Dad's Poems and Riddles Revealed

Upon completing my fourth poetry book, I was inspired to curate a selection of my poems that would deeply resonate with children and adults. I envisioned bringing these poems to life through captivating, vivid illustrations that capture the reader's imagination. While not all of my poems are tailored for children, I have thoughtfully handpicked a few that, when coupled with illustrations, can be easily understood and appreciated by young readers. My ultimate second goal was to foster an engaging, interactive reading experience where an adult can skillfully narrate these poems to a child, allowing the child to be fully immersed in the enchanting illustrations.

Simultaneously, the adult will be transported back to a time of wonder and imagination, reigniting their sense of childlike awe. I carefully chose poems that evoked a nostalgic feeling within me, a feeling that we might share. From the overwhelming awe I felt when I encountered a sea turtle on vacation in Grand Cayman to the heart-stopping thrill of skating and almost falling through the ice, experiencing divine intervention, and the sheer wonder of the circus, the peaceful tranquility of fishing, the pure excitement of reading about battling a dragon as a child, the cherished connection of flying a kite with my daughter, or the fantastic Christmas present where the box became the present, as well as the desire to convey the refined elegance that is the giraffe and watching soap bubbles float away. These simple remembrances vividly reflect the beauty of life. By sharing these memories and personal connections, I aim to create a sense of intimacy and connection with you, the reader, whether young or old.

Jeffery Krueger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1952. He grew up on the northside ofMilwaukee in the housing project known as Westlawn. After his parents divorced when he was11, he moved into his grandmother's home in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee, and graduatedfrom Wauwatosa East High School in 1970. Continuing his studies, he attended Layton School ofArt in Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, spanning the years 1970 to 1978.He began to explore writing to challenge his dyslexic learning disorder in 2004. He finished hisfirst writing, a screenplay called The Maestro, in 2009. He finished his first published book ofpoems on December 29, 2021, Dad's 100 Poems, Riddles, and Songs in 100 Days.He started his second book, Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within, on March 20,2022, and finished on December 3, 2022. He completed his third book in the series on June 27,2023. And his fourth book on November 15, 2024, a combination of poems and illustrations calledDad's Poems and Riddles Revealed, a fusion of poems and illustrations. His poems range insubject matter from the sometimes silly, like underwear, a trombone, a fire call, Santa Claus, anda toothbrush, to more serious reflections on life-aging, preserving the land, addiction, a Savior, senseless violence, and the human condition-as well as simply keeping a record of dailymoments featuring his local surroundings and the habitat, including certain animals and insects.In 1983, he founded the country music festival WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, one ofthe largest festivals in the nation. For 28 years, he was at the helm as president of WE Fest, untilhis semiretirement in 2010. He produced shows featuring the who's who of country music; tomention just a few: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift.He has been involved in the entertainment business for over 50 years.