Homewood, Alabama: Chronology

~ Chronology ~

1946 Born, August 25, 1946, Bayside, New York 

1950 Father wins a New York lottery; family moves to Fort Myers, Florida 

1952 Attends Tice Elementary School, Fort Myers, FL, 1st through 5th grades 

1955 Age 9, receives first typewriter, a used 1926 Underwood; writes the “Talking Freckle Story” 

1956 Age 10, appears on local TV show and recites the “Talking Freckle Story” 

Performs comedy routine and pantomime impersonations of Elvis Presley 

Serves as ball boy for the Pittsburg Pirates in late 1950s early 1960s during spring

training camp at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Florida

1957 Attends Orange River Elementary School, Fort Myers, Florida, 6th grade

Elected Captain of School Safety Patrol 

Appears in school plays 

1958 Attends Fort Myers Junior High, 7th grade 

Elected King of Junior Cotillion 

1959 Attends Lee Junior High, 8th & 9th grades  

Studies Latin. Plays on school baseball and football teams 

1962 Attends Fort Myers Senior High 

Continues his Latin studies 

Begins keeping a daily journal; writes "Evol" poem ("Love" spelled backwards)  

1963 Plays on high school baseball team, Babe Ruth All-Stars, American Legion and traveling teams 

1964 Graduates from Fort Myers Senior High, Fort Myers, Florida 

Spring training camp try-out with the Pittsburgh Pirates; "I'm still waiting to hear from them."

Attends Edison College (Florida Southwestern State College), 1964-1966 

1965 Performs as Hortensio in “The Taming of the Shrew,” Edison College 

Elected chapter president of Circle K International, Edison College 

Studies creative writing with poet Allen Neff, Edison 

1966 Age 20 

Attends Florida Atlantic University; studies creative writing with poet Thomas Burnett Swann 

Elected chapter vice president of Circle K International, Florida Atlantic University 

1967 Graduates from Florida Atlantic University, B.A. in English  

Marries Nancy Minnicks 

Begins teaching English and creative writing at Cypress Lake High School, Fort Myers, Florida 

Begins summer grad-school program at Florida Atlantic; takes courses at Univ of South Florida 

1968 Co-founds the Gulf Coast Writers Guild 

Begins acting in dinner theatre and little theatre with Edison Players, Fort Myers, Florida 

1969 Daughter, Julie Ann Ghigna, born 

Joins local chapter of Jaycees 

1970 Receives MEd, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 

Continues teaching English and creative writing at Cypress Lake High, Fort Myers, Florida 

Performs as Edmund in “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” Edison Players, Fort Myers, Florida 

Directs “Zoo Story” at Edison College 

Writes creative writing curriculum for Lee County Public Schools, Fort Myers, Florida 

Joins local chapter of United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, Fort Myers, Florida 

1971 Performs in three plays for the Edison Players; “David and Lisa,” “Black Comedy," "Stalag 17"

EZRA: ONE-ACT PLAY published by Janus Magazine 

1972 Receives Lee County Florida Star Teacher Award 

Performs in “The Girl in the Freudian Slip,” Actors Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers, Florida 

Performs at Asolo State Theatre with actors Thomas Hulce and Polly Holiday

"War and Peace" 24 performances; "Devil's Disciples" 12 performances

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" 24 performances

Tom Hulce later starred in movies "Amadeus" and "Animal House"

Polly Holliday played the role of Flo in the TV show"Alice"

1973 Teaches creative writing at Edison College, Fort Myers, Florida 

Performs as Tom in “The Glass Menagerie,” Edison Players, Fort Myers, Florida 

Divorces Nancy Minnicks 

Resigns from teaching 

PLASTIC TEARS published by Dorrance  

1974 Begins post-graduate studies at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 

Serves as Poetry Editor of English Journal for the National Council of Teachers of English 

Meets track star Marty Ligouri and runs training laps at Florida State University

  Begins correspondence with poet Anne Sexton  

"The Alabama Wiregrassers" appears in Harper's Magazine  

Appointed Master Poet of Alabama by the Alabama State Arts Council

Receives grant from the NEA to begin Alabama Poet-in-the-Schools program  

Serves as Poet-in-Residence, Alabama School of Fine Arts at Birmingham- Southern College

Begins reading and lecturing at colleges, conferences, libraries in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida 

Delivers keynote at the Alabama State Council of Teachers of English, Birmingham, Alabama

  Serves as poet-in-residence, Michigan Artrain, Birmingham to Mobile, Alabama

  Becomes lifelong friend of author Anne George  

Meets Truman Capote, John Beecher, Galway Kinnell  

1975 Marries Debra Lee Holmes 

Begins serving as director of Creekwood Colony of the Arts, Union Springs, Alabama

  Poetry readings at colleges, conferences, and libraries throughout the South 

STABLES: THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS, chapbook published by Creekwood Press 

1976 Age 30 

Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries throughout the South

Poetry reading, Clarion State College, Clarion, Pennsylvania  

Poetry reading, Livingston University, Livingston, Alabama 

Appointed Chair of Creative Writing Department at the Alabama School of Fine Arts  

Serves two-week poet-in-residency at Homewood High School, Homewood, Alabama 

Writes, directs, performs in CABBAGES AND KINGS, an educational television series of

              45 fifteen-minute episodes

Joins Birmingham Sky Diving Club and writes "Divers" after first jump  

Wife wins Mrs. Alabama and top-ten in Mrs. America Pageant in Las Vegas

Buys home in Homewood, Alabama 

1977 COCKROACH, ONE ACT PLAY, published by Contemporary Drama Service 

Writes libretto for ballet “An Evening Reverie” choreographed by Thor Sutowski and performed

at the Alabama School of Fine Arts

Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries 

Poem "Divers" receives 1st Place, Writer's Digest National Poetry Contest 

Receives honorary lifetime membership in Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society

with poets Robert Bly, Gwendolyn Brooks, and James Dickey

Receives Mary Roberts Rinehart Foundation Fellowship 

Travels to London, England with his students from the Alabama School of Fine Arts ;

visits York, Bournemouth, Stratford-upon-Avon and Anne Hathaway’s cottage; sits with wife,
Debra, on bench where Shakespeare is rumored to have wooed Anne 

Poetry Reading at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia with Michael Mott,
Miller Williams, and Adrienne Rich; Rich 

Delivers keynote at National Writers Club, Denver, Colorado 

Reads and lectures on haiku at Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Meets authors Clive Clussler, William Bradford Huie and H.E. Francis

1978 Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries 

Poetry reading, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 

Poetry reading, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 

Poetry reading, Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska

Poetry reading, Samford University, Homewood, Alabama 

DIVERS AND OTHER POEMS, chapbook published by Creekwood Press 

Meets James Baldwin, Eudora Welty, Robert Hayden, Michael Harper, and Margaret Walker

1979 CIRCUS POEMS, chapbook published by Creekwood Press

Receives 1st Prize Award, Alabama State Poetry Society, Birmingham, Alabama 

Teaches poetry writing workshop at Samford University 

Poetry Reading with Nikki Giovanni, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg Campus

Poetry reading, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky

Poetry reading, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi 

Poetry reading, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 

Poetry reading, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama 

Poetry reading, National Writers Conference, Denver, Colorado

Poetry reading, National Federation of Poetry Societies Conference

Meets poets John Ciardi and Maxine Kuman

1980 Poetry Reading, Sanibel Writers Conference, Sanibel Island, Florida 

Poetry Reading, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Poetry Reading, Polk County Teachers, Orlando, Florida 

Poetry Reading, Broward Community College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Poetry Reading, Edison Communiy College, Fort Myers, Florida 

Poetry Reading, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Poetry Reading, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Natchez, Mississippi

Poetry Reading, Broward Communiy College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Poetry Reading, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 

Begins serving as poetry critic for Writer's Digest Literary Criticism Service 

Begins serving as Council Member for the National Writers Association 

Travels to New York with family to visit grandparents 

Meets novelist John Gardner and British author PD James 

1981 Poetry Reading, Hines Community College, Raymond, Mississippi 

Poetry Reading, Meridian Community College, Meridian, Mississippi

Poetry Reading, Montgomery Museum of Art, Montgomery, Alabama 

Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries 

Serves as faculty sponsor of the Chess Club at the Alabama School of Fine Arts 

1982 Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry Reading, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee  Visits with James Baldwin at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, Alabama  Attends grandfather’s funeral in New York  Visits Walt Whitman’s home and birthplace, Huntington, New York  Writes tribute poem for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant published in Birmingham Post-Herald 

1983 Poetry Reading with James Dickey, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama  James Dickey visits the Ghigna home  James Dickey and Ghigna begin a correspondence; letters in archive at de Grummond
Collection, University of Southern Mississippi  Book signing, City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, California  Attends Doug Sanders Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament, Houston, Texas  Meets Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Willie Nelson, Doug Sanders, Alan Shephard 

1984 Poems begin appearing in Rolling Stone Magazine  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, Alabama State Poetry Society, Montgomery, Alabama  Poetry reading, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama  Poetry reading, Samford University, Homewood, AL  Awarded six-week residency, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC  Poetry reading, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC   Poetry reading, NEA Grant, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville, Kentucky,  Receives Rockefeller Brothers Grant and residency at M.I.T. Endicott House  Poetry reading accompanied by Ellis Marsalis on piano, M.I.T. Endicott House  Poetry reading with James Dickey, Athens State College, Athens, Alabama  Poetry reading, Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa  Interviewed by NASA in Seattle, Washington for Poet in Space Project on the Challenger Space
Shuttle; President Ronald Reagan changed the position to Teacher in Space Project  Meets author John Updike  Begins writing poems for children for Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Children’s Digest,
Children’s Playmate, and Child Life magazines 

1985 Begins teaching creative writing at Samford University  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry Reading, David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry Reading, Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama  Conducts author/editor workshop with Christine French Clark Cully, Editor at Highlights  Speaks at schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin  Appears as an extra in the movie “Invasion U.S.A.” starring Chuck Norris  

1986 Age 40 

Takes year-long writing sabbatical from teaching  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, Alabama Arts Council, Montgomery, Alabama  Serves on advisory panel for the National Endowment for the Arts   Begins correspondence with light verse poet Richard Armour 

1987 Meets poet Rita Dove  Continues speaking at colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, Mid-South Poetry Festival, Memphis, Tennessee  Poetry reading, Alabama Arts Council, Montgomery, Alabama 

1988 Son, Chip Ghigna, is born   Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee  Poetry reading, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama  Receives Birmingham Festival of Arts Silver Bowl Award for Literature  Russian Poet Omor Sultanov visits the Ghigna home at Christmas, Homewood, Alabama 

1989 Father dies of cancer (age 70)   FATHER SONGS, chapbook published as tribute to his father   Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Named Correspondent for Writer's Digest magazine   Writes poetry review column for The Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, first review, “Ants
on the Melon” by Virginia Hamilton Adair (Random House)  RETURNING TO EARTH published by Livingston Univ Press, cover blurb by James Dickey  Meets author Madeleine L’Engle 

1990 "Moon Pie Song" and "Day I Spent the Night in the Shelby Co. Jail" recorded  Tribute to Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant published as limited edition print; featured at Bryant
Museum and at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame  "An Alabama August" published in Creative Writer's Handbook (Printice Hall)
Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama  Poetry reading, Livingston University, Livingston, Alabama  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Poetry reading, Alabama State Poetry Society, Arlington Home, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Macon County Art Council, Franklin, North Carolina  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Meets Alabama storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham and becomes lifelong friend  Meets country singer Jett Williams 

1991 Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries   Poetry reading, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  "The Moon Pie Song”(jingle) featured on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America"  Two of his students win 1st Place (Poetry & Fiction) Awards in Scholastic Writing Contest 

1992 Signs four-book contract with the Walt Disney Company, Hyperion Books, New York   GOOD CATS/BAD CATS and GOOD DOGS/BAD DOGS published by Disney-Hyperion
WINGS OF FIRE published by Druid Press  Book signing and reception, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Speaks at American Booksellers Conference, Anaheim, California  Speaks at University of Alabama at Birmingham Young Authors’ Conference  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Meets children’s author Mem Fox 

1993 Retires from teaching to write full-time   Begins writing daily syndicated light verse column for Tribune Media Services, Chicago, IL  Begins writing light verse for The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines and newspapers  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry reading, Utah State Poetry Society, Salt Lake City, Utah  Poetry reading, Florida State Poetry Society, Orlando, Florida  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Key note speaker at University of Alabama at Birmingham Young Authors’ Conference  Receives Helen Keller Literary Award   Travels to Paris, France   Wins 1st Place in International Sakura Haiku Competition for "October"   Begins correspondence with poet X. J. Kennedy (in archive at the de Grummond Collection)   Meets children’s authors Barbara Robinson and Elizabeth Levy  Meets poet Mark Strand at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah  Meets Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Alabama author Charles Gaines for lunch at
home of Maree Jemison, Mountain Brook, Alabama 

1994 TICKLE DAY: POEMS FROM FATHER GOOSE published by Disney-Hyperion   SPEAKING IN TONGUES: New & Selected Poems 1974-1994, Livingston University Press   THE BEST OF SNICKERS: Light Verse published by the Best of Times, Inc.   First booksignings of four Disney book at Books of Wonder, New York, NY  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, MS, TN, FL, NC, OH, NY  “Father Goose” trademark moniker begins  Children’s poems continue appearing in Cricket, Ladybug, and Spider other magazine  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, MS, TN, NC, SC  Speaks at Southeast Booksellers Association, Orlando, Florida  Speaks at schools in Dayton, Ohio  Poetry reading, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont  Poetry reading, Utah State University, Salt Lake City, Utah  Meets editor Harold Underdown 

1995 RIDDLE RHYMES published by Disney-Hyperion   THE DAY I SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE SHELBY COUNTY JAIL, The Best of Times  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, GA, TN, NC, OR  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Meets poet Gwendolyn Brooks for lunch, Samford University, Homewood, Alabama 

1996 Age 50 

Writes 1,000th daily syndicated feature for Tribune Media Services, Chicago, IL  RIDDLE RHYMES receives full-page color review in The New York Times  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, MS, TN, NC  Poetry reading, Southern Literary Festival, Natchez, Mississippi  Poetry reading, Brenau University, Gainesville, Georgia  Writes tribute for bronze plaque at the Jesse Owens Memorial Park   “Father Goose” commemorative brick installed at new Homewood Library, Homewood, AL  Begins coaching son's Little League teams 

1997 Mother dies of heart attack (age 77)  Signs six-book contract, Random House Children’s Books  Honored with a "Hometown Homecoming" by Fort Myers Literary Society, Fort Myers, Florida  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, MS, TN, SC  Delivers keynote at the Alabama Literary Awards Banquet, Montgomery, Alabama  Poetry reading, University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina  Poetry reading, Illinois Press Association, Champagne, Illinois  Poetry reading, Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Poetry reading, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi   Donates his papers to the de Grummond Children's Literature Archive Collection, University of
Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi  Meets Eric Carle and Jon Agee; attends party with them in New Orleans, the trio then travels
from New Orleans to Hattiesburg to speak at the book festival 

1998 Signs book contracts with Random House, Abrams, Charlesbridge & Running Press   Writes 2,000th daily syndicated feature for Tribune Media Services, Chicago, Illinois  Discontinues syndication with Tribune Media Services  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, FL, MS, MN, and Venezuela, SA  Visits schools in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, South America   Poetry reading, National Teachers Convention, New Ulm, Minnesota  Elected vice president and board member, Homewood Patriot Youth Football League
Coaches son's football, baseball, and basketball park league teams   Begins correspondence with Eugene Walter  Meets poet William Meredith for dinner with author Han Nolan 

1999 ANIMAL TRUNK: SILLY POEMS TO READ ALOUD published by Abrams  MICE ARE NICE published by Random House  SEE THE YAK YAK published by Random House  PLASTIC SOUP: DREAM POEMS published by Black Belt Press  LOVE POEMS published by Crane Hill Publishers   SEE THE YAK YAK chosen for "Main Selection" by Book-of-the-Month Club  SEE THE YAK YAK selected for Scholastic Book Fair  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, GA, MS, TN, SC  Poetry reading, South Carolina International Reading Association, Hilton Head, South Carolina  Poetry reading, National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Atlanta, Georgia  Poetry reading, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry readinsg, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Poetry reading, Livingston University, Livingston, Alabama  Visits six elementary schools in Tupelo, Mississippi  "A Poem is a Little Path" published in 20th CENTURY CHILDREN'S POETRY TREASURY  Poems published in KNOCK AT A STAR: A CHILD'S INTRO TO POETRY   Appears on Alabama Public Television's "Bookmark" program  Begins judging The Birmingham News Annual Poetry Contest for Kids  Travels with family to San Francisco, California  Meets folk artist Mose T (Mose Tolliver) at his home studio in Montgomery, Alabama 

2000 CHRISTMAS IS COMING published by Charlesbridge  ANIMAL TRUNK receives Alabama Library Association Book of the Year Award  ANIMAL TRUNK receives Parents' Choice Award  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, GA, TN, MS, SC, Alaska  Poetry reading, South Carolina Young Authors Conference, Columbia, South Carolina  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Appears on ABC-TV's "Parenting Life" program  Serves on panel with Rick Bragg at Alabama Bound Book Festival, Birmingham Public Library  PLASTIC SOUP and LOVE POEMS receive SEBA Notable Book Awards  "A Poem Is A Little Path" selected for National Poetry Month poster  Speaks at schools in Tok, Alaska  Poetry Alive! begins adding his poems to their performances  Poem "Alabama" is orchestrated by Philip Koplow and sung by Darla Brooks 

2001 HAIKU: THE TRAVELERS OF ETERNITY published by River City Press
Represented by literary agent, Andrea Cascardi, Transatlantic Literary Agency, Inc.  Honored at Governor's Mansion with bookmark Center for the Book, Montgomery, Alabama  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Attends Luciano Pavarotti U.S Tour Concert with family at BJCC, Birmingham, Alabama   Poetry reading, National Council of Teachers of English Conference, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Iowa Reading Conference, Des Moines, Iowa  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Speaks at memorial service for poet Anne George  Meets children’s poet Constance Levy and begins correspondence  Children’s poet Kenn Nesbitt visits the Ghigna home 

2002 ONE HUNDRED SHOES published by Random House  THE ALPHABET PARADE published by River City Kids  TICKLE DAY featured on “The Rosie O'Donnell Show” NBC-TV  Continues speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries  Booksignings at bookstores in AL, GA, MS, TN  Poetry reading, Georgia Council of Teachers of English, Rome, Georgia  Poetry reading, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi  Poetry reading, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama  Coaches 13 year old Homewood Baseball All Stars, Homewood, Alabama  Becomes Founding Board Member of the Alabama Center for the Book  Travels with family to Paris, France  Meets children's authors Rosemary Wells, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Chris Crutcher 

2003 HALLOWEEN NIGHT: TWENTY-ONE SPOOKTACULAR POEMS, Running Press  A FURY OF MOTION: POEMS FOR BOYS published by Boyds Mills Press  Founding Advisory Board Member of The Children's Literacy Guild of Alabama  Begins serving as Board Member of the Homewood Athletic Association  Harcourt begins publishing his poems in SAT and ACT tests  Meets children's author Avi and illustrator Jared Lee  

2004 ANIMAL TRACKS: WILD POEMS TO READ ALOUD published by Abrams  Begins working on book with cartoonist Tom Wilson (Ziggy) 

2005 Poetry reading, American Library in Paris, France  IF YOU WERE MY VALENTINE published by Simon & Schuster  OH MY, PUMPKIN PIE! published by Random House  DYLAN THE SMOKEY DRAGON published by Maris, West & Baker  HALLOWEEN NIGHT reprinted in paperback by Scholastic
ONE HUNDRED SHOES performed at Children's Museum in Atlanta
Poems continue to be published in Cricket and Highlights for Children and others  Poems published in READ A RHYME, WRITE A RHYME published by Knopf  His motivational poems begin appearing in newspapers, magazines and online  "A Poem Is A Spider Web" Bookmark published by Birmingham Public Library  Ends five year author/agent relationship with Andrea Cascardi 

2006 Age 60  

HALLOWEEN NIGHT (mini-edition) published by Running Press  GREATEST HITS: POEMS 1974-2005, chapbook published by Pudding House
ANIMAL TRACKS nominated for Chickadee Book Award  Poem in POCKET PRAYERS anthology published by Chronicle Books  Represented by Ronnie Ann Herman Literary Agency, New York  Begins writing articles for Inkwell magazine  Recognized as author of "The World's Shortest Poem" with poem titled “I”  Interviewed by National Public Radio

2007 LOVE POEMS reprinted by Crane Hill  “Ladybug Ladybug” poem published in LADYBUG LADYBUG by Cricket Books  Poem published in MIRACLES OF MOTHERHOOD published by Time Warner  Poem published on 2007 National Poetry Month poster  Featured on Reading Rainbow program for Kentucky Public Television  Poetry reading, MENSA Convention, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Mid-South Book Conference, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry reading, Savannah Children's Book Festival, Savannah, Georgia  Donates his poetry library of 350 books to de Grummond Collection, University of Southern
Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi  Donates collection of books to Katie McClure-Ray, his son's former high school English teacher  Begins friendships with children’s poet Rebecca Kai Dotlich and author Michelle Knudsen 

2008 SNOW WONDER published by Random House
SCORE! 50 POEMS TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE published by Abrams  SCORE! featured on FOX Television  SCORE! receives National Parenting Honor Award  SCORE! adopted by school character education programs, principals read poem-a-day   Poems published in THE ESSENTIALS OF CHILDREN LITERATURE, Allyn and Bacon  Poems published in PATTERNS: THE STORYTELLER published by Dorling Kindersley  ABC-TV "Take Pride in Alabama" interview  Featured on "Discovering Alabama" program for Alabama Public Television  Featured on Reading Rainbow program for Alabama Public Television  Presents a "Romantic Evening" of LOVE POEMS at the Homewood Library,  Speaks at numerous schools, libraries and literary events throughout the U.S.  Poetry reading, South Carolina IRA in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina  Poetry reading, Southern Kentucky Book Festival, Bowling Green, Kentucky  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry reading, Savannah Children's Book Festival, Savannah, Georgia  Interview, Clear Channel Radio "Morning Show," Savannah, Georgia  Poetry reading, Alabama Reading Association, Montgomery, Alabama  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Books exhibition, Ellenburg Gallery, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama   Ends two year author/agent relationship with Ronnie Ann Herman  Begins email correspondence with children’s poets Lee Bennett Hopkins and J. Patrick Lewis  Discovers and reports first Giant Leopard moth discovered in Alabama
(found in the basement of the Father Goose House)  Begins writing weekly Father Goose blog for teachers and students  Meets children’s authors Marc Brown, Mo Willems, Mike Thaler and Donald Crews 

2009 Begins serving on Editorial Advisory Board for the U.S. Kids magazines  Celebrates 10th Anniversary of his Birmingham News Poetry Contest for Kids  Poetry reading at the Celebration on the Grand, Grand Rapids, Michigan  Poetry reading, Auburn Public Library, Auburn, Alabama  Poem published in DEAR ONE: A TRIBUTE TO LEE BENNETT HOPKINS, by NCTE  Poem published in JULIE ANDREWS’COLLECTION OF POEMS published by Little, Brown  Julie Andrews read’s “What’s a Poem?” from her book that receives a Grammy.  Grandson born, Christopher Pierce 

2010 BARN STORM! published by Random House  Poem published in THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE SCHOOL published by HarperCollins  Poetry Reading, Children's Book Festival, University of Southern Mississippi  Poetry Reading, Trussville Public Library, Trussville, Alabama  Bio and bibliography published in the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALABAMA  Granddaughter born, Charlotte Rose Ghigna 

2011 I SEE SPRING published by Capstone  I SEE SUMMER published by Capstone  I SEE FALL published by Capstone  I SEE WINTER published by Capstone  Poem published in SAY A LITTLE PRAYER published by Chronicle Books  Featured Poet in Light Quarterly with article by X.J. Kennedy  Founding Board Member, PACYA, Poetry Advocates for Children & Young Adults  Begins writing monthly "Chuckles" feature for InHomewood.com  The Poetry Foundation purchases four poems  Featured in The Homewood Star newspaper  Begins serving as Contributing Editor for Alabama Baby Magazine  Writes and recites "Bugsy" poem for annual "We Love Homewood Day,” Homewood, Alabama  Poetry reading, Gadsden Public Library, Gadsden, Alabama  Featured speaker, Southern Kentucky Book Festival, Bowling Green, Kentucky  Featured speaker, Decatur Book Festival, Decatur, Georgia  Featured author, National Picture Book Month Celebration, New York 

2012 LITTLE SEEDS published by Capstone  RECYCLING IS FUN published by Capstone  WE NEED WATER published by Capstone  PICK UP THE PARK published by Capstone  THE MAGIC BEHIND THE SCREEN published by PBS/APT  Poems published in THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY
ABC-TV interview and reading for Valentine special  ABC-TV interview for "Nature Disappearing from Children's Books"  Poems published in British documentary "When I Grow Up"  Poetry reading, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Samford University, Homewood, Alabama  Poetry reading, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky  Poetry reading, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama  Poetry reading, Auburn Public Library, Auburn, Alabama  Son graduates from Auburn University with B.A. in Studio Art 

2013 MY LITTLE PLANET series receives Learning Magazine's Teachers' Choice Award  Featured guest, annual Homewood Christmas Parade, Homewood, Alabama   Interviewed by Homewood Life and Over the Mountain Journal  Featured in article, Fort Myers News Press, Fort Myers, Florida
“Fort Myers, Florida has been home to Edison, Ford, Firestone, and Ghigna"  Poems published in Highlights, Cricket, Ladybug and Spider  Poems published in BABY, PUNCTUALITY POEMS, GRATITUDE PRAYERS & POEMS  Travels with family to visit daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild in Seattle, Washington  Begins serving on Board of Directors for the Interstate Character Council  Poetry Reading, Texas Library Association, Houston, Texas  Meets children’s poets Jane Yolen, Amy VanDerwater, Charles Waters 

2014 THE WONDERS OF THE COLOR WHEEL published by Capstone  NUMBERS IN THE PARK published by Capstone  SHAPES ARE EVERYWHERE published by Capstone  THE ALPHABET PARADE published by Capstone  32 audio stories published in the Elo Pillow for Children  Poems published in TOASTS: THE PERFECT WORDS TO CELEBRATE, Viva Editions  Poems published in SOAR! FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS published by Andrews McMeel  Poems published in THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY published by Pomelo Books  Featured author, Meet-the-Authors, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama  Poetry Reading, Mid-South Writing Conference, University of Alabama in Birmingham  Poetry Reading, Southern Kentucky Book Festival, Bowling Green, Kentucky  PBS Interview, Bowling Green, Kentucky 

2015 A CARNIVAL OF CATS published by Orca
HAIL TO SPRING! published by Capstone  A WINDY DAY IN SPRING published by Capstone  SUNSHINE BRIGHTENS SPRINGTIME published by Capstone  RAINDROPS FALL ALL AROUND published by Capstone   LUCY GOOSE published by Capstone  ADELINE PORCUPINE published by Capstone  BOBBY BEAR published by Capstone  CUDDLE BUNNY published by Capstone  Poems published in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF NATURE POETRY  Poems published in LULLABY AND KISSES SWEET published by Abrams  Poems published in THE POETRY OF SCIENCE published by Pomelo Books  Poems published in POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS, Pomelo Books  Poems published in GET WELL WISHES: POEMS OF COMFORT published by Viva Editions  Poems published in Urban Family magazine  Begins writing monthly "Poetry Party" feature for Bham Parent Magazine (from 2015-2019)  Begins writing monthly poetry blog feature for Cricket Media  Poetry Reading, American School of Paris, France; visits St. Tropez and villages of Provence;
with visits to the Louvre and the Van Gogh Exhibition at Musee d’Orsay  Poetry Reading, Alabama School Library Association, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry Reading, College of Central Florida, Ocala, Florida  Poetry readings, 5-City Alabama Library Tour, in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur,
and Guntersville  Poetry Reading, Alabama Pastoral Care Retreat, Aldridge Gardens, Birmingham, Alabama  Book Launch Party, A CARNIVAL OF CATS and TINY TALES 4-Book Series
at the Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama  

2016 Age 70 

STRANGE, UNUSUAL, GROSS & COOL ANIMALS published by Animal Planet/Time Inc.  A PARADE OF PUPPIES published by Orca  Poems published in ONE MINUTE TILL BEDTIME published Little, Brown  Poems published in EARTH BLESSINGS published by Viva Editions  Poems published in JUST YOU WAIT published by Pomelo Books  Poetry reading, Exceptional Foundation, Homewood, Alabama  Poetry reading, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama  Poetry reading, Gadsden Public Library, Gadsden, Alabama  Book Launch Party, STRANGE UNUSUAL, COOL & GROSS ANIMALS
and A PARADE OF PUPPIES, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama  Travels throughout the Southeast on book tour (bookstores & schools)
reading & signing STRANGE UNUSUAL GROSS & COOL ANIMALS (Animal Planet/Time)  Spring vacation with family, Seattle, Washington  Christmas vacation with family, Deauville, Normandy, and Paris, France 

2017 FIRST TIMES published by Orca 

LITTLE COW published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  LITTLE SQUIRREL published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  LITTLE PUPPY published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music   LITTLE BEE published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  LITTLE LION published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  LITTLE SEAL published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  WINTER MATH: ADDITION published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  WINTER MATH: SUBTRACTION published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  WINTER MATH: MAKING 10 published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  WINTER MATH: ODD NUMBERS published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  WINTER MATH: EVEN NUMBERS published by Cantata Learning with CD reading & music  WINTER MATH: COUNT BY 10 TO 100 by Cantata Learning with CD reading & music  DIAL 911: FIRE SAFETY published by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  PLAN AND PREPARE: FIRE SAFETY by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  STOP DROP AND ROLL: FIRE SAFETY by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music  GET OUT STAY OUT!: FIRE SAFETY by Cantata Learning with CD reading and music
A CARNIVAL OF CATS receives Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews  A PARADE OF PUPPIES receives CCBC Best Books for Kids Selection  STRANGE UNUSUAL GROSS & COOL ANIMALS (Animal Planet/Time)
receives the National Science Teachers Association Award  Poems published in BABY BLESSINGS published Andrews McMeel  Poems published in POEMS ARE TEACHERS published by Heinemann  Poetry reading, ALA Midwinter Convention, Atlanta, GA  Poetry reading, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN  Continues book tour with STRANGE UNUSUAL GROSS & COOL ANIMALS  Book Launch Party, FIRST TIMES, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama  Book Party, FIRST TIMES, Vestavia Public Library, Vestavia, Alabama  Christmas vacation with Debra and Chip in New York City, “Best family vacation — ever!”  Featured speaker, Southern Kentucky Book Fest, Bowling Green, Kentucky  PBS Interview, Bowling Green, Kentucky  Meets author R.L. Stine (“Father Goose Meets Goosebumps”) 

2018 WHO CAN? published by Orca
THE NIGHT THE FOREST CAME TO TOWN published by Orca
ALABAMA: MY HOME SWEET HOME published by Whitman
ALABAMA: MY HOME SWEET HOME chosen for National Book Festival
WHO CAN? receives 2018 CCBC Best Books for Kids Starred Selection  FIRST TIMES receives 2018 CCBC Best Books for Kids Selection  Poems published in WORLD MAKE WAY: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY ART
published by Abrams & the Metropolitan Museum of Art   Poems published in THE POETRY OF US published by National Geographic Books  Poems published in A BUNCH OF PUNCTUATION published by Boyds Mills Press  Poems published in SCHOOL PEOPLE published by Wordsong/Highlights   Book Launch Party, THE NIGHT THE FOREST CAME TO TOWN and WHO CAN?
at Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Alabama   Book signing (with art show by Chip Ghigna), Little Professor Books, Homewood, Alabama  Poetry reading, MidSouth Reading & Writing Conference, University of Alabama, Birmingham  Poetry reading, National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia  Poetry reading, American Library Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Lousiana  Poetry reading, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama  Poetry reading, Greystone Reading Conference, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Alabama Book Festival, Montgomery, Alabama  Poetry reading, Alabama Literacy Association Conference, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Reach Out and Read Conference, Florence, Alabama  Poetry reading, National Book Festival, Washington, DC 

2019 STONES: THE COLLECTED SHORT POEMS published by Canopic Publishing  DEAR POET: NOTES TO A YOUNG WRITER published by Resource Books  ALABAMA: MY HOME SWEET HOME 2019 chosen for Reach Out and Read Program  Poem published in THE PROPER WAY TO MEET A HEDGEHOG published by Candlewick   Poem published in THANKU: POEMS ABOUT GRATITUDE published by Lerner/Millbrook
Poetry reading, Jule Collins Museum of Art, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama  Poetry reading, Legislative Day, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Alabama  Poetry reading, Alabama Bicentennial Celebration events throughout the state of Alabama   Receives the 2019 Library Champion Award, Jefferson County Library Assoc., Birmingham 

2020 ILLUSIONS: POETRY & ART FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART published by Resource Books  Poem published in CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE published by Boyds Mills Kane   Poem published in A WORLD FULL OF POEMS published by DK Penguin Random House  Poem published in HOP TO IT published by Pomela Books  Poem published in EMPOWERING STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF VOCABULARY
THE NIGHT THE FOREST CAME TO TOWN chosen to represent Alabama at the National
Book Festival of the Library of Congress   Receives the ALLA Alabama Author Lifetime Achievement Award  

2021 Age 75   A POEM IS A FIREFLY published by Schiffer Kids   LOVE IS EVERYTHING published by Schiffer Kids
ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME published by Beaming Books   ARTWORDS: POEM PORTRAITS OF ARTISTS AND POETS published by Resource Books  THE TRUTH ABOUT TREES published by Negative Capability Press  A POEM IS A FIREFLY 2021 Dragonfly Book Award  “Goal Mind” weekly newspaper feature begins appearing in the print editions of
The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, and The Mobile Register   Poetry reading, Alabama Association for Early Education, Birmingham, Alabama  Recipient of the Alabama Top 50 Over 50 Award   Featured in Homewood Life magazine  Poem published in FOR EVERY LITTLE THING published by Eerdmans  Poem published in LONGMAN ENGLISH S2 LEARNER’S BOOK published by Pearson  Poems continue to appear regularly in Cricket, Highlights and other magazines for children  

2022 FETCH CAT FETCH published by Schiffer Kids  LITTLE HEARTS: FINDING HEARTS IN NATURE published by Red Comet Press  Poem published in PRAYERS FOR OUR PETS published by Eerdmans  Poem published in ESSENTIALS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE published by Eerdmans  Poems continue to appear regularly in Cricket, Highlights and other children’s magazines  Serves as judge for Mountain Brook Elementary Writing Contest, Mountain Brook, Alabama  Poetry reading, Springville Road Library, Huffman, Alabama  Poetry reading, Authors Day at Little Professor Book Shop, Homewood, Alabama  “Life is a Snowflake” poem tattooed on forearm of woman in Dublin, Ireland  Vacations with family, Miami, Florida  Vacations with family, Santa Cruz, California  

2023 THE FATHER GOOSE TREASURY OF POETRY published by Schiffer Kids   THE FATHER GOOSE TREASURY OF POETRY national book tour AL, FL, KY   STRANGE UNUSUAL GROSS & COOL ANIMALS republished by Simon & Schuster  ALABAMA: MY HOME SWEET HOME chosen by the Alabama State Department of
Education for their Reading Initiative Program  Signs with Martin Literary Management Agency, Sharlene Martin and Kristen Terrette
to represent YA novel, ONLY THE STARS: THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE NOBODY  Poem published in WHERE I LIVE: POEMS ABOUT HOME published by Eerdmans  Meets poet Joy Harjo   Poetry reading, Monroeville Literary Festival, Monroeville, Alabama  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee  Poetry reading, Southern Kentucky Book Fest, Bowling Green, Kentucky  Poetry reading, Jefferson County Teachers Association, Birmingham, Alabama  Poetry reading, Hall-Kent School, Homewood, Alabama  Writes his 100th and last syndicated “Goal Mind” poem as the newspaper print editions
of The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, and The Mobile Register go out of print  “Seeing with the Eye of the Poet” newspaper column published in the Columbia Tribune
and Springfield News-Leader  Poems continue to appear regularly in Cricket, Highlights and other magazines for children   Poems “The Call” read during Barons Baseball game on WJOX radio  Featured in Birmingham Lifestyle magazine  Luncheon with Dr. Graham Boettcher, Director, Birmingham Museum of Art,
to discuss art book project  Travels to Paris. Dinner and private tour of Versailles with Diana Levaton and Alex Piccioto  

2024 BOUND TO DREAM: AN IMMIGRANT STORY published by Schiffer Kids
THE MAGIC BOX: A BOOK OF OPPOSITES published by Schiffer Kids

  SNOW WONDER published in Little Tikes Story Dream Machine™ by Mattel 

THE FATHER GOOSE TREASURY OF POETRY chosen to represent Alabama at the National Book Festival of the Library of Congress

The New York Times article with T.S. Eliot, Nikki Giovanni, and John Updike 

Biography included in ALABAMA AUTHORS of the19th & 20th CENTURIES 

1st Annual Alabama Statewide Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids

Poem published in CLARA’S KOOKY COMPENDIUM published by Pomelo Books 

Poem published in BLESS THE EARTH published by Random House 

Poem published in BLESS OUR PETS published by Eerdmans 

Poem published in 40 POEMS FOR 40 WEEKS published by Routledge 

Poems continue to appear regularly in Cricket, Highlights and other children’s magazines  

Poet Allan Wolf visits the Treehouse  

2025 SOUTHERN BRED: A MEMOIR OF GOTHIC POEMS, Central Avenue/Simon & Schuster

  SWEET DREAMS: MOON POEMS FOR BEDTIME published by Schiffer Kids

PUNS NOT GUNS: HUMOR published by Livingston Press 

KIDS LOVE COINS: AN INTRODUCTION TO COIN COLLECTING published by Whitman 

Celebrates 50th Wedding Anniversary at Rosemary Beach, Florida 

2nd Annual Alabama Statewide Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids 

Speaks at four Alabama Book Festivals (Argo, Fultondale, Trussville, Homewood) 

Records Audio Book version of SOUTHERN BRED for Recorded Books RB Media

  Poetry reading, SOUTHERN BRED at the Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN

  Poetry reading, SOUTHERN BRED at SIBA Conference, Atlanta, Georgia 

Book Tour Readings & Signings throughout Alabama and the South with SOUTHERN BRED

  Poem published in A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS published by Eerdmans 

Poems continue to appear in Cricket, Highlights, School Magazine and other magazines 

“Where Do Poems Come From” newspaper column published in the Columbia Tribune

“Poetic Motivation” newspaper column published in the Columbia Tribune, Springfield News- Leader and other newspapers 

BOUND TO DREAM: AN IMMIGRANT STORY wins 2025 Northern Lights Book Award 

2026 Age 80 

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERILLAR’S FIRST POEMS published by Random House 

THE LOST BOOK OF LIFE: NEW & SELECTED POEMS published by the Univ of Alabama
FINDING THE LIGHT published by Finishing Line Press
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR’S FIRST POEMS book party at Homewood Library

  Poetry reading, Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, Tennessee 

Keynote speaker at Family Child Care Conference, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

  Keynote speaker at Southern Christian Writers Conference, Birmingham, Alabama 

3rd Annual Alabama Statewide Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids
Book Tour Readings & Signings throughout Alabama and the South  

Commissioned to write the libretto for the WALTER ANDERSON MUSICAL

Chronology

Inside Cameos