Who's News
March 29, 2005
Meet Ted Kooser, National Poet Laureate
Kid Reporter Emily interviews the official poet of the United States
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How many poems should you read for every poem that you write? According to Ted Kooser, the National Poet Laureate, the answer is 100. "It only creates a better poet in you. It’s like anything else," says Kooser, an English Professor at the University of Nebraska. "If you want to play a guitar, you listen to a lot of guitar music. If you want to be a better writer, you need to read."
A Passion for Poetry
Kooser was appointed to his post by the Library of Congress. As "Laureate," he is the official poet of the United States. His job is to raise awareness of poetry and work for greater interest in reading and writing poetry around the nation.
 |  Kooser and Emily read a poem in one of his books, The Poetry Home Repair Manual. |
Kooser has published ten books of poetry. I caught up with him at a bookstore in Omaha, Nebraska. During our interview, he told me how much fun reading and writing poetry can be. He should know. He began writing poems in the third grade. "I don’t know what I would do without (poetry)," he says.
Kooser writes about unique subjects. For example, he makes objects like five subject notebooks and potatoes the stars of his poems. Ted Kooser’s advice for kids who aspire to become poets: "Anyone can do it. The most important thing to do is to read."
Fun facts about Kooser:
Favorite Color: blue
Favorite Picture Book: Any book by Chris Van Allsburg
Favorite pizza: Pepperoni
Favorite soda: Dr. Pepper
