414 ratings | 88 reviews | avg rating:4.45

Irene Latham’s Followers (145)

Irene’s Bookshelves

to-read (16)
currently-reading (1)
read (469)

Irene’s Friends (124)

Penguin Teen

892 books | 4,964 friends

Karen

1,751 books | 1,340 friends

Caroline Rose

852 books | 434 friends

Judith Graves

478 books | 510 friends

Kelly Butcher

1,465 books | 218 friends

Lisa Ramsey

485 books | 110 friends

Joey

1,388 books | 336 friends

Linda

4,781 books | 197 friends

More friends…

Irene Latham

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.irenelatham.com

Twitter

irene_latham

Genre

Children's Books, Poetry, Historical Fiction

Member Since

April 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/irene_latham

edit data

Irene Latham is a poet and novelist who was born the middle child and first daughter of five kids.

Irene has lived all sorts of places and traveled worldwide. Since 1984 she has called Birmingham, Alabama, home.

She thinks growing up with three brothers was great preparation for raising her three sons. She also thinks getting a sister was one of the best things that has ever happened to her.

Irene is proud to be the only leftie in her family of origin AND in her current family.

According to Irene's Dr. Seuss' MY BOOK ABOUT ME, she has wanted to be writer since she was eight years old.

She also wanted to train a horse that her sister would ride to victory in the Kentucky Derby. That hasn't happened. Yet.

Irene didn't take a single writing course ...more

1941 posts
Irene Latham's Blog

A Palindrome Birthday

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Susan at Chicken Spaghetti for Roundup.

It's almost my birthday, and it's a palindrome year—55. (I keep thinking: "I can't drive 55.":) Hooray! And happy birthday to my birthday twin Ruth and the many other Poetry Friday friends who have birthdays this time of year.

In other news, Tuesday 2-Minute Writing Tip 27 is about "Writers Who Give Me Coura Read more of this blog post »

View more on Irene Latham's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 20, 2026 02:30

View all 1941 posts »

Combine Editions
Irene Latham’s books

Average rating: 4.2 · 8,721 ratings · 2,151 reviews · 39 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Karim Shamsi-Basha, Yuko Shimizu (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 4.25 avg rating — 1,910 ratings — published 2020 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Charles Waters, Sean Qualls (Illustrator) 4.33 avg rating — 1,875 ratings — published 2018 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	African Town by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Charles Waters 4.29 avg rating — 1,395 ratings — published 2022 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Charles Waters, Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator) 4.55 avg rating — 485 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Leaving Gee's Bend 4.01 avg rating — 540 ratings — published 2010 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), John Holyfield (Illustrator) 4.09 avg rating — 388 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Be a Bridge by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Charles Waters, Nabila Adani (Illustrations) 4.31 avg rating — 280 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Don't Feed the Boy by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Stephanie Graegin (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations) 3.79 avg rating — 280 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love, Agnes: Postcards from an Octopus by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Thea Baker (Illustrations) 3.70 avg rating — 195 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole by Irene Latham (Goodreads Author), Anna Wadham (Illustrator) 3.81 avg rating — 171 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Irene Latham…

Irene is Currently Reading

Irene Latham is currently reading

Station Eleven

by Emily St. John Mandel (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 04, 2015 04:37AM

rss
Irene’s Recent Updates

Irene Latham wrote a new blog post A Palindrome Birthday Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Susan at Chicken Spaghetti for Roundup.It's almost my birthday, and it's a palindrome year—55. (I kee Read more of this blog post »
Feb 21, 2026 12:08AM · like

More of Irene's books…

Quotes by Irene Latham (?)

“If I know one thing to be true: When in doubt, ask people about themselves, and they’ll never shut up.”
― Irene Latham, African Town

1 likes

“Our spirits connect us regardless of these white men trying to beat down our greatness.”
― Irene Latham, African Town

0 likes

“when i think of captain timothy and captain foster/ i think of men using their whiteness to build wealth on the backs of black people when i think of the elders of african town/ i see people who came to this country with nothing you all created a community that will be around long after your spirits leave Alabama”
― Irene Latham, African Town

0 likes

See all Irene Latham's quotes »

Polls

What book should we read in September?

You may write in titles, provided the book is a 2019 Newbery contender and already published.

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

43 votes 29.1%

Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth by Sheila O'Connor

23 votes 15.5%

Echo's Sister by Paul Mosier

14 votes 9.5%

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman

12 votes 8.1%

Hunger: A Tale of Courage by Donna Jo Napoli

11 votes 7.4%

The Truth as told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor (write-in)

11 votes 7.4%

Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard (write-in)

8 votes 5.4%

Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham

7 votes 4.7%

Until Tomorrow, Mrs. Marsworth (write-in)

5 votes 3.4%

Until tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth (write-in)

3 votes 2.0%

Willa of the Woods by Robert Beatty (write-in)

3 votes 2.0%

Hunger (write-in)

2 votes 1.4%

The Truth as told by Mason Buttle (write-in)

2 votes 1.4%

Echos Sister (write-in)

1 vote 0.7%

Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair (write-in)

1 vote 0.7%

Spooked by Gail Jarrow (write-in)

1 vote 0.7%

Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani (write-in)

1 vote 0.7%

148 total votes

3 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Mock Caldecott 2027: November Reads - 2021	7	75	Nov 25, 2020 12:14PM
2026 Reading Chal...: Morgan's 121 Books for 2021	4	33	Jan 24, 2021 09:45AM
Mock Caldecott 2027: * 2021 ALA Caldecott Awards	30	95	Feb 09, 2021 02:34PM
Children's Books: April 2020 (and beyond): What Picture Books Are You Reading During Shelter-in-Place?	396	129	Jun 14, 2021 03:11PM
Equity and Inclus...: American Library Awards, January 24, 2021	7	9	Jul 07, 2021 06:24PM
A Million More Pages: Children's (Non-YA)	22	42	Sep 30, 2021 01:56AM
Nothing But Readi...: Serious Readers Challenge 2021: Level 1	116	1026	Nov 09, 2021 01:12AM
2026 Reading Chal...: Melissa (ladybug)'s reading challenge	14	61	Dec 10, 2021 09:34PM

More…

Irene’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-1) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 1: by Sridhar

Mar 16, 2010 07:52AM

hai...hai...Irene,thanks for adding me your friend,by the by hows my profile pic., am I cute..I 've named this photo as "Sridhar apothesis"(Sridhar raised as God) lovely isn't it..

reply | flag

Irene Latham’s Followers (145)

Add New
Videos

Irene’s Bookshelves

Irene’s Friends (124)

Irene Latham

Goodreads Author

1941 posts
Irene Latham's Blog

A Palindrome Birthday

Combine Editions
Irene Latham’s books

Irene is Currently Reading

rss
Irene’s Recent Updates

A Palindrome Birthday

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

recent posts
Irene’s Groups

Irene’s Friend Comments

Irene Latham’s Followers (145)

Irene Latham

Goodreads Author

rssIrene’s Recent Updates

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Irene’s Recent Updates