My family grew up poor but we are a creative family. I remember dad being great with his hands in working with wood. My mother did tatting stationery and my brother and sister help draw the leaves on the stationery.
When my brother and I were in middle school, my parents bought us a guitar. My brother picks it up and played awesome. I wrote the words to the songs.
My sister is a professional artist who could draw anything.
For myself, I remember in kindergarten drawing a whale and winning a prize. In the eighth grade I was the art director for our school newspaper. I continue to write words in poems and draw pictures all my life.
I grew up listening to Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky and recently Kenn Nesbit. I was able to past these great poets on to my kids and students in school.
In the early 70’s I had the chance to get 9 personally autograph books from Dr. Seuss. I treasure them today. I have a collection of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein books which I would read and get the rhythm of the words and the pictures in my head.
I would brainstorm the words until an idea would start forming in my head for a poem. Then I would draw the pictures over and over getting them just right.
At the age of 20, one of my goals in life was to write a book. It took me 30 years to realize that dream in the first poetry book called “Up The Tree House”.
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I am still working on the second book will be coming out soon.
I felt this book “Dr. Seuss Made Me Do It” inspired me to take the collection of both books.
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I am humble when people tell me these poems remind them of Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss. I feel the purpose was to make people see the fun in words and pictures. To touch their youth one more time—I hope you do.
Gary Wittmann’s Children Poetry Book has received great reviews, 4.6 Stars *
