Today was my very last school visit of the 2005/2006 school year, and what a way to end the year.   I spent the morning at St. Aloysius School in Spokane, Washington, speaking to three different groups of very excited kids.

The first assembly of the day was with the third, fourth, and fifth graders.  They had a lot of fun seeing the galleys for my forthcoming book and several new anthologies.  We also wrote a funny new poem entitled "I Dreamed that I Was Eating Cheese."  I promised them I would post the poem on my website, so here it is:    

I Dreamed that I Was Eating Cheese

I dreamed that I was eating cheese
and chicken ala king,
and then I ate a chocolate bar
and half an onion ring.

Then in my dream I ate some s'mores
a cupcake and a pear,
and when I woke in bed today
my pillow wasn't there.

Excellent job on the poem, St. Al's 3rd-5th graders!

After having a blast writing poems with the older kids, I spent some time with pre-K and Kindergarten, and then with the first and second graders.  All of the students at St. Al's were wonderful and we had so much fun laughing and sharing funny poems together, I was sorry to have to leave.

A heartfelt thanks to the kids at St. Al's for a terrific end to my travels and school visits this year, and thank you very much for the big bowl of chocolates!