Charles Ghigna

Charles Ghigna
Charles Ghigna
Charles Ghigna
BornCharles Ghigna
(1946-08-25) August 25, 1946 (age 78)
Bayside, Queens, New York City, US
Pen nameFather Goose
OccupationPoet, children's author
LanguageEnglish
GenrePoetry, children's literature
SpouseDebra Ghigna
ChildrenChip Ghigna
Website
www.charlesghigna.com

Charles Ghigna (/'gɪnˈjə/) (born August 25, 1946), known also as Father Goose is an American poet and author of children's and adults' books. He has written more than 5,000 poems and 100 books.[1]

Ghigna was born in Bayside, Queens. His parents relocated to Fort Myers, Florida when he was five.[2] Ghigna graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and a Master of Education degree in 1970. In 1974, he became a poet-in-residence and started teaching creative writing at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA).[1] He subsequently worked on the children's television show Cabbages and Kings and in 1979 taught creative writing at Samford University.[1]

Ghigna's first book of poetry, Returning to Earth, was published in 1989. He published his first children's poetry books in 1992, before leaving ASFA the following year and taking up writing for children full-time.[1]

Ghigna lives in Homewood, Alabama with his wife, the author Debra Ghigna. Their son, Chip Ghigna, is an artist.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b c d White, Cynthia Quinn (September 23, 2019). "Charles Ghigna". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Frequently asked questions (FAQs)". Charles Ghigna - Father Goose. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Matthews, Michelle (July 17, 2019). "Alabama's 'Father Goose' is as prolific a poet as ever". Advance Local Alabama. Retrieved October 26, 2019.