Meet Tod Christensen
Award-Winning Author, Storyteller & Speaker
Tod Christensen writes poetry inspired by compassion, family, personal connections, and the American experience. Drawing from real-life moments and lessons learned along the way, his work reaches into the heart and core of who we are and what we hope to become.
Through American Storybook and future works, Tod seeks to celebrate the people, values, and stories that unite us.
The Story Behind the Cover
I’ve been told more than once that American Storybook has an unusual cover. In fact, one reviewer titled his comments, “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover.” I understand why. At first glance, it may not look like what many people expect for my second book.
But the cover is deeply meaningful to me.
It is the result of a collaboration between two talented young artists. The sunset seen through the window is a photograph taken by my daughter, Kalei Christensen. Surrounding it is a watercolor painting by Acelynn Harbeson-Burton. Together, their work creates a single image that reflects one of the central themes of this book.
Some of life’s most meaningful moments don’t happen in grand places. They happen around kitchen tables, in living rooms, through conversations with family and friends, while sharing stories, writing poetry, creating art, or simply pausing to notice the beauty outside our windows.
The cover reminds me that inspiration is often closer than we think. Sometimes all we need to do is look up, listen, and appreciate the people and moments right in front of us.
Poetry that challenges each of us to think deeper, feel stronger, and live with purpose.
An excerpt from
America Again
“Once upon a time, there was a country the whole world watched to see if it would fail
How it began was so different than other countries but this was not a fairytale
Brave families traveled into the great unknown just to be able to be free
From such humble beginnings this country would become the envy of all who could see” …..
An excerpt from
The Fathers That You See
….. “If a man does nothing with his life but gets one thing right
it’s to guide his young souls out of the world’s darkness and into the light
He might not have been famous but he was famous to me
Thank you to all the men who stuck around and are the Fathers that you see”
An excerpt from
Your 50-Foot World
….. “Make the world the one you see within 50 feet
Make it full of the things you cherish and make it complete
Open the doors for strangers and give someone a kind smile
Practice what you preach and then after awhile” …..
An excerpt from
Am I Enough?
….. “We have nothing to prove to them, we only have ourselves to live up to
We only need to change one set of eyes—the ones that we gaze through
I’m not saying it will be easy, in fact it may be quite tough
But you aren’t alone—we all sometimes wonder late at night… Am I Enough?”
Featured Book
American Storybook
A collection of over 40 poems exploring American life through themes of nostalgia, grief, personal growth, and the American West.
Featured Book
The World According to U
With stories, poems, and puzzles about life, The World According to U explores the experience through all stages of wonderment and self-discovery.
