World poetry

I'm attending the 12th IBBY Regional conference sponsored by USBBY (the U.S. section of IBBY) in Seattle, WA. I'm presenting with David Jacobson, author and editor with Chin Music Press, Margarita Engle, Young People's Poet Laureate, and Janet Wong, poet and collaborator.  Our presentation is entitled, "Around the World in 80 Poems" (with a nod to Jules Verne). 

Poets, anthologists, and poet biographers are now creating accessible books of poetry that incorporate multiple languages, diverse cultural content, and a variety of forms and styles. Where can we find quality poetry for young people in print and online? And how do we share such poetry with young people in ways that are meaningful, engaging, and participatory? Our session features classic and contemporary poetry for young people from around the world in print, app, web, audio, video, and game formats. We discussed how the powerful package of poetry can help children face life’s challenges and inspire them to work for peace and understanding. Here are some nuggets from our session.