I've Got a Bad Case of Poetry brings together the delight of words, rhythm, rhyme, and images to instill a love of poetry in kids.

“This world is full of unfillable gaps, unfixable problems. When I see a gap that I don’t know how to fill or a hurt I can’t possibly heal, my instinct is to offer a poem.”
Kelly D. Belmonte, Poet

When ten-year old Thomas Spencer and his family move to the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carlina for the summer to help his mom recuperate after a lengthy bout with cancer, the last thing he expects to discover is a fantastic hidden world in the woods behind their house. As Thomas explores the woods, he finds a mysterious stone tiger that comes to life when he sings. Thomas and Shalomar, the tiger, forge an unlikely bond while exploring the wonder and wildness of the woods.

Joe the Fourth has four older siblings—Joe the First, Joe the Second, Joe the Third, and a sister, who is just called Jo. As the youngest, Joe the Fourth is often overlooked by his family. He has a deep longing to travel and see the world, and when an old professor stops to ask for directions to the city of Dawnlor, Joe the Fourth decides to leave home and find his own adventure.