Valerie Bloom is a Jamaican-born performance poet who writes many of her poems in Jamaican Patois. Her published work includes Hot Like Fire, a Power of Reading recommended text, and Fruits: a Caribbean Counting Poem, an award-winning picture book. Valerie has been praised for her gift for wordplay and the innovative use of language in her poetry. In addition to writing poetry, Valerie performs her poems at festivals, schools, and other events around the world. She also teaches creative writing workshops at universities and community centers throughout North America.