by Mary E. Cronin | Aug 17, 2026 | FDNY, Poetry, Trucks Boots and Bells
I am thrilled to see the early book reviews for TRUCKS, BOOTS, AND BELLS: FIREHOUSE POEMS (coming in October!) As a debut author, and a former classroom teacher and Literacy Coach, receiving a starred review from School Library Journal is an incredible honor!...
by Mary E. Cronin | May 6, 2026 | Cape Cod, Community connections, FDNY, Poetry, Uncategorized
The chance to visit a variety of schools this year has been a total joy. Sharing poetry with students from large schools, small schools, from Cape Cod to New York energizes me as a writer and fills me with hope as an educator! (Plus there was one virtual visit to a...
by Mary E. Cronin | Feb 28, 2026 | FDNY, Poetry
When I speak to elementary audiences as a Visiting Poet, I often explain that in the making of children’s books, the author and the illustrator rarely meet or communicate during the book-making process. I was lucky, however. Last fall, I got to meet Aaron Marin,...
by Mary E. Cronin | Dec 12, 2025 | Cape Cod, Community connections, FDNY, Poetry, Teaching
So much has happened in the last few months, so here’s a recap! In June, I retired from full-time teaching. Yes, I miss my job as a Literacy Coach and my daily contact with students! But I love having more time for writing, and for… leading poetry workshops in local...
by Mary E. Cronin | Apr 13, 2025 | FDNY, Poetry, SCBWI
“There is something about this manuscript that cries out for publication. It may take you a while to ‘get there’ but you must.” Noted poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins saw something in me and in my firehouse poems that was worth nurturing and...
by Mary E. Cronin | Mar 21, 2025 | FDNY, Poetry
Writers often talk about the long road to publication. This is one of those stories, and it isn’t over yet! I started writing poems about firefighting after my father died in 2006. It was a grief project, a way to feel closer to him. And it helped. I was so proud of...