by Mary E. Cronin | Nov 3, 2026 | FDNY, Poetry, Teaching, Trucks Boots and Bells
In the month since TRUCKS, BOOTS, AND BELLS was published, it’s been a whirlwind of all my favorite things… school visits, bookstores, and firehouses! School visits in Concord MA and Saratoga County, NY were full of joy and excitement. We had big groups,...
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 | Jan 30, 2026 | Cape Cod, Community connections, Poetry
When I lead a poetry workshop in an elementary classroom, I often read my poem “Firefighter Face,” and I share with students the steps I took to create this poem. “Firefighter Face” appears in the poetry anthology Amazing Faces (illustrated by Chris Soentpiet, from...
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...