In “The Empress of Ties,” one poem in this collection, two women in Florida begin a misguided venture to create a business making ties, undaunted by the climate: “In our town men wore bathing / suits. No one bought ties.” When... Read More

Opening presents-who doesn’t look forward to the excitement of feeling special and wondering what’s in those beautifully wrapped boxes? When everything is unwrapped, there’s more to be done than cleaning up. It’s time to write... Read More

“Adriana, thirteen years old, and her cousin Andrea, fourteen, have been street children since they were seven years old. They left their homes because they were beaten and/or violated.” Such is the sad case of the eight girls... Read More

“Please let there be eggs,” Mercedes wished as she checked the chickens’ nests. Except for one small egg, there was nothing. Eggs were valued more than gold in West Berlin during the Russian blockade. Perhaps the chickens were... Read More

The story of the explorer La Salle shows that dreams are not always achieved in a lifetime. One man’s “failure” may actually pave the way for someone else’s success. As a young Frenchman, La Salle became a Jesuit because he... Read More

The Greeks called them “amphibia,” meaning, “living two lives.” Visitors to wetland areas are familiar with frogs, toads, and salamanders, which begin their lives in the water and move to land as adults, and kids have always been... Read More

Any child who has ever picked up a fascination with dinosaurs probably has dreamed of finding one still living in secret somewhere. The fantasy becomes flesh, bones, and very sharp teeth for the six friends who stumble through a... Read More

The debate over just how “accessible” poetry should be—as though it were a public building with users in wheelchairs outside every entrance—shows no sign of ending. With this book Jacob takes his place with those who insist poems... Read More