Joan Bransfield Graham has lived in the north, south, east, and west United States. She grew up next to the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey and now lives near the Pacific Ocean in California. In between, she has sailed on rivers, oceans, the Chesapeake Bay, lived near Lake Michigan, and camped at the top of a waterfall in Yosemite National Park.

It's not surprising, then, that her first book, SPLISH SPLASH, was a collection of water poems. Her book FLICKER FLASH explores the wondrous ways that light illuminates our world. Joan's poetry for children has been widely published in anthologies, textbooks, in Ranger Rick's Nature Magazine, Highlights, and Cricket magazines. She's done freelance writing for ABC-TV and The Writer.

An honors graduate of Rowan University in New Jersey, Joan also took writing classes at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and UCLA. She has traveled extensively and lived one summer with a Spanish family on the island of Majorca, where she studied painting and drawing. An avid photographer, she incorporates photos from around the world in her slide show. A recent school visit took her to Casablanca, Morocco.

Joan has been a teacher, scout leader, and outdoor education crafts instructor who loves inspiring students to be creative. She's also lived in Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Virginia as her husband, Jim, was an FBI agent for 22 years. A writer friend calls them "Rhymes and Crimes."

Contacts

Email: joanbgraham@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.joangraham.com

Books

		SPLISH SPLASH (Houghton Mifflin), illustrated by Steve Scott Plunge into the pleasures of poetry! SPLISH SPLASH with the many forms that water can take, from ice cubes and icicles to waves and waterfalls, by using shape itself--concrete poetry. Munch a "Popsicle" poem; run through the "Sprinkler. Have fun with words, shapes, and ideas--discover the poetry that is all around you. ISBN: 0-395-70128-7 (hardcover), 0-618-11123-9 (paperback)
		FLICKER FLASH (Houghton Mifflin), illustrated by Nancy Davis Switch on the poetry power! This remarkable collection of concrete poetry gives shape to light in its many forms. From the flicker of birthday candles to a flash of lightning, from a sun that "solar powers" a child out of bed to a moon that "reflects the flames of day in a SILVER kind of way," light illuminates our world. Enjoy a fantastic exploration of light and open your eyes to an amazing way of perceiving poetry. ISBN: 0-395-90501-X (hardcover), 0-618-31102-5 (paperback)

Awards

SPLISH SPLASH

• 71 Top Books of the Century (Nonfiction), Instructor Magazine
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• A National Council of Teachers of English Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts
• A Children's Book of the Year, Child Study Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College
• New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"
• Great Stone Face Book Award Nominee, New Hampshire
• A Kansas State Reading Circle Selection
• "Children's Books Mean Business," ABA-CBC Exhibit
• California Collection '97, '98, '99, & 2000
  Many poems appear in textbooks from kindergarten through college.

FLICKER FLASH
has been chosen for the following honors:

• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• A NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
• A National Science Teachers Association-Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children for 2000
• New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"
• Riverbank Review "Children's Books of Distinction" Finalist
• "Highly Commended"--2000 Charlotte Zolotow Award
• Children's Literature Top Choice List 2000
• Top Ten Children's Books of 1999, Dr. Peggy Sharp
• Best of the Best 1999, Chicago Public Library
• Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award Nominee, Kansas
• Florida Children's Book Award 2001 Nominee
• Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee 2001-2002, Indiana
• Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award 2002 Nominee
• Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award 2002 Nominee
• Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children
• Judy Freeman's 40 Favorite Poetry Books for Children, Reading is Fundamental
• California Collection 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Reviews

SPLISH SPLASH

"Whether describing water in such natural states as clouds, in such fanciful forms as crocodile tears, or in such artificially harnessed forms as a shower ("A shower is a private cloud/ it is a special place/ where I can make it rain so hard/ in such a little space"), Graham and Scott team to create a wonderful collection of concrete poetry that is easily as refreshing as a spring rain" - Booklist, starred review

" 21 clever poems about water burble and dance across the pages of this vivid volume . . . A delightful blend of visual and verbal fun."
- Publishers Weekly

"A colorful collection of poems about water and the particular ways children may come in contact with it . . . cries to be read aloud . . . a fun and useful purchase." - SLJ, starred review

"A set of wonderfully evocative rhymes about water: as steam, as ice, in waves and waterfalls, in oceans and ice cubes. Graham uses simple phrases and images, displaying both a fine ear and a lively imagination, inviting readers to enjoy the sound of the words as well as their sense: "Snow is made of crystal laces/ full of frost and empty spaces/ how can stringing holes together/ pile up into so much weather?" . . . An outstanding collaboration between poet and visual artist." - Kirkus

"Imaginative . . . appealing and entertaining." - Boston Globe

"sparkling . . . fascinating for young AND older readers, and invites aspiring writers to experiment with their own poetry" - Children's Book Review Services

"delightful . . . demonstrates the magical qualities of water as well as language" - Advisory List

"flamboyant . . . don't miss . . . science teachers will smile . . ."
- Instructor

FLICKER FLASH

"A vivid fusion of ingenious concrete poetry and boldly colored graphics that celebrate the many shapes and forms of light. From the joyous whoop of sunlight's 'dynamite, ring-/a-ding day,' to the flash of the open camera shutter that 'will spill/onto my film/to make time/stand still,' readers will delight in the many images presented to the eye and to the mind. This companion volume to Graham's water-wonderful Splish Splash will be equally at home in units on science, poetry, and art, and will surely inspire children. This one dazzles." - School Library Journal, starred review

"stunningly delicious . . . captivates the eye as well as the ear . . . luminous adventures . . . that feel as hypnotic as staring into a flickering flame . . . Graham has a tactile, flexible gift with language and a contagious sense of playfulness and joy . . . The poems are funny and uplifting . . . It is hard to imagine a more perfect duet between words and images than the one performed in Flicker Flash."
- Naomi Shihab Nye, Riverbank Review

"extraordinarily clever . . . this will bewitch readers with both sound and shape." - Booklist

"this volume should have particular appeal to visual learners."
- The Horn Book

"A perfectly enlightening introduction to the fun of playing with words and rhyme." - Family Life, Feb.,2000

"Each of these 23 quirky, deceptively simple poems is about light--the sun, a candle, a firefly, a flashlight--and accompanied by vibrant, yellow-lit illustrations." - Instructor Magazine

"Her evocative rhyming text combines wisdom and wonder, and is well complemented by Nancy Davis's ingenious designs."
- Joyce Sidman, Children's Literature Network

"From fireflies to fireworks, light is a source of wonder to children. FLICKER FLASH, by Joan Bransfield Graham, explores the subject with panache. Illustrations by Nancy Davis are not just around the words but in and of them . . . . The night grins, spotlights illuminate a performer, lightning flashes, shutters let light onto film and baby chicks hatch from eggs under incubator bulbs in this delightful picture book."
- Washington (D.C.) Parent

Other Publications & Media

Magazines & Journals

• "Dancing with Words, Shapes, and Poetry," The Dragon Lode, Vol. 20, No. 1, Fall 2001, The Journal of the Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, International Reading Association
  http://www.reading.ccsu.edu/TheDragonLode/Volume20No1.html
• "Home Run," poem for "Poetry Plus" page with a profile by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Creative Classroom, Sept./Oct. 2000
• "The Shape of Language, the Language of Shape," EDLINE, Museum Educators of Southern CA, 4/95
• "Surprise! It's a Shape Poem," (Poetry Pages for Kids) Instructor Magazine, 11/94

Poems in Anthologies

• "Awesome Forces," GOT GEOGRAPHY: POEMS, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Greenwillow, 2006
• "A Kick in the Head," "Kitchen Crickets," "Is There a Villain in Your
  Villanelle?" A KICK IN THE HEAD: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms, selected by Paul Janeczko, Candlewick, 2005
• "Adventure," HALLOWEEN HOWLS: Holiday Poetry (I Can Read Book 2), selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, HarperCollins, 2005
• "Hat Hair," "Sneakers," "Question for a Skyscraper," "Light," HEY YOU! Poems of Address, selected by Paul Janeczko, HarperCollins, 2005
• "Wildwood By-the-Sea," HOME TO ME, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Orchard/Scholastic, 2002
• "Moondrop," MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE, edited by Betty Ann Schwartz, Henry Holt, 2001
• "Popsicle," A POKE IN THE EYE, selected by Paul Janeczko, Candlewick, 2001
• "Nature Knows Its Math," MARVELOUS MATH, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Simon & Schuster, '97
• "Celebration by the Sea," "Duets," "In the flower bed," "Summer," I AM WRITING A POEM ABOUT . . . A GAME OF POETRY, edited by Myra Cohn Livingston, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1997
• "Birthday Candles," CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 8th Edition, Charlotte S. Huck et al, revised by Barbara Z. Kiefer, McGraw-Hill, 2004 (college textbook)
  and many others

Presentations

POETRY POWER!
SPLISH SPLASH with poetry! Let creative ideas FLICKER FLASH through your imagination! A former teacher, Joan Graham shares her award-winning books of shape poems about water and light. Find out how poems and books take shape. Snorkel in Bora Bora; see the Northern Lights. Slides, puppets, rain sticks, an ocean drum, a thunder stick, and student participation. Explore poetic techniques. Do a poem in sign language. Teacher idea sheets. Poetry writing workshops. Ms. Graham is very flexible and tailors the presentation to fit the age level; please contact her to discuss a personalized event to fit your needs. Teacher In-Service available. Joan enjoys giving presentations and workshops at schools, libraries, and conferences throughout the world.

What People Say

"This is the best assembly we've ever had--and I've been here 28 years!"
- 2nd grade teacher, Brentwood, CA

"Bravo and many thanks for a fine and compelling presentation . . . the audience was dazzled . . . this group will never forget you."
- librarian, Los Angeles, CA

"Phenomenal . . . an enriching experience!" - principal, Bakersfield, CA

"Everything I'd ever hoped for in bringing an author to interact with the children. You really touched a lot of lives in a positive way."
- 3rd grade teacher, Gautier, MS

"I've been teaching for 36 years, and this is the most inspiring day I have experienced!" - teacher, Van Nuys, CA

"We had fun speaking the poetry language. I can feel it in my skin that poetry is for me." - 6th grader, Simi Valley, CA

"wanted you to know how much we appreciate your participation in Author's Day. Your goal of promoting a love for literacy was achieved here . . . The students felt your enthusiasm and I am sure you have inspired some future authors as well . . . Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children." - principal, Los Angeles, CA

"you are wonderful. Thank you for impacting our lives so beautifully and inspiring us." - 1st grade teacher, Pasadena, CA

"Thank you for the lovely poetry workshop. We enjoyed meeting you and being inspired by your poetry and warmth. It was the perfect end to our poetry unit." - 4th grade teacher, Palos Verdes, CA

"You are a great poet and have inspired me to become a writer. If one of my books gets published, look on the inside and it will be dedicated to you. You are also a great role-model. Thank you so much!
P.S. You are the nicest and most talented person I know!"
- 6th grader, Santa Barbara, CA

"wonderful presentations . . . really got a lot out of your assemblies and the Writer's Workshop was fabulous." - school librarian, Brentwood, CA

"What a delightful time we all had with you last week. Your presentation, follow-up activities, and your enthusiasm for writing and poetry were all something the students will long remember."
- librarian, San Gabriel, CA

"What a gift you have for inspiring people young and old!"
- 3rd grade teacher, Eureka, CA

"The children are checking out SPLISH SPLASH and FLICKER FLASH as soon as I put them back on display! . . . They see themselves as poets now--I'm convinced that outlook will continue for most of them . . . Thank you--for making a difference in our lives."
- Library Media Teacher, Burlingame, CA

Fun Facts

• I like to wear my books! When I visit schools, I'm either Splashy (a colorful long skirt with fish and watery designs) or Flashy (a sparkly purple top with silver stars and big star earrings).
• Up until I was five years old I lived above my grandmother's ice cream and candy store.
• I'm married to a former FBI agent, and a friend calls us RHYMES & CRIMES.
• I've lived all over the United States, in the north, south, east, and west--New Jersey, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Virginia, and California.
• My book FLICKER FLASH explores shapes of light; at one event someone gave me a gift of light--six vials of bioluminescent algae! I took it to a conference with me and was, I'm sure, the only person with bioluminescent algae for a roommate.
• I've signed books for all ages--from an unborn baby to a college student graduating with a degree in Marine Biology and marrying a boat captain (SPLISH SPLASH).
• Once I ate a copy of HARRY POTTER! Actually, it was a chocolate book--a dessert at the ABC Dinner in Los Angeles during the Book Expo of America. Yum-m.
• I was born on an island and have visited many islands around the world--Ireland, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Puerto Rico, Santorini, Kauai, Bermuda, Majorca, and New Zealand, to name a few.
• One school had a parade for me. We marched through the playground. The principal wore his Mad Hatter hat and carried a baton. Each 1st grade class wore wonderful hats they made to match poems from SPLISH SPLASH--crocodile hats, frog hats, fish hats, and shower caps with towels and a rubber duck. All of a sudden everything stopped, and over the PA system they played "Splish Splash, I was taking a bath . . ." Everyone started dancing!
• I love my job! What could be more fun?

Just For You

Splish Splash Teacher Ideas

Flicker Flash Teacher Ideas

Visit my Web site at www.joangraham.com to print out Teacher Idea Sheets and a master for "Popsicle" bookmarks. You can print the "Popsicle" in your favorite flavor. Enjoy!