poems; haiku and limericks; free verse; sonnets and story poems.  I wrote discussion questions for each set. 

The poems begged for illustrations but I can’t draw, and I wondered how I’d find someone who could, and would be willing to do so.  To my great delight, my sister Donna, a tremendously talented artist, offered to be my illustrator.

We collaborated and created five activity books for children consisting of kid-friendly poems illustrated with pictures they can color in and with discussion questions at the back for the child or mentor and child.

These activity books introduce kids to poetry, develop their reading and comprehension skills, encourage their creativity and make learning fun!

Donna passed away too soon on August 15, 2019 at the age of 61 with plenty of active life ahead of her.  She never allowed me to pay her for her time and effort (which were considerable).  Therefore, to honor her, all proceeds from the sales of Perri the Poetry Fairy books will be donated to the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York where Donna was treated for pancreatic cancer.

Thus, while children enjoy her drawings, learn about poetry and enhance their reading skills, future cancer patients may benefit from the research and care these donations will provide.  Donna’s legacy will live on.