J. Patrick Lewis earned his Ph.D. in Economics at The Ohio State University (1974) and taught at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio until 1998. Lewis has published extensively in the field of Economics. His articles and reviews have appeared in numerous academic journals, as well as The Nation, The Progressive, Technology Review, and other newspapers and magazines. He has had seven short stories and over seventy poems published in literary journals. Lewis has also published over twenty-five children's picture books to date, seventeen of them children's poetry. Ten more children's books have been accepted and are now in production. Lewis was commissioned to write the 1992 National Children's Book Week poem, which was printed on one million bookmarks and distributed nationally. Pat now lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with his wife and two stepchildren. He visits over 50 schools a year and loves sharing his stories, poetry and humor with students.
Selected Reviews of Pat's Books
Doodel Dandies: Poems That Take Shape
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Lisa Desimini
Words and pictures come together to create the shaped poems in Doodle Dandies. In this exuberant treat for ear and eye, poet J. Patrick Lewis and illustrator Lisa Desimini bring young readers a towering skyscraper, slithering snake and copiously weeping willow. The mirror poem is a mirror image. No material seems too ordinary for Desimini to incorporate into her mixed media artwork. In one illustration, rice-grain rain falls upon real dirt. In another, baseballs nestle on artificial turf. Kids will have a great time examining these dandies to see how words and artistic materials can literally shape a poem. 1998, Aladdin/Simon and Schuster, $6.99. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Castles: Old Stone Poems
J. Patrick Lewis and Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrated by Dan Burr
Castles, those majestic sentinels of stone, evoke images of brave knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, evil queens, and lunatic kings. This volume of poems showcases castles from many different countries such as England, Scotland, Japan, Romania, Switzerland, and more. 
Through rhythm and rhyme, secrets of castle lore are divulged. Explore the dark halls of Bran Castle.Was it really the home of Count Dracula? Learn about mad King Ludwig, a brooding, despondent king, whose castle became his hideaway from the harsh realities of life. Legend has it that when the moon is full, his ghost appears. Read about Eric, a brave Danish prince, who could not escape the monstrous jaws of a dragon. Castle lovers of all ages will find this collection to be entertaining and educational. Dan Burr's beautiful, vivid illustrations capture the heart of each poem. From the grim portrayal of captive royalty in a dark dungeon to the magnificent rendering of Catherine's Palace with its luxuriant gold furnishings, every picture is a masterpiece. Includes bibliographic references, a table of contents, a timeline, and a section called "medieval minutes" that features intriguing facts about the castles. 2006, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, $18.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature).
Blackbeard, the Pirate King: Several Yarns Detailing the Legends, Myths, and Real-life Adventures of History's Most Notorious Seaman
Told in verse by J. Patrick Lewis
Interest in Blackbeard was rekindled when his pirate ship, The Queen Anne, was discovered near Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1996. Lewis has chosen to retell his adventures in poetry accented with full-page reproductions of various artists' interpretations of this legendary villain. It is believed that Blackbeard was born in 1680 in England, but like many of the "facts" about him, no one knows for certain. Lewis's first poem is dated as 1698 to 1730 and describes the Golden Age of Piracy. He then begins his description of Blackbeard and his purported exploits with the capture of his most famous ship in 1717. Blackbeard is described as "tall as a waterfall" with "a beard that began beneath his eyes and curled down in pigtail braids." Several poems commemorating Blackbeard's larger than life escapades are followed by poems describing his last stand in the Battle of Ocracoke Inlet. His legend lives on here as tales are told of his headless body swimming about in the moonlight. Photography had not been invented during Blackbeard's era, so the reproductions of paintings present differing viewpoints of his looks and demeanor. They include the earliest known image of the pirate created by Thomas Nicholls circa 1730, Wyeth's "Duel on the Beach" from 1926, and works of other artists through to the present day. Brief notes with clarifying information appear below the poems on each page. A note from the author, some inset maps, and a timeline of Blackbeard's life will be of value to young researchers. 2006, National Geographic, $16.95 and $25.90. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
J. Patrick Lewis' school presentations are designed for students grades K - 5. Additionally, he will present to parent groups or conferences. He feels that the purpose of a school visit is to get children excited about the wonders of poetry--experiencing literature--is the reason he visit schools in the first place. So students can expect to hear a lot of poetry reading--not stuffy verse. Poetry that is fun and respects the music of the written word. Poems about animals, nature, people, holidays--everything under the sun (and some things beyond)--including limericks, haiku, riddles, shape poems, narrative poems, song lyrics and nonsense verse.
He talks to students about where he gets his ideas and how books are published. He shares all the steps necessary to getting started with a book and how involved the rewriting process is.
His fee is $1800 per day and he will present four times. His ideal group size is 25 students, but Pat will present to groups of 200. Transportation and lodging costs to be paid by sponsoring organization.
To learn more about J.Patrick and his publications please visit www.jpatricklewis.com.
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