Celebrating poetry month: Janet Wong
Janet Wong, perhaps, reminds me of my own mother: both went to UCLA, practiced law, then quit their daytime jobs to write for the youth, specifically books with Asian American representation, an intention that permeates much of their work. This is particularly evident in Wong’s Good Luck Gold and A Suitcase of Seaweed, two of her verse collections for youth that explores her Chinese and Korean roots. However, her delicate handling of the unknown through a child’s eyes is authentic enough to be enjoyed even by older audiences, demonstrating her talent as a poet.
Janet Wong is a prolific writer with more than thirty books under her belt, including verse novels for children. Together with Sylvia Vardell, she also created Pomelo Books, a publishing company that is dedicated to bringing poetry for children to the classroom, particularly with The Poetry Friday Anthology and Poetry Friday Power Book series. Most recently, Wong was awarded the NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award for her inspiring diligence in promoting poetry for the youth.
- Avalon Felice Lee
Janet Wong
Samples of Poetry
Janet Wong, poem, 1994
Janet Wong, poem, 1996
Janet Wong, poem, 1999
Janet Wong, poem, 1999
Janet Wong, poem, 2000
Janet Wong, poem, 2007
Wild Rose Reader, interview, 2008
A video interview with Janet Wong
Reading Rockets, interviews, 2010 & 2015
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Asian Elephant
Janet Wong, poems, 2011
janet wong: handful of this, pinch of that
Jama’s Alphabet Soup, 2012
Other
Grandmother’s Almond Cookies
Janet Wong, featured poems
Janet Wong, poem, 2012
You Can Do It Right Now
Look for Birds
Bear
I Listen
When I Feel Scared
Strangers
Black Lives Matter
“Earth Says Good Morning to…”
Fishing
Summer Reading
Clean Up
Let’s Pledge Between Us
If You See Something, Say Something
The Do Kind
The Language of Healing
What If
Janet Wong, misc poems
Interviews and Essays
Interview with Poet Janet Wong
Teaching Authors, interview, 2012
Poetry4kids, interview
Patricia Newman, essay
Poet Interview: Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong
Poetry Teatime, interview
Writers Changing Lives: A Chat With Janet Wong
Nadja Borovac, Worldreader, interview
Books of poetry and verse for young people
Good Luck Gold and Other Poems (1994)
A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems (1996)
NYPL Book for the Teen Age
Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
William Allen White Award Master List
Behind the Wheel: Poems About Driving (1999)
American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists
Booklist Star
ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers
The Rainbow Hand: Poems about Mothers and Children (1999)
American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists Penn State University
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor
Buzz (2000)
Los Angeles Times “Best Children’s Book[s] of 2000″
School Library Journal “Best Children’s Book[s] of 2000″
Publisher’s Weekly Star
School Library Journal Star
Horn Book Star
American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists
Night Garden: Poems From The World of Dreams (2000)
New York Times “10 Best Illustrated Books of 2000″
Publisher’s Weekly Star
School Library Journal Star
This Next New Year (2000)
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
Nick Jr. “Best Holiday Book[s] of 2000″
The Trip Back Home (2000)
ALA Book Links “Lasting Connections Book”
Asian Pacific American Librarians’ Association (APALA) Award for Children’s Literature
Apple Pie 4th of July (2002)
Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Recommended Book
You Have to Write (2002)
Knock on Wood: Poems About Superstitions (2003)
Parents’ Choice Recommended Book Riverbank Review
Books of Distinction Finalist
Minn and Jake (2003)
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon
TWIST: Yoga Poems (2007)
Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Minn and Jake’s Almost Terrible Summer (2008)
Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
Once Upon A Tiger: New Beginnings for Endangered Animals (2011)
eBook winner of the 2011 Green Book Festival!
Declaration of Interdependence: Poems for an Election Year (2012)
The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations (2015 anthology)
The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science (2015 anthology)
GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud (2018 anthology)
A Suitcase Of Seaweed And More (2019)
NCTE Poetry Notable
Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving (2020 anthology)
Examples of Recognition
1997 Claremont Stone Center Recognition of Merit Award
1998 International Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award
2002 IRA Celebrate Literacy Award
2021 NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award
