News


Here's Irene and Charles Waters (and their new book!) , just moments after they first met November 11, 2017, at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) in Phoenix, Arizona.




► Papa's Chair (opens external link)

Irene presenting Alabama Governor Bob Riley with a copy of LEAVING GEE'S BEND (August, 2010)

Wonderful gift from the Homewood (Alabama)
Middle School 6th Grade Enrichment Class

Irene Latham with Editor Jim Reed, Birmingham Arts Journal (and proprietor of Jim Reed Books
& The Museum Of Fond Memories)

Join Irene and Can I Touch Your Hair? co-author Charles Waters at Mississippi Book Festival!

Big News! Irene's first novel for adults coming Spring 2026!

Some Starry Night is an historical fiction novel that imagines the story behind Vincent van Gogh's most famous painting (Starry Night) and the secret love affair with American poet Emily Dickinson that inspired it.

Hooray! 3 new books for children coming in 2026! More on this soon.

Also: 3 Paperback Editions of backlist titles coming in 2026:

  • D-39: A Robodog's Journey
  • Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole
  • Fresh Delicious: Poems from the Farmers' Market
  • When the Sun Shines on Antarctica: Poems About the Frozen Continent

Meet Irene's Poetry Machine!

Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned From a Poem

Imagination Soup's 50 Best Poetry Books for Kids (including some of Irene's books!)

Check out the Poetry from Daily Life Free Video Library, featuring more than 50 recordings. It’s glorious!

Read Irene's Poetry from Daily Life column about Poetry, Stitching, and How to Make the World a Better Place.

Read Charles Waters' Poetry From Daily Life column about the power of poetry to engage reluctant readers.

See Irene's "Math Lesson (from the Garden)" poem in Tyger Tyger magazine.

You're invited to listen to some lovely poems on The Children's Book Podcast, including Irene's "I Followed A Little Cat One Day."

African Town getting some love!
Oprah Winfrey's 15 Best Historical Fiction Books of 2022
NPR 2022 Books We Love
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

The Cat Man of Aleppo featured in this NYT Quiz

Meet the new Miss Fancy sculpture by Nelson Grice.

Irene named a 2022 Alabama Literary Arts Fellow!

Click to read the latest news about Gee's Bend quilts.

Sylvia Vardell, on writing tough topics (includes D-39 and some fabulous other verse novel recommendations!)

New! Virtual Visits Menu

Irene is a proud participant of READ AL200! This provides funding for visits featuring her stories set in Alabama.

Alabama is a beautiful state! Here's proof.


Another title to celebrate Alabama: Leaving Gee's Bend, historical fiction set in 1932 Wilcox County, Alabama, and inspired by the quiltmakers and their stories.



Irene named the winner of the International Literacy Association- Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award.


Find out more about Irene in this interview by Alabama Writers Conclave.

Read Irene's Art Story.

What's your AHA Moment? Here's mine!



Irene's first published poem in the children's
market, Ship Spies a Light, appeared in Scholastic's Storyworks magazine. See more of Irene's poetry for Scholastic magazines on the Miscellaneous Writing page!

Enjoy fresh poetry on Irene's Live Your Poem