Eric Ode Visits DL Perez Elementary School

The students at DL Perez Elementary School were treated with a special Author Visit featuring Eric Ode. Enjoy the following snapshots taken at the school!

Eric Ode talks to the students about their pictures.

Eric Ode discusses more about his poetry.

Picture above: DL Perez students showcased their drawing reflection of Ode's poetry.

Eric Ode is a Hit at Liguan Elementary!

Eric Ode also visited Liguan Elementary School, where he was a hit and captivated his audience with his poetry, rhythm, and beat!

Ode presents his poetry at Liguan Elementary.

Ode shows the notebook that he used to write some of his poems.

Ode poses with his portrait at Liguan Elementary.

IRA Members Selected to Attend Upcoming IRA Convention

Some members were selected to attend the upcoming IRA Convention in Chicago.


Pictured above: Eric ode is in all smiles with IRA members who will be attending the IRA Convention in Chicago.

Eric Ode Shines at the IRA Meeting!

Eric Ode was the shining star at the IRA meeting held March 13, 2010. He captivated the IRA members and the children who attended this special Author Visit meeting!



Eric Ode singing with the children at the IRA meeting.

Author Eric Ode is a Hit at Wettengel Elementary!

Author Eric Ode captivated students at Wettengel Elementary School. Enjoy the following pictures of his activities captured at the school.

Eric Ode was greeted by the faculty and students of Wettengel Elementary School.

Gettin' down with the kids!

Hippopotamus Singing!

Eric Ode poses with the Guam map shirt.

Eric Ode signs his books.

Guam stanza to "I LOVE My Shoes."

Youth Music Workshop Caught a Song with Eric Ode

Pictured above are left back row: Visiting Songwriter, Author, and Poet Eric Ode with the participants at the Youth Music Workshop at IP Cafe on March 20, 2010.



Eric Ode and a group of young children who participated in the Youth Music Workshop at the IP Coffee Co. in Mangilao wrote a song together on March 20, 2010.

First they brainstormed to get an idea they wanted to work on. The list included, “No, don’t”, which turned out to be the “hook” they were looking for.

Ode enjoyed his music workshop with the children. “It’s hard to keep yourself out of the process when you’re writing with kids,” Ode said. “I wanted it to be all their ideas. After we had a few lines, I asked, "How would you sing that? And as the kids tried out different melodies we heard just the right one,” he said.

As the group went through the writing process, they chose words and changed words several times before they agreed. The paper was full of rhyming lists, scratched out and rewritten words. But the finished song was one they were all proud of. Ode picked out the chords they were singing, and they put it to the test. The following are the lyrics they developed that just happens to be a great poem too!


Don’t Eat the Pie
by the Youth Music Workshop with Eric Ode

Grandma took the pie out of the oven.
She put it on the counter to cool.
Chanelle smelled the pie from next door
And asked for three slices or more.

No, don’t eat the pie!
The pie is for the party.
Oh, no, don’t eat the pie!
The people will be angry.
There won’t be enough.
The little kids will cry,
So don’t eat the pie.

Grandma brought the pie to the party.
The people said, Grandma, what a pie.
She set it near the potato chips,
the fruit punch, and the chicken strips

And Grandma said,
(repeat the chorus)

Come catch a song with Eric Ode, author of Tall Tales of the Wild West

Come catch a song with Eric Ode, author of Tall Tales of the Wild West, at the General Membership Meeting of the International Reading Association on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the Guam Reef Hotel from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

Come at 8:00 A.M. to buy books and browse for teacher materials. The meeting begins at 9:00 A.M. Everyone is welcome. Free for members, $5 charge for non-members. Call Cyndy at 789-1996 for more details.

Mr. Ode will be visiting public and private schools on Guam the following week with his program, "Catch a Song, Stretch a Song. Turn it Inside Out."

These 14 schools participated in the Read-A-Thon 2009 to raise the funds for this visit.
He will also visit the Hagatna Public Library for Story Hour on Saturday, March 20, from 10-11 A.M. For older children he will have a songwriting workshop at the IP Cafe in Mangilao at 2-4 P.M. the same day.