Lee Bennett Hopkins' writing

Lee Bennett Hopkins began publishing with Charlotte more than twenty years ago.  Charlotte edited many of Lee's poetry collections, as well as one of three novels. 

Like all the books mentioned on this page, Surprises, the poetry anthology Lee selected and CZ edited, is available at http://amazon.com and http://barnesandnoble.com.

A little about Lee

Like Charlotte, Lee (pictured left and below with his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, the beloved Royal Dude --- and cavalier he is, says Lee) is the recipient of the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for "lasting contributions to children's literature."  (To learn more about this medal and organization, go http://www.lib.usm.edu/~degrum/). Much of Lee's contribution lies in  his exuberant and infectious excitement about poetry, and his belief in introducing it to children, starting at the earliest ages, in and out of the classroom. A writer of children's poetry as well as an anthologizer par excellence, Lee is a former teacher, and his column "Poetry Plus" appears in Creative Classroom Magazine. He lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York. (Pictured right: the cover of a new reissue of a book Lee and Charlotte worked on together originally). 

Lee on being edited by Charlotte

"I began publishing with Charlotte in 1980. We continued working together on volumes of poetry as well as a novel, Mama and Her Boys (in 1981)until her retirement.

"In 1984, Surprises, the first I Can Read Poetry Book, appeared; in 1990 Good Books, Good Times, a reissued collection of poetry extolling the love of books and reading was published. Both have become staples in the field of poetry for children.

"Charlotte was editor-supreme. Her respect for an author, her insight, foresight, her vision of what could be --- become --- has been a highlight of my career.

"Lucky is one to be caught in the true Charlotte's web. " (Pictured above one of Lee's novels, Mama, which was recently reissued by Boyd's Mill; Mama and Her Boys, another of Lee's novels originally published with Charlotte at HarperCollins, has also been reissued by Boyd's Mill).

Click here to read about other authors and Books CZ Has Edited .