Transcript

How great to see you here again at the Kids’ Poetry Club podcast. Before we start, I wanted to remind you that kidspoetryclub.com contains YouTube videos of illustrated poems and a packet of activities based on this week’s episode. It’s all free. Okay … let the fun begin …

Let's have some fun 

with things that rhyme

welcome Kids 

it's poetry time!

Hip Hip Hurray!

Welcome everyone to Kids Poetry Club with me, Little Dazzy Donuts, and a massive thanks to Lilah, who is today’s STAR of the episode for reading out the introduction poem that you heard at the start of the episode. I’m just arriving at the Club to set up for our episode – but I see that the lights are on, and so someone is already here. Let’s see who it is.

SOUND – Door opens.

Oh, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here yet. Hi Queenie. Hi Chicken. You’re both at the Club really early today.

Queenie: Hi Little Dazzy Donuts! We are! We wanted to make progress on our drawings for the Spring competition. The deadline is the end of April, and I haven’t done my drawing yet.

Well, I’m so happy that you feel motivated to draw, Queenie. How’s it going?

Queenie: Ummm …. Well, Chicken is doing GREAT! Look … here’s one of her drawings. It has butterflies and hummingbirds and flowers. She’s just such a natural artist! However, I’ve really struggled. I’ve got, what you might call, Artists’ Block!

Don’t worry, Queenie. Let’s focus our Club time today on art and inspiring you, and see if that helps! But first, I better welcome everyone to the Club and play the intro music.

Queenie: Ooohhhh … that sounds SOOOO HELPFUL! Let me give you a drum roll to launch you into your welcome speech.

SOUND

I hope you’re feeling ready for some rhymes and fun today because we're going to spend the next 15 minutes listening to three poems on this week's chosen topic. We’ll also have the answer to Rhyming Rita’s riddle from two weeks’ ago, and we’ll be calling up a special guest to help Queenie with her art. So, while I play our intro music, get wriggling around to find a comfortable spot ... I’m so excited! It's time for this week's Kids’ Poetry Club!

Music

Let's start off with club registration. This is where you get to shout out your name and get a club point for being here. So, on the count of three, shout out your name so that I can hear you through your phone, computer, or radio.

Let the drum roll begin. Here goes …. One. Two. Three! ….. Excellent!

So, Queenie, by any chance do you remember the topic from last week? 

Queenie: Yes! It was being yourself! I loved that topic. After hearing from Donna Worry, I’ve now put the saying on my bathroom mirror. “Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” I already was myself before … but now I feel even happier about being myself. When I hike, I’m wearing my chicken raincoat with pride.

Well, that’s wonderful news Queenie. I’m proud of you! Okay, so today we’re going to focus on the topic of Art. Have you ever noticed all of the many places that you can see art? There are paintings in people’s houses, in shops, and restaurants. There are sculptures in parks, train stations, and in our shopping areas. There are even whole museums dedicated to art, including the largest art museum in the world, the Louvre in Paris, France, which houses 38,000 works of art and welcomes over 7 million visitors each year.

Queenie: 38,000! Gosh, that’s such a big number. I’m thinking about how much art I have in my home, and it sounds far less than there is in the Louvre. Mind you, my art isn’t by anyone famous.

Well, Queenie, not all art is by world famous artists. A lot of art is done by local artists who show their work in local galleries and shops … and even more art is done by people like me, you, and Chicken. If you think about all of the art around the world, there’s bound to be something to like.  

In fact, our first poem is about how different art appeals to different people, and how art can really inspires us. It’s called “Inspired by Art”. But how do you think this first poem will get here? Let’s see how the Poetry Postal Service is delivering it …. Here it comes …

SOUND

It came by horse! You know, that seems really appropriate. Over the years, there have been so many great paintings of horses, and so I know exactly what Postie Dale was thinking when he chose a horse to deliver our poem. Now it’s here, let’s listen to our first poem, called “Inspired by Art”.

There were hundreds of people

surrounding a painting

from centuries ago

by somebody famous.

I squeezed to the front

only to see

that this famous painting

did nothing for me.

But, away from the crowds,

by a fire escape door,

was an unnoticed painting

that offered me more.

I stood by it alone

and looked for an hour

admiring the colors

of a vase filled with flowers.

I wondered who had sliced

the large loaf of bread;

and why the apple had just

been cut up and left,

and I admired how the sunshine

bounced off the knife

to illuminated this scene

that was so full of life.

It was then that I noticed

the crowds were all gone,

and I was surrounded

by art in a room all alone.

So I thanked all the artists

for their work and their time,

that years after their passing

inspires my mind.

If you’ve ever been to an art museum, you’ve probably experienced scenes just like the ones described in the poem. Where there’s a famous painting on show, and everybody battles to get a view of it … but, it’s actually a completely different piece that inspires you.

Well, Queenie, talking of being inspired by art, I promised that we’d help you with your drawing for the Spring competition. How are you getting on with your Artists’ Block?

Queenie: Sadly, I’m well and truly blocked! I’ve looked at lots of art online and at the library. But when it came to doing my own drawing, I’ve really struggled.

Gosh, that sounds frustrating. What do you think is causing the blockage?

Queenie: Well, I want to choose the right thing to draw … and then I want to draw it perfectly. But I just can’t figure out what to draw that would be worth entering into the Spring competition.

Okay. It sounds like we need some help. I think you should call up, Bill Ding. He’s an artist friend of the Club, and I think he’s the perfect person to help you through your Artists’ Block. Here, I’ll dial the number so that you can chat with him.

SOUND

Bill: Hi, this is Bill Ding.

Queenie: Hi Bill. It’s Queenie.

Bill: Hi, Queenie – how great to hear from you. How are you doing?

Queenie: I was actually wondering if you could help me. I’m stuck on what to draw for the Spring competition. I’ve sat here for ages looking at a blank sheet of paper, and I don’t know where to start. 

Bill: Well, Queenie, Spring offers so many options for a drawing or a painting. If I look out of my window now, things are really coming back to life. I really like the trees and flowers this time of year, and the birds too. When you look out of your window, do you see anything that you’d really love to draw?

Queenie: Well, I love flowers and I can see daffodils and tulips in the garden. You know what, tulips are one of my favorite flowers. Why don’t I draw a tulip. So, how should I go about drawing a tulip?

Bill: I have tulips here too. They’re so pretty this time of year! When I look at a tulip, I see that it’s made up of parts – like the leaves, and the stem, and the flower. So, when you try to draw the tulip, first look really closely at, and identify the parts.

Queenie: I can see that now. I was looking at the tulip as a whole thing – but you’re right, it’s actually made up of different parts.

Bill: Great. Now, each of those parts has a basic shape. At its most basic, the stem is a line, and the flower is an oval – like an egg. So, draw those very basic shapes first. Then, once you have those basic shapes, look more closely at each part. If you look at the flower, you see that it’s more complicated than an oval shape – it actually consists of petals, and each of those is a different shape. So, now add that detail to make your single line and oval into something that more closely resembles the tulip. It may take you several attempts – so don’t worry if you don’t get it right first time. Eventually, you’ll have a tulip that you’re happy with. You can then fill in the parts with shading and colors.

Queenie: ooohhhhhh – thanks, Bill. That’s such great advice. Thank you sooooo much! I’m going to work on my tulip now, while Little Dazzy Donuts reads another poem, and I’ll send you a copy of my drawing once it’s finished.

Bill: Thanks, Queenie. I’m so glad you called. Let’s get together soon to look at some art. Maybe we could go to the art museum together, or around the park to look at the sculptures. I’d love that. Take care, and chat soon!

Queenie: Thanks, Bill – see you soon!

SOUND

Queenie: Wow – wasn’t Bill helpful. I feel so much better about my drawing now. Okay, let’s get to work with my pencils and art paper.

Okay then, while Queenie practices drawing a tulip, I’ll read you a second poem. Queenie, by any chance did you bring one with you in your pocket?

Queenie: Oh yes …. Here it is!!!!

Great … oh, I like this one. It’s all about someone who creates a successful painting, but it may be of something different than what people think it’s a painting of. It’s called “My Gallery Painting”

The canvas was empty,

the brush was still dry,

the paints were untouched.

Then, in my mind’s eye,

I pictured a scene

ideal for my art,

and my brushes were flowing

like the blood in my heart.

I had brush strokes of red

to clash with my blue,

and I swirled clouds of white

to obscure the view.

Then I took a step back,

and flicked paint from afar

that rained down on the canvas

like wet shooting stars.

Then I waited a day

before working some more,

when I layered on dark black

and a mysterious door.

To brighten the scene,

I added a sun.

That’s when I knew

that my work here was done.

So I signed it, then framed it,

now it’s hung up on show.

The art experts all love it.

I suppose they should know.

But they say it’s a commentary

to promote dialogue,

when it’s really just a painting

I did of my dog.

Queenie: Oh, I loved that poem Little Dazzy Donuts. How funny that the artist painted a picture of a dog, but everyone sees something really deep and meaningful in it. That must happen all of the time. Oh, I’d love to create art like that.

So, how’s your tulip going?

Queenie: Well, my first attempt looked like a banana wearing a hat. But my second attemt was better. I’m going to follow Bill Ding’s advice and keep trying by focusing on the parts and their shapes. Eventually, my tulip will look like a tulip. That said, it could still end up looking like a banana wearing a hat – if so, I’m going to embrace that and enter it into the Spring competition. I’ll call it “A Banana at Springtime”.

Well, Queenie, it’s time to give everyone the answer to Rhyming Rita’s riddle from two weeks’ ago. Now you’ve had a few days to think about it, did you manage to work it out the two words that the riddle’s about?

Queenie: I think I did …. But can you read it out again so I can check?

Sure. Here’s the riddle that Rhyming Rita wrote especially for us:

I am named for different colors,
at times where I reside
yet it may sound to you
like I have no clothes
or covers in which to hide.
Don’t confuse the two of me
for we are definitely not the same:
for I may be one by nature
and the other one by name.

So, Queenie - what do you think the two words are?

Queenie: Well, I think it’s bear and bare … so the animal bear and the word bare that means having no clothes on.

You’re right. It is bear and bare! Gosh, you really are good with riddles! Hopefully Rhyming Rita will be back again soon with another riddle to test us all.

Well, we’ve made it to the final poem of the day.

SOUND

This final poem is a short one … so be careful to pay attention or you’ll miss it. It’s called “Our Art Gallery”, and it’s about a special place that hosts art in our homes. Here goes …

Drawings of houses, and people, and pets,
in pencil, crayon, and felt tip pens,
stuck on the fridge
for our family to see
is the most important art gallery.

Queenie: I like that poem. Most of my drawings end up on the fridge, and that does make the fridge the most important art gallery that we have. And it’s free to look at, too.

Well, Queenie, that was our final poem for this episode.

SOUND

Don’t forget that there are lots of ways to join in with the club. If you go to kidspoetryclub.com, you’ll see a wonderful drawing by our Club illustrator, Dot Cherch. You can also see the PodSnack video for the episode and download the episode’s PodPack of activities, which includes some photographs of Bill Ding’s art! They’re all free. Plus there’s information on how to send your poems and drawings into the club, including your entries for the Spring competition. There’s also information on how you can be the STAR of the episode who reads out our introduction poem. You’ll find everything you need at kidspoetryclub.com.

It has been so lovely to spend time with you! Thank you for joining me, Queenie, and Bill Ding.  I hope you enjoyed yourself, and hope you’ll be back for more next time the Club meets. Join us again next week when we’ll have a new topic and more fun.

As always, let's finish with our short goodbye poem:

We've had some fun 

with things that rhymed

goodbye Kids 

until next time!

This is Little Dazzy Donuts saying .... keep rhyming!!!

MUSIC