Linda Kulp Trout

Thursday, March 7, 2019

A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND MORE by Janet Wong

I have been a fan of Janet's poetry since 1994 when I bought my first copy of GOOD LUCK GOLD. I loved it. My students loved it.  The voice of each poem was so warm and real, it felt like we were sitting around a kitchen table listening to the Janet tell us stories. Some writers are like that. Even though you've never spoken in person, you are connected by their words. They feel like friends, and you want to know more.
(1994 cover and 2012 cover )

Two years later, browsing in a bookstore, I was excited to find  A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED.  I couldn't wait to share it with my fifth graders.  The next day, I brought in a jar of kimchi (which I had to go to three different grocery stores to find), and read aloud "Burial" which tells the story of burying kimchi in the ground until spring. Then we all had a taste of the kimchi. All I can say is that I'm glad I had a water fountain in my classroom! We read poem after poem.  Their favorite poem was "Leeches."  I can still hear their , "Ewww! Read it again!"  A few days later, a boy who usually avoided writing, shared his own "leech" poem.


Over the years, I watched for Janet's new books and added each collection and picture book to my school library.  They made wonderful mentor texts for teaching (and learning about) voice, writing about family experiences, and using sensory language. Check out Janet's website to learn more about her books.

So even though I'm retired from teaching, when I read about A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND MORE, I ordered it right away!  Here is the description from Janet's website:

The entire text of the original book is presented here in A Suitcase of Seaweed & More, along with 50 brand new pages—where you’ll find snippets of story about the inspiration behind the poems, extensions of the themes, and writing prompts to get teens thinking, talking, and writing about their own identities. Wong’s “Advice for Writers” might even inspire them to write their own books, too.

My copy arrived yesterday. Of course I love the poems, and now I know the inspiration behind the poems. This book demonstrates how writers can use their own memories to write memoir, poetry, and stories. Janet not only provides writing prompts, she gives lots of encouragement and permission to "just try." Writers will also discover how one memory or topic can be written about in different forms. I wish I had this book when I was teaching, but I'm grateful to have it now to inspire my own writing.


Back in 1994, I never thought that I would someday meet the poet I had admired for so many years, but twenty years later, I did.  Janet is every bit as warm and real as my students and I imagined her to be.  Teachers, writers, and poetry lovers,  A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND MORE is a resource you'll turn to often. If I were still teaching, I'd want to have multiple copies to use in my writer's workshop. It's that good!

A special thank you to Catherine for hosting this week's Poetry Friday at Reading to the Core.

27 comments:

  1. Thanks for introducing me Janet's new book. I'm a big fan of her work, too, and I look forward to reading more.

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    1. Hi Kimberly, Janet's books are amazing. I always look forward to reading her poems.

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  2. It is on my list, Linda, will get it soon, I'm sure. And it does sound wonderful! I have had kimchi before, have a niece and nephew from Korea. Wow, it is spicy! I'm sure that it will be fun to share that with my niece and nephew!

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    1. Hi Linda- yes, kimchi is really spicy! It was quite an experience for all of us. : )

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  3. Linda, Janet is a "love"! Her wit and talent are to be admired as is her enthusiasm for #poetrylove. Her new book sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi Carol, I hope you can get your hands on a copy. I'm sure you will love it!

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  4. I never knew so much of this about Janet. It was lovely to read! I can see why this new book would be wonderful to have. Thank-you for sharing. Enjoy responding to all the inspiration. :)

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  5. Thank you, Kat. Janet's kind, warm personality really comes through in her work. Yes, the inspiration is wonderful!

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  6. I am SO GLAD Janet has brought this one back in print! It is a favorite of mine as well. I use the poem "Sisters" with students all the time. xo

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    1. Hi Irene, "Sisters" is one of my favorites too. This books if full of great poems to share with students! xo

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  7. I love this kind of book. I used to have a book by a middle grade poet/novelist where she shared the story behind each poem and did something similar...I wish I could remember the title of it! It was great for poets of all ages! I'll have to get Janet's book!

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  8. Hi Laura, I love this kind of book too. I'm always interested in learning about the inspiration behind a poem or story. If you think of the name of the book, let me know. In POEMS FROM HOMEROOM, Kathi Appelt does something similar.xo

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  9. You convinced me - I just added this to my wish list. It sounds wonderful!

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  10. Am ordering! Thanks for the great review

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  11. Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful comments--and THANK YOU, Linda, for this terrific surprise post!!! Linda: if you want to put the names of your commenters in a box and pull a name out, I will send a free book to one of the lovely people above. That person will just need to send me her address (email me at janet AT janetwong DOT com) and I will put the book in the mail after I return from an out-of-state school visit on Tuesday!

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  12. Thank you, Janet. You are always so generous! I'll take care of that this weekend and announce the winner on Monday!

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  13. I find it fascinating to hear about how a poem came about, it adds extra layers to the poem itself. Thanks for sharing Janets old and now new and expanded book Linda!

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    1. Hi Michelle, I'm with you, I love to learn the inspiration behind a poem. : )

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  14. Linda, I love everything about this wonderful post celebrating Janet and her poetry. A Suitcase of Seaweed has always been one of my favorites, so I'm thrilled to learn about this new, expanded version. Thank you for highlighting it today! (And thank you to Janet for so generously offering a copy to give away!)

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    1. Hi Catherine, I agree, Janet is always so generous!

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  15. Everything I love about Janet is here -- her writing, her constant striving to do more, and her generosity.

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  16. Hi Mary Lee, I agree! Janet is amazing, and she has made a real difference in the lives of so many!

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  17. Tuesday morning PF commenting--my latest ever! I'm owning it.

    Janet is a Wongder of a person. My most recent Janet moment is reading ALEX AND THE WEDNESDAY CHESS CLUB, a picture book in verse which my chess-crazy 2nd graders love. She shares so generously of her experience and has a knack for foregrounding the universal connections in the specific details. Looking forward to this book...

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  18. Janet is such a positive force in children's poetry. I don't have these books in my personal collection ... yet! I'm going to add them to my wishlist.

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