Poems for Big Kids

Our greatest debt of thanks, therefore, is owed to the authors
whose work comprises this collection. Posted on the Internet,
our call for submissions elicited a wide response from the
English-speaking world and beyond. Authors hail from Canada,
the United States of America, Australia, the United Kingdom,
India, France and the United Arab Emirates. For this reason,
spelling in both British and American Press Standard forms is
used in this volume, depending on the preference of the poets.
We welcome back a number of writers who contributed work to
our two earlier compendiums. We are honored to include
several authors whose high reputations precede them to these
pages; and others whose poetry appears in print for the very
first time with publication of this book.
The help of many other people is gratefully acknowledged.
Angela Burns proof read the entire manuscript; and she gave
invaluable editorial and technical help, becoming a co-Editor of
this volume in the process. Thanks to artist Ilene Black for
introducing herself to us, and for her enthusiastic participation
throughout this project to create its superb, original illustrations.
Ann Dixon has written a fine essay about the historical
background of children’s poetry. Dr. Nazlin McAlister was our
captive audience and sounding board at home for many poems
that were read to her aloud. Thanks to the various literary
societies and on-line poetry sites that publicized our call for
submissions; and to friends who read and commented on work
that we received over the course of a year, helping us to extract
the best poems from among hundreds that we reviewed. Jean
Taylor converted our original manuscript files to the professional
format suitable for the printing press. Finally, but by no means
least, we recognize the expertise of Multitech Graphics Inc. of
Whitby, Ontario, for printing and binding.
N. H. M c A. & Z. M c A.
Port Perry, Ontario, Canada
April, 2008
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