New Haven Independent

Click on the play arrow to watch Nelson at last Thursday night’s event reading her poem “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” one of 20 in her book about the pioneering group. The volume is designed for young adults, and each poem tells a story in the voice of an instrument used by the band.

A winner of national awards, Nelson served as Connecticut’s poet laureate between 2001 and 2006. She still works with the State Commission on Culture and Tourism in its arts education programs.

The commission’s Executive Director Karen Senich described Nelson “as an asset to the arts and education in our state.”

Nelson said she heard rumors that her Sweethearts of Rhythm, with illustrations by Jerry Pinkney, might be this year’s Caldecott Medal winner.

Nelson was the featured reader at the Word of Mouth Poetry Series, a monthly open mike evening, every third Thursday, organized in partnership with Arts and Literature Laboratory

Click on the arrow to swing to a video of the Sweethearts’ version of “Tuxedo Junction.”