St. John’s students meet children’s poet Jessica Freeburg

Students at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Vermillion, celebrated their month-long study of writing and reading poetry with their annual Poetry Pause event. The returning guest during the afternoon assembly was Twin Cities children's author and poet Jessica Freeburg. Freeburg spent time at the all-school event, meeting with parents and guests to talk about her journey of discovering her love of writing and drawing.

Freeburg also shared some of her published poems with the students and inspired them to keep writing. Every child in grades kindergarten through fifth grade read a poem to the group and many shared original poems they had written.  

Freeburg's written work has appeared in a variety of magazines including Children's Playmate, Humpty Dumpty, Focus on the Family and Thriving Family Magazine. She also enjoys doodling and playing with paint. Her illustrations have appeared in Cygnet and My Light Magazine. Though her first passion is writing for younger audiences, she has recently completed a young adult novel and is co-writing screenplays. She also serves as the assistant regional advisor for the Minnesota Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She works her writing schedule around her three children's naps, dance lessons and sporting events.

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