The Poetry in Me, I’m Sharing with You is a poetry coloring and activity book for young people featuring Black poets past and present, authors, over 70 black and white portrait illustrations, publishers, literary organizations, and other poetry-related information. As a youth and community literacy advocate, Oliver introduces his poetry networks and how they transformed his life. It is inspired by the tradition of griots and storytellers who share wisdom and experiences to empower others in the village, especially children and youth. The illustrations are by Kirk Jackson of Dallas, Texas.
“I’m introducing young people to my world of poetry not as a writer but as a lover of literature, creative writing, rhyme, and storytelling. The line drawings by Kirk invite the young users to use crayons or color pencils to develop their work of art.”– Patrick M. Oliver
The interactive coloring and activity book features short biographies of each poet, Poetry Notes, and Poet Drawing pages designed to encourage students to journal, create writing, and sketch. It also includes a word search puzzle, a recommended poetry reading list, and explanations of various poetry forms and their definitions.
Author and Illustrator
Patrick Oliver is a literary arts and education consultant and recipient of numerous community service awards, contracts, and grants. Experience and expertise include serving as director of sales and marketing at Third World Press (Chicago), program director at the Institute for Positive Living, Open Book Program (Chicago), and senior contract administrator in the aerospace industry (Los Angeles). Founder of Say It Loud! Readers and Writers is a literary arts organization, publisher, and author.
‘Artwork Kirk’ Jackson is an American fine artist, muralist, content creator, and educator, cultivating artistic communities worldwide. Earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Maryland Institute, College of Art, Kirk’s work spans across various mediums, including painted murals, portraiture, abstract expressionism, collage, continuous line drawings, and graphic design. As an award-winning artist and educator, Mr. Jackson has received grants for implementing and integrating art, STEM, DEI, and project-based learning initiatives into secondary education.
Featured Poets and Authors
Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, Kwame Alexander, Lauren Alleyne, Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka,
Reginald Dwayne Betts, Carole Boston-Weatherford, Gwendolyn Brooks, Dennis Brutus,
Jane Cortez, Curtis Crisler, Kwame Dawes, Joel Dias-Porter, Rita Dove, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Mari Evans, Nikki Finney, DuEwa Frazier, Dr. Joanne Gabbin, April Gibson, Nikki Giovanni, Amanda Gorman, Nikki Grimes, Derrick Harriell, Dr. Randall Horton, Amaris Selah Howard, Langston Hughes, J. Ivy, Angela Jackson, Brentom Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, Parneshia Jones, Awoyemi Timothy Jones, Van Jordan, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Naomi Long Madgett, Dr. Marquese McFerguson, Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti, Stacey McAdoo, Dr. Tony Medina, Dr. McKinley Melton, E. Ethelbert Miller, Gwendolyn Mitchell, Jessica Care Moore, Opal Moore, Dr. Kelly Norman-Ellis, Dr. Adrienne Oliver, Kevin Powell, Sunni Patterson, Sterling Plumpp, Eugene Redmond, Ismael Reed, Dr. Jenelle Robinson, Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Gil Scott-Heron, Wole Soyinka, Patricia Smith, Patricia Spears Jones, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Lucy Terry
The Last Poets - Baba Donn Babatunde, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, Etan Thomas,
Truth Thomas, Quincy Troupe, Frank X Walker, Phyllis Wheatley, Jonathan GNO White,
Robin White, Avery Young