By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIPWhen Kevin Kammeraad says phrases such as “pumpkin belly,” “the couch ate my family” and “Magoogie and Achoogie,” he is not talking about a recent family holiday gone awry.
Instead, the Michigan-based poet and author is talking about stories that are included in his book “The Tomato Collection,” which is a compilation of poems, drawings and sketches for elementary school-age children.
On Monday, Mr. Kammeraad came to the Peter Muschal School to share his interactive show with pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students.
Students clapped, learned some sign language motions, and recited their ABCs and their numbers while singing along to Mr. Kammeraad’s instrumental music.
His message was for children to draw on inspiration to write stories from various experiences, emotions and playtime.
Mr. Kammeraad, along with his friend, a hand puppet named Jacob, sang songs about finding inspiration in one’s surroundings.
”Ideas are really all around you, and sometimes you can write stories about things that happen to you during the day,” he said.
He said his own creative processes for his book and other poems that he has written began when his grandmother gave him a journal when he was in college.
From there, the poems he had written (mainly about his childhood, and other experiences that shaped his career) grew into a collection of books, music, and educational activities compiled by him and his wife, Stephanie.
The “Tomato Collection” book features “goofy thoughts, fears, and a few dreams,” that were transferred into song in the next edition of the “Tomato Series,” which features all of the poems and stories in songs.
The presentation’s message fit into what the students are learning in their language arts courses, where they are learning to compose sentences and short stories.
Mr. Kammeraad also asked the students to not be afraid to tap into their emotions to draw on inspiration for a story.
”Think about what you’re feeling, because even though the thoughts in your mind go up and down, you make the decision whether or not to have a bad day,” he said.
Mr. Kammeraad suggested that students take inspiration from reading, and he shared that his favorite book was “Harry the Dirty Dog,” by Gene Zion.
He then described the process of writing and publishing his “Tomato” book which took place over the course of four years and involved countless journals entries.
”My first journal entry went something like ‘Hi, this is my journal, I’m not sure what I’m going to write in it’” he said.
Slowly, inspiration struck, and initial scrawling became revised until a first draft was created.
”It took me 17 drafts to get the “Tomato Collection” up and going,” he said.
He stressed that the most important part of being creative and getting into writing is remembering that ideas are everywhere, and that “it may take a bit of time, but it’s always worth it when you’re finally finished,” he added.
