By Lauri Lee
Northside News
Jason R. Van Pelt began writing poetry to submit to the Northside News a few years ago. He grew up on the Northside and attended Gompers, Blackhawk and East High School and loves the Northside community. The poems submitted for our publication have focused around the stories and businesses he read about in the Northside News. Recently, he added art submissions to his repertoire and his newest endeavor has been to become a published children’s book author. Ultimately, his goal is to become Madison’s Poet Laureate and his process is to first be published in the newspaper and then publish a book. In college, his recreation management program enlightened him that poetry was part of recreation because it was an intellectual form of recreation. This pearl of knowledge was significant to him since he works as a lifeguard at the YMCA. He also loves writing for children because he’s an uncle to a preschooler and grade schooler.
Van Pelt’s journey as a poet began as a hobby and the jump to author started by taking poems he had written with a storyline for children that could be turned into books. Because he’s concerned about the achievement gap in schools, his poetry uses big words that can help children to expand their vocabulary and word knowledge as their parents and family reads to them. The books are fun for kids as early as preschool since the illustrations are humorous and family friendly and each page has a visual and context for the story.
Van Pelt found an online publisher, New Book Authors, in early 2020. They embolden the author and get them published and out there.
The Sea Monsters book has morals about water safety and have brightly colored artwork portraying that the cartoonish book doesn’t contain actual monsters. The point he makes in the grand finale is that the people who are in life jackets may seem different than normal life, but it doesn’t mean they are monsters, just because look different.
The Sea Monster book can be found at many online bookstore retailers.
At present, Van Pelt is pursuing his goal to be a poet laurate for Madison. He’s self nominated in recent years and he hopes someone in the community will nominate him for this honor in 2024.
Good luck to Jason as he continues his journey as an author.
In grade school at MMSD taught him what he knows about various forms of art
Poetry, painting,
• Learning cpr led to
• Books meant to look cartoonish
Mediums
Poems
Paintings
Used acrylic because it is bright and vibrant. It kind of looks cartoonish, which is characteristic of cartoons
Digital illustrations
Now a collaborative process with publisher for
In future he’ll be sole illustrator
A future goal hopes to be a poet laurate for the city. He’s self nominated in recent years and in 2024 and hopes someone in the community would nominate him
To become public poet and why he submits
Finding publisher and turning poems into books for children
Have to be resident of city of Madison
Volununtary term to expand the program for poet laureate
Promote bus lines poetry. Current person created a youth poet laureate
Create a free newspaper about poetry to distribute to the city
Life guards, rip currents, sunscreen
The marine life in the book are not actual monsters.
Sea monsters shows actual marine life and they need marine life space. A danger sign
Subtle messages with all colors of people portrayed. Mixed demographics and ages. Get life like message out there.
e an uncle (2/3 up to 8 )
Work at the Y as a lifeguard and have them available online.
Confusing current events like war and children shouldn’t have to worry about, proably for adults
Earth day discounts, show they don’t cause emissions on that day. They’d have to pay in if they own too many cars. On federal tax returns. They would walk to local diner or park instead of driving to work.
In grade school at MMSD taught him what he knows about various forms of art
Poetry, painting,
Art in generinto books for children
Have to be resident of city of Madison
Volununtary term to expand the program for poet laureate
Promopeople under the mask to make a connection
Party monsters
Roxanne the green nosed reindeer is a holiday book
Message/reason: Roxanne is like a woman leading the way and lead with Rudolph
Red is port side on left
Green is star board on right
Getting Santa up to code now with both lights
Roxanne’s origins are from the South Pole
Christmas Coupling is another holiday books
Would love Roxanne to become a part of history just like Rudolf
Go global and go viral and become so popular
Roxanne during his
During his life time have her be a float in the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade.
Needs a corporate sponsor