Poem Query Letter
January, 1997

	I have recently completed a book of approximately 100 poems, entitled Poem Day, as well as three other children's books, Four in a Forest, Max the Duck and The Fearful Penguin that I am seeking to publish.  All of the individual stories are in rhyme, boasting morals that I firmly believe in such as "Cooperation is essential," "Conquer your fears," and "It's okay to be different."  In the latter, the "different" and discriminated character would, in the end, be welcomed by his peers.  
	I write the books with both parents and children in mind.  In the poetry anthology, there are some poems that children will not thoroughly understand, but all can be read on two levels.  There is the plot, idea or funny basis of the poem that all children can enjoy if for nothing more than the sound of the story in rhyme.  Then there is the deeper meaning, oftentimes a moral.  There are a number of poems that are just funny or silly and there is no sort of deeper meaning intended.  When there is a meaning of the sort, I would hope that parents speak to their children about it.  Communication between parents and children is essential.  I wrote the book for the parent's enjoyment mainly because I hope that parents take an active role in what their children read, as well as in everything else that they do.  
	Some people have read the book and said that I'm the next Shel Silverstein, but I'm not.  I am a different breed of poet.  Although I am by all means flattered by the comparison to one of my childhood idols, our styles are by no means alike.  While he thrives in the realm of the fantastic with his "Whatifs" and his "Polar Bear in the Frigidaire," my poems are more rooted in reality.  Some of my poems deal with universal childhood experiences, such as learning how to ride a bike. Others try to ease children's minds and answer their questions, such as a pair of poems where a camper and a counselor ponder the word "good-bye" and its implications.  In that pair, the poem "by the child" poses the question and the counselor's indirectly comes to an answer.
	My individual books are mainly geared toward the two to seven age group, where the two-year-old would enjoy it being read to him and the seven-year-old would enjoy reading it and could understand the moral.  My anthology of poetry is geared toward a wider age range, wherein even a child of ten or eleven would enjoy reading through the poems.  In addition, it is also geared toward parents.  These are poems that parents will enjoy reading to their children, and after the little ones are fast asleep, the parents might read a few pages more to themselves.
	I would be more than happy to discuss my writing with you, answer any questions you may have and submit samples and/or manuscripts.  Thank you.

					Wishing you a "Poem Day,"

					David Evan Berkowitz	
					Email: bf18136@binghamton.edu

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