Comments from School Visits
Excerpts from News Reports
Poetic Testimonials
Thank You and Author Kalli Dakos
Click on a link and scroll down to read your selection 
THE INUVIK DRUM, Inuvik, NT
(Inuvik is 120 miles above the Arctic Circle in Canada)
Dakos mesmerized the kids at Sir Alexander Mackenzie with both her poetry and her use of props, including streamers, toy toilets, big hands and the oversized "magic glasses" she puts on to help her see the stories that surround us all. A power failure during her presentation didn't even phase Dakos, who quickly switched on a flashlight and began reading a couple of "scary" poems. She never lost her audience.
THE SHAWANO LEADER NEWSPAPER, Shawano, WI
Poet, author and teacher Kalli Dakos paid a special visit to Olga Brener Elementary School last week – enlightening students with the joy of poetry. She even played on the themes she heard throughout the day, including a dancing principal and a ballerina in the bathroom. "Their lives are filled with stories," said Dakos, and those stories are better than all the books in the library."
THE POTOMAC NEWS, Manassas, VA
Sitting on the carpeted floor, chins resting on folded hands, and eyes intent on the woman reading to them, students at Weems Elementary School learned that ideas from poetry come from everyday living.
Dakos repeated her message over and over – that ideas for stories and poetry can be found everywhere: in the classrooms, the lunch room, the bathroom, at recess, from teachers and friends.
THE CHESTERVILLE RECORD, Chesterville, Ontario, Canada
Dakos enjoys going to schools to share her passion for poetry. She says that her favourite part of these presentations is "the look on the kids' faces when you pull out a little toilet or a teacher sings opera. "I think there's a natural love for poetry, if it's done right," she said. "I think poetry is a celebration of life."
THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, Watertown, NY
A raucous presenter, Kalli had the students at Evans Mills Primary School singing, snoring, waving streamers and clapping their hands. A number of props made an appearance during the presentation, and included a variety of miniature toilets, a pair of giant fluorescent green glasses, and a plush doll with a large mouth. In short, Ms. Dakos had everything necessary to keep an audience of youngsters totally engaged.
At one point, Ms Dakos had a group of first-graders reciting Shakespeare-inspired Elizabethan-type verse from her newest book, Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig. The pig of the book is Hamlet, a porcine poet partially raised by a Shakespeare buff. He thinks in verse.
"I never saw true beauty/Till this day. Ms. Juliet is the sun/that lights my way." Fifty kindergarten and first-grade students repeated Hamlet's rhapsodic description of Ms. Juliet after Ms. Dakos without missing a beat!
THE FAIRFAX CONNECTION, Fairfax, VA
Kalli Dakos is a poet who celebrates childhood and the child in all of us. Dakos conducts workshops at national and state conferences and at schools, working with students and teachers to help them find poetry in all the mundane happenings of their lives.
Dakos feels writing is therapeutic and she sees a need for children to express themselves, to really look carefully at their lives for the little things that give life its flavor. Once you learn to write about the little things, all of life becomes a celebration."
THE MOUNTAINEER, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada
With the help of students and teachers, Dakos does what she calls "playing poetry" – acting out some of her silly poems. She totes a trunk full of props which help to stimulate students' creativity, and tells students to look at their lives for the simple little things that give life its flavour.
"The story of your life is the best one of all," said Dakos as a last lesson to her captivated audience.
THE PARENTS WEEKLY, Washington, D.C.
Dakos would like to see poetry permeate the elementary curriculum. Her view is that poetry is an easy and sure way to reach children because it draws on a child's innate playfulness.
Dakos says, "A child comes home from school with a million stories to recount . . .Let them play with words. . . let them act out stories and poems for you. "
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
We are using Our Promised to Kiss a Pig to help students with reading and writing. It's kind of like the nursery rhymes – kids love the melody and the rhythm." The goal Dakos says, is to help children fall in love with the eternal rhythms of Shakespeare and verse.
THE MINI PAGE FOR KIDS, The Washington Post, Washington, DC
There is a big variety of poetry for kids to read. Read as much as you can and choose your own favorites.
"If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand, Poems About School, has fun poems about this part of kids' lives, like this one:
Teacher Could You?
Teacher, Could you do
What you ask us to do?
Could you
Sit beside a friend,
And not speak too?
MANASSAS JOURNAL MESSENGER, Manassas, VA
Author, former teacher, Kalli Dakos, enchants Parkside students. Each grade had time to listen and interact with Dakos about her poems and stories. Throughout this program, she stressed her magic glasses and encouraged children to "look at life through magic glasses and you will find stories everywhere."
Asked why she did these programs in the schools, Dakos replied, "I love watching children get turned on to poetry."
Kalli Dakos must have loved what saw in the faces of the Parkside students.
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
"Children need the opportunity for lots of sharing before they start writing. They need to laugh at themselves and bring this joy of laughter and learning to their writing."
Parents don't mind it either, judging from the feet stamping and hands raising on cue at the Kanata school gym this evening. They joined in the chorus of the poem about the child who brought a worm for show and tell.
"Our classrooms are filled with stories – hysterical, humorous, joyful, tragic, silly and courageous tales of real life," says Dakos. "And sometimes, if we are lucky, we are present when the human spirit struggles and ultimately triumphs . . . Every encounter with a child can make a difference."
THE LOUDOUN TIMES MIRROR, Leesburg, VA
Children need to be taught to celebrate life as much as they need to be taught reading, writing and arithmetic. Sometimes it is more important to run in the wind, to look at a butterfly or to catch snowflakes on our tongue. When we write about these experiences, real life shakes hands with literacy.
At Lovettsville Dakos heard about the time when the school secretary go the buzzer code a little mixed up when she was trying to call the principal. Instead of signaling a simple message, she alerted the whole school of an approaching tornado."
THE PITTSBURG SUN, Pittsburgh, Kansas
Kalli writes mainly poems, and because she's a former teacher, the poems are about school," Knell said. "Children just love them. Brian has illustrated more than 50 children's books.
The book the kids get this year will be Don't Read This Book, Whatever You Do, More Poems About School. It was written by Dakos and illustrated by Karas. It's not often that we're able to give out books that have been signed by both the writer and illustrator, but this year we can," said Knell.
THE FAIRFAX CONNECTION, Fairfax, VA
"I find that with the toys, I can pull in just about any kid," Dakos said. "The kids are with me 100 percent. It's a great way to learn because children learn best through "play".
"I've learned through my work that every child has a story," Dakos said. "When we celebrate that story through reading and writing, we're teaching kids literacy at the most meaningful level."
EDUCATION WORLD
"Students love when the principal of the school agrees to do something outrageous or silly if they work hard to meet a challenge," says Kalli Dakos. "There is an element of play in this, and children respond wholeheartedly."
"I have actually been with principals who kissed pigs in front of an entire school with the media present," reports Dakos. "All kinds of strange things happen. Some pigs are terrified and try to run away. One principal had to chase after the pig she was supposed to kiss. Other are docile and love all the attention. One school had a shirt for the pig that said, I kissed the principal."
THE NORTH YORK MIRROR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Roywood Public School principal Shirley Ponka fulfills her pledge and kisses Molly the rat at the school on Thursday. Plonka had challenged the students to read 10,000 books and promised the animal of their choice if the goal was met.
Since the fall, students have kept track of the number of books they have read on a five foot read-o-meter. The students prepared for the task by reading Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig by author Kalli Dakos who was on hand for Friday's big kiss
St. James School, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I especially liked that you shared your rejection letters and comments from editors. Developing perseverance is becoming very difficult in our instant gratification society.
Grade 5/6 Teacher
Elmont Elementary School, Ashland, VA
The presentation was fabulous. The children were engaged and Kalli offered some fun suggestions to teachers for making poetry come alive for students. The kids and teachers love the head boppers.
First Grade Teacher
Westridge Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA
The program was inspirational for the students. Poetry is often intimidating, so it was valuable for them to see someone having fun and writing about topics they know about.
Third Grade Teacher
Fantastic presentation! It was informative and entertaining. We learned so much!
Second Grade Teacher
Herman & Seward Elementary Schools, Auburn, NY
I loved the poems based on Shakespeare and the opera. I think they were great for this age to see plays and stories like these at their level.
Third Grade Teacher
It was a great experience. I’d like to turn your poetry into music!
Fourth Grade Teacher
Oxford-on-the Rideau, Oxford Mills, Ontario, Canada
Thank you for an enjoyable presentation. It was great to laugh at this very busy time of the year.
First Grade Teacher
The enthusiasm was incredible – very inspirational. All the students were engaged. Fabulous interaction with children.
Kindergarten Teacher
Taylor Elementary School, Arlington, VA
Your enthusiasm and love of story made this a delight. Your "What’s There to Write About?" sheet is super!
Fifth Grade Teacher
Herman Avenue Elementary School, Auburn, NY
I loved her enthusiasm for writing. I loved how she kept stressing that ideas are all around us. I love how she shared her experiences . . . her success didn’t happen overnight. Excellent job!
Fifth Grade Teacher
Owasco Elementary School, Auburn, NY
Kalli Dakos has a genuine appreciation for living in the present moment and captures that in her simplicity of poetic style. Her program was lively and authentic to children’s experience of humor. Engaging and inspirational.
Fifth Grade Teacher
Leslie Park Elementary School, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Great enthusiasm, super visuals, fast-paced and included teacher and student participation.
Kindergarten Teacher
Hershey Elementary School, Hershey, PA
Kalli was awesome, animated, happy and creative. She kept the students and teachers involved the whole time. Her poems and stories were perfect for our grade level. We loved her.
Early Childhood Center
The kids and I had a blast.
Fifth Grade Teacher
We learned poetry is everywhere.
You can have fun writing stories.
Memories make good writing topics.
Not all good stories get published.
Keep trying even if you fail several times.
Awesome assembly. Thank you!
Fourth Grade Teacher
This was the best author visit we’ve had! I loved that kids could see how often you have to rewrite and revise and that it’s okay to fail. Wonderful lesson for them!
Fourth Grade Teacher
The students were engaged the entire time and left excited about poetry.
Fourth Grade Teacher
Best author presentation I’ve ever seen.
First Grade Teacher
Great assembly – positive, fun and made everyone smile!
Kindergarten Teacher
Berrigan Elementary School, Nepean, Ontario Canada
The whole presentation was animated and interesting! The topics didn’t seem to matter since the delivery was so spectacular! Many thanks!
First Grade Teacher
I like doing a Poetry Café so it gave me ideas for poems to use and props. Students loved being involved. Teacher involvement was great too.
Third Grade Teacher
Genesee Elementary School, Auburn, NY
Ms. Dakos is upbeat, positive and a fantastic presenter. My students will benefit from her honesty and sharing her rejection letters. Of course the poetry she shared was great and inspiring to both my students and me.
Fifth Grade Teacher
I liked the way you used props. It motivated me to do more of this during my own teaching.
Third Grade Teacher
The best author visit we’ve had. The props and teacher participation was excellent.
Third Grade Teacher
Robert Hopkins Elementary School, Gloucester, Ontario, Canada
The presentation was superb – interactive and fun! I wish the books could be in French.
Grade Two Teacher
I loved your presentation. I wish I had read your poems when I was young. You really have a gift for understanding a child’s perspective and humor!
JK/SK Teacher
Thomas W. Holtzman Elementary School, Hershey, PA
I particularly appreciated Ms. Dakos repeatedly asking students to write their experiences. She made poetry writing attainable for the most reluctant writer! Ms. Dakos made each poem come to life with the visual representations. Thanks for the ideas!
Fourth Grade Teacher
Kalli is a great presenter who kept the students engaged and entertained (teachers too!). Props, personal stories and toys added to the performance. Well done!
Third Grade Teacher
Mary Honeywell Elementary School, Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Excellent! Wonderful! Amusing! Inspiring! Phenomenal! Great! Perfect! Funny! Over any experiences and expectations!
Third Grade Teacher
I’ve already had several students ask me if they can write a poem . . . Excellent!
Third Grade Teacher
I want to get more boppers for the children to wear when they are writing stories and poems!
Second Grade Teacher
De-stressing poetry and making it fun were very valuable experiences. I quite like the freedom of allowing children to write about anything! It was the best presentation I’ve seen at school – the additional workshop component was very effective.
Fourth Grade Teacher
I love the silly boppers for teachers, in case we take ourselves too seriously. Imagine associating fun and silliness with poetry and real life events!
First Grade Teacher
Springwoods Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA
This presentation was the best that I have been to since I have been teaching. Lately it is "all about testing." You helped me to remember to smile and to have fun again.
Second Grade Teacher
Visit as many schools as you can! You’re fantastic!
Fourth Grade Teacher
My students were extremely eager to write their own poems after Ms. Dakos' visit. I was very surprised (and pleased) with the quality of their work. They didn’t even mind rewriting them – after I edited in RED (which I usually do not do). I let them wear boppers when they read their poems to the class. They loved it! Thank you! Thanks you! Thank you!
Grades 4/5 LD Teacher
Steve MacLean Public School, Gloucester, ON Canada
Excellent! Wonderful! Amusing! Inspiring! Phenomenal! Great! The experience was wonderful. It combined poetry, drama and imagination. The students were really into it. Thank you!
Second Grade Teacher
High energy! Lively! High student involvement! Motivating to read and write poetry.
Second Grade Teacher
Carambeck Public School, Carleton Place, Ontario Canada
The ‘where do you get your ideas?" portion was excellent. It sounds so easy. Your energy and enthusiasm were inspiring. You’re right about our "seriousness" (we’re too serious) in education today. Thanks for an excellent presentation.
Grade 2/3 Teacher
Prettyboy Elementary School Freeland, MD
The props added so much. It is very evident that you are a teacher!! You knew how to work your student audience. Thanks for all the extras.
Art Teacher
Your enthusiasm and humor were great! I apologize to say I was not familiar with your books.
First Grade Teacher
Your presentation really influenced the kids to unleash their creativity.
Fourth Grade Teacher
My thanks go to Randy Hollister, the Headmaster of Loudoun Country Day School in Leesburg, Virginia for writing a poem about ME!. I tell students and teachers that poems are the best gifts we can give each other, and this one is a treasure.
A Tribute to Kalli Dakos
by Randy Hollister, Headmaster,
Loudoun Country Day School, Leesburg, Virginia
October 6, 2006
Hail to our Empress, our magician with words;
Our royal noun-user, our verbivore nerd.
She mesmerizes her readers with images galore,
And inspires flights of fancy that make our minds soar.
Her splendid creations and keen observations,
Profound machinations from deep meditations
Present explanations that make us want more.
She weaves, she pats, she shapes, she molds
A tapestry of rhymes each reader beholds.
She takes the mysterious and renders it obvious;
She raises our vision to heights quite above us.
She relishes the chance to poeticize relish;
She's does it with ease as she make her next dish;
Her imagination runs spicy, like peppery salsa;
Fantastical dishes, the envy of Tulsa.
She loves zany gadgets, that prompt our wide smiles;
The coke bottle that dances to a tune that beguiles.
She arrests our attention with a tiny commode;
What's that in the bowl? I think it's a toad!
It's all from her magic, her smithwording forge,
That pries us and pokes us and prods us to gorge,
On thoughts deep within us or things here and there,
On all that we wonder and see everywhere.
She lifts us, she guides us, she cues us, and leads us;
Through all that we know about paste-eating Gus.
She mentions frogs the class, and pencils, and names;
Her poems reek of onions and glorify games.
She alerts us of bugs that terrorize teachers;
She celebrates hamburgers, wiggles, and bleachers.
She writes about Shakespeare the Sweet Swan of Avon,
In ways that ensure that his legacy lives on.
Her pen portrays portraits of trouble in art,
And inks about bookbags and recess with heart;
She tells of the challenge of Peter the Pain,
And all of his antics, from China to Spain.
The wiggles she writes of defeated the woggles,
But giggles, she'll tell you, are more fun that goggles!
Our Empress of crystal vision can halt us,
Can make our hearts stop for a moment or two;
Or can quicken our pulse without making a grand fuss,
She's the Princess of Poets, it's true through and through.
She knows what to say and just how to say it,
No matter the topic, the moment, zuzume;
"Zuzume's a good word" adumbrates our dear poet;
She'll use it, and share it, and make it her plume.
She's a Poet's poet, a master-maker of meaning,
Who means what she means when she means what she means.
She gives the enigmas of life a strong leaning,
And points to the objects of life we must glean.
She enlarges our thoughts and infuses our dreams,
That each day is sweeter line after line;
For hearing her voice, for watching the streams
Of the images firing her letters so divine.
She adds to the joy that makes life feel worth living;
Our Majesty of meter keeps giving and giving.
Which tells us our tribute's not over, not yet;
To capture our Empress demands a much greater net.
Roses are Red
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But no one is
As poetic as you!
Ariana/Student
Today at School
We loved hearing ghost stories,
And poems about lavatories.
We loved hearing ghost stories,
We liked the dancing soda bottle,
Especially when it waddled.
The class enjoyed the student participation,
Your poems were a great creation.
The dead pencils were clever,
Too bad they don't live forever.
Thanks for a marvelous show,
We were sad when you had to go.
You made our love for poetry go higher,
And left us all inspired!
Mollie Traversa and her Fourth Graders
My favorite evaluations are poems by students. Here are two very special ones. The first poem was written by Colleen Fisherkeller from Marsh Elementary School in Highland Park, Illinois on May 14, 2001.
Author Kalli Dakos
Author Kalli Dakos came to visit
Marsh School one day,
She shared with us the poetry
She writes in a whimsical way.
She had the kids and teachers
Participating in the fun.
She even had the building engineer,
Join in before she was done.
She had streamers dancing all around
And toilets flushing too,
She turned two teachers into frogs,
For being . . . oh so rude.
She made us laugh; she made us smile,
We're glad Kalli came today,
She taught us anyone can write,
In such a fun and creative way.
This next poem was written by a fifth-grade student, Kristen, at Bettie Weaver Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia in December of 2000. I love how she creates a poem out of the entire letter.
Thank You
Dear Kalli Dakos, who came to our school,
Thank you for your poetry; it was super cool.
Even after rejection on a poem, you don't quit,
Your creativity is a bottomless pit.
Through your poetry we know how you feel,
You perform your poems with energy and zeal,
All your silly props made us want to grin,
Visit us from Canada, sincerely, Kirsten.
A Poet Came to Our School
On the morning message we saw,
An assembly with an author.
We really were in awe.
We couldn't wait to meet her.
Kalli Dakos has a surprise.
It gave us such a rush.
You brought out two toilets
That really did flush!
In our favorite poem,
The principal gave a kiss.
Miss Chamberlain gazed into his eyes.
Hamlet was in bliss!
Some of your poems
Seemed a little bizarre.
Mrs. Wilson sang about writing,
Like an opera star.
We liked the poem
About Eric and Jane.
When Jane sneezed,
Eric flew all the way to Spain.
You brought out a pencil graveyard.
It was really sad.
All the little pencils,
Made us feel so bad.
Thank you for sharing
Your poetry with us,
Please come back soon,
Or we'll make a big fuss.
Mr. Titus's Third Grade Class
Fayetteville Elementary School
Fayetteville, New York
October, 2006
The Author's Visit
Something special happened.
It happened at my school.
Something special happened.
It really was so cool.
An Author came to visit.
I had read all her books.
I couldn't wait to hear her,
And see just how she looks.
Her poems are full of magic words,
I wanted magic too,
Cause sometimes writing poetry
Is the hardest thing to do.
She said to use your ears and eyes,
And she put big glasses on,
To show that if we stopped to look,
Ideas were all around.
She said to write about the things
That happen every day,
Things that make us laugh and cry,
Or games we like to play.
We listened to her message,
We tried and never tired,
I think that from her visit,
We really got inspired.
Yes, something special happened.
It happened to my school.
We're all now writing poetry.
It really is so cool!
Gayle DiStefano
Reading Specialist
Fairfax County Public Schools