Detroit Lakes Teacher Releases New Children’s Book in Haiku

A language arts teacher from Detroit Lakes has recently launched a children’s book titled “A Cat Named Taco,” presented during a book signing event at La Barista. Jackie Jenson, who has spent the past eight years teaching sixth to eighth graders at Holy Rosary School, embraced a unique challenge by writing the entire book in haiku, a traditional Japanese poetry form.

This poetic structure consists of three lines, with a syllable pattern of five for the first line, seven for the second, and three for the third. Jenson explained her motivation: “I challenged myself to write it all in poetry because I challenged my class to do that.” A graduate of Detroit Lakes High School, Jenson later earned a bachelor’s degree in English writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

From Writer to Teacher

After graduating, Jenson’s career path took her to the Twin Cities, where she worked for Target and later for stores in Chicago and Fargo. Eventually, she returned to Detroit Lakes, where her love for writing reignited. “I decided I wanted to write again, so I applied for a job at the newspaper,” she said, referring to her previous role at Detroit Lakes Newspapers.

Jenson and her husband, Bob, raised three daughters—Alexis, Casey, and Jess—in Detroit Lakes. While Jess continues her studies at the University of Minnesota, Alexis lives in California, and Casey resides in Colorado. The idea for “A Cat Named Taco” has been brewing for over a decade. “I first had the idea about 10 years ago,” Jenson recounted, noting her lifelong affinity for cats as a source of inspiration.

Creative Journey and Future Projects

Jenson’s passion for writing began in childhood, with her first memories of journaling at age five. She often created bedtime stories for her daughters, which sparked her interest in writing children’s literature. “I ran out of books to read, so I would just come up with a story in my head,” she recalled.

This recent release marks Jenson’s third book, but it is only the second published through her own company, Books by Jackie Jenson. Her first book, “Jon and the Soggy Leaf,” was published in 2012 by Beavers Pond Press and features illustrations by local artist Megan Hagel. Jenson’s second book, “Sharp Bites and Other Pesky Poems,” was released in 2017 and includes contributions from her older daughters, who served as editor and illustrator, respectively.

“A Cat Named Taco” features illustrations by Jenson’s niece, Haylee Hovanec. All three of her books can be purchased through her website, byjackiejenson.com, and at Bluebird Books in downtown Detroit Lakes. Jenson also hinted that she has several new projects in development, promising more literary adventures to come.