About this time last year we launched Project OpenBook. 365 days into the adventure, this seems like as good a time as any to recap where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

Some quick stats:

• 53 poems published. (One per week on average, though it wasn’t nearly that smooth.)
• 30 contributors, from award-winning authors and illustrators to students and amateurs.
• $1,000 in freewill donations contributed toward educating girls through Room to Read.

What we’ve learned:

1. The world is full of good people. I have met a bunch of incredible folks on the first leg of this adventure. All of our contributors have donated time, talent and/or treasure to this cause with nothing promised in return. Indeed, for our artists/illustrators, it’s a leap of faith that anything beyond a blog post will result from their hard work. To me, that’s just amazing. And I could never say thank-you enough.
2. Starting a movement is hard work. I’ll admit something: I grossly underestimated the amount of work that would be required to organize, push and sustain a project like this. From writing, to recruiting, to making connections, to editing and posting the work and contributor-spotlights, to pushing and cajoling… It all adds up to a ton of hard work. I’ve never avoided work – I often say I’m 10% talent 90% drive – but I admit that I’ve been overwhelmed at times.
3. Having a baby complicates point #2. We were blessed with a third boy on November 16th of this year. (Things are going great, thanks!) As a result, Project OpenBook sort of went dark for the last couple of months. Some of you have poems or illustrations waiting to be published. We’re finally getting into a rhythm so we should get caught up soon.

Where we’re headed:
I’m excited about what this year might have in store for Project OpenBook. Here’s my vision for 2011:

1. Launch a book. From the start, our vision was to publish an awesome book. We still think that Project OpenBook will make the most impact once we have something to trade you for your donation. If we’ve been able to raise $1,000 simply by working hard, just think what we’ll be able to do when your donations also get you a book. Our goal in 2011 is to publish a bunch more poems, to curate an amazing book, to launch and market that book, to hopefully sell a boatload of copies and use the proceeds to do amazing things for people in need.
2. Put Project OpenBook on the iPad. I started this update with a teaser (see image above). We’ve begun concept work on creating a version of Project OpenBook for the iPad. There is still a ton of work to be done. And the amazing dude that is making it happen is doing so in his spare time (see, the world is full of good people). I’m sure there will be bumps in the road – but with a little luck, we hope to launch Project OpenBook on the iPad yet this year.

I would be remiss not to stop and thank the folks that are making Project OpenBook happen: Adrian, Brad, David, Jaime, Ben, Chloe, Avril, Sandy, Jess, Richard, Matt, Marcia, Susanna, Alan, John, Ann, Christy, Nina, Mike, Sharon, Barb, Karen, Courtney, Rachael, Jen, Jesse, Renee, Jodi, Seth, Alan, Maria, Nicholas, Sarah, Fiona, Lynn, Amanda, Rex, Judi, Alexandra, Rahul and every single one of you.

Thank you all! Do good,
Phil

P.S. You can donate directly to Project OpenBook here.

THE NEXT ISLAND

I climbed a tree
So I could see
Across to the next island.

And way up high
What did I spy
Across to the next island?

There in a tree
Staring back at me
Across to the next island,

…a kid like me
Just trying to see
Across to the next island.

And there we pair
Just sat and stared
Across to the next island.

He waved at me
And I at he
Across to the next island.

And ne’er again
Did I see my twin
Across to the next island.

Written by Phil Haussler.

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

(53 votes, average: 3.66)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

Have you ever caught a thunder bug,
The lightning bug’s twin brother?
I have, my friend — and tell you what,
I’ll never catch another!

They’re exactly like a lightning bug
In almost every way.
But I put mine in my room and now
I haven’t slept for days.

‘Cause every time a thunder bug
Starts his lightning flashing
CRRR-ACK!
BOOM!
WHAM!
BANG!
Thunder soon comes CRASHING!
.
.

Written by Phil Haussler.

Illustrated by Christy Schneider.

(41 votes, average: 4.24)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

Gray is the color of a gloomy cloud,
Gray is the color of a knight standing proud,
On a bright sunny day
My shadow is gray.

Gray can be tame or gray can be insane,
Maybe even the color of pain.
Gray is the color when your oven’s smokin’
Gray is the color when your heart is broken.

Written by fifth grader Max Raber

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

.

(65 votes, average: 3.77)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

Despite his potty dance
And occasionally-wet pants
Not to mention daddy’s rants…

When you ask my little bro
If he maybe needs to go,
His answer’s always ‘NO!’

That is…
Until he hears the squishes
From the sound of doing dishes…
Then off to the pee he wheeshes!

Written by Phil Haussler.

Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

………………………BROCCOLI

………………………Many say that broccoli
………………………Looks like a squat and sturdy tree
………………………But it’s no place to build a fort -
………………………Its bushy branches are too short.
………………………You cannot rest beneath its shade,
………………………While sipping on your lemonade.
………………………Its trunk won’t do for hide-and-seeking;
………………………Its stump’s too small for public speaking.
………………………Just try to tap its sap in winter -
………………………You’re sure to get a broccoli splinter!

………………………No, broccoli’s of no use at all
…………………………unless you are two inches tall.

Written by Jesse Anna Bornemann.

Illustrated by Renee Kurilla.

(48 votes, average: 4.15)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

A PHONELESS LAMENT

Oh, my poor little heart
would go flutter-flitter
if only someone could send me
a text or a twitter.

The other girls are so happy
with their little phones so cute
while I’m a social outcast
because I’m phoneless and mute!

I’m like a dog without a bone–
like a queen without a throne–
all because you’re so STUBBORN
and won’t buy me a phone!

It’ll be all your fault
when I’m sad and alone–
a spinster forever
because I have no telephone!

Written by Marcia Schwartz.

Illustrated by Rachael Novak.

(45 votes, average: 3.96)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I have a name no one can say;
The spelling is in disarray,
The vowels tend to go astray,
The consonants make spittle spray.

My parents didn’t try, per se,
To make it easy to mis-say,
They only wanted to convey
That I was special, cool–outré.

And that desire made them mislay
Their sanity (a face that they
Don’t even dare try to downplay,
And one that causes me dismay.)

And so this name no one can say
Has cursed me to this very day–
What did you ask? My name, you say?
What is this name no one can say?

It doesn’t matter anyway–
Everybody calls me Joe.

Written by Karen Bjork Kubin.

Illustrated by ??? Why no art ???

Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I don’t need to blow my snout.
I use my finger to get ‘em out.
Mom says I’m spreading germs,
But I don’t like her cleaning terms.
My own body is just fine;
I’m so clean, I swear I shine…
Here is where I have my doubts:
It’s everybody else I worry ’bout.

.

Written by Jaime Kubik.

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

.

(99 votes, average: 4.05)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I want to play the piccolo;
You can have the flute–
‘Cause when it comes to making noise
The piccolo’s quite astute.

I want to play the piccolo;
Forget about the drum–
Piccolo’s the instrument
For making eardrums numb.

The trumpet has its followers,
The trombone does okay,
But the piccolo has got a sound
That blasts them both away.

I want to play an instrument
That cuts through all the rest,
I want to give each piece I play
My ear-split-ting-est best.

I love its penetrating sound,
I relish how it shrieks,
I adore its strident, treble voice,
Its lovely, high-pitched screech.

I want to play the piccolo,
So you can keep the flute.
I like a sound that really hurts–
Besides, it’s kind of cute!

Written by Karen Bjork Kubin.

Illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur.

(18 votes, average: 3.83)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.